Iran-backed groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Shia militias in Iraq, are returning funds to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as economic pressure on Tehran intensifies after nine months of war.

Axar.az reports, citing CENTCOM, that US CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said financial strain had become so severe that some Iran-aligned militias were withholding payments to their own fighters to send money back to the IRGC.

"The financial strain on Iran's military has become so significant that there are reports about Iran-aligned militia groups across the region withholding payments for their soldiers in order to funnel money back to the IRGC, which also isn't paying its troops," he said.

Cooper said the US naval blockade had cost Iran $25 billion in lost oil revenue. US Central Command and the Treasury Department had also frozen $350 million in Iranian cryptocurrency in recent weeks.

He added that the Iranian government was withholding salaries, pensions and benefits from public-sector workers, including internal security forces and IRGC personnel.

Cooper attributed the increase in Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz to desperation within the IRGC. He said around 400 ships and 100 million barrels of oil had moved through the strait over the previous week.