Exit of the 700 Million Dollar Man from Iran

The government-aligned newspaper Iran reported on its front page on September 22 that "Hassan Rouhani, in response to the distorters of the JCPOA, said: 'I will not allow extremists to discourage the nation.'" In his remarks during a meeting with cooperative union managers and exemplary workers in the field of cooperation, Rouhani stated: "No one in history can say that what our national heroes achieved through two years of negotiations with six world powers is not in line with the greatness and dignity of the Iranian nation." Rouhani's statements in defense of the nuclear agreement, the JCPOA, were also featured on the front pages of the newspapers Etemad, Shargh, Shahrvand, Etemad, Jomhouri Islami, and Qanoon. Etemad referred to the President's remarks as directed at extremist groups in Iran, stating: "Hassan Rouhani continues to warn. This time, the extremists who intend to discourage the nation are addressed. Extremists who discuss the words of a proud agreement still see the President of the government in front of them, who clearly states that he will not allow such actions. Although Rouhani did not specify who he was addressing, a careful examination of his words reveals the essence of the matter." Meanwhile, the newspaper Kayhan wrote on its front page: "Accusing revolutionary youth of extremism is the mission of the enemy's fifth column." This newspaper also stated in its headline, "Artificial crisis in people's livelihood paves the way for the JCPOA," writing: "The creeping crisis-creating current intends to create several artificial crises to mislead society into believing that there is no way to overcome the crises except by reconciling with America." Kayhan emphasized that "a specific current has taken the livelihood of the people hostage to the nuclear agreement and reconciliation with the West and responds to critics by creating fluctuations and disruptions in people's lives," calling for action from security and judicial authorities, stating: "The indifference of security and judicial authorities to this disastrous hostage-taking is astonishing." The newspaper Javan, close to the Revolutionary Guards, also reported on its front page quoting Mohammad Reza Naqdi, the commander of the Basij, saying: "Relations with America are the hope of the plunderers of public wealth." With the continued rise in currency prices and the dollar reaching 3,460 tomans in the Tehran market, the newspaper Jahan Sanat reported on Sunday about "suspicions of currency price manipulation" by Rouhani's government to cover budget deficits and pay cash subsidies. The newspaper Shargh, while publishing a report about the "controversial contract between Iran and Turkmenistan," reported the exit of one of the suspects in this case, known as the "700 Million Dollar Man," from Iran. This newspaper emphasized that "the mystery of the entry of a network of individuals similar to Babak Zanjani into Iran's economy is worth pondering," stating: "Most of them have not been in Iran for years and have businesses abroad, have been guests of Evin for a while, and have various violations and benefits from rents in their files," and "the question of why in a compassionate and justice-oriented government individuals with a history of imprisonment and detention were allowed to enter economic projects is something that more than anyone else Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should be held accountable for." The newspaper Qanoon, while publishing a report on the "electoral activities of conservatives," named Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi as the "center of gravity of the dispute" among various factions of this political faction. The newspaper Arman, while publishing parts of the statements of the Friday Imam of Isfahan regarding "the priority of men's employment over women's," reported that Youssef Tabatabai-Najad emphasized that "in Islam, the duty of breadwinning is assigned to men, not women," addressing women: "Let men be the first to enter various jobs, and only under such conditions will they have the ability to marry you, and you can also dignifiedly manage your independent homes and husbands." The newspaper Etemad dedicated its front page photo to "Jeremy Corbyn" and wrote: This "leftist politician became the leader of the Labour Party, one of the two major political factions in England." The newspaper Javan also dedicated its front page photo to Jeremy Corbyn's presence at a rally in support of Gaza, stating: "The anti-sanction politician of Iran became the leader of the Labour Party in England." Javan emphasized that Jeremy Corbyn is among the supporters of Palestine and critics of Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip, writing that the new leader of the Labour Party "is a serious opponent of sanctions against Iran and has repeatedly called for the lifting of all sanctions against Iran and last June, along with Jack Straw, was part of a parliamentary group that visited Tehran and met with Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif." The newspaper Shahrvand dedicated its front page to the entry of refugees into Europe, stating: "With the installation of metal walls at the Hungarian border, the conditions for refugees in the heart of Europe have become more difficult." This newspaper also reported that "the number of victims of the crane collapse at the Grand Mosque has reached 110." The newspaper Resalat published the statements of Nasser Makarem Shirazi against the Saudi government on its front page, quoting this religious authority based in Qom as saying: "The martyrdom of the pilgrims at the Grand Mosque shows the mismanagement of the Al Saud." The increase in the dollar price continues; "suspicions of government manipulation in the currency market" to cover budget deficits. With the continued rise in currency prices and the dollar reaching 3,460 tomans in the Tehran market, the newspaper Jahan Sanat reported on Sunday about "suspicions of currency price manipulation" by Rouhani's government to cover budget deficits and pay cash subsidies. This newspaper wrote: "For some time, suspicions of currency rate manipulation have intensified, and we are witnessing fluctuations in the currency market, which occur more in the middle of the month coinciding with the payment of cash subsidies, as the government, given the budget deficit for cash subsidies and reduced currency resources, has no choice but to manipulate the currency rate." Elaheh Beigi, in her report for Jahan Sanat, pointed out that the government "has recently shocked the market with economic maneuvers such as disclosing bank account information and has compensated part of the cash subsidy resource deficit from the difference in currency rates," writing: "It is noteworthy that in such conditions, the Central Bank is seeking to unify the currency rate in the near future, so that in recent months, with a gradual increase in the exchange rate, the initial steps for currency unification have been taken and is seeking to unify the currency through this directive, which experts believe the market currently does not have the potential for such shocks." Jahan Sanat also reported that Masoud Khansari, the head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, explicitly spoke about "manipulation of the currency rate in the market" and "warned about