WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2008

U.S. Hits Alleged Iranian Terror Front

NYC-Based Company Funneled Money Into Iran, Officials Say; Treasury Dept. Freezes Assets

  • The U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of a New York-based company that allegedly has ties to Iranian terror groups. Photo

    The U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of a New York-based company that allegedly has ties to Iranian terror groups.  (Google)

  • Timeline The U.S. And Iran

    Key events in once friendly, now contentious relationship between Washington and Tehran.

  • Fast Facts Iran

    Learn about the people, economy and history.

(CBS/AP)  The Bush administration moved Wednesday to clamp down financially on a New York City business suspected of acting as a front company for Iran's Bank Melli, which has been accused of providing support to Iran's nuclear program.

"This scheme to use a front company set up by Bank Melli - a known proliferator - to funnel money from the United States to Iran is yet another example of Iran's duplicity," said Stuart Levey, the Treasury Department's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

The Treasury Department covers action ASSA Corp. of New York City as well as its parent, ASSA Co. Ltd., located in the Channel Islands. Any assets belonging to the companies found in the United States are frozen and Americans are prohibited from doing business with them.

The U.S. government alleged that ASSA Corp. was created by Bank Melli to hold its interest in a building located at 650 Fifth Ave. in New York. The building's construction had been partly financed by a Bank Melli loan, Treasury said. ASSA Corp. co-owns the building through a partnership formed with the Alavi Foundation of New York, called 650 Fifth Avenue Co., the government said.

The United States alleged that ASSA Corp. "has repeatedly transferred rental income generated from the 650 Fifth Avenue partnership back to Bank Melli through ASSA Co. Ltd." The government alleged that ASSA Corp. has shared financial and other information on a regular basis with Bank Melli.

The department said its action does not interfere with the business or other activities of the building's tenants.

Read the Treasury Department's statement on the front company.
Last year the United States accused Bank Melli of providing services to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and put the bank on its list of companies whose assets must be frozen.

The move announced Wednesday marks the latest effort to tighten the financial noose on Iran, which the United States accuses of bankrolling terrorism and seeking a nuclear bomb. The United States has already imposed sanctions on several state-run Iranian banks and businesses along with elements of its defense ministry and Revolutionary Guard Corps.

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Video and Galleries from War On Terror

Add a Comment See all 87 Comments
by marcosis78 December 17, 2008 4:14 PM EST
Gee surprise, surprise...
Reply to this comment
by j_mack5 December 17, 2008 4:17 PM EST
How strange that we go after one terrorist and let another terrorist recruit our lawyers and lawmakers. There are worse terrorists than the ones in Iran. Have you heard about the LTTE Terrorists/LTTE/Tamil Tigers? Consider this: FBI''s Research: TAMING THE TAMIL TIGERS, From Here in the U.S. at http://www.fbi.gov/page2/jan08/tamil_tigers011008.html You should visit this link: http://www.sinhaya.com/uk.htm and Google for "British MP LTTE" and "British MP Tamil Terrorist".

Were you aware that Tamils in UK celebrate suicide bombers? This recent story was in Nov 2008: http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items08/241108-1.html

Funding wars with money from the West
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/ltte0306/

US Lawmakers with ties to LTTE money
http://www.island.lk/2008/02/11/features1.html

Bruce Fein and the Terrorists
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items08/140208-2.html
Reply to this comment
by evian_ycnan December 17, 2008 4:43 PM EST
Posted by J_Mack5 at 01:17 PM : Dec 17, 2008

There is a game being played within the offices of buildings in Washington to which we are not given the rules. Our role in this game seems to be nothing more than the cheering section. They take our money, tell us who to "boo" and then when someone does "surprise" us with a OKC or WTC, ours is to die or light our hair afire and call for war.

It`s all for money.
Reply to this comment
by ljb6599 December 17, 2008 4:57 PM EST
guyfrompa50....Republican conservatives have no answers either.Look what we have received from the last 8 years of Bush /Cheney!
Reply to this comment
by cdfoxtrot6 December 17, 2008 5:00 PM EST
Huh??? What does this have to do with "terrorism"? There is nothing illegal about Iran''s nuclear program. And even if there was, what does it have to do with "terrorism"? Why is CBS buying into this extreme right-wing view being spewed out by the neo-cons?
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:04 PM EST
Interesting move for an administration that is supposed to be on its way out.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:07 PM EST
No matter the topic. If Bush says something ... its a LIE.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by sockpuppet4 at 01:58 PM :

Of course. If someone lies to you 936 plus times, when is it that you want to believe him?
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:08 PM EST
Why wouldn''''t they be doing their job? Whenever I given notice I''''ve always worked dilligently to my last minute.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Abrame at 02:06 PM

well of course. That''s why this administration is so busy trying to save the economy.

