Mehdi Shams sentenced with Babak Zanjani for Iran sanctions evasion

Mehdi Shams, an Iranian-British businessman, was sentenced to death in Iran last month, alongside billionaire Babak Zanjani (see previous blog), for allegedly defrauding Iran’s government of $2 billion and helping to circumvent sanctions on Iran’s oil industry. Mr Shams, who has admitted to circumventing sanctions, is said to have first come to the UK as a senior employee of the previously US and EU sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, but to have resigned shortly after and set up more than 12 companies. Officials from Britain are said to be appealing for his death sentence to be lifted.