How to invest in Iran?

May 31, 2017 12:00 PM

I'm a US citizen in the US. I would like to invest, say, $2k in the Iranian stock market, hopefully in a mix of companies or an index. How do I do this? My understanding is that Europeans can do this, but I don't know how to bridge the gap.

I'm not concerned about Iranian-US politics. I don't care what kinds of companies.

I'm aware this is risky and should plan on losing all the money.

If the only solution is illegal, I want to know how to do it but I won't actually do it.

I'm only fluent in English.

Stocks, bonds, funds and options are all okay.

Thanks for reading and advising.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (4 answers total)

I don't think there's any legal way for a US citizen in the US to do this, and it's unlikely to become legal under the Trump administration.

Would it be an acceptable indirect substitute to invest in companies that have entered the Iranian market or otherwise invested in Iran, such as Boeing, Peugeot, Renault, Vodafone, Royal Dutch Shell, and Siemens?
posted by jedicus at 12:09 PM on May 31, 2017 [1 favorite]

There are ETFs that own an index of Iranian stocks.
posted by JPD at 12:10 PM on May 31, 2017

This is broadly prohibited under US law. Perhaps others can note a workaround, but as a general matter you cannot do this as an American.
posted by Falconetti at 12:25 PM on May 31, 2017 [5 favorites]

One easy way to invest for people who -- unlike you -- are legally allowed to do so would be through the Turquoise TSE 30 Index ETF; the TSE30 index covers the top 30 largest companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange. More background here. And a similar Quora question.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:16 PM on May 31, 2017