Iran's Money Vanishes: The Secret Mechanism That Became the Regime's Nightmare

Senior Iranian officials have admitted that at least $1.6 billion has disappeared from a secret network of intermediaries used to transfer oil revenues under sanctions. Dozens of criminal cases have been opened, and some suspects have fled. The affair reveals oversight failures in the 'trustee' mechanism.

Senior Iranian officials have admitted that at least $1.6 billion has disappeared from a secret network of intermediaries designed to transfer oil revenues under international sanctions. Dozens of criminal cases have been opened against company managers, and some suspects have fled the country. The head of the state oversight organization, Zabihollah Khodayan, said that one intermediary alone failed to return $200 million. The prosecution has requested international arrest warrants for 15 fugitives. Majid Reza Hariri, head of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce, criticized the conduct and asked how the intermediaries were selected. The 'trustee' system developed in response to sanctions and operated without transparency and oversight. The affair raises questions about government supervision and the management of oil revenues.