Commercial disputes with an Iranian counterparty
A supplier who did not deliver, a buyer who did not pay, a partner who stopped answering. The commercial questions are familiar anywhere; what differs is the forum and what it will accept as proof.
Before anything else: what do you have in writing?
The strength of a commercial claim in Iran rests heavily on documents. The first thing we ask for is everything the relationship generated, not just the contract.
- The contract and any amendments, in whatever languages exist
- Invoices, purchase orders and delivery documents
- Proof of payments made and payments received
- The email and messaging record — often decisive, and often overlooked
- Anything signed, stamped or acknowledged by the other side
Where the dispute will be heard
Your contract may name a court, an arbitral forum, or nothing at all. Each leads somewhere different, and the answer shapes everything that follows — which is why it is the first thing we look at rather than the last.
Where the contract is silent, the place of performance and the location of the other party’s assets usually matter more than where it was signed.
Is it a dispute, or something more serious?
Not every commercial failure is only commercial. Where there are forged documents, a counterparty who was never who they claimed to be, or goods and money obtained by deception, a criminal dimension may exist alongside the civil claim. The two routes run differently and the choice affects timing, leverage and cost — so it is worth deciding deliberately rather than by default.
Tell us what happened
Describe the matter in a few lines and we will tell you whether it is something we can act on, what it would involve, and what we would need from you.
Contact the firm