U.S. Representative

WASHINGTON, D.C. --U.S. Rep. Dennis A. Ross (R-FL-15), Senior Deputy Majority Whip and member of the bipartisan Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing, today participated in the Task Force’s first hearing entitled, “A Survey of Global Terrorism and Terrorist Financing.” During this hearing, Ross inquired about the ongoing negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear development program and the effect this might have on their ability to finance terrorist organizations.

Ross specifically asked witness Johnathan Schanzer if there is a central bank all terrorist groups use. Schanzer confirmed that Iran is operating like a central bank for terrorists.

Rep. Ross: [W]ould you say there is a great deal of cooperation between the various terrorist groups? I mean, between Hezbollah, Hamas, al-Shabaab; it’s almost as if… would one draw the conclusion that there is a terrorist central bank?

Dr. Schanzer: Well, I would say that Iran is probably the terrorist central bank in terms of the connections it has in terms of all of these various terrorist groups. And there is this notion out there that Sunnis and Shiites don’t work together but … there is a significant cell of al-Qaeda operatives and financiers based in Iran.  

Dr. Schanzer is the Vice President at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He worked as a terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he played an integral role in the designation of numerous terrorist financiers.

Click here to watch Ross’ round of questioning

 “Iran is the lead sponsor of radical Islamic terrorism throughout the world today. At the same time, President Obama and his administration are in the process of negotiating an agreement with Iran that would end current economic sanctions, allowing an estimated $50 billion to enter their economy.

“These funds will be nearly impossible to keep out of the hands of terrorist groups. This administration must not strike a deal with Iran that allows them to contribute more financial resources to radical Islamic terrorists across the globe.”

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