Story perspectives

Iran's Oil Fund Corruption: $11 Billion Mismanaged Amid Sanctions

2/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Iran faces struggles managing oil funds under U.S. sanctions, with billions unreturned through unofficial sale channels.
Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran's judiciary chief, warns of corruption linked to state trustees handling oil proceeds.
Former oil executive Ali Akbar Pour Ebrahim claims these trustees misappropriated as much as $11 billion via shell companies.
The government plans to rely more on trustees for bartering oil to obtain essential goods.

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Story summary

Iran faces struggles managing oil funds under U.S. sanctions, with billions unreturned through unofficial sale channels.
Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, Iran's judiciary chief, warns of corruption linked to state trustees handling oil proceeds.
Former oil executive Ali Akbar Pour Ebrahim claims these trustees misappropriated as much as $11 billion via shell companies.
The government plans to rely more on trustees for bartering oil to obtain essential goods.