Mazzagatti Sued Over Mehr Petrochemical's U.S.-Iran Sanctions; Trafigura Faces Bribery Charges, Trial Set for December 2

Francesco Mazzagatti, an oil trader, is facing a lawsuit filed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) over allegations of diverting funds from Mehr Petrochemical, a company impacted by U.S.-Iran sanctions. Mazzagatti has denied the accusations. Separately, a Dutch-based law firm, International Law Firm Taheri (ILFT), has reportedly assisted Iran's oil industry in evading U.S. sanctions by establishing at least six companies to manage oil tankers since 2020. These findings were reported by BNR, which noted that Iran's state oil firm, NIOC, is listed as an important client of ILFT. In another development, the Swiss prosecutors have accused the commodity trading giant Trafigura Group of facilitating bribes to an Angolan official through a network of former employees, including an individual referred to as “Mr. Non-Compliant.” The 150-page indictment was released on November 18, and the trial is scheduled to commence on December 2 at Switzerland’s top criminal court.