Iran-Israel non-political relations

== Commercial ==

== Commercial ==

=== Marc Rich ===

{{main|Israeli support for Iran during the Iran–Iraq war}}

In 1979, with the changes in the Iranian government, the sale of Iranian [[Petroleum|crude oil]] abroad faced a serious problem. At this time, [[State of Israel|Israeli]]-[[Switzerland|Swiss]] businessman [[Marc Rich]] entered Iran through his company [[Glencore]] and established many business relationships with the new Iranian government.<ref>

{{cite book

|last = Kohn

|first = George C.

|author-link =

|date = 2001

|title = The New Encyclopedia of American Scandal

|trans-title = دایره المعارف جدید رسوایی آمریکایی

|url =

|location =

|publisher = Infobase Publishing

|quote =

|language = en

|volume =

|page = 330

|isbn =

}}

</ref> [[Marc Rich]] became Iran's most important oil broker in the international arena for 15 years. According to [[Marc Rich]] in his autobiography, he was transporting Iranian oil to Israel through a secret pipeline.<ref>

{{cite web

|url = https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/2013-06-27/ty-article/.premium/marc-rich-the-ayatollahs-and-israel/0000017f-e2bb-d9aa-afff-fbfba0130000

|title = Marc Rich, the Man Who Sold Iranian Oil to Israel

|trans-title = مارک ریچ، مردی که نفت ایران را به اسرائیل فروخت

|language = en

|access-date = 29 January 2025

|last1 = Dattel

|first1 = Lior

}}

</ref> He has claimed that both the Iranian and Israeli governments were aware of this trade.<ref>

{{cite web

|url = https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jun/26/marc-rich-commodities-trader-fugitive-dies

|title = Marc Rich: controversial commodities trader and former fugitive dies aged 78

|work = The Guardian

|date = 26 June 2013

|trans-title = مارک ریچ: تاجر جنجالی کالا و فراری سابق در سن ۷۸ سالگی درگذشت

|language = en

|access-date = 29 January 2025

|last1 = Rankin

|first1 = Jennifer

}}

</ref> He played a very important role in providing weapons and ammunition to the Iranian government during the [[Iran-Iraq War]]. Because of his extensive business dealings with Iran during the [[Iran hostage crisis|hostage-taking at the US embassy]], the US government convicted him of 65 crimes, including [[embezzlement]] and violating sanctions against Iran.<ref>

{{cite news

|url = https://www.economist.com/obituary/2013/07/06/marc-rich

|title = Marc Rich, king of commodities, died on June 26th, aged 78

|newspaper = The Economist

|trans-title = مارک ریچ، پادشاه کالا، در ۲۶ ژوئن در سن ۷۸ سالگی درگذشت.

|language = en

|access-date = 29 January 2025

}}

</ref> For years, he was on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's ([[FBI]]) list of ten most wanted criminals. In 2001, on the last day of office, [[Bill Clinton]] pardoned Marc Rich. According to many reports, former [[Mossad]] chiefs ''Anwar Azoulay'' and [[Shabtai Shavit]] played an important role in his pardon, and this pardon was due to Marc Rich's extensive activities for Israel and his help in providing information for [[Mossad]].<ref>

{{cite web

|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-18-mn-27173-story.html

|title = Clinton Pardon of Rich a Saga of Power, Money and Influence

|website = [[Los Angeles Times]]

|date = 18 February 2001

|trans-title = کلینتون ثروتمندان قدرتمند و با نفوذ را عفو کرد، آن هم به خاطر پول و پارتی‌بازی

|language = en

|access-date = 29 January 2025

}}

</ref>

=== Pistachio market ===

On February 6, 1998, [[The Seattle Times|the Seattle Times newspaper]] published an article stating that Israeli [[pistachio]] imports from [[Iran]] were causing the decline of American pistachios in [[Israel]]. According to the report, [[California]] pistachio farmers were unhappy that Israel was importing pistachios from Iran. According to this report, half of Israel's pistachios are imported from [[England]] and [[Germany]], even though these two countries are not pistachio producers. [[Asadollah Asgaroladi]] (''an [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] [[businessman]]'') said in this article about this business: "This is easily possible." The report also mentions that in 1997, the Israeli government fined "''Hamama Brothers company''" for importing 105 tons of pistachios from Iran in 1994 and 1995.<ref>

{{cite web

|url = https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980206/2732873/irans-pistachio-sales-in-israel-drive-us-farmers-nuts

|title = Iran's Pistachio Sales In Israel Drive U.S. Farmers Nuts

|trans-title = فروش پسته ایران در اسرائیل کشاورزان ایالات متحده را برانگیخته است

|language = en

|access-date = 22 February 2025

}}

</ref> In 2007, the "''Ynetnews newspaper''" reported again that the [[US]] government had asked the Israeli government to prevent widespread imports of pistachios from Iran.<ref>

{{cite web

|url = http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3473915,00.html

|title = US asks Israel to stop importing pistachio from Iran

|date = 21 November 2007

|trans-title = آمریکا از اسرائیل خواست واردات پسته از ایران را متوقف کند

|language = en

|access-date = 22 February 2025

}}

</ref> In 2008, "''Richard Jones''", the US [[ambassador]] to [[Israel]], wrote a letter to Israeli Economy Minister "''Rani Bar-On''" calling for a halt to the import of pistachios from [[Iran]].<ref>

{{cite web

|url = http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3555682,00.html

|title = US envoy slams Israel over 'illegal importation of pistachios'

|date = 15 June 2008

|trans-title = انتقاد نماینده آمریکا از اسرائیل به دلیل واردات غیرقانونی پسته

|language = en

|access-date = 22 February 2025

}}

</ref> The [[Haaretz|Haaretz newspaper]] also reported on this matter in a similar article.<ref>

{{cite web

|url = https://www.haaretz.com/news/u-s-demands-israel-crack-down-on-illegal-iranian-pistachio-imports-1.233710

|title = U.S. Demands Israel Crack Down on Illegal Iranian Pistachio Imports

|trans-title = ایالات متحده از اسرائیل خواست تا با واردات غیرقانونی پسته ایران برخورد کند

|language = en

|access-date = 22 February 2025

}}

</ref>

=== Other businesses ===

=== Other businesses ===

In 1998, the Israeli government sentenced Israeli businessman "''Nahum Minbar''" to 16 years in prison for extensive trade with Iran. During the investigation of this case, it was revealed that hundreds of Israeli companies have extensive trade with Iran.<ref>

In 1998, the Israeli government sentenced Israeli businessman "''Nahum Minbar''" to 16 years in prison for extensive trade with Iran. During the investigation of this case, it was revealed that hundreds of Israeli companies have extensive trade with Iran.<ref>