18/06/2026
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18/06/2026
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WASHINGTON, Jun 18: The US Department of Justice is investigating the financial activities of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, examining allegations of money laundering, corruption and possible use of international banking networks, Bloomberg reported, citing officials familiar with the matter.
The investigation is looking into how Khamenei allegedly built a global investment portfolio with links to major financial institutions, including possible involvement of US banks such as JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup in processing large financial transactions connected to companies reportedly under his influence.
According to the report, US investigators are examining whether correspondent banks and compliance systems failed to identify or prevent transactions linked to Khamenei’s network. The existence of the investigation does not indicate that charges have been filed or that any institution has been accused of wrongdoing.
Khamenei became Iran’s supreme leader in March following the death of his father in a US-Israeli airstrike at the beginning of the Iran war. He has remained largely out of public view since taking office.
Bloomberg previously reported that Khamenei had developed a wide-ranging business network involving Persian Gulf shipping operations, Swiss bank accounts and luxury real estate holdings in Britain, with financial links extending through institutions in the UK, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the UAE.
The Justice Department probe comes at a sensitive time as Washington and Tehran move forward with an interim peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict and opening broader negotiations, including discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Before becoming supreme leader, Khamenei was reportedly closely associated with financier Ali Ansari, whose interests in banking, construction and trade allegedly played a role in facilitating overseas financial activity. Ansari has denied having any relationship with Khamenei.
Investigators are also examining the role of European and Middle Eastern financial institutions, as well as property-related transactions involving international companies, including Hilton Worldwide, according to Bloomberg.
