Alerts. Real-time analysis of events occurring at the intersection of economics, finance and global security concerns.

On July 24, 2011, the Telecommunication Company of Iran signed a contract for the purchase of computer hardware and software from ZTE Corporation.  The contract for $120 million included equipment from Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Cisco Systems and Dell.  Reportedly, ZTE maintains “sub companies” allowing it to purchase telecommunications equipment that it intends to sell to embargoed countries.  Mobin Trust Consortium, a company affiliated with the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and that is used by the IRGC to acquire companies, controls telecommunication Company of Iran, the customer.