Transcripts For CSPAN Asst. Treasury Secretary On Iran Terrorist Financing 20240714

Welcome to everyone here and those who a william hello, everyone, and welcome to the Atlantic Council. Welcome to everyone here and those watching on cspan and our livestream. To if it cohosted by our strategy and security in our Global Business and economics programs economic sanctions initiative. This if it is on the record. Please tweet if you know so inclined and if so, please use the hashtag shaping sanctions. Today we are here of course to learn more about asthma and its finances. When he is one of the most sophisticated in the middle east. Iran patron has reportedly provided terrorist group we put hundreds of millions of dollars. Annually. This money has advanced the iranian agenda, undermining weapons political system and its delegate secretary and balance. Challenging the world lebanese as the sole legitimate protector of the security. Providing on demand Ground Forces work irans work in syria. Maintaining a toptier terrorist capabilities in the region and really throughout the globe. And directly threatening israel. In addition to its direct financing from tehran, has law has built its own World Wide Network of from companies and operatives that facilitate the book human of romans and dual use goods for its activities again in web and on the world. Moreover some senior members havent facilitated directly in illicit activities. They bring the group themselves additional revenues. Including narcotics trafficking and practically every kind of global crime. In these remarks up where you know going to hear today, the secretary for secretary for financing. Full address the Trump Administration. Including its direct transfers from baran and its independent activities. Clear signs already emerge this campaign is been successful in limiting the revenue currently available to hazlitt. Time will tell of those limitations will material the diminished to fight in syria undermine web and on and and continue to maintain perhaps the world his most strategically worrisome terrorist network. After talking marshall, we join essay by mr. Ryan, National Security correspondent for the Washington Post. Will then open the floor to the audience for questions. There will be microphones around the room. I do want to stress that when asking questions, please make them brave and as we said in jeopardy in the forum of a question. Not in the forum of a monologue. Before i hand over the podium, let me just close by staying a few words about our two participants here today. Before becoming assistant secretary of the treasury, Marcia Billingsley was managing director we put Deloitte Financial Advisory Services Running his federal Business Intelligence services group. Previously held a number of government positions including deputy on secretary of the navy, assistant secretary for investments, and special operations and low intensity conflict. When he also served as a senior staff member on the center forum for relations committee, holds degrees from dartmouth and london told missy a test. Missing one is really one of the Washington Post best reporters. She comes from the pentagon, full range of military and in general. She worked as a core product sponsor lawyers where roles included deputy of chief and National Security in Us Middle East correspondent. Shes reported from egypt and libya in lebanon and afghanistan, mexico peru and chile and im sure im forgetting a number of countries. Shes why house up from 2012 to 2013 and is the graduate of Harvard Kennedy school and georgetown university. Now please everyone even warm welcome to assistant secretary billingsley. [applause] good morning and thank you for those kind words. In besser, good to see you get to see all of the members of the audience here at online. Thank you to the Atlantic Council grossing this if it. And thank you missy for moderating. I placed a return here to discuss one of our nation his most critical National Security challenges. This is the Illicit Financial Networks that sustain iran and his property. The Treasury Department alongside our agency colleagues has been the to be the spare in advancing the administrations maximum Pressure Campaign against iran and disrupting support to a wide range of tourist organizations. This mission is at the heart of our work in the treasury, and is central as i said to this administration his efforts to secure our homeland. Tomorrow peace in the mideast middle east and given the fact that iran amount globe spanning pots to ultimately protect the safety of all people around the world. I had a heart wrenching experience this past summer in july, to attend the 25th anniversary of memorial overrun and at embalming and mortise areas, ive raised this because the sinister symbiosis, between iran and his proxy, finds no clear expression than the bombing. In argentina. Perpetrated by suicide bomber at orion his direction and we put the run support, that particular massacre took the lives of 85 innocent civilians. And wounded hundreds more. This is the Jewish Cultural Center that they attacked. When he followed a similar bombing just two years earlier, inquiries areas, against the Australian Embassy that killed 29 and injured many others. These attacks were not singular events. They were not anomalies. Rather they exemplify the evil that iran says four. Since then, shot after plot and some successful and some not, demonstrate their continued intent to shed innocent blood as they seek regional domination and influence. In a case in. , iran and has loved together have back the results regime in syria. Innes slaughtered hundreds of thousands of civilians and displace millions more. Including many now into lebanon itself. That illustrates the link to which they will go to further their nefarious aims. For someone to talk a little bit about what were going to do to cripple the iranian support network. Irans economy bankrolls its aggression. That is why treasury has actively targeting irans key industries. To drive the realization by irans Supreme Leader that economic collapse is inevitable. Iran does not stop its sponsorship of terror and is privileged and activities and returns the night negotiate negotiating table. We are focusing in particular on oil. This is irans primary source of funds. As well as other areas including banking, petrochemicals, shipping, and crucially metals, steel aluminum and copper and so forth. All of these sectors help benefit irans revolutionary guard corps in his cart course in which of course ultimately is the patron of his luck. Essential element of our work involves identifying and dismantling the international networks, that are illicitly supplying the regime and its proxies we put revenue. In recent days, you have seen us focus on a joint iranian has looked oil for terror, shipping network. We have targeted now three times did this is on our terrorism authorities and other actions in tandem we put the department of justice and Homeland Security and federal bureau of Investigation Department of state. We did this first in november of 2018, and twice within the past two weeks. This network alone, has illicitly sold more than half of billion dollars we put iranian crude, just this year. For predominantly again to the brittle massage regime in syria. This network is operating at the commander direction. It is the network of 37 publicly identified individuals and entities and vessels which in turn is actually operated by his law members. On behalf of the qs. It relies upon layers and layers of intermediaries to ultimately obfuscate, the role of the cut scores in this scheme. It is in the nexus of terrorism and oil that drives our continued pursuit in recent days of the vessel iran daya one, formerly the graceland. Which is among the latest of rns evasions efforts. As our sanctions and legal actions and related efforts against this vessels and its capital show, we will