# Reform UK Donor Had Business Ties to Sanctioned Iranian Foundation

> British billionaire Sasan Ghandehari, a significant donor to Reform UK, was in business with an Iranian foundation later sanctioned by the U.S., raising questions about political transparency.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-25T23:05:40.151769Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/reform-uk-donor-had-business-ties-to-sanctioned-iranian-foundation-82ba3fa7

Sasan Ghandehari, an Iranian-born British billionaire and donor to Reform UK, had past business dealings with Astan Quds Razavi (AQR), an Iranian religious foundation that answers to Iran's Supreme Leader and is now subject to U.S. sanctions [2][9][10]. This connection comes to light as Ghandehari pledged millions to Reform UK and personally contributed £50,000 to party leader Nigel Farage for access to the Davos World Economic Forum [2][15].

These revelations prompt questions about political transparency and potential foreign influence within British politics, especially given Farage's recent and strong anti-Iran stance [2][3][11].

## Records Show

A French arbitration ruling detailed Ghandehari's involvement in a telecommunications project in Iran between 2013 and 2016 [3][9]. His family's HP Trust, through its Ori Group, acquired a 49% stake in Omran Razavi International Co., a joint venture established to build a fiber-optic network across Iran [9][15]. The remaining 51% of this venture was owned by Astan Quds Razavi (AQR), a religious foundation based in Mashhad [9][15]. AQR is recognized as a powerful Iranian religious foundation under the authority of Iran's Supreme Leader [2][3][9].

In 2013, Omran Razavi International Co. held stakes in two majority state-owned banks, Bank Mellat and Bank Tejerat [12]. Both banks were under sanctions at that time due to their involvement in Iran's nuclear program [12]. Ghandehari's lawyers assert that these bank stakes were divested before HP Trust's Ori Group finalized its agreement for a 49% stake in the venture in December 2014 [12]. They also claim that authorities in France and the United States had approved the deal [10][12].

## Timeline

The telecommunications project originated from a contract awarded in 2012 by Iran's state-owned Telecommunication Infrastructure Company [10][12]. Ori Group became a shareholder in the joint venture in 2015, although the agreement for its stake was signed in December 2014 [10][12][15]. The venture with AQR reportedly collapsed around 2016, following the death of AQR's then-leader, Ayatollah Abbas Vaez Tabasi, and the appointment of a more hardline leadership [12]. On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Astan Quds Razavi [4][6][7]. The U.S. government described AQR as controlled by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, benefiting him and senior Iranian government officials, and having extensive economic holdings including assets seized from political dissidents and religious minorities [4][6][7]. AQR continues to be listed on U.S. sanctions lists [8].

## What Changed

After the venture's collapse in 2016, AQR took full control of the project [10][12]. Ghandehari's lawyers claim that he and his companies were later targeted by Iran's Supreme National Security Council, facing accusations of collaborating with hostile Western powers, which they deny as false [12]. His lawyers state Ghandehari has not visited Iran for three decades and that his family's assets in Iran were confiscated in 2016 [12].

## What the Subject Has Said Publicly

Ghandehari has stated his intention to move his tax residency from Switzerland to the UK to make "regular payments" exceeding "one or two million" to Reform UK [1][16]. He expressed his belief that Farage is "the only person who can change this country" [1][16]. Ghandehari's lawyers maintain that the telecommunications project was approved by authorities in France and the United States and was intended to promote political change and expand internet access in Iran [10][12]. They emphasized that AQR was considered the only viable partner at the time to facilitate the project and that the project was not intended to support the Iranian government [10].

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has taken an increasingly critical stance towards the Iranian regime. In November 2024, he called for the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be proscribed as a terrorist organization, reiterating this position in May 2025 [11][14]. In June 2025, Farage expressed opposition to "de-escalation" with Iran, stating he wanted its "bloody awful regime" to be "wiped out" [11]. In March 2026, he suggested Iran "potentially poses a bigger danger than Putin poses to us" [12].

## What We Could Not Confirm

*   The full extent of due diligence conducted by Reform UK regarding Sasan Ghandehari's past business dealings before accepting donations.
*   Whether the French and U.S. approvals for the telecommunications project specifically addressed the involvement of AQR at the time, given its later sanctioning.
*   The exact nature and value of the assets allegedly confiscated from Ghandehari's family in Iran in 2016.
*   The specific details and outcomes of the alleged targeting and investigation by Iran's Supreme National Security Council against Ghandehari and his companies.

