Iran's Secret Oil Cash Network Loses Over $11 Billion to Absconding Middlemen

September 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM1 min

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Billions of dollars in oil revenue are missing from Iran's coffers, with over $11 billion lost to middlemen who absconded with sales proceeds. The middlemen, known as 'trustees,' helped Tehran sell oil, steel, and petrochemicals abroad while bypassing international sanctions.

Key Facts

Over $11 billion in oil revenue is missing from Iran's coffers.
Middlemen known as 'trustees' helped Tehran sell oil, steel, and petrochemicals abroad while bypassing international sanctions.
Many of these middlemen have absconded with the sales revenues instead of handing them over.

The Missing Billions

Billions of dollars in oil revenue are missing from Iran's coffers. At the center of the scandal are shadowy middlemen known as 'trustees' who help Tehran sell oil, steel, petrochemicals, and other goods abroad while bypassing international sanctions. But the middlemen Iran used have not all been handing over the sales revenues -- instead, many have absconded with it, to the tune of over $11 billion.

Sanctions Evasion Network

The trustees facilitate sales of Iranian commodities to foreign buyers, enabling Tehran to circumvent international sanctions. The network handles oil, steel, petrochemicals, and other goods. Roya Maleki from RFE/RL's Negah-e-Farda (Iran Tomorrow) program explains the scheme.