Babak Morteza Zanjani

July 28, 2026 | Janatan Sayeh, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Treasury Moves Against Tehran’s Recycled Sanctions Evader

As U.S. bombs struck Iran’s military, Treasury targeted the financier who helped keep it funded.  The U.S. Treasury Department on July 24 sanctioned four individuals and nine entities sustaining...

May 9, 2019 | Jonathan Schanzer, Nicole Salter

Oman in the Middle

Muscat’s Balancing Act Between Iran and America

August 2, 2017 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

Iran Ramps Up Purchases of Commercial Aircraft from U.S. and Europe

Last June, a trio of Iranian airlines announced plans to purchase a total of 83 new planes from Airbus an...

May 26, 2016 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

Obama Administration Helps Iran Get Its Money Back

On March 19, the FBI arrested Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab upon his arrival in Miami for evading...

March 14, 2016 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

The Case for Suspending the Visa Waiver Program for Iranians

An Iranian court recently sentenced to death Babak Zanjani and his associate, Mehdi Shamszadeh, for their alleged role in embezzling billions of dollars of Oil Ministry revenues while running ove...

July 1, 2015 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

Snap-Back: A Journey Through Iranian Sanctions Evasion in Georgia

Two Iranian truck drivers sat idly in the parking area of the Poti Free Industrial Zone(FIZ), waiting for customs authoriti...

January 12, 2015 | Ali Alfoneh Business Insider |

Iran’s ‘Reformist’ President Is Shielding Powerful Revolutionary Guard From Anti-Corruption Campaign

A joke is making the rounds in Tehran. In it, the Iranian press confront President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad just before he leaves office with a report declaring Iran the second-most corrupt c...

September 17, 2014 | Merve Tahiroglu FDD Policy Brief |

Iranian Leverage over Turkey?

The Turkish daily Taraf published a blockbuster article Tuesday alleging that Iran has been blackmailing Tur...

July 9, 2014 | Emanuele Ottolenghi |

European Courts Are Gutting Iran Sanctions Before A Nuclear Agreement Has Even Been Reached

Co-authored by Saeed Ghasseminejad  Negotiators working to solve the diplomatic impasse over Iran’s nuclear program have not yet managed to find common ground with Te...

January 27, 2014 | Jonathan Schanzer FDD Policy Brief |

Erdoğan’s Trip to Tehran

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will make a two-day official visit to Tehran on January 28 to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Erdoğan is expected to sign a strategic coo...

January 9, 2014 | Ali Alfoneh |

Iran: Rouhani Fights the Revolutionary Guards, Not Corruption

Just before leaving office, the Iranian press confronted president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with a Transparency International report declaring Iran "the second most corrupt country in the world." As t...

January 2, 2014 | Emanuele Ottolenghi FDD Policy Brief |

Babak Zanjani: An Iranian in the Eye of Turkey’s Storm

Iranian authorities arrested billionaire Babak Morteza Zanjani Monday a...

April 12, 2013 | |

Treasury Action Targets Network of Banks and Iranian Businessman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, DC -- The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) welcomes new sanctions against an Iranian businessman and a network of banks and...