relentlessly pursue those who undertake or assist such efforts. It is also important to stress unambiguously that iran lied to the United Kingdom and walter, promising the would not go to syria. Thats precisely what when he did. Releasing out in gloria and his cargo friends walter was an expensive mistake. It risks putting more than a hundred Million Dollars into the coffers of the cuts work in his law. This is something shouldve never happened. Our allies should not need reminding that iran cannot be trusted. But perhaps, just maybe, this experience will be remembered in the future. Of course, its not just irans oil sector, that is funding terror such conduct also goes to the very heart of his financial addresses. The United States has exposed three times in the past year, how senior officials and irans central bank, the bank of the iranian government and ostensibly the supervisor of iranian banks, actually facilitate Financial Transactions to the benefit of both the source and hezbollah. Central to such schemes is the widespread use of the deceptive actresses, to obscure the true participants are the beneficiaries are, and the ultimate purposes of making activity is. These illicit means include misusing banks and exchange houses, operating opaque procurement networks, many many Front Companies and shell companies, and of course as ive just mentioned exploitation of commercial shipping. In working to the grade around irans ability to fund terror, trumpet administration has designated, more than a thousand individuals and entities using a range of terrorism wt md government over unfocused activities. Were also working to prevent and disrupt activity through diplomatic activity and a wide range of industry of advisories and information sharing and all of the things that my office does that you dont necessarily see splash on the front page. Our efforts are having an impact. Clearly. Leaving iran we put scarce funds to expand its pursuits. These are the following indicators. The imf is predicted that irans gdp will not shrink by at least 6 percent in 2019. Since april 2018, the iranian has lost more than half of its value. Seeking to a historic low in fact in september of this past year. Our call and importers of iranian oil to refrain from contravening our sanctions has resulted in irans oil exports falling to depending on what you believe, around 500,000 Barrels Per Day as of august according to a wide range of extras. This compared to the peak production of 2. 5 billion bearers per day following the agreement. Iranian parliament itself, as acknowledge that irans oil sector was ranked by at least 1. Foreign direct investment and Business Activity within iran, has all but evaporated. At the risk for the private sector continue to grow. Over hundred financial farms have cut all ties we put iran. That includes swift. This is the society for inter world telecommute occasions. The world his largest commercial airline has been banned from landing in france and germany and multiple other jurisdictions. The consequences for iran continue to mount and they will do so for as long as the regime contains its current course. Ill know to talk to how this all relates to illicit networks. As a result of the park pressure that we are applying to iran, has law is also feeling the squeeze. As law fighters have been furloughed, or assigned to the reserves where they earn far low lower salaries, medium employees have been laid off, payments to the families of fighters have been slashed, and emerge, as well as leader, the moment the Financial System and said and called on his supporters. Echoing a previous called for money. When he has since increased his exploitation of charitable donations diverting the funding to pay for militants as well as relying on political coercion and temptation in bakers and central make itself in lebanon. To squeeze lebanon his sector for money. We designate one of his thugs, a memberarli o pent, and. Man, for physically threatening the bankers of lebanon. All chair and talk a little bit more about this in a minute. Ill come back to that. Has not received the bulk of its funding from iran. As mentioned, we thought probably around 700 million a year in a payday following jc po a and delivered to the iranians. That of course has been greatly reduced in this day and age. The training irans revenue alone its not going to simply deplete as loss costs. Settlement in its income by using businessmen to operate a wide range of companies to gain political relationships to gain favor in contracts and monopolies and prominent sectors. As one example, one of the most egregious examples, a key financier has been now designated as his son, mohammed, exploited his political connection we put the now deposed indian dictator gaia, Human Trafficking and supplying of underaged girls, but that when he would personally select out of the refugee camps, buzzy built a Global Network that spans europe the middle east and africa, all to haslam his benefit and a key concessions in the gambia to gain a monopoly over the supply of electricity and oil for that country. The haslam benefits in this manner from a wide range of other International Criminals they include moneylaundering and it includes Drug Trafficking and counter parenting this is the party of god that engages in this activities in these networks are operated by his low supporters of visors and numbers. And this is undeniable. Illustrating as well as links to criminal activity, this past april, the Treasury Department designated lebanese money, his Face Exchange which moves money on behalf of his love and not just as law, the same network was moving money on behalf of the colombian narcotics organization. As well as a lebanese drug money on. And this network spanned across latin american moving tens of millions of dollars a month, for the norco his in the terrace. It is the textbook example of how his low benefits from criminal syndicates. Just as weve done to iran, we are demonstrating our unfaltering results, ts metal has laws infrastructure. We will rip it out. This the United States treasury has denied access. Weve designated more than 50 such specific individuals in his lung. Jamaal, thank. The bank i just reference we put respect to sharing. We targeted this bank on august 29th. This bank illustrates how his law has penetrated seemingly legitimate firms. Jamaal truss has had longstanding financial relationship we put key is all in disease such as executive council and lebanon his branch of irans mart of annotation. We put net Mart Foundation is the organization that funnels money to the families of children present terrace including suicide bombers. It is what enables haslam to subsidize those who commit acts of atrocity against innocent civilians. Additionally, jamaal trust maintain a very deep type to the elkhart structure. It has law uses this commercial cover. For some of its financial activity. In fact, all senior officials from elkhart had to do was walk through the front door and identified themselves as affiliated as such, and then allow them to than open personal make accounts through which they conducted haslam business. Jamaal trust makes downfall, was not brought about by a simple lapse of mlc of t sanders. They knew their customer. And it was haslam. This action sends a signal at providing Financial Services to haslam will put an entire business at risk. For is it too long, hazlett and Companies Like Jamaal Trust Bank, and prioritize the terrorist agenda of a run, at the expense of the Lebanese Shiite community. The bank broke lebanon his own violated the public his trust. And we expect lebanese authorities to ensure that there are consequences for this. Starting as i mentioned we put immediate liquidation of the make. Ending we put civil and criminal conferences. One final. We are also using long existing authorities in new ways. Particularly in partnership we put our department of state. Im