Iran Leverages Oman As Export Gateway Amid Sanctions
Amid international sanctions, Iran has touted Oman as a key player in its strategy to bypass global trade restrictions.
Amid international sanctions, Iran has touted Oman as a key player in its strategy to bypass global trade restrictions.
Hamidreza Salehi, a member of the joint Iran-Oman Chamber of Commerce board, said that Oman serves as a conduit for re-exporting Iranian goods into global markets, adding a 30 percent value to bypass export restrictions.
“Although these goods are marketed under the Omani brand in global markets, this trade holds substantial profits for Iranian traders,” he added.
Last year, trade between Iran and Oman surged to about $1.2 billion, with $700 million stemming from Iranian exports.
It is part of a broader scheme involving the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and its network of oil laundering operations. These networks, which span across countries like the UAE, Turkey and Malaysia, facilitate covert financial transactions and support Tehran's proxy activities.
Despite the sanctions imposed since 2018 and earlier, the Iranian government, under President Ebrahim Raisi, has boasted about its ability to circumvent them, sustaining the nation's economy with a flow of foreign currency from nearly 1.5 million barrels of oil exported daily, primarily to China. The figure marks a significant increase from the mere 200,000 barrels per day exported following the re-imposition of US sanctions in 2019.
Critics within Iran have pointed out that such operations, often controlled by the IRGC, not only undermine the potential for economic reform but also benefit an elite group within the regime, known as "sanctions profiteers."
The event, attended by 276 members, was marked by the absence of popular engagement, illustrating a crisis of legitimacy within the Islamic Republic.
During the ceremony, where the oldest members formed a transitional presiding board, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the former Chairman for the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of the was appointed the temporary speaker.
Despite the presence of high-profile guests including foreign dignitaries and senior Iranian officials, the mood was undercut by the recent death of President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions and ongoing political disenfranchisement.
The elections that preluded Monday's assembly were distinguished by their low participation. Official figures touted a turnout of 28 to 34 percent across various provinces during the March elections, but independent observers suggest the real numbers were far lower. The May 10 runoff saw an even more voter apathy, with an estimated 90% of Tehran's electorate abstaining.
The widespread disinterest is rooted in the suppression of the 2022-2023 Woman, Life, Freedom protests and the disqualification of numerous candidates by the Guardian Council, which left the electoral field dominated by hardliners. Such actions have only solidified the belief among many Iranians that the current system is incapable of addressing the nation's deep-seated issues, from escalating poverty to systemic corruption.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's message to the new parliamentarians urged them to “foster calm and hope.” Yet, such calls ring hollow against the backdrop of an election where even conservative bases showed reluctance to support a system seen as alienated from the public's needs.
Khamenei also urged them to avoid “useless media competitions and harmful political disputes."
Former parliament chiefs Ali Larijani and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, present at the ceremony, who are potential presidential contenders, represent a political establishment struggling to maintain relevance in a society marked by disillusionment and despair.
