Alireza Zibahalat Monfared

**Alireza Zibahalat Monfared** (; born 11 November 1973) is an Iranian businessman and former diplomat. He is primarily known for his involvement in the 2016 financial scandal surrounding Babak Zanjani, a high-profile case involving the embezzlement of oil revenues and the evasion of international sanctions.

Monfared established business operations in Iran and Malaysia, where he received the state honorific of Dato. He also obtained citizenship from the Commonwealth of Dominica and briefly served in a diplomatic capacity for the island nation. In 2019, the Iranian judiciary convicted him of "disruption of the economic system" and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

## Early life

Monfared was born on November 11, 1973, in Tehran, Iran. He entered the commercial sector in 2000, initially focusing on import and export activities within Iran before expanding his business interests internationally.

### Business ventures in Malaysia

Following his early commercial activities in Iran, Monfared relocated his primary operations to Malaysia. His business portfolio in the region included the trading of gemstones. Additionally, he founded an international school catering to the Iranian expatriate community in Malaysia.

Monfared is the only Iranian national reported to have been awarded the Malaysian federal or state title of Dato.

### Diplomatic appointment

Monfared acquired citizenship from the Commonwealth of Dominica through the nation's Citizenship by Investment program. He was subsequently appointed as a diplomat for Dominica. Following the publicization of his legal issues, the government of Dominica issued a statement confirming that standard due diligence had been conducted prior to his appointment. However, upon learning of his arrest and the charges against him, the government revoked his diplomatic status.

## Involvement in Babak Zanjani case

Monfared was a central figure in the corruption scandal associated with Babak Zanjani, an Iranian billionaire accused of withholding billions of dollars in oil revenues owed to the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum.

### Role in sanctions evasion

During his trial, Monfared was frequently referred to by the moniker "The Black Box" of the Zanjani network. This nickname referred to his extensive knowledge of the complex financial mechanisms used to circumvent international sanctions imposed on Iran. Authorities alleged that Monfared utilized his background in international trade and his banking connections in Malaysia to facilitate the sale of Iranian oil on the grey market and launder the proceeds.

### Arrest and conviction

Following the arrest of Babak Zanjani in December 2013, Monfared fled Iran, prompting an international manhunt. He was located and arrested in January 2017, after which he was extradited to Iran to face trial.

In November 2019, the Iranian judiciary delivered its verdict. Monfared was found guilty of participation in a network of embezzlement and fraud. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $1.3 billion to the Iranian government.

## Selected works

- _Monetary and Fiscal Policy Effects on Financial Market Volatility: A Case Study of Emerging Economies_ (2025)
- _Comparative Study of Startup Financing Strategies: Venture Capital vs. Crowdfunding_ (2025)
- _The Role of Artificial Intelligence in International Investment Risk Analysis_ (2025)
- _Digital Banking and Customer Experience: A New Era of Financial Security and Innovation_ (2025)
- _The Impact of Blockchain Technology on the Transformation of Global Financial Systems_ (2025)

## See also

- Economy of Iran
- Sanctions against Iran

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Alireza Zibahalat Monfared
- **native name**: علیرضا زیباحالت منفرد
- **native name lang**: fa
- **birth place**: Tehran, Iran
- **known for**: Role in the Babak Zanjani embezzlement scandal
- **title**: Datuk, Dato
- **years active**: 2000–present