Washington: Iran-Backed Militias Sending Funds to Revolutionary Guard

US Central Command Commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, said on Friday that Iran-backed militias in the region are sending money to the "Revolutionary Guard"; this is to ease the economic pressures it faces after 9 months of war.

The "Axios" website reported that while the US military prepares for the possibility of resuming large-scale combat operations against Iran, President Donald Trump's administration continues to exert enormous pressure on the regime by imposing a naval blockade and strict sanctions.

American officials say the economic squeeze is causing severe difficulties for Iran and its security forces, while driving the regime into a state of frustration and aggression.

The White House hopes these pressures will push Iran toward signing an agreement involving concessions on the nuclear file, but this has not happened so far, according to the site.

Cooper noted that the naval blockade cost Iran $25 billion in oil revenues. In addition, US Central Command and the Treasury Department managed to freeze $350 million held by Iran in the form of cryptocurrencies during recent weeks.

In a video message published on Friday, Cooper revealed that Iran-backed groups - such as "Hezbollah," "Hamas," and Iraqi militias, which received funding from Iran's "Revolutionary Guard" over many years - are now required to return those funds.

He said: "Financial pressure on the Iranian army has reached a significant level, with reports indicating that pro-Iran militias across the region are withholding their fighters' salaries; this is to transfer money to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which in turn is also not paying its own forces."

Cooper added that "the Iranian government is withholding salaries, pensions, and benefits from public sector workers, including members of internal security forces and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard."

Cooper attributed the noticeable increase in Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz to a state of "desperation" within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Despite those attacks, Cooper noted that the Strait of Hormuz remains open; 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil passed through it last week.

In recent weeks, US Central Command has almost completely stopped launching strikes against Iranian anti-ship missiles and attack drone launch platforms in the strait area.

An American official stated that this halt in strikes - which came following directives from the White House to avoid escalating the war ahead of midterm elections - gave Iran greater confidence in launching its attacks.

Consequently, US Central Command is concerned that increased attacks on ships could lead shipping companies to reconsider crossing the strait, which would result in a decrease in oil supplies and a sharp rise in oil prices.

American officials indicate that Iran is also deliberately intensifying its attacks on ships in an attempt to raise oil prices and increase pressure on Trump ahead of the midterm elections.

According to "Axios," the White House and Qatari mediators are still awaiting a response from Iran regarding a counter-US proposal to end the war. An American official said: "The matter is still under internal deliberation in Tehran."

A well-informed regional source directly involved stated that regional mediators informed Iran that it should not wait until after the midterm elections to respond to the US proposal.