'Sanctions that Benefit' - Erdogan's BFF the Obama 'Admin' tells Turkey not to worry about Zanjani case.

'Sanctions that Benefit' - Erdogan's BFF the Obama 'Admin' tells Turkey not to worry about Zanjani case. (HD).

The Turkish government has nothing to be concerned about with regard to Babak Zanjani, the Iranian businessman blacklisted by the U.S. and the EU for helping Iran evade U.N. sanctions and currently under arrest in Tehran, according to a high-level Turkish official speaking on condition of anonymity.

There is no reason to be concerned about Zanjani’s possible testimony about links to Turkey, the official said, stressing that U.S. officials had told their Turkish counterparts that there was no need to worry about Zanjani’s case, which might implicate Turkey.

The U.S. and the EU have both blacklisted the Iranian businessman for helping Iran’s government and several firms evade an oil embargo. The Iranian Parliament began investigating his business dealings after he was accused of withholding $1.9 billion of oil revenue meant to be channeled through his companies, and he was arrested last December.

The Turkish public recently became familiar with Zanjani, who is allegedly the partner of an Azeri businessman and gold dealer, Reza Zarrab, who has been accused of bribing ministers to cover up a deal that allegedly saw Iran sell oil and gas to Turkey in return for cash that was then converted into gold by a Turkish bank and exported to Tehran, often via Dubai.

There has been speculation that Zanjani may reveal his possible dealings with Turkish figures or institutions, thus embarrassing Turkey and revealing that it was not abiding by sanctions on Iran.

When asked whether he was concerned that Zanjani’s possible testimony could create a headache for Turkey in the international scene, the official said “not at all,” adding that the U.S. had told Ankara that the case did not involve anything that could implicate Turkey.Hmmm....Anyone buying this?

Iran to send a delegation to Turkey to look into Zarrab, Zanjani links.

Iran to send a delegation to Turkey to look into Zarrab, Zanjani links.(HD).

Iran is to send a judicial delegation to Turkey in search of the overseas assets of arrested Iranian businessman, Babak Zanjani, an alleged partner of the Iranian-origin businessman and gold dealer, Reza Zarrab, who is the prime suspect in Turkey’s ongoing high-level graft probe.

Hossein Dehdashti, an Iranian parliamentarian, said Iran’s judiciary had dispatched teams to three countries - Turkey, Malaysia and Tajikistan - to determine the value of the overseas assets of Iranian billionaire Zanjani, who is accused of mass corruption.

Zanjani, the chairman of Sorinet Group, was arrested Dec. 31, 2013 following the call from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to the Iranian authorities to speed up the investigation.

His name was also mentioned in Turkey’s graft probe in connection with Zarrab, who was charged with forming a ring that bribed officials to help disguise illegal gold sales to Iran via Halkbank, but was released.  

Experts say Zanjani’s estimated net worth is around 13.8 billion dollars. Besides his company in Iran, the 40-year-old Iranian businessman owns and operates many overseas holdings and companies in the finance, banking, tourism, infrastructure, construction, real estate and aviation sectors in Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Tajikistan, Malaysia and China.


Zarrab, who was arrested during the Dec. 17, 2013 corruption investigation and released Feb. 28, 2014, might be summoned in Iran if it is proven that his alleged partnership with Zanjani has damaged the Iranian government, Iranian parliamentary member Mohammad Javad Kolivand told daily Hürriyet.

“Our financial and judicial experts will definitely investigate the details of the partnership between Zanjani and Zarrab. The final decision will be made by the judiciary,” Kolivand said.

At the moment, Iranian judiciary powers are trying to discover the specifics of the Zanjani case, he added.

Iranian multi-billionaire Babak Zanjani`s assets seized

Iranian multi-billionaire Babak Zanjani`s assets seized.(Taz).

The identified assets of Iranian multi-billionaire Babak Zanjani have been seized, Iranian Deputy Judiciary Chief Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi said, Iran`s Mehr news agency reported on Jan. 30.

He noted that the seized assets are in possession of the prosecutors, adding that Zanjani's case is being looked into in one of Tehran's courts.

Raeisi also said that Zanjani's debts to Iranian oil ministry is the main issue of the case. The official said the public will be informed on the details of the case at a later time.

Zanjani who is the owner or shareholder of at least 70 companies and banks including Bank Arzesh in Tajikistan and First Islamic Bank, had been involved in Iran's oil sell and transferring the sold oil's money to the country to bypass the imposed western sanctions on the country.

