Iranian Entity: Ali Akbar Tabatabaei

Ali Akbar Tabatabesi

"Involved in furnishing ammunition from Iran via Nigeria to a third country," according to the European Union; listed by the European Union on December 1, 2011 as an entity linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; with some exceptions, European Union member states must freeze all funds and economic resources owned, held or controlled by the listed person, and prevent funds or economic resources from being made available to him; sanctioned by the governments of Norway and Switzerland, restricting business and financial transactions with the person and/or freezing his assets in those countries.

Reportedly commander of the Africa operations of al-Quds Force, part of the IRGC; linked to a shipment of weapons to Nigeria in 2010 that consisted of 240 tons of munitions, including rockets, mortar shells, grenades, and rounds of ammunition, according to a report by a U.N. Panel of Experts; was reportedly sought by Nigerian authorities in connection with the weapons shipment, but claimed diplomatic immunity and took refuge at the Iranian Embassy in Abuja, before returning to Iran; Azim Aghajani (see separate entity record) was charged in Nigeria with four counts of illegal importation of arms and ammunition in connection with the shipment; according to the U.N. Panel of Experts, the shipment was dispatched by Behineh Trading Company, an IRGC front company.