IranRadar24Reuters investigation reveals two brothers from influential Iranian Kharazi family, close to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, control Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency platform. They have covertly used Nobitex to finance Iran’s allies abroad, including Yemen’s Houthi group, bypassing international sanctions.
Ali and Mohammad Kharazi founded Nobitex in 2018, concealing their identities using the rare family name “Aghamir.” Blockchain analysis shows the platform transfers funds to sanctioned entities like the Revolutionary Guard and Iran’s Central Bank, handling tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions.
Nobitex processes about 70% of Iran’s domestic crypto transactions and serves over 11 million users seeking refuge from rial inflation and banking system collapse. During the recent American-Israeli conflict with Iran, Nobitex reportedly remained operational despite widespread internet shutdowns, suggesting state protection.
The Kharazi family has strong ties to Iran’s ruling elite, including connections by marriage to the Khomeini and Khamenei families, underlining the platform’s strategic role in Iran’s clandestine financial networks.