I had to say that fast before I vomited.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:10 PM EST
Huh??? What does this have to do with "terrorism"? There is nothing illegal about Iran''''s nuclear program. And even if there was, what does it have to do with "terrorism"? Posted by cdfoxtrot6 at 02:00 PM

Exactly my thoughts. Suddenly, Iran is all terrorism.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:11 PM EST
Posted by Abrame at 02:10 PM

Sorry, I didn''t get that memo. Which lies were debunked? How about the big one told to the UN by Colin Powell, using some student''s pictures to pose as pictures of stockpiled weapons of mass destruction?
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:13 PM EST
Libs don''''t have the same work ethic as some of us do.. They figure that if they are on the way out that they need to drag others down with them..


Misery loves company..


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by you_fools at 02:12 PM

That must be why your little god Bush is working so hard on the failing economy...it must be his "work ethic."
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:18 PM EST
Knee jerk bigotry is something you can get help for. Posted by Abrame at 02:17 PM

Then get some help for yourself quickly. Don''t let me stand in your way.
Reply to this comment
by inventagod2 December 17, 2008 5:19 PM EST

More Bu$hLies.

Wonder if DlCK CHENEY still is a dues-paying member of PNAC?
You remember PNAC - the extreme right-wing radicals who want the USA to invade Iran for their OIL...
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:21 PM EST
Posted by you_fools at 02:16 PM

Wow. You actually hope that Obama is as bad as Bush. Nice way to admit your little god is a failure.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:22 PM EST
Would you care to elaborate what "it" is??

Posted by Abrame at 02:21 PM

Get a dictionary for those big words you can''t handle.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:24 PM EST
Is it great how they pretend to be "real Americans", until it''''s time to hope and pray that America fails, just to prove Obama and his supporters wrong?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by IamHungry68 at 02:23 PM

It''s beyond belief. I actually heard Limbaugh say this on his radio show. He actually hoped for the worst economy ever to punish 65 million Americans for voting for Obama. To Hannity''s credit (cough), he actually said he hoped for Obama''s success for the benefit of the country.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:27 PM EST
I just want to see who EWE blame after Bush is gone..
********

Who did you blame after Bush took over?
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:28 PM EST
Posted by Abrame at 02:27 PM

Wow, you''re actually stupid. Wow again.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:30 PM EST
Is it great how they pretend to be "real Americans", until it''''s time to hope and pray that America fails, just to prove Obama and his supporters wrong?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Abrame at 02:28 PM

I am glad you finally agree.
Reply to this comment
by frank-e1 December 17, 2008 5:30 PM EST
Re; More Bu$hLies.

Wonder if DlCK CHENEY still is a dues-paying member of PNAC?
You remember PNAC - the extreme right-wing radicals who want the USA to invade Iran for their OIL...

---
OK, I get it, shift the troops to Afghanistan so we can corner the OPIUM market --- much easier to transport per dollar -- I take it back --- Obama''s a genius!
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:30 PM EST
told you three days ago, that I''''''''m not playing your little troll games.
You have a question: ask it.
I''''''''ll do my best to answer it.
Until then, grow up.
Posted by IamHungry68

three days and still no answer....tick, tick, tick...still waiting...tick...tick...tick...yawn



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Abrame at 02:29 PM

I don''t know what question you think you asked, but if it is anything as stupid as you have posted here, you''re lucky to get a *** for a response.
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti December 17, 2008 5:34 PM EST
Thats funny, the worlds biggest user of state sponsored terror, the United States, calling others (people, businessesm countries) sponsor of terror. I guess we are the experts.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:34 PM EST
apologoze rudy, I failed to remove your name when I posted this. I had no intention to make it look like you posted it. Again, my sincere aopologies.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Abrame at 02:31 PM

Three Hail Mary''s and a fruit basket on Yom Kippur and you''re forgiven.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:35 PM EST
Typical libtard, thinks they know everyone''''s IQ and life long history. Mind readers.

Posted by Abrame at 02:32 PM

Typical.
Reply to this comment
by samael2014 December 17, 2008 5:35 PM EST
CBS/AP) The Bush administration moved Wednesday to clamp down financially on a New York City business suspected of acting as a front company for Iran''s Bank Melli, which has been accused of providing support to Iran''s nuclear progr

So, the alleged Iranian Terror front is this nuclear program again, that the U.N. and every world body including treaties like the Non Proliferation Treaty have no legal basis for condemning.

