Bloomberg Report on Hossein Shamkhani's Role in Arms Sales to Russia

On Tuesday, December 25, Bloomberg reported in detail on the role of Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, as a key player in the sale of arms to Russia. The news agency cites American officials and other informed sources, stating that Hossein Shamkhani is one of the main actors in the Islamic Republic in supplying weapons to Russia. Bloomberg's report notes that Hossein Shamkhani is known as 'Hector' due to his involvement in the smuggling of Iranian oil, and reveals his role in establishing a route for sending weapons to Russia. These weapons are transferred to Russia via the Caspian Sea for Moscow to use in its military aggression against Ukraine. According to sources, Hossein Shamkhani has sent at least two shipments of missiles, drone parts, and dual-use goods by ship from the Caspian Sea to Russia through a network of businesses he oversees, including in Dubai. This information was provided to the American media by American and British sources, European officials, and other informed individuals who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue. According to Bloomberg's report, Moscow pays for these weapons with oil shipments, which has become a common practice in trade between the two countries due to U.S. and European sanctions against Tehran. These transactions, which are another reason for Russia's increased use of Iranian weapons in its attack on Ukraine, demonstrate another aspect of Hossein Shamkhani's business empire, whose father is a senior advisor to Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. The report continues that the weapons transferred by Hossein Shamkhani's companies to Russia account for more than a quarter of all weapons sent by the Iranian government to Russia. Bloomberg states that Hossein Shamkhani has significant financial resources and offices in London, Geneva, Singapore, as well as a business based in Dubai that deals with Western oil companies, making him a significant player in the Islamic Republic's international transactions. This report comes at a time when Tehran and Moscow have confirmed the expansion of bilateral cooperation without detailing specifics. The Islamic Republic and Russia, as well as the lawyer and company associated with Hossein Shamkhani in Dubai, did not respond to Bloomberg's request for comment before the report was published. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department expressed concern over the expanding military cooperation between the Islamic Republic and Russia since the onset of Moscow's aggression against Ukraine, telling Bloomberg that this partnership threatens European security and indicates an increase in the destabilizing influence of the Iranian government in the Middle East and the world.