Financial system

Economic sanctions, involving trade restrictions imposed by one country or a group of countries against another, come in various forms, such as tariffs, trade barriers, and import/export restrictions. In recent times, Iran and Russia have become targets of diverse economic sanctions imposed by the Western Bloc. Given that both countries heavily rely on their energy sectors as the bedrock of their economies, this study focuses on assessing the impact of Western sanctions on Iran and Russia's energy industries. Employing the Futurology method (Scenario planning), the research examines the effects of Western sanctions on the energy sectors of Iran and Russia, and explores their respective responses to mitigate these adverse consequences. The findings highlight four potential scenarios for the future of the Iranian and Russian energy sectors, based on two megatrends of sanctions and geopolitical tensions. Among these scenarios, the "Ideal scenario" emerges as the most favorable outcome, while the "Austerity scenario" poses the greatest challenges. Despite the short-term efficacy of these strategies, the study underscores heightened long-term investment risks in both nations. Consequently, foreign investors' participation in the oil and gas sectors of Iran and Russia is expected to decline.

This research aims to design an open banking model using a grounded theory approach in bank Saderat Khorasan Razavi. The current research is exploratory in nature and mixed-in approach. This research was carried out in two stages among the research projects of the combined method. For this purpose, it collects qualitative data first. In this section, the indicators were identified through reviewing existing documents, papers, and articles and semi-structured interviews with experts, and the grounded theory method was used to select the identified indicators. Open and axial coding was done and a visual pattern was designed. In second stage was the quantitative part of the research, after the final research model was identified in the qualitative part and the components and indicators of each component were determined, the final questionnaire included all dimensions and components of the identified model based on the five-choice Likert scale and based on dimensions and the components of open banking in the country's banking industry were compiled and distributed among sample people and data were collected. The statistical population in the qualitative part of the research and the process of identifying dimensions and components of open banking in the country's banking industry included organizational experts, these people included senior managers, deputy managers, middle managers, and senior experts. The statistical population in the quantitative part included all managers and senior experts of open banking in the country's banking industry. According to the obtained results, the consequences with an average rank of 2.63 are the priority. Intervening factors with an average rating of 2.55 are the second priority. The central phenomenon with an average rank of 2.43 is the third priority. Contextual factors with an average rank of 2.40 are the fourth priority. Strategies are in the fifth priority with an average rank of 2.39. Causal factors with an average rating of 2.38 are the last priority.

One of the main challenges for the regulators of oil contracts in Iran is the financial and taxation system and the auditing procedures of oil contracts. This issue has, even after the Islamic Revolution and until today, always been one of the concerns of oil stakeholders, especially in Iran. Nowadays with the selection of the service contract format as the only approved contractual template in upstream oil operations, oil companies, acting as contractors, carry out the investment in oil operations and, if the contractual objectives are achieved, are entitled not only to the reimbursement of costs but also to receive fees. Based on the principle of “no profit, no loss” and in order to prevent the contractor from unjustly benefiting by overstating incurred expenses, the parties classify the costs and, using accounting and auditing principles, stipulate the definitions, instances, and calculations methods of the costs, and so forth. Given Iran’s growing need to conclude Joint Operating Agreements (JOAs) aimed at facilitating technology transfer through enhanced reservoir recovery by assigning operational responsibilities to an Iranian operating company while maintaining the contractor’s overall responsibility it is essential to revise and adapt Iran’s accounting and auditing procedures to align with the specific requirements of such agreements. In this regard, the model accounting procedures published by international petroleum associations can serve as effective and practical benchmarks for reform.