The Canadian businessmen accused of helping Iran's regime
Feb. 14, 2023
The FBI says they conspired to evade U.S. sanctions on Tehran. These men call those allegations ‘baseless.’
They’re wanted by the FBI in the U.S., accused of helping to disguise hundreds of millions of dollars on Iran’s behalf to evade American sanctions.
In Canada, they’re active businessmen advertising themselves as flourishing leaders in the world of real estate.
Salim Henareh promotes himself on his personal website as the CEO of a private mortgage corporation in Toronto and a “top name in his industry.”
Khalil Henareh (the FBI believes he’s related to Salim) presents himself on social media as an award-winning real estate broker based in Thornhill, Ont.
Saeed (Sam) Torab Abtahi is listed as VP of a private lending company tied to Salim Henareh, according to the company’s website.
They are not accused of violating sanctions in Canada or of any illegal acts here. But all three men face felony charges in the U.S. and up to 20 years in prison if they’re convicted.
Their criminal defence lawyer Barry Fox says the American allegations are “baseless.”
But Garry Clement, a former RCMP superintendent who managed the national police force’s financial crime program, reviewed the U.S. indictment and said it appears to be a “classic example” of Canada acting as a “safe haven.”
“It appears they’re operating with virtual impunity right now,” said Clement. “There doesn’t seem to be a concentrated enforcement action of any kind in this country.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed that Canada will no longer act as a safe haven for people benefiting from “the corrupt and horrific regime in Iran.”
An indictment allows charges to proceed; it is not a conviction.
A grand jury in California concluded there was enough evidence in April, 2021 to indict Salim Henareh, Khalil Henareh and Saeed Torab Abtahi for conspiring with at least seven other people to evade U.S. sanctions and disguise transactions on the Iranian regime’s behalf worth more than $750 million US.
The U.S. indictment alleges the sanctions evasion scheme lasted at least from 2002 to 2018 and involved Canadian money service businesses and front companies abroad.
Among other things, the indictment alleges those companies helped to disguise the purchase of two oil tankers worth more than $51 million US on Tehran’s behalf.
Court documents tied to the case claim Iran uses front and shell companies to exploit financial systems around the world and transfer money to support terrorist groups, human rights abuses and ballistic missile development.
Clement said he hopes Canadian authorities are aware of the men’s operations in Canada and that they are looking into them.
“[The U.S. indictment] says to me, look, they’re directly linked to the Iranian regime,” Clement said. “It says to me that they’re prepared to go a great distance to support the regime. And that, in my mind … creates a lot of red flags, and should for Canada.”
Fox said the three men in Canada are not affiliated with Iran’s regime in any way.
“My clients categorically deny having any relationship, personal or corporate, with the Iranian government … the allegations contained in the complaint are without merit,” said Fox in an email.
Fox declined CBC News’ requests for interviews, saying they would have to wait until the U.S. criminal case “is resolved.”
“Since the matter is still pending (although dormant) in the American courts, my clients have no choice but to refuse any form of interview at this time,” Fox wrote.
It’s been almost two years since the indictment was issued.
Salim Henareh
- Legal name until 2002: Mohammad Salim Henarheshghsou
- President of Persepolis Financial Services (1999-2010)
- President of Rosco Trading International (2008-2021)
- U.S. accuses both Canadian money services companies of involvement in sanctions evasion scheme
- U.S. alleges he created front companies to purchase oil tankers on Iran’s behalf
- Named as defendant in a handful of civil lawsuits in Ontario — including a 2017 suit that alleged he and Rosco Trading International breached a contract over issues with a series of wire transfers. The defendants denied any involvement and said it was the plaintiff’s fault.
Saeed (Sam) Torab Abtahi
- VP of Rosco Trading International in Toronto
- Accused of discussing how to evade U.S. sanctions on Iran by disguising U.S. fund transfers on behalf of Iranian oil companies through front companies and fraudulent invoices
- 2012 civil lawsuit alleged that Abtahi, Salim Henareh, Rosco Trading International, Persepolis and others “unlawfully and intentionally” converted $1 million of the plaintiff’s money for their own benefit and only paid back $100,000. Court issued a default judgment that was later set aside.
- Judged a Miss Universe Canada pageant in 2015
- Studied at McGill University and held senior management positions at Ontario pizza franchises
Khalil Henareh
- Compliance and operations employee at Rosco Trading International in Toronto
- Former information and technology and operations manager for Persepolis Financial Investments before it ceased operations
- Accused of creating front companies and fraudulent invoices that caused U.S. dollar wire transfers to be processed by U.S. banks on behalf of Iranian oil companies
- U.S. claims he operated some of the websites involved in the alleged sanctions evasion scheme, including one for an Iranian currency exchange business in Tehran
- Majored in computer science at the University of Toronto
- Personal website registered to the same hosting site’s address in Arizona as the Lender for Growth and Rosmount Capital Funding websites