Can Iran combat corruption in petroleum sector?
Iran is showing a greater transparency about corruption, perhaps in part because of the problems caused by sanctions, but has a long way to defeat this scourge.
Iran’s anti-corruption campaign has gained a rare momentum. There is regular reporting about new arrests and court cases against corrupt entities, including former ministers and high-ranking officials.
Considering the country’s political culture and intense factional competition, many have suggested that the campaign is politically motivated and does not address the real sources of corruption. Another explanation could be that the economic impact of the current sanctions has compelled authorities to increase the overall efficiency of governance. No matter what reason we accept, what has emerged is a greater degree of transparency about the corrupt practices and a push to use technology (such as e-government) to contain illegal actions.