And a country like Israel which HAS a secret nuclear weapon program, and HAS sent spies on U.S. nuclear technology, CONVICTED spies... no freezing of their assets. In fact, taxpayers at the HEIGHT of financial debt and crisis, are involuntarily forced to serve as PARASITIC HOSTS for the state of Israel, as long as they continue to be an arrogant nuclear threat to the middle east propped up by special interests in the U.S.

I think I''m beginning to understand now...

The U.S. dollar''s back on the decline, OPEC is slashing output BIG-TIME, and the Bush administration is poking sticks at Iran again...

This is just lovely... couldn''t happen at a better time and from a better person.
Reply to this comment
by bailthisout December 17, 2008 5:36 PM EST
I believe that samael2014 is not an American?
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:37 PM EST
Posted by RowdynTex at 02:35 PM

Just keep posting the same post over and over again Rowdy. You might forget that one thought.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:41 PM EST
Posted by RowdynTex at 02:40 PM

Wow. What tangents you go off on.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:43 PM EST
This is what I don''t get, if Iran''s nuclear program is a terrorist plot, then why are China and Russia helping to build it? Why aren''t their assets also seized for supportint terrorism?
Reply to this comment
by TommyCraig December 17, 2008 5:44 PM EST
Please, PLEASE tell me: name ONE GOOD THING that Bush did as president, for the benefit of our country.
Posted by IamHungry68 at 02:40 PM : Dec 17, 2008
He gave amnesty to the thanksgiving turkey!
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:44 PM EST
Posted by RowdynTex at 02:42 PM

Keep spamming the same message, Rowdy. It''s your one contribution to your life''s goals.
Reply to this comment
by bailthisout December 17, 2008 5:46 PM EST
Please, PLEASE tell me: name ONE GOOD THING that Bush did as president, for the benefit of our country.
Posted by IamHungry68 at 02:40 PM : Dec 17, 2008

President Bush won in 2000 and 2004 and ensured that Al Gore and John Kerry were never President.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 5:46 PM EST
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by IamHungry68 at 02:44 PM

The Supreme Court will be remembered as a Republican tool for that one. Gore had every right to demand a recount, but then Bush thugs scared the workers and they couldn''t get their job done. Then the Supreme Court stepped and made sure they couldn''t get their job done, despite the fact that the recount was perfectly legal.
Reply to this comment
by TommyCraig December 17, 2008 5:48 PM EST
Then the Supreme Court stepped and made sure they couldn''''t get their job done, despite the fact that the recount was perfectly legal.
Posted by rudy6543 at 02:46 PM : Dec 17, 2008
They re-counted 5 times! Everytime Bush won. They even through out the military votes (disgraceful).
Reply to this comment
by antizion December 17, 2008 5:51 PM EST
Meanwhile back at the ranch, Morgan Stanley sets up an illegal trading operation in GB to bid up the price of oil and pillage the american people for trillions.

Then.... the banks go to Washington and get another trillion of taxpayer dollars from our corrupt congress and we/they don''t even know where it went.

But pay no attention to that, rent money went to a country that is trying to generate electricity with a nuclear plant which is completely legal and their right.

Unfortunately it pisses of the Israelis because they are afraid someone might compete with their illegal nuclear weapons program someday.
Reply to this comment
by bailthisout December 17, 2008 5:54 PM EST
You think Bush stealing the elections came out on the positive side for America?!?!?
-----------------------------------
Posted by IamHungry68

LOL. The 2000 and 2004 elections are done - GET OVER IT or invent a time machine. LOL
Reply to this comment
by TommyCraig December 17, 2008 6:00 PM EST
In the first full study of Florida''s ballots since the election ended, The Miami Herald and USA Today reported George W. Bush would have widened his 537-vote victory to a 1,665-vote margin if the recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court would have been allowed to continue, using standards that would have allowed even faintly dimpled "undervotes" -- ballots the voter has noticeably indented but had not punched all the way through -- to be counted.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/media_watch/jan-june01/recount_4-3.html

Reply to this comment
by earth562 December 17, 2008 6:12 PM EST
The one thing George Bush did for America was to be such a blantant liar and thief that enough people took notice to run him out of town.

