1- Petroleum University of Technology & Petroleum University of Technology , srazavi@put.ac.ir 2- Center for Economic Studies & Center for Economic Studies
Abstract: (39 Views)
Economic sanctions serve as tools for Western countries, especially the United States, to enforce their demands on other nations by exerting pressure through the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Over time, these sanctions have included measures like blocking the return of foreign exchange revenues from oil sales due to SWIFT restrictions imposed on Iran. This study explores oil sanctions, the SWIFT financial system, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies. By conducting interviews with 12 experts in oil, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain, key themes were identified using the "thematic analysis" method. Through the "system design" method, a model for the process of international financial settlement flow to return foreign exchange revenues from oil sales to the country using a shared cryptocurrency in the form of a token on the block-chain was developed. The findings suggest that Iran, being heavily reliant on oil, struggles to repatriate revenues due to SWIFT sanctions. As a result, adopting a shared cryptocurrency on the blockchain could provide a creative and effective solution to bypass sanctions. Furthermore, this approach could open avenues for collaboration with organizations and countries such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, OPEC, and other sanctioned entities. JEL Classification: Q43، F51، F52، O33، D85، G12.
razavi S A, kashani L. Designing a process flow model for international financial settlement to repatriate foreign exchange earnings from oil sales through a common cryptocurrency in the form of tokens on a blockchain platform. QEER 2025; 21 (84) :107-152 URL: http://iiesj.ir/article-1-1653-en.html