Washington. Amidst the ongoing tension between America and Iran in West Asia, a report has made a big revelation regarding Iran's military procurement network. According to a Reuters investigation, despite US sanctions and the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is gathering goods internationally to increase its military capability. For this, he has allegedly prepared a secret network of more than five thousand agencies. Through this network, apart from China and Russia, materials for both military and civilian use are also being procured from European countries like Germany.
According to the report, from January 2025 till now, business worth about two billion dollars has been done through this network. This includes a variety of equipment including heavy vehicles, missile parts and explosive materials. These can be used directly for military purposes or after necessary modifications.
Names and locations related to Defense Ministry
According to a Reuters investigation, the names of the agencies involved in this network reportedly start with 'MOD'. It has been described as the code name of Iran's Defense Ministry. Their offices and locations in Tehran are also said to be places associated with the Defense Ministry.
Even though these agencies were established around the year 2013, the date of their establishment is recorded as 11 February 1979 in the official documents. This is the same day when the monarchy ended in Iran and Ayatollah Khomeini took power after the Islamic Revolution.
Business running on illegal oil earnings
According to the report, Iran has taken the help of foreign nationals and shell companies to operate this network. They are used as trustees. They allegedly manage the earnings from illegally sold Iranian oil. A part of this money is spent on purchasing material for military use from other countries including Russia, China and Germany.
Iran does not directly purchase finished missiles or drones through these agencies, but instead imports such equipment and spare parts, which can be used for military use after necessary modifications.
Miyan Maleki, a former senior US Treasury official, told Reuters that the network made its business money from the illegal sale of Iranian oil. Oil is transported to the international market through other routes. After this, details related to his identity and country of origin are changed and sent forward. In this process, instead of using the Hormuz route through big tankers, alternative routes are adopted.
Currency transfer did not happen in 97 percent consignments
Due to US sanctions, it is difficult for Iran to use international banking and payment systems. According to Reuters report, a large part of the money received from illegal oil sales does not directly reach Iran, but is kept under the control of trustees associated with the network.
Analysis of import data revealed that transactions of about 97 percent of the consignments were completed without any currency transfer. This likely means that the parties concerned purchased the goods using funds held in foreign banks and shipped them to Iran. In this way, Iran was helped to obtain necessary materials without making direct international payments.
Materials delivered from China, Russia and Germany
According to Reuters, various types of equipment and materials were delivered to Iran from China, Russia and Germany through a network of secret agencies. For this, sea, air and road routes were used. The report said that these materials helped Iran prepare a large stockpile of drones and missiles.
Routes extending from Caspian Sea to Central Asia
According to the report, a review of documents revealed that goods from Russia were transported to Iran via cargo ships via the Caspian Sea. Materials were shipped from Central Asia via trucks and from China via cargo planes.
Apart from this, just before the start of the war with America, Iran had also purchased goods worth about $27 million from the United Arab Emirates. In this way, a network of supplying materials to Iran is being operated through different countries and transport routes.
According to a Reuters investigation, this entire mechanism has been helpful in continuing Iran's military purchases amid US sanctions and maritime blockade.