A Dutch law firm has reportedly facilitated the Iranian oil industry in evading United States sanctions over several years, according to research conducted by BNR. The firm, International Law

Firm Taheri (ILFT), allegedly established at least six companies since 2020 to oversee oil tankers. These companies were fronted by intermediaries, obscuring the true ownership. The operations were conducted via a subsidiary in Suriname, linked to the firm’s headquarters in Capelle aan den IJssel, as reported by the broadcaster.

In October, the U.S. added three companies registered at ILFT’s Suriname address to its sanctions list, accusing them of involvement in the Iranian oil trade. American authorities claim that revenue from Iran’s oil exports is used to fund terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Masoud Taheri, the 44-year-old owner of ILFT, defended his actions, stating to BNR that his firm merely provides “solutions” for clients dealing with “legal issues at an international level.” The oil tankers tied to ILFT are, on paper, managed by Surinamese individuals affiliated with the firm.

BNR’s investigation suggests that ILFT is a key player in Iran’s so-called “ghost fleet”—a network of tankers covertly controlled by Iranian interests through intermediaries. This clandestine oil trade reportedly generated $50 billion for Iran in 2022, according to research by The Economist.

Claire Jungman, head of the Iran Tanker Tracking Program at the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), described the tankers linked to ILFT as among the “most notorious” carriers of Iranian oil. UANI estimates that these six vessels have transported a total of 160 million barrels of Iranian oil since U.S. sanctions were imposed.

Taheri maintains that trading Iranian oil is legal in Europe and Suriname and asserts that his firm operates within the boundaries of the law. He denied allegations of contributing to terrorism financing but declined to disclose who controls the tanker fleet. Notably, ILFT’s website prominently displays the logo of the Iranian state oil company, NIOC, under the section labeled “Important clients.” Photo by Tasnim News Agency, Wikimedia commons.