Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions
Published . Updated .
A Reuters investigation found that more than 5,000 Iranian agencies bearing MOD names have been used to bring in at least $2 billion in military-related goods since January 2025.
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF-3.0% 30d
iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “military” (defense) in this story.
- XAR SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF-6.6% 30d
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “military” (defense) in this story.
- USO United States Oil Fund+13.9% 30d
United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story.
- BWET Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF-3.3% 17d
Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “iran” (tanker shipping) in this story.
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings+13.4% 16d
ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story.
- CVX Chevron+15.7% 30d
Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story.
- COP ConocoPhillips+8.3% 30d
ConocoPhillips (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story.
- SHEL Shell+0.1% 13d
Shell (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITANo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XARNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| USO | -1.54% | -1.29% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| BWETNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XOM | -1.45% | -2.77% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| CVXNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COPNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| SHELNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions Cyprus Inform
Source: Cyprus Inform
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) since this story, compared with the market
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | three days earlier | -1.29% | final price |
| United States Oil Fund (USO) | five days earlier | -1.54% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | three days earlier | -2.77% | final price |
| ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) | five days earlier | -1.45% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 18 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) (jointly held), worth $100,001 - $250,000 on 31 Aug 2026. That is 62 days before publication. Filed 25 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Pete Sessions sold Chevron (CVX), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 14 Oct 2026. That is 18 days before publication. Filed 27 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Chevron (CVX) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 39 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar bought Chevron (CVX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 2 Sep 2026. That is 60 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 26 Aug 2026. That is 67 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Michael T. McCaul sold Conocophillips (COP) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 69 days before publication. Filed 14 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Conocophillips (COP), worth $1,000,001 - $5,000,000 on 21 Aug 2026. That is 72 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Companies in defense around IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
Companies carried with this story
- ITA IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 1 Nov 2026 story “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions.” Reason on file: iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “military” (defense) in this story
- XAR Spdr Series Trust
For “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions,” Spdr Series Trust (XAR) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “military” (defense) in this story
- USO United States Oil Fund
United States Oil Fund (USO) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 1 Nov 2026 story “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions.” Reason on file: United States Oil Fund: its price follows crude oil. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story
- BWET Amplify Commodity Trust
For “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions,” Amplify Commodity Trust (BWET) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF: it tracks tanker freight rates. Linked by “iran” (tanker shipping) in this story
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings
ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 1 Nov 2026 story “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions.” Reason on file: ExxonMobil Holdings (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story
- CVX Chevron
Chevron (CVX) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 1 Nov 2026 story “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions.” Reason on file: Chevron (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story
- COP Conocophillips
For “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions,” Conocophillips (COP) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: ConocoPhillips (petroleum refining): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story
- SHEL Shell
For “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions,” Shell (SHEL) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Shell (crude petroleum and natural gas): oil producers' profits rise and fall with crude prices. Linked by “iran” (oil) in this story
How defense news reaches IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is the company in “Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions,” the 1 Nov 2026 Defense story.
IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is on the page because iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “military” (defense) in this story
A second company, Spdr Series Trust (XAR), is listed for a different reason: SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF: it holds defense and aerospace contractors. Linked by “military” (defense) in this story
Dates and price levels for IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA)
ITA traded between 197.59 and 215.76 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 209.72. USO traded between 141.82 and 171.80 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 168.83. XAR traded between 210.89 and 237.55 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 227.38.
How solid the defense case looks
46 out of 100
“Reuters: Iran’s hidden network of MOD agencies imported $2 billion in military goods despite sanctions” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 8 linked companies.