DOJ probes JPMorgan, Citigroup over Iran Supreme – Business News
The Department of Justice is reportedly wanting into JPMorgan and Citigroup as half of an investigation into Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s path of money flows by way of the US.
Amid a broader effort to crack down on money laundering and corruption, officers have launched a probe into how Khamenei has managed to construct up a huge investment portfolio with publicity to Wall Street banks, Bloomberg reported, citing nameless officers.
Investigators are analyzing massive money actions between corporations overseen by Khamenei — and whether or not US financial establishments, together with JPMorgan and Citi, helped facilitate these transactions, in keeping with the report.
The probe is investigating how Mojtaba Khamenei has managed to construct up a huge investment portfolio with publicity to Wall Street banks, Bloomberg reported.. ISNA/AFP by way of Getty Images
The DOJ and Citi declined to remark. JPMorgan didn’t instantly reply to The Post’s request for remark.
Along with US banks, European and Middle Eastern lenders are reportedly going through scrutiny within the probe. Global manufacturers that obtained funds from the community, like Hilton Worldwide Holdings, are too.
That’s as a result of the Iranian chief’s community — which incorporates every thing from Persian Gulf delivery to British luxurious property — has routed its funds by way of banks within the UK, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg reported.
It’s doable that the investigation won’t lead to any fees. The DOJ’s principal aim is to seek out any gaps within the US banking system that might be permitting Khamenei’s money to circulate by way of the nation, in keeping with the report.
Khamenei was named the supreme chief in June, after his father was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes early within the warfare with Iran. The new ruler was reportedly severely injured within the strikes and has not been seen in public since taking workplace.
The Justice Department has warned that Iran is actively making an attempt to interrupt its method into the US financial system.
“The efforts collectively of the government over the last 10 years have really driven Iran out of legitimate financial institutions,” Molly Moeser, who runs the DOJ’s money laundering division, mentioned in May at an industry convention in New York.
The Department of Justice is reportedly wanting into JPMorgan and Citigroup as half of an investigation into Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s money flows. Christopher Sadowski for NY Post
But “because the US dollar is still the most stable currency and the currency everybody wants to make payments in, Iran looks for every opportunity to use shell companies, use shadow structures to still get access to the US dollar,” she warned.
Prior to changing into the supreme chief, Khamenei used Ali Ansari, a financier, as a conduit for shifting funds abroad, utilizing shell firms to buy luxurious houses and five-star resorts throughout Europe — together with a number of run by Hilton, Bloomberg beforehand reported.
Ansari was slapped with sanctions in October 2025 for allegedly “financially supporting” Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His lawyer has denied any ties to Khamenei.
The ruler was personally sanctioned by the US in 2019 for appearing on behalf of his father and dealing intently with the commander of the IRGC, in keeping with the Treasury Department.
The Department of Justice has warned that Iran is actively making an attempt to interrupt its method into the US financial system. Christopher Sadowski
Over the previous few months, a number of entities in Khamenei’s empire have shifted from being filed underneath Ansari’s title to others close to the ruler — a doable attempt to hide possession, an official advised Bloomberg.
After the outlet’s earlier reporting on Khamenei’s shady transactions, Hilton launched an inner investigation over whether or not it was placing itself at risk of sanctions by maintaining its ties to 2 of its resorts in Germany — the Hilton Frankfurt City Centre and the Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch, the report mentioned.
Advisers warned the lodge chain that it may face regulatory and reputational points if it didn’t cut ties with the 2 resorts, in keeping with Bloomberg. Booking choices for each resorts are nonetheless listed on the Hilton web site.
Hilton didn’t instantly reply to The Post’s request for remark.