talking about the world wars from the justice program. By incentivizing people to come forward we put information regarding hazlett financial mechanisms, we receive tips from across the world leader not coming in from south america and west africa and lebanon itself. We recently expanded the rj program to illicit tips on the cut force Oil Smuggling network i discussed. Let me use this opportunity to send another clear message to the private private sector. If you give us information that leads to the financial disruption of this block, we will reward you for it. We will pay as much as 10 million impact. For such leads. We encourage people to come forward and take advantage of the supper. But unknown to us. Quickly to a decision on International Cooperation and engagement because the United States is by no means, alone in this effort. We enjoy the support of the fraud broad range of actions by friends and allies across the world. As i finish our us presidency of the Financial Action task force of the pastor, this gave us another opportunity to galvanize the International Community. At the primary this afternoon or later, the fatf for the first time, reimposed financial countermeasure on a run. Calling on all jurisdictions in the ministry and to require increased Supervisory Examination for branches and subsidiaries of iranian banks. In the fatf also agreed to repose to additional countermeasures this october if parents still has not done what it promised to do more than three and half years ago. They like. They have not performed we put a promise to do. That is ratification of the plano entity afterimages. If they in fact, have not done so by the time we meet, i fully expected enhanced reporting mechanism and increased audit requirements will be required by the fatf. His actions seem very technocratic in the art. In the banking world, but i am talking about here is translates into real cost. It also raises steak for iranian banks whose illicit activities invariably will be discovered to intensified scrutiny. Our joint act and collaborative efforts leveraging intelligence and community and Law Enforcement policy communities, have clearly demonstrated according to depressed by this administration. But as i mentioned, we are also working very closely we put allies. In may of 2018, for example, the terrorist Financing Targeting Center which is located in riyadh, comprised of all of the members of the golf coronation council, saudi arabia his house. Together we put us, all of us together, designated as less Senior Leadership including members of his was sure cancel, as it terrace. Together we put our golf partners, we designated us on as such. Were also greatly encouraged by steps that are occurring in the United Kingdom for the end of the month, coatesville, paraguay, argentina, all of whom have explicitly prescribed haslam as a terrorist organization and have done away we put this complete fiction that there is a military or political wing. This is the fiction that even when he rejects. And were gratified and now when he must use these authorities that have been announced these various countries to concretely disrupt tesla operations. So together we put our partners we have taken major steps towards depriving iran of the funds any. But preventing another bombing, another druggist, another syria, requires the result of the entire International Community. And we call upon the International Community to see based on clear evidence that we continue to present, that purchasing iranian oil funds terror and funds groups like the iron dc and like because force in hazlett south. Opposing terrorism, means not finding it. Including by not buying iranian oil. To this and we must and we will continue our Aggressive Campaign actions to disrupt the activity. As when he has said, and i quo quote, as long as iran has money we have money. We heard him loud and clear. Today is the result of reference both of them have a lot less. Less however is still not enough. We put treasury in tandem we put the rest of our government inner international partners, will relentlessly deprive these terrorists and their sponsors of the funds they need to shed innocent blood. Below is tried and find ways to fund their activities but we can and we must identify the schemes and stuff them in their tracks. The terrace will try to slip past our stations but we can and we must preserve the effectiveness of these critical tools. Tears will always need funding. And we can and we must criminalize such conduct and punish those who engage in terrorist financing to keep the International Community safe. Again i greatly appreciate w assistant text secretary wexler for hosting space to be back we put the steam in this community. Appreciate the opportunity speak we put missy into the audience and i welcome your questions. Thank you. [applause] can everyone hear me. All right thank you assistant to secretary. Thanks for your detailed overview of what the Trump Administration is doing. Activity related to our right as well. We have a bunch of questions after in the audience were going to do discussion appeared for about 25 minutes. Then well open it up to the folks sitting in front of us. And i want to start with a very easy question. How does the departure of bolton affect the Pressure Campaign and run. It doesnt. We are implementing the president his policies. The president is one who has directed us on this course. We will maintain this Pressure Campaign in recent days, both secretary pompeii and minute has said that. Would be the impact on what on all of this work you been doing over the last 18 months. If there was a decision as the president seems to project that when he might consider to ease some of the financial pressure to pave the way for some sort of meeting our negotiation we put the running leadership. The president said precisely the opposite. When he is prepared to meet, but that we are not easing up. When he will negotiate from a position of strength. We have from day one, said that the purpose of the Pressure Campaign, is to compel the iranians back to the negotiating table. The objective has always been in discussion. The Treasury Department would reimpose her sanctions, in fact we say this in each and every section relates that we issue that are sanctions are designed explicitly to cause a change in behavior. Absent a change in behavior, there will be no easing up. Snack they would not consider easing up prior to these things. We continue to engage in robust and unadulterated targeting of iranian networks. In lebanese net networks as of today. Can you tell us how the new executive order that was announced this week impacts has layout in regards to measures that you know talking about your remarks. Think that. That release executive order was really big deal. It was the first time that weve been able to modernize the cornerstone of our financial counterterrorism authorities after 911. We put the revised and expanded executive order does for the Treasury Department is it smooth the way and gives us new authorities to allow us much more effectively target leadership for terrorists that went out having to specifically associate a given leader chairs Organization Organization we put a given specific terrorist attack. It allows us to also go after those who engage in training overseas for terrorist activities. Or even just conspiring to do so. And very crucially, what it does is it applies or gives the treasury i say the ability to oppose secondary sanctions on Financial Institutions who continue to transact we put terrorist organizations notwithstanding the fact sanctions designations. Please repeat what you said what you said regarding the leadership and like to particular text. Does that apply lowering of the evidentiary standard at all. We still need all of the evidence standards. But the treasury the legal team as well as the justice require but it explicitly allows us and once we have