Maduro to Tap Sanctioned Dealmaker to Ship Gold to Iran

An indicted financier accused by the U.S. of developing Venezuela’s gold-for-food trade with Turkey is helping orchestrate a similar swap with Iran involving gold for gasoline products, according to seven people familiar with the matter.

Alex Nain Saab Moran, a Colombian whom U.S. authorities consider one of the most powerful men supporting Nicolas Maduro’s regime, traveled to Tehran with senior executives from the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela last month, two of the people said. That was part of a deal in which Iran sends gasoline additives, parts and technicians to the South American nation in exchange for gold, they said.