Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Could Be the Biggest Winner from Sanctions Relief

As talks are expected to resume in Switzerland between Washington and Tehran, Reuters reports that Iran’s military-economic elite is positioned to gain the most from any sanctions relief, while also making a deal harder to reach. Four senior Iranian sources said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is uniquely placed to capture much of the money that could flow in from eased sanctions, renewed oil exports, and foreign investment.

One senior source described the Guard as the true winner of the war, saying that after securing the survival of Iran’s Islamic system, it is now best placed to profit from any lifting of restrictions. The same source said the Guard has already managed most of Iran’s sanctions-busting operations over recent decades.

The temporary agreement announced this week would allow exemptions for sanctioned oil sales. A broader deal, if signed soon, could remove all other sanctions and give Iran access to a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

Although the Guard does not publish financial data, another senior source said any effort to revive the economy would expand its already significant financial reach through existing multibillion-dollar networks in trade, oil, shipping, and construction. Its engineering arm, Khatam al-Anbia, oversees hundreds of affiliated firms active in major infrastructure and energy projects, and also in communications, car manufacturing, tourism, and logistics, according to official statements and public records.