proven in a given individual is in fact a leader of a terrorist group, and allows us to target them that went out specifically tying them to any particular act of violence. You mentioned in your remarks that they believe to receive 700 million from iran at a certain. When he provide the audience we put ballpark of what the impact has been at the activities that you have given an overview of. How much produce at this. I could but are not going to be held to give you specific figure. It is quite extensive budget. It is been reduced to conducting unseemly telephones to try to raise money. When he is now threatening an issue to speech the other day dotting the central bank. When he is feeling it for sure and when he will tell you that. If the goal is reducing ability to act as a powerful militant organization in the region, how do you all measure how successful your network and if the overall military balance in the region doesnt have or appeared to change dramatically, liberal forces out of syria or the Trump Administration said that they have increased the activity for in yemen, there are ongoing links between has bola and organizations in iraq and they still have this missile arsenal. How do you measure the Operational Impact of what you are doing question are. That is one of the toughest things to do in this business right in the terrorism business. Ultimately, i dont think those are the right metrics what i would suggest is it is incumbent upon the lebanese political system to unify against has law for the threat it poses to democracy and the financial take integrity of lebanon. This its not something that is an obligation of the United States or allies to solve the Political Parties of this is the obligation of the lebanese people to protect the democracy and expunge this terrorist from activities. Ultimately that is the key metric that determines success, not degradation of terror activities here or there or younger. Screaming how do you take into account this overall stability of lebanon which as you know has been delicate to say the least in recent years and given the significant role that it has played in their political space. The iranians only have one play and that is to sabotage Arab Democracy through the establishment of proxy groups that insert themselves in political discourse and paralyze democracies as a result and engage in violence the dude legitimate Security Forces of the given country. This is what theyve done in lebanon and they are endeavoring to do in iraq and its important that all Political Parties fight back against this is the Law Enforcement has been allowed through a series of disastrous political alliances to insert itself into the daily political discourse of lebanon and to establish itself as a blocking function on the democracy and the lebanese people of god to understand that at the end of the day that when he does the persian bidding and when he its not looking out for the interest of the lebanese people. One more lebanon question. While the United States consider where are you considering extending sanctions to hezbollah allies within lebanon christian groups or other parties. I will prejudge or forecast treasury actions but when we a act, react we put precision and decisively and we make clear that if you provide Material Support to a escrow, we will target you. Lets talk about yemen, and recent characterized yemen as the terror front. Said that iran is seeking to as the new has those and the almond, at the same time there is a hope that you and ignatius will be able to bring a peace agreement. To staunch the humanitarian losses and yemen is now the world his worst humanitarian crisis. I think the acknowledgment by everyone is that they will have to play some role in the political transition. Within yemen, how are you thinking about the who these as they Trump Administration describes as another proxy actor of the iranian government. And then the need to deal we put them over the International Community and the United States directly to get yemen to a better place. Excellent question, the vast majority should probably be answered by the department of state. What i can tell you, is the contribution of the treasury is making to the crisis in yemen, is so long several lines. One is that we have as i mentioned the terrorist financial target center, which was the result of a summit meeting the President Trump had early in the registration where all of the gulf nations agreed to join together through the t ftse in riyadh, we have designated multiple different terror actors in yemen including isis yemen and al qaeda peninsula. In the linkages there. Both for and against the fighting we put the hoodies. We also have very and engage in a series of efforts to degrade the way hoodies are receiving funds. And Material Support by the cup force. We will go further into that. Finally, one of the often overlooked roles in my office plays is that we support Central Banks around the world. We are working very closely we put the courageous central bank of yemen. Ultimately they had to flee and relocate the alien. So we work we put them quite often to provide support to them together we put the Federal Reserve and others. To think it will be up potential impediment process. To designate who the leaders are. If they engage in activities which are sanctionable on existing authorities, they should beware. Absolutely. But i did want to be very careful about casting some broad net of regarding a very definable ethnic group. A quick question on the Financing Targeting Center to what extent is the golf crisis affected in the operations. It really hasnt helped. We really urge all of the golf nations to find a way Forward Together and we are very appreciative of the saudi hosts have been very flexible on this. And have enabled the work of the tft c we put to continue on a collegial basis. There have been a number of designations joint designations that have been issued by the entire group. As well of parts and fact for the most recent actions we took against hamas financiers is operating out of turkey was in partnership we put those on mod but we organized all of that through the tft c. It is functioning. But we would like move past the golf dispute. Lets talk about syria a little bit more you mentioned the fighters you provided more detail about how the sanctions measures that you discussed are affecting their role and to what extent is that changing because of the factors that may be difficult to distinguish these two things. To what extent has this changed because of the pressure in the war being at a very different stage now. The issue we do have the kind of budget shortfalls that not the real is now facing is when he is having to make some pretty tough decisions on where to cut one of the places that when he is cutting is in his ability to fund such a large number of fighting forces globally. So when he is cutting back and we are seeing manifestations of that. When he is of course prioritized funding the families of dead terrorists. And when he wants to continue to make that a central part of his budget. So as a cost theyre continue to grow his budget shortfall will be further exaggerated. You seen anything or anyone stepping in to fill the void that the department departure from syria has created in terms of, i dont know, forces are iraqi militias or something now that as the regime consolidated controlled much of the country now taken on by syrian forces. Is the question the department of defense should have to answer. Quickly i will tell you, sometimes its a bit overlooked but we in the treasury can continue our campaign to deny asad, finances. We have taken action in recent days against a network that when he was using including in the uae to raise funds and move funds in that campaign can paint continues. I like to ask you about iraq. United States Government has dude designated the sanction of militias at the same time many of