A United Nations agency has announced cooperation with an organization supported by the Iranian government and that maintains close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.
“United Nations Population Fund has voiced readiness to cooperate with the relief aid committee on health and rehabilitation of bread-earning women,” the Islamic Republic’s official news agency ISNA reported.
“Imam Khomeini relief aid committee has signed letter of understanding on broadening cooperation with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The World Health Organization and OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs),” deputy director of the Imam Khomeini relief aid committee for international affairs Mohammad Mohammadifard said, according to ISNA.
Michael Rubin of Commentary Magazine reported that, “While the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee describes itself as a charity and, indeed, often distributes blankets and food to the poor, the Supreme Leader controls its assets, and the group has a very close relationship to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
Two years ago, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Lebanese branches of the Committee “for being owned or controlled by Hizbullah and for providing financial and material support to Hizbullah and its director.”
Rubin stated that while “there’s nothing wrong with supporting women’s health, ... there are many charities out there to choose from, most of which are not tainted by involvement in terrorism.
“Given that money is fungible, and the Iranians use the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee for surveillance and to provide cover to terror operatives, it is shameful that the United Nations would embrace the group."