Gaspol Today: Iran's Business in the Black Market

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Former Indonesian Ambassador to Iran, Dian Wirengjurit, has disclosed Iran’s tactics for survival amid decades of economic embargoes imposed by the United States.

Dian stated that Iran generates revenue by selling oil on the black market.

“(Iran’s oil production) is not allowed to be exported. The Americans thought, ‘feel it, no income for you’,” said Dian, in the Gaspol! podcast aired on Kompas.com’s YouTube channel, on Wednesday (15/4/2026).

“But oil is something everyone needs. If needed, they seek it on the black market,” he continued.

Of that amount, 1.5 million barrels are used for domestic needs, while the rest is sold on the black market.

The majority of brokers for buying and selling Iranian oil on the black market are Europeans.

Beyond that, China has long openly imported oil from Iran.

That income serves as one of the capitals for Iran to build weaponry and defence equipment in the war against the US.

Not only that, the revenue is also used by the Iranian government to meet the needs of its people, from clothing, housing, food, health, to education.