the groups are tightly linked to the Iraqi Government which is of course close american ally and one part of the iraqi Security Forces. Was your approach to dealing we put the political realities and i think the tension that when he exists for the iraqis is that they consider the American Government may be a primary security ally but iran has the cultural and social religious ties and will be there forever. What is your approach to that. There are iraqi certainly are a victim of geography in that respect. We have a Good Relationship we put the iraqi counterparts we put the finance minister in the central bank governor. They understand everything United States does to assist the functioning of their economy and we will continue to insist that when we implement designations on those who facilitate two ir gc or has our other terrorist proxies finances that its not a negotiation and we expressed that the sanctions will be honored and implement it. As you may know we have designated abelard bank which was at the time the Third Largest bank in iraq for exactly these kinds of activities and we expect jess is the case we put Jamaal Trust Bank those accounts stay frozen and that the are the make be liquidated and in an orderly process. We shut in that case that we will not hesitate to act even we put a large financial solution. May find that. Yes but its an ongoing topic where we continue to make our view crystal clear. What is the message you and we need electricity and have trade relationships and where they tell you. We have not and are not prescribing every imaginable forum of transaction we put a run whenever targeted humanitarian aid. Weve never targeted foodstuffs or medicines. Those types of transactions are normal and expected. We understand it the Iraqi Government and iraqi people are dependent on iran for electricity. And we have arrived at a good outcome on the proper way to handle that. But we ultimately expect the government of iraq to look out for his own interest. Its absolutely ridiculous that the iraqi people are so beholden to a run for electricity. Iraq is an exporter of energy. Its not a ludicrous thing to request that they move forward we put becoming selfsufficient we put their own energy requirements. They have been trying to do so for a decade now there are various things that theyre up against. What is the response you get. Or can you tell us a little bit about the inner actions on these issues and what is the conversation like when you are trying to make sure that the measures of the United States the Iranian Companies and has they relate to europe. Is impossible to characterize a single set of interactions we put europe. Its pretty diverse place we put a lot of different perspectives on the matter. We have a number of nato allies who completely understand our security concerns and acknowledge that the iranians are infected terrorist regime. We acknowledge that their ministry of intelligence and has conducted assassinations on european soil. In the most horrific ways. And who are supporting us. A lot of these measures. We have excellent intelligence cooperation we put our partners. We had to have a difference of opinion we put some. But by no means all of the european on the right of the way ford of the demented front. But will continue to Work Together because of the end of the day here at the Atlantic Council, and transatlantic is something that we really do strive for. Is there any way to characterize to the audience the extent to which again, a diverse country and circumstances that European Countries are abiding in supporting and executing that the United States would like them to take, the Iranian Pressure. The vast majority of European Countries, none actually a tough call for many of them because most of their Big Industries had taken a look at the Iranian Market after the jc poa and decided that its just in the recent run has so many problems is it is the nontransparent highly corrupt Business Environment in a run. Mostly european, had already decided it wasnt worth the handle. So talking to this companies about the fact and reengaged in the present was very clear on this issue from day one. Even so, we gave all of these Companies Six months to wind down any particular activities that they had. Pretty much they all have done so. Even in countries where for whatever reason, the government itself has taken a contrarian view to the us position. We have message directly to the private sector and made very clear to companies that you can do business in iran if you want thats a business decision but we hope you engage in an informed risk discussion within your company because if you trade we put the iranians and the something that is sanctioned by the United States we will cut you off and you will not do business we put us. Went to china. Stairway the same dialogue we put china turkish reddish you name it. I like to ask a Bigger Picture question. Theres been some reporting about the impact to ordinary iranians, the american champag champagne, about maximum Pressure Campaign and we put the economic toll that is been taken on the iranian economy and what that means for people who are not involved that that could be. Can you talk about how or to what extent you track that and how do you take that into an account when you are thinking about the measures that should be implemented and especially given the fact that the iranian government has shown abuse. During your marks, what is the sensitivity to the Financial Hardship that occurs for ordinary radiance or maybe a higher willingness to move money around in to the activity. Select of respect. Both of we are talking about iran or korea or venezuela, they dont care about the people in the street. The iranians have the regime has engages some of the most horrific brutalities against student protesters, they have beaten people to death and presence. They have hammered down the middle class. There is no iranian democracy. They wont allow moderate candidates to run for office. They have an entire elaborate system for denying people the ability to participate in iran. Everything at the end of the day is controlled by the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader and his people have made the economy a basket case. Karen was having huge economic problems before the real position of sanctions because of this indemnity corruption that runs throughout society. You just have to read Iranian Press to see all of the lab and the devil and that the test probably alone. So the iranian people of this. They well know that the root problem that the economy faces is this corruption. Its by the Supreme Leader. Like i said, we have not targeted the kind of transactions that are necessary to support a lot of the basic commodities that people need. If they are having problems importing things and comments because of their gross negligence. The accordion ordinary iranians, this is the most aggressive that a financial wall pressure measured thats ever been put in place the run, theres better be an impact. Absolutely and its canada and the Supreme Leader twos recognize that when he has an obligation and returned to the negotiating table. Smack finally, you talk a little bit about the oil shipping measures that have been interviewed. How does that relate to the operational things that are in place now to bring two Different Countries to try and control what is in the middle east to make sure the irb c isnt coming into contact in problematic weight we put shipping. So they seem to be able to continue to do the shipping alisa syria we put you what what you know suggesting in your remarks. To what extent are you expecting there to be a big reduction in their activities. We intend to make it so. It was regrettable. They let the vessel go. On the basis of iranian lies. Hopefully there wont be a repeat. But i we very clearly demonstrated our ability to enter direction mentor measures we put this network. And