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Feeding the IRGC: Dollars, Corn, and Soybeans
By Behnam Mohammadi
The Washington-Tehran plan carries a bitter paradox: sweeteners meant to coax the Islamic Republic into compliance could end up feeding the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. If billions are unlocked and trade resumes, the IRGC — designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. — will be dining on U.S. dollars, corn, and soybeans.
Welcome to the Kayhan Life Week in Review
From a memorandum of understanding that, on paper, marked a momentous development in the long-running nuclear dispute to mounting signs of strain inside Iran, this week’s news cast a spotlight on hopes as well as apprehensions about it. The MoU promised de-escalation, the reopening of vital shipping lanes, and the start of negotiations. Yet conflicting narratives over nuclear inspections, sanctions relief, frozen assets, and enforcement mechanisms exposed the deep mistrust at the heart of the issue. Inside Iran, meanwhile, the landscape was defined by public pessimism, economic dysfunction, and institutional corruption involving various branches of the legislative and executive bodies, oversight institutions, and the judiciary.
►Despite the ceasefire, the U.S. and the Islamic Republic clashed over nuclear inspections, with Washington claiming sweeping access and Tehran denying any agreement. While efforts began to clear stranded ships, conflicting claims over nuclear oversight and frozen assets cast doubt on the agreement’s durability. President Trump reiterated that Tehran had agreed to extensive inspections, linking continued negotiations to compliance. The IAEA, too, confirmed that inspections would resume, although details remain unsettled.
US, Iran Spar Over Nuclear Checks as Stranded Ships Poised to Leave the Persian Gulf
US, Iran at Odds on Nuclear Inspections, Frozen Assets in Deal to End War
IAEA Chief Says Iran Inspections Will Go Ahead, Working on Modalities
Trump Insists Iran Has Agreed to Nuclear Inspections
►While news of sanctions relief emerged, analysts warned that it could disproportionately benefit the IRGC’s vast economic network.
Will US and International Sanctions on Iran Be Lifted?
Iranian Guards’ Business Empire to Win Big if U.S. Sanctions Lifted
►As one of the conditions for starting 60 days of Washington-Tehran talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and other issues is a halt to fighting in Lebanon, Lebanon-Israel negotiations resumed.
New Lebanon-Israel Talks to Begin, in Shadow of US-Iran Deal
►U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to allay the concerns of the Persian Gulf Arab leaders who fear that excessive concessions will strengthen Tehran and reshape the region’s security balance and oil flows. His trip came at a time when reports also revealed the IRGC had established covert cells in Iraq to target Persian Gulf states.
Rubio Wraps Up Persian Gulf Tour as Allies Share Concerns Over Iran Peace Accord
EXCLUSIVE-Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Set Up Covert Iraqi Cells to Attack Gulf Neighbors, Sources Say
►A day after European regulators warned that risks remained high despite the ceasefire, advising airlines to avoid Iranian airspace due to the possibility of renewed conflict, a projectile hit a cargo ship as it attempted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Airlines Should Still Avoid Airspace Over Iran After Framework Deal, EU Agency Warns
UN Pauses Hormuz Evacuation Plan After Ship Reports Attack
►Inside Iran, cyberattacks disrupted major banks, affecting everyday financial transactions and exposing vulnerabilities in the country’s economic infrastructure.
Iran Says Card-Based Banking Hit by Cyberattack on Three Lenders
►Bread prices doubled overnight in several Iranian cities, including Tehran, without prior notice, after the government cut flour subsidies.
Bread Prices Soar in Iran After Government Cuts Flour Subsidies
►Allegations that $700 million in medical funds have gone missing underscored systemic corruption within Iran.
Iranian Parliamentarian Says $1 Billion in State Medical Funds Are Unaccounted For
►To make matters worse more than a third of foreign-currency revenues from Iranian oil sales fail to return to the country due to institutional corruption.
Nearly 40% of Iran’s Export Earnings Fail to Return to Country, Analysts Say
►Surveys revealed deepening pessimism among Iranians, with most expressing little hope for the future.
Iranian Official Warns of Rising Public Pessimism, A ‘Serious Warning Signal’ |
