1 hour ago
16
The US Department of Justice is investigating the global investment activities of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, zeroing in on possible money laundering that may have touched American banks. The probe targets a sprawling network of proxies, offshore shell companies, and luxury real estate holdings allegedly financed by Iranian oil revenues, all while Khamenei has sat under US sanctions since 2019.
Following the money from Tehran to Bishops Avenue
A Bloomberg investigation published on January 28, 2026, laid out the roadmap federal prosecutors appear to be following. The report detailed Khamenei’s alleged acquisition of luxury properties, including holdings on London’s Bishops Avenue, through proxies and offshore companies designed to obscure the true beneficial owner. According to Bloomberg’s reporting, these property investments date back to at least 2011, funded by revenues from Iranian oil sales that continued despite international sanctions.
One key figure in the alleged network is Ali Ansari, described as a proxy for Khamenei’s financial interests. The UK slapped sanctions on Ansari in October 2025, months before the DOJ’s latest enforcement actions, suggesting coordinated transatlantic pressure on the same web of intermediaries.
In March 2026, the DOJ initiated a forfeiture action seeking to reclaim $15.3 million in funds tied to illicit Iranian oil transactions. Those funds were purportedly connected to advisors in Khamenei’s orbit. Investigations have revealed that billions in oil-related transactions have flowed through major Western banks.
The bigger picture: oil, banks, and sanctions evasion at scale
Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the role of Supreme Leader in March 2026, following the assassination of his father. The involvement of institutions like JPMorgan and Standard Chartered adds a particularly uncomfortable dimension. Standard Chartered, notably, has previous history with Iran-related sanctions violations, having paid $1.1 billion in penalties back in 2019 for similar issues.
What this means for investors and the sanctions landscape
The investigation also carries implications for real estate markets in global financial centers. London’s luxury property sector has long been criticized as a haven for illicit capital flows, and the Khamenei probe adds high-profile ammunition to calls for greater transparency in property ownership.
For crypto markets specifically, it’s worth noting what the investigation doesn’t involve. No verified reports have established direct ties between Khamenei’s investment portfolio and cryptocurrency transactions. In this case, the alleged laundering relied on entirely traditional rails: banks, shell companies, and real estate.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) ·