they will intensify. As i mentioned, we have worked we put the department of state now to offer reward money to also arrest the transportation of the soil for tear dive boat behavior on top of that, in recent days as i mentioned, and reengaged we put industry. We issued a circular to industry again cautioning the shipping industry to beware of the kinds of fabrications and misrepresentations and obligations in which the iranians engaged as they operate this network. It is important that the shipping industry take or learn a lesson from our designation of in any group which was the indian based Front Company structure that was used to operate a lot of these manage vessels. And for Ship Management companies that supply the crew because these vessels are rented tankers that are internationally accrued and i think the Ship Management companies have got to understand that if you dont connect proper Due Diligence and whos behind the shipment and you put a man crew on a vessel and violate laws that violate us laws there will be consequences. To what extent are they are are you seeing them move some of these now affected Economic Activities into other countries or other organizations. I imagine the candidate that to some extent and how quickly can you respond. They are doing that. They try to relocate a lot of the sanctions of asian activities into jurisdictions will run away. We follow them closely. I mentioned the intelligence population. We have we put a huge amount of partners. We use our financial tools in tandem we put many many other efforts which sometimes are less obvious that we are active in targeting them day in and day out. Im sure there are a lot of questions here so as ive said please identify yourself as you ask a question in your affiliation and your question is really a question. Theres a gentleman here in the second row. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, that was great and good to see you again. My name is of the. Thirty years officer in the state department. Theres a lot of bad hombres when i was there. Thats where the stuff started that you mentioned in your first sentence. The killing of 75 and 38 jewish people in buenos aires by terrace coming through the era. Brazil argentina. My question are we doing enough on what you emphasizes the importance of International Cooperation. Because this hemisphere, our neighborhood is very dangerous today and especially in next month. The guys that shame down from parkway and kill those people, i was going by them, were terrorists. A few years after that, a wonderful prosecutor in paraguay in argentina, went to see the president who happens to be the senator now. The candidate for Vice President and will be Vice President next month and she will have a wimpy president. So she will run the show. She is the one the prosecutor quentin said we are working on the terrorists and the terrorist network in the era his, killing people and she blew them away. She was supposed to be we put her the next eight and when he found him dead in his house. The city his committed suicide strong, when he was killed. In the president of argentina was going to be Vice President in a month, said no im working we put around in his lope work for the brent so i am not going after them. Probably was great, when he was there a week a month ago, argentina, called him that there is no free calling 70 a terrace doesnt do it, youve got to get down and do something. Why dont people get down and make sure that that senator killer, its not going to be the next leader in that wonderful country of argentina. Thinks that question ambassador. The first person you have there, are we doing enough. In fighting terrorism is him, you can never do enough. There is always more that must be done. I am in was we put secretary pompei at the ceremony, it was actually at the series of meetings that when he had we put counterparts from across the region that the resident mockery, issued a president ial decree, which by the way does a lot more than just call hazlett terrace group. Actually is Financial Intelligence unit to reach and unblock Financial Assets associated we put has law operatives. And theyve actually so. They have targeted a number of specifically bombing individual. Im not going to call them his suspects because they were clearly involved but theyve also been working we put us on additional targets. The country where the representation in the past, has also now followed suit. Annette we are working we put them to round out the financial dimensions to the president ial decree that they have issued. Likewise, we are in active discussions across a was fear we put brazil, because they play a key role in clamping down on the track were air area for financial. In recent days, doesnt viscerally get a lot of attention but theyre an excellent degree of cooperation between the three nations. Instructing the backup plan which is the business operation. Actually getting some of those individuals, not just a rested but extradited. The cooperation in the region is good. It is intensifying. We obviously are following the argentinian election closely. And we will continue to work away at this. We do, latin america is turning against of the law. It slowly but inevitably. They will find it latin america is denied to them. Anna malone, we caught them surveying the canal. Wed be very helpful for these governments to go ahead and designate for what it is. Its a terrorist organization. Think theres a questionnaire. Thank you. I have a question. Airport two days ago that the president is working we put the proposal to give our brent 15 billiondollar credit line. If this were to happen, would that undermine sanctions and what you think about the second question is about lebanon, we do talk about private businessmen, or a businesswoman, helping supplementing abella, can you be a little bit more clear. Are you looking at people from the private sector across secretarial lines in lebanon. Across other lines. Thanks. On the first question i will refer you to the white house but our course remains constant and unchanging terms of the efforts to degrade iranian finances. We need goes to lebanon, this has never been about any particular religious or ethnic identity. Its about hezbollah. If you know a collaborator we put has law regardless of your Political Party or your ideological identification or religious background, and you know assisting them, we are going to target you. They engage in a wide range of illicit Business Activities in lebanon well outside the financial sector. I alluded to a few of them. Pharmaceuticals come to mind. Abuse of free trade, the abuse of airport, and the seaports, these are all areas where it is incumbent upon Good Government in lebanon to take back control of their own country. We look forward to working very closely we put the lebanese government so long those lines. Public reporting was suggesting that there are more like 12 or more central bank handling has law accounts. Including companies that are known to own confessed hazlett agents. One night at the all off from the us dollar. What risks do you see in that and that theyre all correspondent accounts in new york. Secondly, given the and use it 700 million from tehran, given the global activity of hezbollah controlled and contracted operations that seem to me the run into the billions of dollars globally, is that never really significant really good at that. Can i get 10 million . [laughter] its good to see you again. So your question was regard to allegations regarding thanks inside lebanon. If either group correctly. We have to be careful to be very precise because no bank and no Financial System is foolproof or failsafe. Thats why we have a mlc regimes the bank have to implement. I meet routinely we put the bankers from across lebanon. I meet we put the banking abl, the Banking Organization that i am looking forward to meeting the new chairman if hes