Crucially, the post-revolutionary landscape saw the proliferation of powerful, quasi-governmental entities known as Bonyads (religious foundations) and parastatal institutions. These colossal economic conglomerates were originally intended to manage confiscated assets and aid the poor but have evolved into vast, opaque holding companies spanning multiple industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, and finance. Because these Bonyads are often tax-exempt and operate outside the regular purview of the elected government and parliamentary oversight, they represent a parallel, unaccountable economy that hoovers up national resources and profits, redistributing them along politically loyal lines rather than through transparent market mechanisms.