He was arrested on Dec. 30, 2013. Zanjani's name also was mentioned in Turkey's latest corruption scandal.

Earlier on Dec. 22, Iranian media outlets quoted Iranian MP Mostafa Afzalifard as saying that Zanjani has paid his €2.06 billion debt to Iran's Oil Ministry.

The Central Bank of Iran announced on Dec. 28 that Zanjani has not paid any oil money to the CBI.
In September, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said that "Zanjani claims the Americans blocked his bank account so he is not able to transfer the money to the Iranian government".

Zanjani had said that the money was in bank account of a Hong Kong-based company which is a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company, adding that, "transferring the money to Iran is not my concern".

In an interview with the ISNA News Agency in August, Zanjani said that he has helped transfer €17.5 billion of the Iranian banks' capital from outside the country to domestic bank accounts with a 0.007 percent interest.

He further rejected rumors about him selling Iranian oil at a cheap price. He said that the Hong Kong-based company is in charge of selling Iran's oil, but since no bank was ready to transfer money for the firm, he said the company asked him to help, and he managed to transfer the money via the Malaysia-based bank (of which he was a member of the board of directors).

Zanjani also said he has helped the Hong Kong-based company with selling eight oil containers as well as some gas condensates containers. He claimed that he has helped Iran sell a total of 12 oil and gas condensates containers and secured the money transfer.Hmmmm......Babak Zanjani was 'working' with Turkish Reza Zarrab, you know the 'Alledged' turkish Gold smuggler that Erdogan's 'Just US' dep released.

Iranian billionaire businessman, Zanjani claims his business is legal, denies involvement in Turkey corruption scandal.

Iranian billionaire businessman, Zanjani claims his business is legal, denies involvement in Turkey corruption scandal.(Taz).

Iranian billionaire businessman, Babak Zanjani has denied involvement in Turkey's corruption scandal, claiming his business is completely legal. Zanjani made the remarks in a note published on Dec. 25 on Sorinet Group`s official website.

Addressing the Turkish public, Zanjani said that all of his business in Turkey is legal, adding that he has not faced any restrictions or investigation regarding to his commercial activities, excluding the number of restrictions which have been applied to Iranian citizens.

Zanjani also underlined that he has met Reza Zarrab only few time, adding that "I am not aware of his activities."
"We did not carry out any common business," he said.
Zanjani went on to note that, "if Zarraf had done any illegal business, I would not be responsible for that."

Zarrab, accused of being the ringleader in Turkey of a shady money-laundering and gold-smuggling ring established to dodge sanctions against Iran, has said to prosecutors interrogating him that Zanjani is his boss.

The Haberturk daily published a story on Dec. 21 claiming that Zanjani, whom Zarrab referred to as "my chief," evaded the operation at the last minute. The daily claimed that emails between the two showed that Zanjani had planned to come to Turkey to meet with Zarrab in a luxury hotel in Antalya this week.
Zanjani denies that he is Zarrab`s chief, adding that his business with Zarrab - which was very limited in terms of amount--was completely legal.

Zanjani also defended his gold trade in Turkey.
"I bought 1.5 tons of gold from Ghana. I planned to sell 500 kilograms of that amount in Turkey and 1000 kilograms in Dubai. In Istanbul Ataturk Airport officials asked for the gold's documents and permitted the plane to leave the airport after the investigation," he said.

Turkish officials studied the issue repeatedly and thoroughly, Zanjani said, adding that there has not been any accusation made against him.

Haberturk claimed that when the gold was seized in Istanbul during an inspection of a ULS Airlines cargo jet en route to Dubai, Zanjani panicked. Thinking it would be confiscated by the Turkish state, he sent an urgent email asking Zarrab to immediately secure the gold by any means necessary. Zarrab used an encrypted email. This is said to be his exclusive form of communication for security reasons.

The surveillance records accused Zarrab of bribing a politician, whose name is also included in the interrogation report, and having the cargo sent to Dubai with fabricated documents saying the shipment carried "minerals."

Zanjani noted that his holding includes 64 companies, with total income which hits 6-7 billion euro per year and does not need "such little businesses" as claimed by the media.

Zanjani, whose name is blacklisted by EU and United States sanctions, owns a cosmetic company called Kont Cosmetic in Turkey. Zanjani also owns an air travel, land transportation, petrol and banking company under the name of Kont Group, which is based in Istanbul.
He is also Shareholder of Turkish "Onur" Airline Company.Hmmm.....'Sanctions that Benefit.'