Iran Fiber-Optic Venture Collapses After Partner Dies
The 2016 failure of a major infrastructure project illustrates the operational risks of cross-border telecommunications investments.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Telecommunications
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Between 2013 and 2016, billionaire donor Hossein Ghandehari partnered with the Iranian religious foundation Astan Quds Razavi to build a fiber-optic network. The joint venture, which utilized equipment shipped from Dubai, collapsed following the death of the foundation's leader.
Why it matters
The venture illustrates the intersection of global telecommunications infrastructure projects and complex geopolitical sanctions. This historical partnership highlights the operational risks of cross-border technology supply chains involving state-linked entities.
Ori Group held a 49% stake in Omran Razavi International Co., with Astan Quds Razavi controlling the majority 51% share. The infrastructure project relied on equipment sourced from Alcatel-Lucent, which was transported through a hub in Dubai.
The players
Hossein Ghandehari
A billionaire donor to the UK Reform party who previously controlled the Ori Group investment firm.
Astan Quds Razavi
An Iranian religious foundation based in Mashhad that was sanctioned by the United States in 2021.
Alcatel-Lucent
A French telecommunications equipment provider whose products were utilized in the Iran fiber-optic initiative.
Nigel Farage
A prominent political figure in the United Kingdom who received donations from Ghandehari for World Economic Forum access.
John Richard Simpson
A donor to Reform UK whose firm contributed 200,000 pounds to the party in 2025.
The details
The project aimed to develop a national fiber-optic network across Iran using hardware from French company Alcatel-Lucent. Through the Orico General Trading LLC subsidiary, the venture managed the logistics of moving specialized telecom gear from Dubai to Iranian facilities. The effort ceased operations in 2016 after the death of Astan Quds Razavi leader Abbas Vaez Tabasi led to the subsequent confiscation of project assets.
Timeline
2013-2016: Hossein Ghandehari invested in an Iranian fiber-optic project.
2016: The joint venture collapsed and assets were confiscated.
2021: The United States imposed sanctions on Astan Quds Razavi.
2025: John Richard Simpson's firm donated 200,000 pounds to Reform UK.
2026: Ghandehari pledged regular financial contributions to Reform UK.
The Tech Race
This effort represents a past attempt to modernize Iranian telecommunications infrastructure via international private-public partnership. It stands as a notable example of a commercial tech venture failing to survive the volatility of shifting regional leadership and international sanctions.
The 2016 collapse of the fiber-optic network left major infrastructure goals unfulfilled. This case serves as a reference point for how political instability and international sanctions can disrupt large-scale hardware supply chains and private investments.
The takeaway
The dissolution of the Omran Razavi venture highlights the enduring risks inherent in funding infrastructure projects within highly sanctioned environments. Observers can monitor the ongoing Reform UK donation disclosures for future updates regarding the political activities of the project's former backers.
Further reading
For broader trends in global network deployment and regulatory challenges, see Telecommunications.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iranintl.
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