Lost Oil Billions and a Network in the Shadow of Power
In the latest investigative report by Saeed Aganji, editor of Iran Gate and a journalist in the field of corruption, a picture is drawn of a complex network in the realm of oil sales, issuance of bank guarantees, and exertion of influence within the country’s executive structures. This network, according to him, has placed billions of dollars of oil resources into an ambiguous and non-transparent cycle.
According to Aganji, a group known as the Trustees has not returned billions of dollars from oil sales, while unsupported bank guarantees have been issued for them. He claims that instead of returning the oil funds, efforts are being made to sell several sanctioned oil tankers at about one-third of the market value, while the proceeds from oil sales, according to him, are held in various countries by individuals associated with this network.
In this report, the name Gholamreza Tajgardoon is mentioned as the leader of this movement. Aganji claims that despite two complaints filed by the Ministry of Intelligence and a verdict being issued, and despite the rejection of his credentials in a previous parliamentary term, he has managed to enter the parliament once again. He mentions accusations such as bribery, embezzlement, money laundering, collusion in government transactions, and exerting influence on official authorities. These claims have not yet been met with an official response from the named individual.
Aganji continues by mentioning individuals like Hassan Tofighi as the facilitator of behind-the-scenes contracts and Omid Tofighi as someone who, according to him, has reached the management of Polymer Gachsaran through influence. He claims that this group, through Ahmad Dehghan and the Energy Development Company Sam, which has acted as a representative of the Development Fund, has facilitated the issuance of unsupported guarantees for oil purchases and has benefited tens of millions of dollars from this route.
In another part of this narrative, Aganji claims that during Mohammad Shariatmadari’s ministry, extensive lobbying by Khodadad Gharibpour and Tajgardoon took place to keep Kasra Ghafoori in the Khorasan Steel complex. He also claims that now, with renewed support from Tajgardoon, efforts are underway to influence the National Development Fund.
Meanwhile, the name Mohammad Bahmei is also mentioned as one of the members of this circle, who, according to Aganji, has been arrested several times. It is also claimed that this network has played a role in purchasing second-hand oil equipment and offering it as new equipment. Aganji speaks of a network of relatives and colleagues of these individuals in Canada and Denmark, as well as a company operating in the United Arab Emirates, which he says is run behind the scenes by some of the named figures under someone else’s name.