The sorrowful tale of the Trusties has no end.
Saeed Aghanji, an investigative journalist in the field of corruption and editor-in-chief of the Iran Gate News Agency, has addressed the endless story of the Trusties in his latest note. Conflicting information and incorrect narratives about the Trusties affair may, rather than clarifying the issue, lead to the core matter being sidelined. If the claims made about it are true, the affair involves billions of dollars from oil sales and a network of intermediaries.
For about a year, documents and reports have been published regarding Ali Larijani and the efforts to dismiss the Oil Minister, Mohsen Paknejad. The main claim is that the disputes were not merely managerial quarrels but were related to issues such as the non-return of billions of dollars from oil sales and some private meetings and appointments of the minister at the Niavaran house.
It is said in this narrative that during two critical periods of the war, the Oil Minister was unavailable, and after the protection group reported his absence to Larijani, the head of the Ministry of Oil’s protection was also changed, which caused Larijani’s dissatisfaction. However, the more controversial part of the story refers to what critics call the corruption ring in the sale of oil, equipment, and petrochemical products. According to this claim, a circle of individuals and intermediaries has formed around the Ministry of Oil, resulting in the intensification of the crisis and the limitation of the entry of competent and honest individuals into the oil sales process.
A simple yet heavy question is raised: Why, despite the sensitivity of the matter, was the dismissal of Paknejad halted during two phases of the war? More importantly, has this delay provided more opportunity for the expansion of intermediary networks and potential corruption?
Meanwhile, the person raising this question has warned that if the supervisory and security institutions do not quickly clarify the path of investigation and decision-making regarding the continuation of the Oil Minister’s activities, more details about the minister’s private appointments at the Niavaran house and what is called the main circle of the Trusties will be released.
Ehsan Tahiri’s name also came up.
Another name mentioned in this narrative is Ehsan Tahiri, who is referred to as one of the bank debtors and linked to the Trusties.
Meanwhile, documents prove that Tahiri is imprisoned in the UAE, and the reason for his imprisonment is stated to be drug-related charges.
Nevertheless, more details about Tahiri’s case and the names of other Trusties who are imprisoned in the UAE will be published later.
Now the main question is whether this case is really just a political and managerial dispute, or, as critics claim, there are traces of a larger network in oil sales and currency transfers. The unfinished and indeed sorrowful tale of the Trusties is an additional burden on the Iranian people, who are enduring the harshest economic conditions, compounded by the ill intentions, greed, and corruption of some managers.