Hassan Dai, 7.25.2011

As the Iranian regime’s Mafia-like factions are fighting for a larger share of the country’s wealth, and while the last foreign investors desert Iran, the London based Turquoise Partners has published its latest newsletter with some good news for greedy investors who want to participate in the Mullahs’ fiesta.

The investment  manages some $150 Million asset in Iran representing foreign investors. Rouzbeh Pirouz the firm’s president has been wandering around the globe to convince the potential investors that Iran is  the most attractive place to make money easily and quickly. Evidently, Turquoise business is being made possible through its partnership with the regime’s clans including “Eghtesade Novin” bank.

Last November, Pirouz was invited to speak at a panel at Harvard titled: “Business Success in Iran: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Opportunities. Due to international pressure, the global business community has often times shied away from understanding and exploring opportunities in today’s Iran.  This panel brings unique perspective to conducting business in the country and highlights the success stories and draw lessons learned from entrepreneurs who have overcome the country’s unique obstacles.”

Far from helping the Iranian economy, the Turquoise asset is invested in real estate and Tehran stock exchange, entirely speculative and fully controlled by regime’s factions with no connection to the country’s economic reality.

According to 2011 index of economic freedom,  “Iran’s economic freedom score is 42.1, making its economy the 171st freest in the 2011 Index (out 0f 179). Iran is ranked 16th out of 17 countries in the Middle East/North Africa region, and its overall score is well below the world and regional averages.”

According to regime’s own press, there is not a single valid information regarding any sector of the economy or the basic data related to inflation, unemployment, external debt …  As to the stock market, it is subordinated to the government and Mafia-like clans that control the volatility of the market to fit their own speculative calculations.

A few months ago, Pirouz organized a show and took some 35 investors to visit the market where their money is flourishing. Watch this interview given by Pirouz to CNBC and his eloquence to explain the high performance by Tehran stock exchange. Ironically, the market has continued to collapse since his interview.

But why do the Iranian factions need the people like Pirouz? A main reason is the fact that these people will use their political and financial influence in the EU or US to reduce pressure off the regime.

Turquoise managing director is Ramin Rabii who comes from Atieh Bahar, Iran’s premier consulting firm helping international companies to do business in Iran.

Atieh’s managing director and partner (1999-2009) was Siamak Namazi who accompanied Pirouz in his speech at Harvaed.

Namazi  is well  known to the Iranian community in US because he and his partner Trita Parsi  worked together to create the anti sanction lobby in US called the National Iranian American Council (NIAC). Founded  in 2002, NIAC’s primary goal has been to lift pressure and sanctions off the Iranian regime. (See this document)

Pirouz, Namazi and similar “businessmen” are given a small share of the Iran’s wealth and in return they are expected to act as the Mullahs’ ambassadors at large.