Trump Once Did a Deal With Oligarchs Allegedly Linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard

President Donald Trump in 2012 signed a licensing deal to put his name on a tower in Baku, Azerbaijan, partnering with the family of then-transportation minister Ziya Mammadov, who had a $12,000 annual salary but an estimated net worth in the billions. Trump earned at least $2.5 million from the deal despite the hotel never opening, and the Mammadovs were allegedly connected to associates of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps through lucrative highway construction contracts approved by Ziya Mammadov. According to leaked U.S. State Department cables, the Mammadovs had close business relationships with the Darvish family, prominent IRGC associates who ran companies involved in developing ballistic missile components. The Trump Organization denied knowing about any corruption or IRGC connections, claiming it was only a licensing deal with no substantial involvement in the project. Shortly after taking office for his second term, Trump paused enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act before reinstating it with less vigorous enforcement last June.