Tehran, Dec 6, IRNA – The 18th session of oil billionaire Babak Zanjani court hearing opened here on Sunday.

During the session, the 2nd and 3rd defendants offered defense to the court.

Presiding judge, Abolqasem Salavati, judged today session like the previous ones.

Salavati has urged Zanjani to fully pay his debts to oil ministry which is around two billion euros.

Zanjani, 41, was arrested on December 30, 2013, on charges of corruption. He is one of Iran's wealthiest businessmen, with a fortune worth an estimated 14 billion dollars.

Zanjani and two other respondents face money laundering charges lodged in a 40,000-page lawsuit which led to his indictment.

The two other defendants are facing charges of complicity in money laundering, forgery and fraud.

Zanjani was jailed when charges were brought up against him for misappropriating two billion euros belonging to the Ministry of Petroleum.

By IRNA