The US has exposed an Iranian transnational group of assassins

The US has exposed an Iranian transnational group of assassins

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on a network of individuals that targeted Iranian dissidents. The network is headed by Iranian narcotics trafficker Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti (Zindashti).

According to the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota documents, Zindashti and two Canadian nationals conspired with each other in a plot to murder two residents of the state of Maryland.

The intended victims of this plot, who at the time resided in Maryland, had previously fled to the United States after one of them defected from Iran.

Zindashti and his team of gunmen used an encrypted messaging service called “SkyECC” to orchestrate an assassination plot against two individuals

Zindashti resides in Iran, two members of his network are currently incarcerated in Canada.

The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

• AL-MOUSSAWI, Hamad. DOB 12 May 1970; POB Baghdad, Iraq; nationality Iraq; Gender Male.
• ASAN, Nihat Abdul Kadir. He is a close Zindashti associate also based in Iran. DOB 01 Oct 1981; alt. DOB 11 Nov 1981; POB Van, Turkey; nationality Iran.
• ESFANJANI, Ali. DOB 15 Aug 1985; nationality Iran; Additional Sanctions Information – Subject to Secondary Sanctions; Gender Male.
• HAMIDIRAVARI, Reza. He is an MOIS (Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security) officer, oversees Zindashti’s MOIS-directed operations. DOB 31 Oct 1963; nationality Iran.
• KOCAK, Abdulvahap. DOB 09 Sep 1999; POB Adiyaman, Turkey; nationality Turkey.
• KOCAK, Ali. DOB 30 Sep 1985; POB Adiyaman Kahta, Turkey; nationality Turkey.
• NASERZADEH, Muhammad Reza. DOB 01 Jan 1978; nationality Iran.
• OZTUNC, Ekrem Abdulkerym. Zindashti’s nephew. DOB 07 Oct 1984; POB Yuksekova, Turkey; nationality Turkey.
• PEARSON, Adam Richard. He was recruited to assassinate individuals in the United States.DOB 14 May 1994; alt. DOB 28 Apr 1995; POB Canada; nationality Canada.
• RYAN, Damion Patrick John. Canadian national and British Columbia-based Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Group member. In 2021, Zindashti’s network recruited him to assassinate individuals in the United States. DOB 14 Oct 1980; POB Canada; nationality Canada.
• SHARIFI-ZINDASHTI, Naji Ibrahim. DOB 31 May 1974; POB Orumiyeh, Iran; nationality Iran.
• TAMARZADEH ZAVIEH JAKKI, Shahram Ali Reza. He is Zindashti’s brother-in-law. DOB 31 May 1972; nationality Iran.