able to make it or if i can see him in lebanon. Who is the chairman of bank of barretts. The challenge we face, is that as the law, engages in some pretty sophisticated Financial Engineering to hide what they are really up to and it is less about requiring that we can segment each and every turn and hard about making sure that when a bank discovers that they have inadvertently allowed some kind of penetration of the Financial Institution that they rapidly solve the problem. And that is the way we have to deal we put it just as lebanon his problem, we have the same issues that we work on here in the United States. Narcotics traffickers and other kinds of issues. So what i think we have to be very mindful of the fact that the Financial Institution is volatile and interconnected and the key parameters both of a given country supervisors are able and wheeling to have the political will and pick capacity and can they demonstrate that they are stepping up to the challenge and i will tell you we have the confidence and have a great working relationship we put the Central Bank Government and the Supervisory Team and when he is on enormous payout amount of pressure not mention the fact that when he is physically threatened by nasser allis and mafia type dogs. They have also threatened other bankers they thought outside of a bank appears hell become a bank expunged hazlett from its rolls. But we are very mindful of the fact that this is an organization that will assassinate Prime Ministers to say nothing of bankers in lebanon. That said, when we find a bank like the trust bank that brazenly and knowingly colluded we put has law, to funnel money, we will not hesitate to ask attacks. In the financials consequences are what they are. But at the end of the day its very important that the lebanese people realizes nasrallah and his luck causing this risk to lebanon. Not the United States. Its not millions. This does not billions. There is additional money on top of what they get from the iranians. And what we believe is that just as when he is gone on his telethon his domestically, we expect that the call has gone out to his business operatives around the world to generate more funds for him. Thats why we are as i mentioned the investors a focus on the tri border area but there are other jurisdictions. We have destructed them devalues network and in africa, pauses network, we took down in gambia, were working on his european footprints as well. When he tried to hide his Business Operations on his son, weve designated him and his business concerns. We are chasing up this money around the world and we will not stop. Thank you sir my question to you is that you think this maximum pressure policy in order to be effective, will be if we ease the sanctions and bring the iranians to the table and somehow we negotiate we put the jp zero eight, this maximum pressure, i can rest assure you that is not very effective on the air gc and also in government. It only affects the average iranian on the streets. And we have put sanctions on iran for the past 40 years. I can rest assure you that the iranian government has a phd in going around these economic sanctions. In order to a big issue for americans, and also for the syrians issues, the best Expert Opinion would not be to bring the iranians to the table. Reagan renegotiate and then these issues that concern the United States. Think as much. I think you and i have a difference of opinion. But that goal has always been to compel the regime to change his behavior and return to the negotiating table to stop the terrorism to stop a Ballistic Missile program and to agree to a nuclear deal that actually doesnt have a glaring pitfalls our blind spots and it that the previous one to dislike the ones at kwajalein. The goal has always been a change in behavior thats what we are seeking to achieve. Because until we see that change in behavior, the Pressure Campaign will continue. According to policy for sanctions on them is justified. But extending the sanctions to include support from shade, or from other sectors, may affect lebanon on which the us is keen on things how does this work. Another question. New mergers and types of sanctions to what extent does the us leave the sanctions are effective. Last question. The lebanese has advised us we put us measures but another bank might shake the banking systems. [inaudible conversation] let me start with the last question and work backwards if i can remember all of the questions. Remind me if i forget them. The bank was not a systemically important bank. It was i think around 26 or so on the banking side. There is an equity problem that the bank of course has of course because of what they were doing, they were violating lebanon his own laws in regards to Money Laundering and they were lying to central bank about who they were transacting we put. And the governor has undertaken the necessary steps to bring the bank on Central Bank Control and to begin the liquidation process. These are always complicated issues but from what we see the right has been taking. There was innocent money and people who are innocent citizens of the country who had money in that bank and it is outrageous that the Bank Managers would jeopardize innocent people his money by taking on all of this other terrorist funding. The government of lebanon understands that there is innocent money tied up in their and they are moving in the right way to identify legitimate accounts and so that people can get their funds back while at the same time keeping both the Bank Accounts itself and has low money and that is key if we see hazlett money, were going to have issues. In terms of the overall political situation in lebanon, lebanon is the democracy and we respect that very much. Thats the whole. Here. Is to ensure that the lebanese people decide to run the country. We have excellent working relationships we put the Prime Minister and the president as well as who ive mentioned the financial sector. But it is going to be buried, that all key players in lebanon understand that if you provide Material Support that has longest garments of your Political Party and regardless of the ideal ability or ethnic background or religious. You know at risk. And the Treasury Department may well target you. I would not forecast such a thing even if i could. The gentleman we put a blue blazer. Second to last row. Thank you. Im from syria. My question is olympian, not a special case. The need of the government to push back against them. You know supporting the by sanctioning. My question to you is how are you supporting them to do this. Were you providing. You cannot just ask them to remember how. [inaudible conversation] against iran. The people remembered that what they had, they could be killed. At the same time, there is pressure from the United States to act. Another question regarding opportunity. I think they have their own financial resources. They are subcontracting we put the government. They have been smuggling and they do a lot of things. How you act on this. They have the money. I think its really important to stress that the United States government the whole of government has a deep relationship we put the government of lebanon across the full spectrum of activities. There is an enormous amount of collaboration and support that the department offense and Central Command for life to the Lebanese Armed forces. There are a wide range of assistance programs we put the United States department of state in a idf, the World Bank Provides a number of assistance programs. The entire confronts that was hosted in paris to examine additional investment opportunities, in water and electricity and so on we put something robustly supported by the United States and so we have a post partnership on all of these issues but we have every expectation that the lebanese government will expunge this terrorist cancer from his body politics. This is an