Corruption in the Shamkhani family
According to Iran Gate, an investigation into the corruption case of the Shamkhani family in the areas of unofficial and mafia-style oil exports and money laundering ultimately leads the audience to a golden triangle of three families from the Revolutionary Guards’ commanders. In addition to the Shamkhani family, who are the main focus of this case, the significant role of the leadership families and the Tehriri family can be mentioned.
Iran Gate intends to reach a final summary in the fifth part of the corruption case of the Shamkhani family, so that the audience can digest the presented information. As the title suggests, the Shamkhani family is the central nucleus of this mafia gang, but the important role of the other two families in this corruption case cannot be overlooked.
The corrupt golden triangle of commanders
As discussed in the previous four parts, many individuals and families have supported the Shamkhani mafia gang in the field of unofficial and smuggled oil exports from Iran. Among the most important of these families are the Tehriri and leadership families associated with the Revolutionary Guards commanders. However, as mentioned earlier, the role of the Tehriri and leadership families is significantly more important and central than others.
The family of Sardar Shamsali Taheri, known as Mostafa Taheri and Ali Taheri, who passed away on April 17, 2020, was one of the pillars of the Shemkhani mafia gang. As mentioned in the second part of this case, Ehsan Taheri, the son of Sardar Shamsali Taheri, is responsible for managing and transferring foreign currency resources into the country through the family-owned exchange office.
The other side of this mafia triangle is completed by the civil leader brothers Ali and Mohammadreza. These two brothers, in addition to extensive activities in the field of currency and goods smuggling, can also own a controversial company called Fertak Arvin, which is active in the production of sand and gravel. Interestingly, a person named Abolfazl Shemkhani is also present in this company, who has also been involved in corruption cases.
As mentioned in the fourth part of this case, the Vazra Mosque is the meeting place for members of this mafia gang. In fact, this mosque is known as the head of the corruption triangle, which manages everything from underground oil exports to goods smuggling, currency exchange, and money laundering from this location, by Hussein Shemkhani, the son of Ali Shemkhani, the former secretary of the National Security Council.
The revealed ghost fleets
Saeed Aganji, a journalist and researcher in the field of recent economic crimes, has recently revealed information about the ships belonging to this mafia gang. He has published names and details of these ships, known as ghost fleets, on his personal Twitter page. This has opened up new pages of corruption cases related to the Ali Shamkhani family. The seizure of a Greek ship carrying one million barrels of Iranian oil worth 120 million dollars was the starting point, and the names of other active ships in the ghost fleet are also to be disclosed.
On June 20, 2023, Aganji released information related to a container ship with the flag of Malta. This ship, which had departed from the Port of Tilava in Iran, was docked in the Port Klang of Malaysia on the same day.
However, on the same day, the journalist published information about tracking 10 ships from the ghost fleet. These details even mention heavy traffic at Shahid Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas. According to Aganji’s tweet, this traffic is due to off-schedule loading of ships that have entered the port with the Tanzanian flag, all of which belong to the Shamkhani mafia gang.
However, an interesting and new point that has been revealed in this regard by Aganji is the role of Hassan Shamkhani in managing ghost fleets. Previously, the name Hassan Shamkhani was only heard in the case of the Admiral company, but now it has become clear that Hassan, along with his older brother and other members of the family, was responsible for managing the famous ghost fleets.
Comprehensive infiltration of the Shamkhani gang
As mentioned in various sections of this case, the Shamkhani mafia gang has deep-rooted and extensive infiltration in various institutions and organizations. But now it has been revealed that the Shamkhani family also has a strong influence in the Ports and Maritime Organization. According to Saeed Aganji’s statements, in recent days, the security of the Ports and Maritime Organization has summoned managers of private companies and given serious warnings about protesting against the loading of out-of-turn ships belonging to the ghost fleets.
This point must be put alongside the direct infiltration of the grieving family into the Anti-Smuggling and Currency Smuggling Headquarters. This family, who are one of the main pillars of the Shemkhani mafia gang, along with organizations such as the Ports and Shipping Organization, creates a conducive environment for illegal activities and the crimes of the Shemkhani gang. This is happening while Iran Gate has published accurate information about this case and no reaction has been seen from the official institutions of the Islamic Republic.
Therefore, it can be guessed that the scope of this gang’s infiltration is much larger and more extensive than various organizations and institutions, and the corruption rings among the leaders of the authorities must be investigated. Because the figures that have been released so far about this case indicate extensive transfer of resources through this mafia gang, and it is not believable that, for example, the Ministry of Oil, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Economy, the Prime Minister of the Thirteenth Government, the head of the judiciary, the head of the parliament, and even the President of the Islamic Republic are unaware of the destructive activities of the Shemkhani mafia gang.
The Ins and Outs of Corruption in the Shemkhani Family – Part Four
The Ins and Outs of Corruption in the Shemkhani Family – Part Three
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