Babak Zanjani

Babak Zanjani
Born March 21, 1974[1]
Residence Tehran, Iran
Citizenship Iranian
Occupation Businessman

Babak Morteza Zanjani (بابک مرتضی زنجانی) is an Iranian businessman. He is the Managing Director of UAE-based Sorinet Group, one of Iran's largest business conglomerates.[2] He also owns the Qeshm Airlines and Rah Ahan Sorinet F.C. in Iran.[3] Zanjani was named in the European Union's restrictive measures against Iran of December 2012.[4]

Sorinet Group

Sorinet Group (Persian: گروه شرکت‌های سورینت‎) is an Iranian business conglomerate led by Zanjani. The company is one of Iran’s largest business conglomerates. Sorinet businesses include cosmetics, finance and banking, hospitality, commercial aviation, infrastructure, building material, information technology and international real estate development. Its operations are in Iran, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Tajikistan, Malaysia and China as well as other emerging markets in the region.

Named in European Union sanctions against Iran

Zanjani was named in the restrictive measures against Iran in December 2012[5] by the EU council on the grounds of "assisting designated entities to violate the provisions of the EU regulation on Iran and is providing financial support to the government of Iran". Zanjani was claimed to be "a key facilitator for Iranian oil deals and transferring oil-related money".[6] He denied the accusation, declining any ties with the Iranian government and calling the Europeans' decision "a mistake".[7]

The EU sanctions against Iran describe Zanjani as "a key facilitator for Iranian oil deals and transferring oil related money" and accuses First Islamic Bank of being used to channel Iranian oil-related payments.[8] Zanjani said the complex nature of his companies' transactions, involving large sums, might have misled EU authorities. Zanjani's companies are or may be involved in the Labuan Iran oil smuggling on the eastern coast of Malaysia. Labuan has been serving as a drop-off spot for Iranian crude.

Alleged Dual Nationality

In January 2013, an Iranian news website, Baztab, reported that Zanjani holds a Danish passport in addition to his Iranian one, a claim which was later denied by Zanjani. He called the passport's copy "fake", saying in an interview with the news website of his football team: "This story [the copy of my passport] is too badly fabricated that they even put my picture on the passport without a tie. However, it is obligatory to tie a necktie to take pictures for European passports," which is not true.[9]

Arrest

On December 30, 2013, Zanjani was arrested by Iranian police for his alleged role in a corruption scandal.[10][11] Some days later, a spokesman from the National Bank of Tajikistan denied any cooperation between Zanjani and the bank and claimed all documents presented by Zanjani about their two-way communications were fake.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "To This Tycoon, Iran Sanctions Were Like Gold". News (in English) (NY Times). 5 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "Sorinet Group".
  3. ↑ "Zanjani to Rahahan footballers: Raise your self-confidence". News (in Persian). Reuters. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1264/2012 of 21 December 2012". implementing Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran. Official Journal of the European Union. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1264/2012 of 21 December 2012". implementing Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran. Official Journal of the European Union. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  6. ↑ Lewis, Barbara (23 December 2012). "Tougher EU sanctions against Iran come into force". Article. Reuters. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  7. ↑ Pamuk, Humeyra (23 December 2012). "Iranian businessman denies EU sanctions-busting accusation". Article. Reuters. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Businessman sees upside of sanctions". News (in English). Radio Zamaneh. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Zanjani's comments on the recent allegations and accusations". News (in Persian). Reuters. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "Zanjani arrested". Radiofarda.com. 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  11. ↑ "Babak Zanjani was arrested". Khabaronline.ir. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  12. ↑ Tajik National Bank Denies Link With Iranian Businessman Radio Free Europe

External links