Iran's Crypto Gambit: A Closer Look at the Reality

Iran has started taking cryptocurrency for its weapons sales. This is part of their plan to avoid international sanctions. The country's defense export center, Mindex, now says it accepts crypto payments. They sell all sorts of military gear, from rockets to communication tools. Iran has been selling weapons to groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis. It has faced sanctions from the U. S. and other countries for decades. The idea of using crypto to bypass these sanctions is new. But experts are not sure if this will work. Some security experts doubt if Iran will get much crypto through Mindex. They say the website is more about showing off than actual sales. There are no prices or ways to buy things directly. Instead, visitors fill out forms for review.Crypto is just one option for payment on the site. It's listed alongside other methods like bartering. The site seems more about signaling interest than making sales. Experts say real weapons deals are complex and involve many steps. Iran has been using crypto for a while. It helps them trade and move money despite sanctions. Groups like Hezbollah and Hamas are using crypto more than ever. This makes it harder for law enforcement to track. However, crypto's transparency can also help catch sanctions evaders. Last year, authorities identified a network laundering oil sale profits. They used crypto to send money to Iran's military. This shows that while crypto can help evade sanctions, it can also be traced.