According to a Bild report, a company with ties to the Iranian regime has been operating in Düsseldorf, Germany. The company, Mapna Europe GmbH, is a branch of the Iranian state-owned company Mapna, which is controlled by a religious foundation linked to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Mapna Europe GmbH is listed in the commercial register as having been formerly managed by Abbas Aliabadi, who is currently the Iranian Minister of Economy and a known officer of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Experts warn that the company may be acting to undermine economic sanctions placed on Iran.
Concerns about ties to weapons proliferation and terrorism
Iran experts, including political scientist Emanuele Ottolenghi, have raised concerns that Mapna could be involved in activities related to weapons of mass destruction. The British government has also added the company to a list of companies suspected of such involvement.
Bild further reports that Mapna Europe GmbH has connections to individuals with concerning backgrounds. Afshin Rezaei, who runs Mapna’s Dubai branch, was previously sentenced to prison in the United States for violating anti-terrorism laws. Additionally, the former head of the Iranian central bank, Tahmasb Mazaheri, who has been accused of attempting to transport a large sum of money out of Germany, also previously worked for Mapna Europe GmbH.
Financial ties and questions about transparency
The report also details a lack of transparency surrounding Mapna Europe GmbH’s business activities. The company reportedly works with a shipping company in North Rhine-Westphalia, but the nature of the goods they handle appears to be inconsistent. Additionally, the company does not have a website.
When sanctions against Iran were relaxed in 2015, Mapna Europe GmbH’s sales figures reportedly boomed. However, since the US withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018, business has declined. Major companies like Siemens AG have reportedly cut ties with Mapna.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) alleges that Mapna helps to finance Hezbollah, a militant group designated as a terrorist organization by many countries.
German authorities silent on the matter
Bild reports that attempts to reach German authorities, including the Federal Office for Export Control (BAFA) and customs, for comment on the matter were unsuccessful.
