Iranian Insider: Scrutiny Returns to Oil Revenue Use

Excerpt from Caspian Investor by Kent F. Moors, Ph.D., Contributing Editor

On February 17, an Iranian National Audit Office report ignited another round in the political fight over oil sale proceeds. However, for the first time, this one clearly indicates that Ahmadinejad officials have been illegally withholding funds. Issued for the Majlis (parliament), the analysis reveals that the government did not return to the treasury $1.058 billion of surplus oil revenues from the 2006-2007 budget. “This is certain to put the current government under renewed pressure,” an editor at the Tehran Times told us on February 20. “Even some of the president’s main supports are criticizing such actions.”

The report also stated that there had been no mention in government documents of the $61 million paid in taxes by the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC). In a related matter, “The government purchased a large amount of gasoline and gas oil during the current Iranian year [to end March 20] without parliamentary approval,” said Hamid-Reza Katouzian, head of the Majlis Energy Committee, on February 15. He called on the Majlis Presiding Board to conduct a serious probe into the situation

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