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TRANSCRIPT
He's rarely seen and rarely heard.
But recent investigations have found Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the former Ayatollah, may be tied to a vast global web of luxury assets, worth millions of dollars.
This is Dara Conduit a senior lecturer in political science at the University of Melbourne.
"He's known to have so much wealth that he's actually been given this nickname in the last few weeks of the nepo-tollah - Which is a play on nepo-baby and ayatollah."
According to multiple media investigations, assets linked to Khamenei involve: a ski resort in the Austrian Alps, luxury properties in London including mansions on 'Billionaire's Row', a golf and spa resort in Mallorca, and upscale hotels in Germany.
Khamenei's opaque financial empire also reportedly stretches from Persian Gulf shipping to Swiss bank accounts.
This is Conduit again.
"The new supreme leader and also his father had garnished so much wealth from the state.So that means that it's really deeply hidden. We are talking shell companies and fronts and all sorts of things across the world."
This is Anton Moiseienko from the Australian National University.
"The Iranian government, like many other sanctioned governments, is operating through proxies around the world, trying to ensure that it's more difficult for investigators and banks to make the connection between assets and the Iranian regime that's ultimately controlling them."
Investigators of Khamenei's investment portfolio have repeatedly linked assets to Iranian businessman Ali Ansari - who has been sanctioned by the UK due his alleged "role in financially supporting the activities" Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which Australia considers a sponsor of terrorism.
Ansari rejects these accusations.
He is not on Australia's sanctions list.
This is Moiseienko again.
"It's always possible for sanctioned persons to successfully fly under the radar and have the assets moved to any jurisdiction. One can never discount that."
Members of Australia's Iranian diaspora have long held concerns that the regime may hold assets in Australia.
This is Rana Dadpour, a spokesperson for the Australian United Solidarity for Iran.
"Talking about IRGC members or their family members or people who are affiliated with IRGC or work with them, having assets, properties, and even businesses here in Australia."
It's speculation experts say shouldn't be discounted.
This is Clancy Moore, the CEO at Transparency International Australia.
"We don't know if there's any assets being parked in Australia, but there is a risk. There's always a risk of dirty money coming into our real estate sector."
According to a spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: "Australian sanctions laws prohibit making an asset available to, or for the benefit of, a designated person or entity, such as the IRGC. Further, Australian individuals and entities that hold an asset believed to be owned or controlled by a designated person or entity are obligated to freeze those assets and report them to the Australian Federal Police"
Iranian real estate agent and founder of the Genesis Development Club, Arash Jafari, warns Australia's money laundering laws are too relaxed, and says customers who buy property under a trust could raise suspicion.
"Australia technically is a place to hide your assets... I'm not saying everyone's trying to do it, but for the people that they have that intent, this is the place to be, for sure."
Reformed anti-money laundering laws will take effect in Australia from July, requiring some sectors, including real estate, to conduct customer due diligence and report suspicious interactions.
