Jannati: Those Who Can Stop Smuggling Are Not Given Opportunity

The Secretary of Iran's Guardian Council criticized what he called a "flood of smuggling" into Iran, expressing discontent with the "open gates" and stating that those who can "stop" smuggling are not given the opportunity. Ahmad Jannati, during a Nowruz meeting with the managers and staff of the Guardian Council, asked: "Why are the gates so open? Why is so much clothing and household goods being smuggled from China and Turkey into the country?" Jannati also lamented that some smuggled goods enter Iran through "customs channels." Previously, a representative from Hamadan in the Islamic Consultative Assembly stated that a "systemic smuggling mafia" has infiltrated Iran, with over "80 percent" of smuggling occurring through official channels, coordinated by "the gentlemen themselves." Amir Khajesteh called for the "reform" of customs managers and reported that some documents related to the investigation of smuggling in the parliament have "gone missing." He added that "customs and the customs mafia have coordinated to silence anyone from the public, officials, or parliament representatives who wishes to speak out." Ahmad Jannati, without providing details, mentioned that "there are those who can stop smuggling but are not given the opportunity." He urged the public to demand accountability from the government, ministers, and officials, asking why production has stagnated and why there is so much unemployment. Although Jannati did not specify who could counter the "flood of smuggling" in Iran, it seems he was referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This military-security institution announced in March 2018 that it was ready to "assist the government" in combating smuggling. Ramadan Sharif, the IRGC spokesperson, made comments in this regard three days after Hassan Rouhani announced during a visit to Hormozgan province that the Supreme National Security Council had approved the IRGC's involvement in fighting smuggling in the Persian Gulf. Rouhani stated: "The responsibility for combating smuggling lies with the police, but recently we clarified in the Supreme National Security Council that the IRGC should also have a role in combating smuggling in the Persian Gulf, and this decision will certainly improve the situation in the fight against smuggling compared to the past." The approval of the Supreme National Security Council comes amid previous statements by some political figures in Iran, who have pointed to the management of ports by the IRGC and police, discussing their involvement in smuggling. For instance, in 2011, then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used the term "our own smuggler brothers" in a speech, which some analysts speculated referred to the IRGC. Hassan Rouhani also mentioned in February 2016, without naming any specific organization, that "a corrupt entity that... can import smuggled goods is preventing the country from growing." Smuggling has become one of the most significant economic issues in Iran and a symbol of "corruption," with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, demanding that smuggled goods be "set on fire" in response to the ongoing situation. Officials in Rouhani's government have stated that the volume of smuggling before this administration was $25 billion annually, which has been halved during his term. However, some government officials have expressed doubts about the accuracy of these figures. For instance, Akbar Turkan, head of the Free Zones Organization of Iran, previously stated that the Anti-Smuggling Headquarters claimed $25 billion worth of smuggling entered the country to assert its importance, while these numbers lack a solid basis.