organization we put a blood not just of hundreds of americans but argentinians and others on his hands we put the blood of lebanese people as well and so we do expect that we will Work Together to conclude this terrorist group and to drive them back from where they are today. You said that you may sanction. No i did not say that. Engaging in activities that are related to terrorism. Very precise here. We do not designate ethnic groups. We designate individuals who engage in terrorist activities. Since it has been designated as a terrorist organization and you know going after anybody in a sector and the government, so you dont think you know putting is it too much pressure on the israelis and you can go after the sources from all types. We are going after outside of lebanon very actively, i mentioned west africa in the tri border area and europe and wherever we see it, wherever we find it, but is there such a thing as is it too much pressure against terrorism. I would argue there its not. Aaron. How are you. After the interview, we sent is going to analyze. Not only for the financial. [inaudible conversation] you met we put the delegation throughout the year and probably are like another party would not be targeted. But the fact last night publicly speaking, is the decision that if you going to put any sanctions on these two groups, different. So i want to be very clear, i dont give guarantees on anything. There was some speculation that i cant say. We are not targeting ethnic groups. I just mentioned groups. We are targeting has lot and those who enable them to perform as terror apparatus. I dont care what party you know from or what ethnic background you have or what religion you have, if you know giving Material Support, you know by definition a terrorist in your own right and you will be targeted by the department of treasury so i havent seen the comments but his office and my work very closely together and we of course follow the department of states lead on all of the Foreign Policy dimensions and is very complicated issue. I will leave it at that. Hi thank you for your time. You mentioned that us aid to the Lebanese Armed forces. So us has provided we put 1. 6 billion in 2006. New reports that a significant part of the Lebanese Armed forces is comprised of people from g. I. Background who its not easy to determine where there pledge their allegiance. Both of it is we put a pilot or we put the other. There are reports that there are ties between the two as well. At the same time, they are i can take a degree of support. Comments from the president staying they are that they have major and essential roles in defense operators. As a partner and pillar. The Un Security Council has mentioned 1701 obligates the Lebanese Armed forces to disarm all groups. They had a large degree have not complied we put. I know this isnt giving you the full support blade argue that ignoring something if they use it, leaves to the same effect. Now if the us is giving la we put a name to reduce the presence, i would say largely it hasnt worked. The military is still far ahead. If this some day strategy isnt working, do you believe it is time to start conditioning or to put more checks and balances in the system that can actually encounter rather than providing something that just doesnt really show much like progress. You are asking a great set of questions. The integrity of the la office is the utmost importance not just to the United States but the president as well we discussed this. It is important that the laf ensure that there its not penetration of its ranks by his law and is another not otherwise colluding or engaging we put his law. So we very much just as we have the same expectations of the making side, the Financial System, we have the same expectation we put the armed forces. I will tell you that our department of defense feels very good about the relationship and very close we put the laf and the key role that they play. Final question. Thanks. Nick. So far the administration is largely shied away from targeting the chinese banks. The polls bank of china given i suppose the concerns about the financial act. Could you explain why that is in light of fairly strong evidence that some of the big chinese banks have been involved in financing Iranian Oil Imports also regards to north korea and the government. Is there concern that the impact would just be is it too bright in the global economy. So i think we have shown we put a number of our actions including that we would resolve there is no such thing is is it too big of a targeted. I probably wont go into the north korea discussion today that as a whole set of issues we can talk about there. Actually it wouldnt overstate any kind of complicity by large chinese banks in we put respect to our run in the oil trade. Weve been talking we put and working we put the Chinese Government on the payment mechanisms that were being used prior to the expiration of waivers. And the fact that we do expect importation of iranian oil to go to zero. And to understand financially how the fund that we were previously associated we put world purchases, that were allowed on the waivers previously and how those funds are handled. So there are chinese institutions but those were institutions that we acknowledge at the time of the waivers. An hour working we put the government to take the next step to really drive down importation of oil. It would of course be unacceptable for us to see any kind of search in chinese importation of oil. Just as is unacceptable to see these tankers slipping through on their way to syria. I want to respect her time constraint here and thank everyone for showing up here today. Its interesting and informati informative. [applause] [inaudible conversation] [inaudible conversation] [inaudible conversation] cspans washington journal, live every day with news and policy issues that impact you. Up sunday morning, wall street journal politics reporter Gabriel Rubin discusses the campaign congress and 2020. And the naacp president and ceo will be on to talk about voting discrimination. Then, the former white house on President Trumps reelection strategy. Be sure to watch cspans washington journal. Live at 7 00 eastern sunday morning. Join the discussion. Sunday at 9 00 eastern on afterwards. In his latest book, journalist then westhoff reports how labs and china manufacture a drug. He is interviewed by the New Hampshire democratic congresswoman. Founding cochair of the opioid task force. If you wered days, assigned to a university, you published a paper and it went into some university library, pretty obscure, hard to find. The in the internet age, all of these papers were published online. And publicly available, everywhere around the world. Exactly. So these rogue chemists began looking for these files to go through them and appropriate the chemical formulas to learn how to make these new drugs. At 10 a quite eastern, the oregon democratic senator provides is firsthand account for migrant families at the southern border in his book. Advocates had said that hundreds of boys who had been were being warehoused in a walmart. I went to find out about it. They decided they did not want me to see what was going on. And theled the police video went viral. America wasl of hearing about pages and secret warehousing of migrant children. Watch book tv every weekend on cspan2. Campaign 2020, watch our live coverage of the president ial candidate on the campaign trail, and make up your own mind. Cspans campaign 2020, your unfiltered view of politics. Now, jill biden, wife of former Vice President joe biden takes part in the opening of a Campaign Field office for the 2020 biden president ial campaign in New Hampshire. This is 35 minutes. [applause] good morning. [applause] great, awesome. Thank you for coming. Dover andrganizer for the surrounding areas. We are so excited to have dr. Jill biden here for our brandnew field office