Iran's oil industry has fallen completely into the hands of the Revolutionary Guards. Fears of escalating tensions between Iran, the US and Israel have led the corps loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to tighten control over Iran's key oil industry. The Reuters news agency points out that the entire oil business has come under the growing influence of the Guard, from the shadowy fleet of tankers that covertly transport sanctioned oil, to logistics and the first companies that sell the oil, mainly in China. .
Despite tough Western sanctions designed to stifle Iran's energy industry, reimposed by former US President Donald Trump in 2018, Iran generates more than $50 billion a year in oil revenue, by far the largest source foreign exchange major and its main link to the global economy. Six specialists - Western officials and security experts, as well as Iranian and trade sources - told Reuters that the Revolutionary Guards control up to 50% of Iran's oil exports, a sharp increase from about 20% three years ago, A2 reports.
Three of the estimates were based on intelligence documents on Iranian shipping, while the others derived their figures from monitoring shipping activity by tankers and companies linked to the Revolutionary Guard. Reuters was unable to determine the exact extent of IRGC control. The growing dominance of the Revolutionary Guard in the oil industry adds to its influence in all areas of Iran's economy and also makes it more difficult for Western sanctions to hit Tehran, as the Guard is already designated a terrorist organization by Washington. transmits A2.
Trump's return to the White House in January could mean tougher enforcement of sanctions on Iran's oil industry. The country's oil minister said Tehran was putting measures in place to deal with any restrictions, without giving details.
The Revolutionary Guard is a powerful political, military and economic force with close ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Guards exert influence in the Middle East through their overseas operations wing, the Quds Force, providing money, weapons, technology and training to allies Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, Yemen's Houthis and militias in Iraq. (A2 Televizion)
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