DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard is in the cross hairs of U.N. penalties over Teh ran’s nuclear program, and it’s an elusive target — a master at the sanctions-busting strategies long used by the Islamic Republic.
Iran has used a combination of third-party companies, deals with deep-pocket allies such as China, and the financial cushion of its oil exports to get around sanctions.
The Guard is the muscle behind the clerical rulers and has its hand in every level of the country’s economic, military, foreign policy and nuclear planning.
It also is at the center of evasive strategies. Even with two of Iran’s lifelines — Russia and China — backing the latest Security Council measures, Iran denied being boxed in.
Commerce Minister Mahdi Ghazanfari said Thursday in Beijing that Iran would find “new ways” to overcome the U.N. action.
These could include setting up new companies to funnel equipment to Iran or leaning more on friendly states such as Venezuela to keep money channels open, experts said.
