The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on July 10 imposed new sanctions on Iranian financial facilitator Ali Ansari and several Iranian exchange houses following Iran’s resumption of attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The action targets individuals, companies, and financial networks accused of supporting Iran’s leadership and sanctioned banking system.
According to the Treasury, Dubai-based Iranian national Ali Ansari oversees a global network of assets that benefits Mojtaba Khamenei and other Iranian regime elites. OFAC said Ansari institutionalized large-scale embezzlement by diverting publicly funded wealth into overseas real estate and commercial holdings through shell companies and bank accounts across multiple jurisdictions. The Treasury also sanctioned Saint Kitts and Nevis-based Smart Global Limited, formerly known as Ziba Leisure Limited, which it said was used to hold investments across Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries.
The Treasury said Ansari previously owned and directed Ayandeh Bank, which was dissolved by the Iranian government in mid-October 2025 after accumulating billions of dollars in debt. According to OFAC, the bank issued loans backed by the Central Bank of Iran to Ansari’s own companies, while he allegedly expanded overseas investments using those funds. Ansari was designated under Executive Orders 13876 and 13224, as amended, while Smart Global Limited was also sanctioned under the same authorities.
OFAC also sanctioned three Iranian exchange houses—Mohammad Darbani and Partners Exchange General Partnership Company, Lavasani and Partners General Partnership Company, and Mohsen Khandan and Partners General Partnership Company—for operating in Iran’s financial sector under Executive Order 13902. The Treasury said these firms move and maintain the equivalent of billions of dollars annually on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks through networks of shell companies. Several executives and partners, including Mohammad Darbani, Shokufeh Rostam Abadi, Zahra Sarshari, Ahmad Navai Lavasani, Amir Navai Lavasani, Mohsen Khandan, and Ali Asghar Khandan, were also designated.
The Treasury said Lavasani and Partners held hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign currency for sanctioned Iranian banks as of early 2026, while Mohammad Darbani and Partners held tens of millions of dollars. Mohsen Khandan and Partners held more than $117 million in foreign currency on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks. Hong Kong-based CDM Trading Limited and UAE-based Naba Alzaki Raw Materials Trading LLC were also sanctioned for allegedly serving as front companies used by Iranian exchange houses to conduct financial transactions.
Under the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. The restrictions also apply to entities owned 50% or more by blocked persons, while U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving sanctioned entities unless authorized by OFAC. The Treasury said certain foreign financial institutions could also face secondary sanctions for knowingly facilitating significant transactions involving the designated parties.
Iran Says Both Sides Must Honor Islamabad Agreement
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran has so far honored its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. He accused the U.S. Treasury Secretary of violating paragraph 9 of the agreement, saying the move breaks U.S. commitments.
Araghchi said this is part of a broader pattern of U.S. violations and mistakes. He added that the agreement can only succeed if both Iran and the United States fully honor their commitments.
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