Info:
Ansar Exchange used Iran-based Atlas Exchange and its brokers to procure foreign currency. During the latter half of 2018, Ansar Exchange directed Atlas Exchange to transfer hundreds of thousands of euros and dirham to an Iranian company in the UAE and four companies in Europe. As of early 2019, Atlas Exchange solicited business with sanctioned Iranian banks;
Atlas Exchange is owned by Mohammad Vakili, who resides in the UAE and collaborated with Assadollah Seifi to use two UAE-based companies – the Best Leader General Trading and Golden Commodities General Trading – to evade sanctions. Since at least 2015, Attabaki (Ansar Exchange’s managing director) in coordination with Assadollah Seifi used Vakili and his affiliated UAE-based companies, the Best Leader General Trading and Golden Commodities, to procure and transfer millions of dollars including in cash. The Best Leader General Trading recently changed its name to Wilmington General Trading;
As recently as late 2018, Atabaki (Ansar Exchange’s managing director) coordinated closely with Mohammad Vakili on financial matters. Vakili effectuated multiple transfers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to entities in the UAE and Turkey on behalf of Atabaki, who has instructed Vakili to increase certain deposits for companies affiliated with the scheme. Mohammad Vakili is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 for acting for or on behalf of Alireza Atabaki;
Asadollah Seifi manages Atlas Exchange, and his procurement of U.S. dollars involved the transfer of funds through U.S.-designated banks such as Bank Mellat and Europaisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG;
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;
Persons or entities that engage in transactions with this entity will be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action;
Industry:
Banking Sector
Also Known As:
Atlas Currency Exchange
Tazamoni Vakili and Partners
Vakili Joint Partnership
Country:
Iran
Address:
No. 77, Commercial Center Market (Bazar Markazi Tejari), Ferdosi Street, Kish Island, Iran
Phone:
076-44452525
Website:
www.atlassarafi.com
E-mail:
info@atlassarafi.com
rezghi@atlassarafi.com