Info:
Iranian regime established a layered network of front companies based in Iran, Turkey, and the UAE to bypass sanctions, gain access to the international financial system, and exchange devalued Iranian rial for dollars and euros. Ansar Bank also used international free zones to establish front companies. As part of this scheme, Ansar Bank used its Iran-based foreign currency arm, Ansar Exchange and its network, to convert Iranian rial ultimately to hundreds of millions of dollars and euros
Central to this foreign currency procurement network is Iran-based Ansar Exchange, which conducted significant volumes of foreign currency exchange services for sanctioned Iranian entities, including Ansar Bank, MODAFL, and the IRGC. Ansar Exchange is wholly owned and controlled by Ansar Bank;
Since 2016, Ansar Exchange conducted currency exchange services for Ansar Bank totaling over one billion dollars. Over the past few years, Ansar Exchange also directly provided MODAFL with the equivalent of approximately 100 million in dollars and euros, in addition to the equivalent of approximately 130 million dollars’ worth of goods and services ultimately destined for the benefit of the IRGC;
As recently as 2019, Ansar Exchange maintained a close association with senior IRGC-QF officials. Ansar Exchange is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 for being owned or controlled by Ansar Bank, and for assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Ansar Bank. Ansar Exchange is also being designated for assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF, and for assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, the IRGC;
OFAC designated Ansar Bank pursuant to E.O. 13224 for assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF, and for being owned or controlled by the IRGC;
Also Known As:
Sarafi Ansar
Sarafi Ansar Company
Country:
Iran
Address:
No. 41, Joibar Street, Fatemi Square, Tehran, Iran
Website:
www.ansarexchange.ir
E-mal:
info@ansarexchange.ir
National ID No.:
10320743975 (Iran)
Business Registration Number:
423264 (Iran)
Person of interests:
Alireza Atabaki