Iran's Elite: The Hidden Hand Behind the Crisis, Loyal to Profit, Not Ideology
South Asia
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News18•12-01-2026, 16:07
Iran's Elite: The Hidden Hand Behind the Crisis, Loyal to Profit, Not Ideology
- •Iran's wealthy elite, born from sanctions, controls vast sums of money outside the country, impacting the nation's economy.
- •These 'trustees' were appointed by the government to circumvent sanctions but have become immensely rich and operate in a 'grey zone'.
- •Despite the country's empty treasury, $95 billion in export earnings since 2018 have not returned to Iran, held by these elites.
- •The government struggles to act against them as they are deeply entrenched and can even blackmail the state by withholding essential goods.
- •This elite is loyal to profit and will support the current regime until the cost of staying outweighs the benefits, potentially switching sides if their foreign assets are threatened.
Why It Matters: Iran's powerful, sanction-born elite holds the key to the nation's future, driven by self-interest and profit.
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