The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into how Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei built a global investment portfolio that reportedly has ties to major Wall Street financial institutions, according to a Bloomberg News report published Thursday citing officials with knowledge of the matter.
The investigation is part of a wider inquiry into alleged money laundering and corruption. Authorities are also examining financial transactions connected to companies under Khamenei’s oversight, the report indicated.
Federal investigators are looking closely at the involvement of American banks in those transactions. Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the probe, identified JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup as two of the financial institutions being scrutinized.
When contacted for comment, JPMorgan and the Department of Justice did not provide a response to media inquiries. Citigroup chose not to comment on the matter.
Bloomberg News noted that the existence of an investigation does not automatically mean criminal charges will be brought against anyone. The report emphasized that Khamenei himself remains the central focus of the probe.
Khamenei rose to become Iran’s supreme leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike. As supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei holds ultimate authority over the country’s most critical decisions, including its foreign policy direction and nuclear program.
