German Firm Under Scrutiny for Alleged Sanctions Violations with Iranian Connections

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Staff Writer
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In a recent exposé by ARD, Germany's foremost state television network, GIC International GmbH, a company based in Düsseldorf, has come under close watch for potential infringements of international sanctions.
In a recent exposé by ARD, Germany's foremost state television network, GIC International GmbH, a company based in Düsseldorf, has come under close watch for potential infringements of international sanctions.

In a recent exposé by ARD, Germany's foremost state television network, GIC International GmbH, a company based in Düsseldorf, has come under close watch for potential infringements of international sanctions.

 

 

Documents that have surfaced through leaks to the opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, and subsequently acquired by WDR and SZ, suggest that the Iranian regime may have engaged GIC International, along with other German entities, to navigate around sanctions for international trade and real estate dealings.

The allegations have been propelled by Mr. Dabiran, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Foreign Affairs Committee, who accuses the Iranian government of crafting an extensive network to bypass sanctions. He has called for more stringent actions against Tehran, urging the European Union to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.

Further digging into GIC International’s background reveals its ownership by Ghadir Investment Company, an Iranian conglomerate previously hit by U.S. sanctions due to its supposed connections with the IRGC. The concern is that GIC International might be executing transactions on behalf of Ghadir, thus aiding a sanctioned body.

 

 

ARD’s report highlights the operations of GIC International GmbH, which, despite its low-key online footprint, displays a significant involvement in sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, cement, and metals.

The company, boasting of around 600 million euros in sales from 2017 to 2021, was founded in 2012 with direct financial support from Tehran, tying it to the Ghadir Investment Company. This connection has raised eyebrows, given Ghadir’s sanctions by the U.S. for its affiliations with the Iranian state security apparatus, including the Revolutionary Guards.

 

 

Investigative efforts by WDR and “Süddeutsche Zeitung” have uncovered potential ties between GIC International and a network purportedly orchestrated by Iranian state mechanisms. Leaked documents include correspondences that suggest GIC International’s involvement in setting up an “export network for urea” from Iran in Düsseldorf, a move that has reportedly been praised in Tehran.

The U.S. authorities have kept a keen eye on Ghadir Investment since 2013, linking it to the Social Security Organization of the Iranian Armed Forces (SATA), which serves Iran’s military, Revolutionary Guards, and police with health and pension benefits. Despite these connections, concrete evidence of criminal activities by GIC International in Germany remains elusive.

 

 

The intricate web spun by Iran to evade sanctions has drawn attention from Western security agencies for some time. Using front companies and intermediaries, Iran has managed to acquire military-appropriate materials and finance its military endeavors, circumventing sanctions. The unfolding situation stresses the need for vigilant international cooperation to thwart such evasion tactics and underscores the importance of addressing the broader implications of Iran’s actions on global security.

 

 

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu

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