An investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has revealed that associates of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, killed alongside him in recent U.S. military strikes, controlled a sprawling $29 million luxury property portfolio in Dubai under false identities and foreign passports.
Records show that Hossein Shamkhani, a sanctioned Iranian oil magnate, and his brother Abolfazl Shamkhani acquired at least four high-end villas in the UAE using aliases and Caribbean “golden passports.” The brothers are sons of Ali Shamkhani, a senior political adviser to Khamenei, who was reportedly killed during the strikes.
Hossein, sanctioned by the U.S. and EU in July 2025 for generating billions for the Iranian and Russian governments, held Dominican citizenship under the alias “Hugo Hayek.” His brother Abolfazl obtained a Dominican passport as “Sami Hayek.” Using these identities, the brothers purchased villas valued at nearly $29 million and expanded their global property holdings.
U.S. authorities allege the Shamkhanis used these properties and passports to conceal their ties to Iran while conducting international business. The U.S. Department of Justice filed civil forfeiture cases in March 2026, targeting over $15.3 million tied to a network of front companies and financial institutions allegedly operated by Hossein.
Although Abolfazl is not sanctioned, prosecutors claim he manages parts of the network, including a front company linked to $2 million in seized transfers, and operates under multiple aliases. Corporate records also link him to a Cyprus-based investment fund and a Turkish firm previously sanctioned for facilitating Iranian and Russian oil shipments.
Both brothers initially acquired properties under their real names before switching to Caribbean aliases. Notable acquisitions include villas in Dubai’s Golf Place community and the exclusive Jumeirah Bay Island development. These properties boast luxury amenities such as swimming pools, expansive terraces, and landscaped gardens.
Authorities in Dominica reportedly revoked Hossein’s passport following sanctions, but his current citizenship status is unclear. Despite repeated denials from Hossein about ownership of companies tied to the network, U.S. and EU prosecutors continue to allege his involvement in illicit oil trade and property concealment.
The investigation highlights the use of false identities, foreign passports, and international real estate to obscure connections to sanctioned Iranian actors and underscores the global reach of financial networks linked to geopolitical conflicts.
