US sanctions Sweden-based Kurdish gang leader over Iran-linked attacks
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Rawa Majid, the Kurdish leader of Foxtrot Network, a transnational criminal organization based in Sweden over his reported involvement in arms and drugs trafficking and cooperation with Iran in 'attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe.'
'The United States is sanctioning the Foxtrot Network, a transnational criminal organization, and its fugitive leader Rawa Majid,' the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, adding that the network 'is involved in arms trafficking and contributes to rising violence in Northern Europe, including shootings, contract killings, and assaults.'
Rawa Majid, widely known as the Kurdish Fox, is an Iranian-born Kurdish-Swedish national wanted on multiple charges in Sweden. His group is accused of orchestrating drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and violent crimes such as shootings and contract killings across Northern Europe.
The statement additionally accused Iran of 'leveraging the Foxtrot Network to carry out attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Europe, including the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, in January 2024.' It said Majid had cooperated with the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security that are already under US sanctions.
According to Rubio's statement, the US State and Treasury Department 'will continue to expose and impose costs on the Iranian regime for its malign activities as part of the [US President Donald] Trump Administration's renewed maximum pressure campaigns.'
Trump in early February restored the maximum pressure policy against Iran, arguing that Tehran is 'too close' to obtaining nuclear weapons, but expressed interest in negotiating a deal with Iran.
In late February, the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on over 30 individuals and vessels for their 'involvement' in importing Iranian petroleum-related products.
Amid the increased US sanctions, Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that his country will 'not even consider' negotiating under pressure and intimidation. The Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in February slammed negotiations with the US as 'unwise.'
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