Info:
Seyyed Mohammad Mosanna’i Najibi (Najibi) is an Iranian-Turkish money-changer who, since at least 2019, has managed several currency exchange businesses in Iran and Türkiye in coordination with the MODAFL Supply Division for the purpose of bypassing U.S. and European sanctions on Iran. Najibi carries out most of his business for the MODAFL Supply Division through the Iranian branch of his business, Seyyed Mohammad Mosanna’i Najibi & Co. Company, commonly known as Sadaf Exchange. Najibi works with the MODAFL Supply Division to establish cover companies and accounts for MODAFL, hold MODAFL’s money in accounts outside of Iran, transport hard currency across borders, retrieve revenue from sale of Iranian oil, and transfer funds to suppliers of MODAFL, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS), and the IRGC. Since at least 2020, Najibi has worked directly with top MODAFL officials to execute transfers of U.S. dollars to bank accounts in the People’s Republic of China, the Marshall Islands, Türkiye, and the UAE on their behalf, including transfers related to MODAFL cargo shipments. Najibi has also provided direct financial assistance to the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) through the sale of gold in Türkiye for U.S.-designated IRGC-QF official Behnam Shahriyari.
Since 2020, Sadaf Exchange enabled the MODAFL Supply Division to conduct euro-, Emirati dirham-, and dollar-denominated transfers worth hundreds of millions of dollars to other MODAFL cover companies and exchange houses, including to Sahara Thunder and U.S.-designated Ansar Exchange. Najibi also owns a Türkiye-based currency exchange company, Golden Stars Kiymetli Madenler Tekstil Sanayi Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Golden Stars), which provides exchange services in conjunction with Sadaf Exchange. Through Golden Stars, Najibi conducts cash and gold transfers between Türkiye and Iran for the MODAFL Supply Division. In 2023, Najibi facilitated cash transfers worth tens of millions of dollars for MODAFL through Golden Stars.
OMID SEPAH EXCHANGE COMPANY & HEKMAT IRANIAN EXCHANGE HOUSE
Omid Sepah Exchange Company (Omid Sepah) and Hekmat Iranian Exchange & Foreign Currency Services Company (Hekmat Iranian) are Tehran-based currency exchange businesses controlled by U.S.-designated Bank Sepah that use foreign cover companies to engage in shadow banking transactions on behalf of the MODAFL Supply Division, in collaboration with Najibi and Sadaf Exchange. Since 2020, Omid Sepah and Hekmat Iranian coordinated the transfer of tens of millions of dollars on behalf of the MODAFL Supply Division using numerous shell companies outside of Iran.
Omid Sepah Exchange Company and Hekmat Iranian Exchange & Foreign Currency Services Company are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, MODAFL.
MODAFL is responsible for development, production, funding, and logistics for all of Iran’s defense industries. Iran’s budget allots billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil to the Iranian armed forces to sell abroad in order to supplement their budgets. MODAFL subsidiaries manufacture advanced conventional weapons, including ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, which are used by Iran’s military, including the IRGC, or exported to other countries such as Russia, or partner groups such as the Houthis.
OFAC is also designating the following 27 cover companies based in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Marshall Islands that are controlled by Najibi and used to obfuscate the MODAFL Supply Division’s international financial activity:
Hong Kong:
Gainon Co., Limited
Meishur Limited
Relan Limited
Roslami Limited
Turpami Limited
Suesian Co. Limited
Burren Co., Limited
Saisaipen Co., Limited
Xaster Co., Limited
Delaite Trading Co. Limited
Jocwa Co. Limited
Tenglan Limited
Kuwan Co., Limited
Jiankang Food Limited
Sino Trade Limited
Fengxian International Trading and Services Co. Limited
Copezzi Industrial Co. Limited
Caregis Trading HK Limited
Lzmar Trading Limited
Cherry Star Co. Limited
United Arab Emirates:
Lyoned Trading L.L.C.
Atvantic Goods Wholesalers L.L.C.
Anvex Trading L.L.C.
Sahil Mahaba Trading L.L.C.
Nasir Sadiqat General Trading L.L.C.
Brighten Star FZE
Marshall Islands:
Hermex International Corporation
Involved In:
Financial Services
Also Known As:
(Arabic: سید محمد مثنایی نجیبی
NAJIBI, Sayyed Mohammad Masnayi
NAJIBI, Seyyed Mohammad Masnaei
YILMAZ, Can
DOB:
11 Sep 1974
Country:
Turkey
Iran
Address:
Iran
Turkey
Nationality:
Iran
Turkey
Passport:
V52954918 (Iran)
U23145839 (Turkey)
National ID No.:
1372111883 (Iran)
13167145446 (Turkey)