VZCZCXRO8859
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHDIR #0006/01 0461350
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 151350Z FEB 07
FM IRAN RPO DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0058
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHDIR/IRAN RPO DUBAI PRIORITY 0051
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 0053
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0028
RUEHAD/USDAO ABU DHABI TC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 IRAN RPO DUBAI 000006 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
TREASURY FOR HECHT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/15/2017 
TAGS: ECON EFIN PGOV IR
SUBJECT: BUSINESSMAN'S VIEW ON IRAN'S TIGHTER BANKING SECTOR AND IRGC 
PRESENCE IN IRAQ 
 
REF: RPO DUBAI 0005 
 
RPO DUBAI 00000006  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian Burns, Director, Iran Regional Presence 
Office - Dubai, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (d) 
 
1.(S) Summary.  According to a Dubai-based Iranian entrepreneur, 
private Iranian banks are not faring well.  In particular, he 
predicted that Saman Bank will soon be bankrupt.  The contact 
opined that the Iranian government has done more to damage cash 
flows in and out of Iran than recent actions taken by the US and 
the UN.  In his opinion,  US and UN actions only harm honest, 
legitimate business entities, as anyone wanting to move money 
and goods can do so via informal - and not always legal - 
networks.  The businessman claimed that he is one of a handful 
of local Iranians engaged in legitimate business and not simply 
operating in Dubai to circumvent sanctions.  He said in fact he 
no longer tries to conduct much business in Iran, because of the 
difficult operating climate.  Regarding Iranian presence in 
Iraq, he  claimed that some IRGC members there are actually 
retired and now in business.  They are among the few 
businessmen who can "stomach" the investment climate and 
security environment there.  End Summary. 
 
Iranian banking 
---------------- 
 
2.(S) In a February 13 conversation,  a local Iranian 
entrepreneur told IRPoff that private banks in Iran are not 
faring well.  He claimed that Saman Bank (owned by Khodro car 
manufacturers) is on the verge of bankruptcy because it 
overextended itself by opening letters of credit (LCs) valued at 
2.5  times its actual collateral.  In general, stated the 
entrepreneur, private Iranian banks offer loans and extend LCs 
on much more relaxed terms than state-owned banks.  Despite the 
fact that private banks charge higher rates than the government 
imposed rates used by state banks, "easier" terms and a focus on 
customer service have attracted customers away from state banks. 
 
 
3.(S) When asked if recent US and UN actions against Iran have 
impacted the price of LCs, the businessman said "one week after 
you took action, the Central Bank stopped all LCs in Iran." 
(Note: it was not clear if he was referring to  US Treasury 
action or UNSC resolution 1737. Endnote)  He continued, "I don't 
know why they did that.  Their restrictions have done more to 
harm business than anything the international community could 
have done."  Reportedly, LCs are being opened again in Iran - 
albeit on a much slower basis.  The contact said a committee at 
the Central Bank has to review every request for an LC.  If 
opening a letter of credit from Dubai, the businessman said it 
is much better to use Standard Chartered than Dubai-based 
Iranian banks - as the rates are better at Standard Chartered. 
He said he had used HSBC in the past as well, but HSBC cut all 
of its business ties with Iran. 
 
Impact of US and UNSC actions 
----------------------------- 
 
4.(S) The contact noted that in recent years "many" Iranians 
moved to Dubai and set up local companies with the express 
purpose of circumventing US sanctions.  The entrepreneur claimed 
that he is one of a handful of Iranians based in Dubai with an 
almost wholly UAE market.  He said if necessary, he could cut 
off all ties with Iran and remain in business.  He  claimed that 
US Treasury actions and UNSCR 1737 only serve to hurt legitimate 
business entities - like himself - who use formal, legal means 
to transfer goods and money.  He said that individuals who want 
to get around the sanctions are able to do so through informal 
channels. Because of the extensive network between Dubai and 
Iran, the contact claimed that informal systems to move goods 
and money are quite deep-rooted.  He claimed that one method to 
illegally move money from Iran to Dubai is to open an LC in 
Dubai and have the money transferred from Iran - absent any 
actual shipment of goods.  The contact said all that is needed 
is a falsified bill of lading and certificate of origin. (Note: 
similar information reported in reftel by separate source. 
Endnote) 
 
IRGC in Iraq 
---------------- 
 
5.(S) The contact noted that Iran has historic ties to many 
countries in the region, and Iraq is no different.  The 
 
RPO DUBAI 00000006  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
businessman claimed that some of what appears to be IRGC 
presence there may be in fact former IRGC members now engaged in 
business activities.  The contact noted that former IRGC members 
are much more comfortable doing business in Iraq than the 
average individual.  They are used to hostile environments, he 
said.  It is possible they pass on information to the Iranian 
government, he said, just like a former US official working in 
the private sector abroad may continue to share information with 
the US government.  (Note: The contact claimed ongoing 
friendships with former IRGC members from his time of mandatory 
military service, although he did not indicate whether he had 
done his service in that branch. Endnote) 
 
6.(S) Comment:  The contact indicated his motivation for 
speaking with IRPoff was a personal desire to promote positive 
US-Iran relations.  Although critical of the Iranian government, 
he caveated all of his comments by noting that he sees himself 
as a mediator - trying to tell both sides the truth.  He offered 
to arrange a meeting for IRPO with the new Iranian Ambassador to 
the UAE, former Foreign Ministry spokesman Asefi, which we 
respectfully declined.  He commented that he was surprised by 
the appointment of someone as senior as Asefi to the UAE and 
mused whether it was a reaction to IRPO's presence here.  He 
claimed that Asefi was relatively open-minded.   In addition, 
the businessman clearly  wanted to persuade the US that the 
current sanctions regime on Iran more negatively impacted 
legitimate businesses operating through formal, legal channels, 
not  the Iranian government and illegal trade.  Whether these 
were self-serving or genuine comments is not known. End Comment. 
BURNS