Overview
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the construction of a global investment portfolio linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, according to officials familiar with the matter. The inquiry is part of a broader review that is examining allegations of money laundering and corruption tied to assets and transactions connected to firms overseen by Khamenei.
Scope of the probe
Investigators are assessing how the portfolio was built and are reviewing specific transactions that show exposure to major Wall Street banks. The review explicitly includes scrutiny of the role U.S. banks may have played in facilitating or processing those transactions. Sources familiar with the inquiry identified certain banks that are under review.
Banks named in review
The banks identified by sources as part of the review include JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup. Representatives for those banks, as well as the Department of Justice, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The fact that the institutions are under review does not on its own indicate that criminal charges will be filed.
Primary focus and limitations
According to officials familiar with the matter, the principal subject of the inquiry remains Mojtaba Khamenei. The reporting emphasized that an investigation is an examination of conduct and evidence - it does not automatically presage formal charges. The probe sits within a broader effort to investigate alleged money laundering and corruption linked to the Supreme Leader’s financial interests.
Context provided in reporting
The coverage notes that Khamenei was chosen as Iran’s supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike. As supreme leader, Khamenei is described as having the final say on state matters, including foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program.
What is known and what remains uncertain
Officials familiar with the investigation have described the subject matter and the institutions under review, but have not outlined specific transactions, dates, or potential legal outcomes. The inquiry remains ongoing, and the reporting does not indicate whether the review will lead to charges or other enforcement actions.