Austrian investigation uncovers how political influence and secret negotiations helped a global beer giant pursue Iran’s “Islamic beer” market
A new investigation by the Austrian newspaper Standard has shed light on a little-known effort by Dutch brewing giant Heineken to enter Iran’s market through politically connected intermediaries linked to the influential Larijani family. The report describes a secretive investment structure designed to navigate sanctions risks while capturing a share of Iran’s growing market for non-alcoholic malt beverages — often marketed domestically as “Islamic beer.”
According to the investigation, the project was facilitated by Mohammad Mohaqeq Damad, the nephew of former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani, who allegedly played a central role in negotiations between Heineken and Iran’s Solico industrial group.
The revelations provide another glimpse into how politically connected families within the Iranian establishment continue to act as gatekeepers for foreign investment, particularly in sectors where Western corporations seek access to Iran’s large consumer market despite sanctions and political risks.
Secret Vienna Meetings and the Larijani Connection
The Standard investigation states that Mohammad Mohaqeq Damad acted as the principal intermediary during the negotiations between Heineken and Solico from 2016 to 2018.
According to the report, Mohaqeq Damad acknowledged on his LinkedIn profile that he managed a joint investment project between a major multinational corporation and Solico from beginning to end. While the company was not named directly in his profile, the Austrian newspaper identified the multinational as Heineken.
Sources cited by the newspaper claimed that final negotiations and contract discussions were held discreetly in Vienna, including meetings at locations such as the Sky Bar near St. Stephen’s Square.
Mohaqeq Damad reportedly insisted that his role was purely “technical and financial” and denied receiving political support from members of his family, including Ali Larijani, Sadegh Larijani, and Mohammad Javad Larijani. However, the report emphasized that major Western business ventures inside Iran rarely proceed without the approval or indirect involvement of senior regime figures and politically connected networks.
The Larijani family has long been considered one of the Iranian regime’s most influential political dynasties, with deep institutional ties across parliament, the judiciary, and strategic state structures.
Heineken’s “Islamic Beer” Strategy
At the center of the investment plan was Iran’s highly profitable market for non-alcoholic malt beverages. Although alcohol is officially banned under the regime’s laws, non-alcoholic malt drinks have become a major consumer product inside Iran.
To capitalize on that market, Heineken reportedly acquired a 51 percent stake in a Solico subsidiary called Castle Nush, which was established to manufacture malt beverages under Heineken branding.
The report suggests that Heineken deliberately avoided publicly announcing the partnership in order to minimize scrutiny from U.S. regulators and protect its much larger business interests in the American market.
The partnership also reflected regional political connections. Solico founder Gholamali Soleimani comes from Mazandaran Province, an area historically associated with the political influence of the Larijani family. The report describes the Larijanis as longstanding supporters of the industrial group.
A Project Undone by Sanctions and Political Risk
Despite years of planning and investment, the partnership ultimately collapsed.
In 2020, Heineken reportedly returned its majority shares in the joint venture back to Solico. Then, in September 2025, the Dutch company fully exited Iran by selling its remaining shares at what sources described as a discounted price.
Mohaqeq Damad attributed the failure to commercial losses and poor business performance. However, reports surrounding the venture point to deeper disagreements between the Dutch and Iranian sides, compounded by mounting international pressure and sanctions concerns.
The collapse illustrates the broader difficulties faced by foreign corporations attempting to operate inside Iran. Even when formal agreements are reached, businesses remain exposed to sanctions uncertainty, opaque political structures, and the influence of competing power centers within the regime.
The Global Reach of the Larijani Family
The Standard report also drew attention to the international footprint of the Larijani family following the reported death of Ali Larijani during military strikes on March 17, 2026.
According to the investigation, Fatemeh Larijani — Ali Larijani’s daughter — recently lost her medical position in Atlanta after pressure campaigns by critics of the Iranian regime.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Mohaqeq Damad and another daughter of Ali Larijani are reportedly operating a medical startup in London.
The contrast highlighted in the report — between anti-Western political rhetoric inside Iran and the extensive business and professional presence of elite regime families abroad — continues to fuel criticism among many Iranians who view the ruling establishment as benefiting from privileges unavailable to ordinary citizens.
The Heineken episode ultimately reveals more than a failed corporate investment. It exposes the intricate intersection of political power, international business, sanctions evasion, and elite family influence that continues to shape economic activity within the Iranian regime.
