This latest revelation adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing corruption saga within the regime’s judiciary system, where Zolfaqari’s case remains unresolved.
The new $22 million loss occurred under the watch of Alireza Pakpayman, then director of the Razavi chain company, which operates under the authority of the current president, Ebrahim Raisi. Pakpayman, who has since ascended to the role of deputy minister of agriculture, was in charge during the signing of the dubious contract, now infamously known as the ‘tire corruption’ incident.
The ‘Ministry of Labor Holding,’ a significant commercial and industrial presence in Yerevan, was established with approval from the regime’s Trade Development Organization. Spanning over 10,000 square meters, it represents a notable point of economic interest in Armenia’s capital.
This convoluted tale traces back to 2018, when Alireza Pakpeyman, as CEO of ‘Razavi Supply Chain Management’ affiliated with Astan Quds, awarded a massive $80 million contract to Mohammed Zolfaqari. This deal, meant for importing 200,000 tires at a government-subsidized currency rate, soon turned sour. Zolfaqari, previously accused of sales fraud in the Nima system, defaulted on $22 million of the contract due to legal loopholes, particularly the lack of a guarantor, causing substantial losses to Astan Quds Razavi.
Adding to the controversy, Zolfaqari’s premature release from prison and his subsequent government-sanctioned economic activities raised eyebrows. Abolfazl Abu Torabi, a regime official, revealed in an interview Zolfaqari’s involvement in a near $500 million gasoline sales deal with the National Oil Refining and Distribution Company post-release.
The $80 million contract with Razavi chain company, as per Sharq daily’s report, was marred by serious legal flaws and lacked a guarantor. Alarmingly, the contract favored Zolfaqari, with inadequate guarantees like a self-issued check and another by ‘A.O.,’ a pivotal figure in enabling the deal.
Despite mentions of a second check from Iran Currency Co., Ltd., no such check materialized, leaving the contract unsecureda fact emphasized by Sharq.
Three years into the scandal, the case stagnates in the judiciary, with crucial details and connections still obscured. This situation hints at possible deliberate delays to protect unnamed individuals. ‘A.O.,’ frequently mentioned in Sharq’s coverage, is identified as Arman Olamai, previously linked to financial misconduct in the Teachers Investment Fund.
In 2021, Arman Olamai took charge of the commercial center for Iranians in Armenia, inaugurated by Hojatollah Abdol Maleki, the Minister of Labor, Cooperation, and Social Welfare. The controversial tire import contract was signed just two months into Ahmad Maravi’s presidency of Astan Quds Razavi, with Esmail Khatib, the current Minister of Intelligence, allegedly aware of the deal.
This ongoing scandal continues to cast a shadow over the regime’s integrity, with crucial figures in high office implicated and the full extent of corruption yet to be unraveled.
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