(OILPRICE) — An audit of U.S. defense spending in Afghanistan finds the Pentagon may have spent a significant amount of money on fuel for the military there that came from Iran.
Congress appropriated billions of dollars of taxpayer money to support the Afghan military and the lack of strict oversight means some of that money may have wound up in Tehran’s coffers.
A week ago, Iran said it was taking pre-emptive measures by cutting off whatever is left of its European consumer base from oil and natural gas. Demand from vibrant Asian economies, meanwhile, has provided a boost to Iranian oil exports.
The audit finds that U.S. defense officials took action in late 2012 to stave off the flow of Iranian fuel products to Afghan forces. The U.S. government’s own oversight, however, suggests that efforts to starve Iran of revenue isn’t working.