the consequences of this action." According to this newspaper, Masoud Khansari pointed out that "the currency price is currently manipulated in the market and it is not the market that determines the currency price, resulting in a gap of 500 to 600 tomans between free and exchange rates, so given the limited resources of exchange rates, the government must distribute these limited resources among the applicants for this cheap currency, and from here the issue of issuing permits for imports begins, so the question of who can import goods and who cannot becomes controversial." The head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce also stated that "in this context, the government has to take the next step and intervene in tariffs, thus manipulating them, raising and lowering them, and in the meantime, corruption arises because rent is distributed, so oversight bodies must intervene, which will lead to arrests in the economy." Jahan Sanat quoted Masoud Khansari as saying: If the currency rate is determined by supply and demand, then "this much motivation for rent-seeking would not arise, so the private sector should be allowed to operate and supply and demand mechanisms should enter the market and determine the rates, although government oversight should still be maintained." Mohammad Hossein Babalu, a currency market analyst, also told Jahan Sanat: "Changing the currency rate in the market is a trick of governments to increase exports and reduce imports, but in the current situation, where our oil exports have decreased both in quantity and price, the government faces a severe decline in currency revenues and, on the other hand, with the approach of the second half of the year, the government’s budget deficit also becomes apparent." According to this currency market analyst, "since the currency earnings of the industrial sector in Iran are based on petrochemicals and the prices of most petrochemical products have decreased, undoubtedly in the final months of the year, the supply of currency to the market will sharply decline." Mohammad Hossein Babalu pointed out that "in the past two months, the volume of imports has decreased and the demand for currency has declined," and all these factors have fueled fluctuations in the currency market, telling Jahan Sanat: "The exchange rate should be 10 to 12 percent different from the market rate, but currently, the exchange rate has surged to nearly three thousand tomans, which exacerbates concerns about rising prices, so that the dollar is currently at 3,460 tomans, which is a high figure compared to the equilibrium rate, and in the market, we are witnessing the excitement of brokers buying currency, and it is predicted that the dollar will become more expensive in the near future." Unveiling another financial corruption case; "Exit of the 700 Million Dollar Man from Iran." The newspaper Shargh, while publishing a report about the "controversial contract between Iran and Turkmenistan," reported the exit of one of the suspects in this case, known as the "700 Million Dollar Man," from Iran. This newspaper pointed out that the contract for the construction of the Atrak-Barkat railway was signed on January 5, 2010, between the presidents of Iran and Turkmenistan, stating that the contract amount, as reported by Hamid Ghader Marzi, a member of parliament, was 700 million dollars and has so far led to the arrest of several individuals related to this case in Turkmenistan, but "in Iran, the individual in question, or Mr. 'A-R,' has left the country and left no trace behind." Ameneh Shirafkan, a reporter for Shargh, noted that the story of the entry of the 700 Million Dollar Man into the Atrak-Barkat railway construction contract "bears many similarities to the phenomenon of Babak Zanjani," writing that "he, like Babak Zanjani, has multiple financial misconduct cases." Hamid Ghader Marzi, a member of the ninth parliament, told Shargh: "As far as I know, this individual has had many misconduct cases similar to Babak Zanjani, and officials have undoubtedly been aware of his rent-seeking and economic corruption case, and it is unclear why such a disreputable economic figure was entrusted with this project? Did individuals benefit from this introduction and outsourcing, or were there other interests involved? Why were well-known economic figures with registered companies and clear economic identities not used in this project and other specific projects?" According to this newspaper, "the construction of the railway between Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan began five years ago after several years of lengthy negotiations between Iran and Turkmenistan" and was supposed to proceed in a participatory manner, "meaning that 50 percent of the work, an amount of about 350 million dollars, would be loaned to the Turkmen government through the Islamic Development Bank. The Iranian side also intended to provide the other 50 percent as a loan to the Turkmen government" and it was after that "in 2009, the Iranian government handed over the construction of this large national and infrastructural railway project - for unknown reasons - to Pars Energy Company owned by Mr. 'A-R.'" The newspaper Shargh reported on the continuation of this 700 million dollar project saga, quoting Rahim Zareh, a member of parliament, stating: "The individual in question takes the project from the government and, abusing the financial resources of the Islamic Development Bank and with comprehensive guidance and support from the officials of the previous government, and after receiving banking and customs privileges, ultimately abandons this project due to incapacity and with the intent to defraud. The individual has so far received over 220 million dollars and has fled the country." According to Rahim Zareh, "The President of Turkmenistan, after three years of waiting for the construction of the railway line assigned to Mr. 'A-R' and his introduction by Iran, finally decided on September 9 to cancel the contract with Pars Energy Company due to his numerous violations." This member of parliament described the assignment of this project during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government as questionable, stating: "In the 1990s, Mr. 'A-R' was a recognized suspect and was detained in Evin prison, and the relevant authorities confiscated all of his acquired assets in Iran and several foreign countries for the benefit of the public treasury." Hamid Ghader Marzi also referred to "the documents of this rent-seeker's exit from Iran" to Shargh, saying: "How, despite classified information about this individual's dark past, was he able to engage in such business and later exit the country without being banned from leaving? Every Iranian knows that the oversight bodies in Iran can easily identify such disreputable individuals, so what issues were at play that he was neither banned from leaving nor identified?" The representative of Qorveh and Dehgolan in parliament also stated: "The indifference of Iranian officials occurred while Turkmen officials timely identified the offending parties in their country and arrested them." This newspaper emphasized that "Mr. 'A-R' will not be the end of the dark era of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, and perhaps there are other cases that will be revealed tomorrow and narrate other unspeakable secrets."