The U.S. Treasury Department has designated financier Ali Ansari and three major Iranian exchange houses for moving billions annually for sanctioned banks, following Iran's renewed attacks on Strait of Hormuz shipping.

Individuals designated:
- Ali Ansari: Dubai-based Iranian national who institutionalized embezzlement within the Iranian regime, managing a global investment portfolio for Mojtaba Khamenei and IRGC elites through former ownership of defunct Ayandeh Bank
- Mohammad Darbani: Chairman of Darbani Exchange, facilitating hundreds of millions in transactions for sanctioned Iranian banks
- Shokufeh Rostam Abadi: CEO of Darbani Exchange
- Zahra Sarshari: Board member of Darbani Exchange
- Ahmad Navai Lavasani: CEO of Lavasani Exchange, holding hundreds of millions for sanctioned banks including Bank Melli and Bank Saderat
- Amir Navai Lavasani: Chairman of Lavasani Exchange
- Mohsen Khandan: CEO of Khandan Exchange, holding over $117 million for sanctioned banks including Parsian Bank and Bank Sepah
- Ali Asghar Khandan: Partner and board member of Khandan Exchange

Entities designated:
- Smart Global Limited: Saint Kitts and Nevis-based holding company (formerly Ziba Leisure Limited) controlling Ansari's global real estate portfolio across Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, UK, Cyprus, and UAE
- Mohammad Darbani and Partners Exchange General Partnership Company: Iranian exchange house facilitating hundreds of millions in foreign currency transactions
- Lavasani and Partners General Partnership Company: Iranian exchange house with contracts spanning eight sanctioned banks
- Mohsen Khandan and Partners General Partnership Company: Iranian exchange house servicing eight sanctioned banks
- CDM Trading Limited: Hong Kong-based front company used by multiple Iranian exchange houses
- Naba Alzaki Raw Materials Trading LLC: UAE-based front company operating within Iran's rahbar network

Key details:
- Ansari previously owned Ayandeh Bank until government-forced dissolution in October 2025 after billions in embezzled loans
- Exchange houses collectively move billions of dollars annually through shell company layers
- Designations under E.O. 13902 (financial/petroleum sectors), E.O. 13876 (Supreme Leader affiliates), and E.O. 13224 (counterterrorism)
- Secondary sanctions risk for foreign financial institutions conducting significant transactions with designated persons
- Standard sanctions implications: asset blocking, transaction prohibitions, 50% ownership rule applies