Now, following in the steps of Herbert Hoover he is delivering the SECOND DEPRESSION.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by johndevinejr at 03:08 PM : Dec 17, 2008

Reread your history of Hoover and you might find out that it was not him that caused the Great Depression.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 6:29 PM EST
And what''''s even funnier is that every blue state in the Union has a higher unemployment rate...Oregon''''s just went above 10%...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RowdynTex at 03:27 PM

Only to someone as evil as you, you witch, would take delight in something like that. Oregon relies highly on the logging industry. Now that housing construction is down, people are being laid off left and right. You are a truly a piece of work. Tell us about your white Wiccan ways.
Reply to this comment
by TommyCraig December 17, 2008 6:31 PM EST
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent in September, matching the 30-year low touched in April, as strong job growth in service industries helped reverse a two-month decline in hiring, the government reported Friday.
October 6, 2000: 9:13 a.m. ET
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 6:34 PM EST
A wonderful Born Again Christian, don''''t ya think?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by johndevinejr at 03:32 PM

The Methodist Church should be proud. Btw, just do a simple google of the Methodists and find out how in love with Hitler they were.
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti December 17, 2008 6:37 PM EST
By the way, we cannot forget that the 2000 and 2004 elections were stolen by the Neo Cons any more than we can forget the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor or 911. We have to remember this and continue to investigate so that we do not let this tragic fascist stuff happen again.
Reply to this comment
by cusefan21 December 17, 2008 6:37 PM EST
About time the feds did a job. time to start seizing more ARAB assets if they want to screw us on oil pricing along with anything to do with Venazula too
Reply to this comment
by TommyCraig December 17, 2008 6:43 PM EST
"By the way, we cannot forget that the 2000 and 2004 elections were stolen by the Neo Cons any more than we can forget the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor or 911. We have to remember this and continue to investigate so that we do not let this tragic fascist stuff happen again".
Posted by noloyalisti at 03:37 PM : Dec 17, 2008

"In the first full study of Florida''''s ballots since the election ended, The Miami Herald and USA Today reported George W. Bush would have widened his 537-vote victory to a 1,665-vote margin if the recount ordered by the Florida Supreme Court would have been allowed to continue, using standards that would have allowed even faintly dimpled "undervotes" -- ballots the voter has noticeably indented but had not punched all the way through -- to be counted".
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/me
dia/media_watch/jan-june01/recount_4-3.h
tml
Reply to this comment
by questionnews December 17, 2008 6:46 PM EST
Only to someone as evil as you, you witch, would take delight in something like that. Oregon relies highly on the logging industry. Now that housing construction is down, people are being laid off left and right. You are a truly a piece of work. Tell us about your white Wiccan ways.

Posted by rudy6543 at 03:29 PM : Dec 17, 2008

Oregon''s income from the logging industry is hardly even an industry anymore. The state has been rather draconian in locking out timber companies from logging so that now the majority of timber producing counties are now relying on the Federal Timber Payment programs to make up for the lost revenue that used to easily pay for operating the county expenditures. Because of all the restrictions placed timber harvesting, in several counties 70% of the revenue coming into those counties is federal tax money. The Gov. basically told these counties that you can''t log, but we will give you tax dollars (Federal Welfare) to run your county. This has been going on for 15 years now.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 6:51 PM EST
Posted by Questionnews at 03:46 PM

Draconian? I''ll remember that as I pass by all the wood mills throughout Oregon.
Reply to this comment
by questionnews December 17, 2008 6:57 PM EST
Draconian? I''''ll remember that as I pass by all the wood mills throughout Oregon.

Posted by rudy6543 at 03:51 PM : Dec 17, 2008

The board foot totals being harvested in Oregon are down around 65% from the total harvested in 1994 and are predicted to lower another 12% by 2015. There are mills & plywood plants that are still operating, but timber isn''t even one of the top 20 of industries that contribute the most to state revenues. At one time it was the #1 source of revenue for the state, but those days are long gone.
Reply to this comment
by waqahi December 17, 2008 7:23 PM EST
This is another touch down for the Zionists in their game to take the USA into a head on clash with the Persians after they have caused enough feuds and bloodshed with the Arabs.

http://whitewraithe.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/how-zionists-occupy-two-nations-america-and-palestine/

Should we feel bad for America? I say NO. America still has some grains in its head that need to be milled.

Amongst them we have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who do mischief. Quran; AL-MAEDA (THE TABLE, THE TABLE SPREAD) 005.064
Reply to this comment
by takebackusa December 17, 2008 7:25 PM EST
Yeah and ding dong, it didn''''t happen either until the republicans took over congress!

Posted by RowdynTex at 04:12 PM : Dec 17, 2008

TRANSLATION: I don''t care about facts, I just make things up whenever I want.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 17, 2008 7:35 PM EST
TRANSLATION: I don''''t care about facts, I just make things up whenever I want.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by takebackusa at 04:25 PM

Yep, that''s Rowdy''s philosophy.
Reply to this comment
See all 87 Comments
  • MOST POPULAR
  • Viewed
  • Commented
Latest News
Featured Blogs