Avigdor Lieberman, Israel's Defense Minister, announced after several days of media uproar regarding the purchase of submarines from Germany that his country was aware of Iran's stake in the German submarine manufacturing company before signing the contract. Recently, Israeli media reported that Iran is one of the shareholders of the "ThyssenKrupp" company, and part of the money that Israel pays for the purchase of three submarines goes to the Iranian government. On Tuesday, December 7, Lieberman stated in a meeting of the Israeli Parliament's Finance Committee that the government has known since 2004 that Iran is a shareholder in the German company, but Israel had no other option for purchasing submarines. According to him, Israeli officials have been aware of this issue for a long time, and it has been discussed in the Cabinet and the National Security Council. Lieberman emphasized that the essence of the matter is very different from what has been presented in the media. He stated, "ThyssenKrupp is managed by a board of directors, and Iran's share in this company is negligible." Israeli media quoted officials from the country's Ministry of Defense as saying that guarantees were obtained from ThyssenKrupp during negotiations that Iran would not have access to confidential information related to these submarines. The value of the contract for purchasing three submarines from ThyssenKrupp is $1.3 billion, and Israel is also set to purchase a warship from this company. Iran first acquired approximately 25% of ThyssenKrupp's shares, which was involved in steel production, in 1974 for $400 million, but after the 1979 revolution and under U.S. pressure, the company repurchased a large portion of Iran's shares. As a result, Iran's stake decreased to about 7%, and according to reputable international media, including Forbes magazine, Iran's stake reached 4.5% in 2004. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Iran has earned nearly $100 million from this investment over the past decade. The Iranian Foreign Investment Company, based in Tehran, is responsible for managing Iran's shares in ThyssenKrupp. According to Israeli media, before this issue was made public, the Attorney General of Israel had instructed the police to begin investigations into this transaction. Iran has not yet responded to reports about its shares in the German ThyssenKrupp company and its relationship with Israel.
Israel: We Were Aware of Iran's Stake in the German Submarine Manufacturer
Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman confirmed that the country was aware of Iran's stake in the German submarine manufacturer ThyssenKrupp before signing a contract for submarine purchases. This revelation comes amid concerns that part of the payment for the submarines could benefit the Iranian government. The situation highlights the complexities of international defense contracts and Iran's historical investment in foreign companies.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Israel's Defense Minister confirmed that the government was aware of Iran's stake in ThyssenKrupp before purchasing submarines. This revelation has raised concerns about the implications of Israeli payments benefiting the Iranian government.
- Israel is purchasing three submarines from ThyssenKrupp for $1.3 billion.
- Iran's stake in ThyssenKrupp has decreased over the years, currently estimated at around 4.5%.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Israel has historically been wary of Iran's military capabilities and investments, viewing them as potential threats. The complexities of international defense contracts often involve navigating relationships with countries that have adversarial ties.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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