## Evidence cited
1. Reform UK set to receive millions from third billionaire donor (leftfootforward.org) — https://leftfootforward.org/2026/07/reform-uk-set-to-receive-millions-from-third-billionaire-donor/
2. Revealed: billionaire Reform donor was in business with foundation linked to Iranian regime (inkl.com) — https://inkl.com/news/revealed-billionaire-reform-donor-was-in-business-with-foundation-linked-to-iranian-regime
3. The party of 'ordinary people' has an extraordinary appetite for billionaires (uglypolitix.com) — https://uglypolitix.com/2026/10/24/the-party-of-ordinary-people-has-an-extraordinary-appetite-for-billionaires/
4. Treasury Sanctions Foundations Controlled by Iran's Supreme Leader - United States Department of State (state.gov) — https://www.state.gov/treasury-sanctions-foundations-controlled-by-irans-supreme-leader/
5. US Treasury Sanctions Khamenei's Financial Empire - NCRI (ncr-iran.org) — https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/iran-protests/us-treasury-sanctions-khameneis-financial-empire/
6. Treasury Targets Billion Dollar Foundations Controlled by Iran’s Supreme Leader (treasury.gov) — https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1245
7. US sanctions Iranian foundations controlled by Supreme Leader (aa.com.tr) — https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-sanctions-iranian-foundations-controlled-by-supreme-leader/2109670
8. Astan Quds Razavi - OFAC Sanctions, US Trade CSL, Entity Profile - On8.ai (on8.ai) — https://on8.ai/entities/astan-quds-razavi-660c6d7a4805c87a550970a2
9. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://www.iranintl.com/2026/10/23/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
10. Reform UK donor had ties to Iranian religious foundation (eutoday.net) — https://eutoday.net/news/2026/10/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-to-iranian-religious-foundation
11. Nigel Farage - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Farage
12. Nigel Farage says Iran 'bigger danger than Putin' in New Statesman interview (www.theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/11/nigel-farage-iran-bigger-danger-putin-new-statesman-interview
13. Keir Starmer's Iran Win - Byline Times (bylinetimes.com) — https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/10/keir-starmers-iran-win/
14. The threat from Iran is a national emergency. - Reform UK (reformparty.uk) — https://reformparty.uk/news/the-threat-from-iran-is-a-national-emergency
15. Billionaire Reform UK donor had business ties with Iranian religious foundation linked to supreme leader: Report (timesnownews.com) — https://timesnownews.com/world/billionaire-reform-uk-donor-had-business-ties-with-iranian-religious-foundation-linked-to-supreme-leader-report-article-114486518
16. REVEALED: Billionaire Reform donor was in business with foundation linked to Iranian regime (magzter.com) — https://magzter.com/stories/181/15926/REVEALED-Billionaire-Reform-donor-was-in-business-with-foundation-linked-to-iranian-regime
17. UK Billionaire Donor To Reform UK Had Business Ties To Iranian Religious Foundation (sundayguardianlive.com) — https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/uk-billionaire-donor-reform-uk-had-business-ties-iranian-religious-foundation
18. The Art Market: Sasan Ghandehari at the Intersection of Finance and Fine Art (heni.com) — https://heni.com/editorial/the-art-market-sasan-ghandehari-at-the-intersection-of-finance-and-fine-art
19. Reform UK donor runs company linked to sanctioned Iranian conglomerate - Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate. (leftfootforward.org) — https://leftfootforward.org/2026/04/10/reform-uk-donor-runs-company-linked-to-sanctioned-iranian-conglomerate/
20. Bank Tejarat (iranwatch.org) — https://www.iranwatch.org/iran-organizations/banks/bank-tejarat
21. CURIA - Documents (juristeca.com) — https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=146059&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=5423854
22. Revealed: billionaire Reform donor was in business with foundation linked to Iranian regime (magzter.com) — https://magzter.com/article/News/The-Guardian/Revealed-Billionaire-Reform-Donor-Was-In-Business-With-Foundation-Linked-To-Iranian-Regime/23616231
23. Sasan Ghandehari - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasan_Ghandehari
24. Reform UK donor Sasan Ghandehari faces scrutiny over Iran ties (sundayguardianlive.com) — https://sundayguardianlive.com/news/reform-uk-donor-sasan-ghandehari-iran-ties
25. Billionaire Reform donor was in business with foundation linked to Iranian regime | Reform UK | The Guardian (theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/oct/23/reform-uk-donor-sasan-ghandehari-business-ties-iranian-religious-foundation-astan-quds-razavi
26. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://www.iranintl.com/2026/10/25/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
27. Reform UK Donor Sasan Ghandehari In Business With Iran Religious Foundation: Report - Times Now (timesnownews.com) — https://timesnownews.com/world/uk-news/reform-uk-donor-sasan-ghandehari-iran-links-article-114408160
28. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://www.iranintl.com/2026/10/22/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
29. Astan Quds Razavi - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astan_Quds_Razavi
30. Mashhad Appointments Show Tightened Hardliner Grip (washingtoninstitute.org) — https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/mashhad-appointments-show-tightened-hardliner-grip
31. Iran: The Vast Financial Empire of Khamenei (iranfocus.com) — https://www.iranfocus.com/en/iran-a-z/29302-iran-the-vast-financial-empire-of-khamenei
32. Meet The Sultan of Khorasan (iranwire.com) — https://www.iranwire.com/en/features/5632/
33. Astan Quds Razavi - Alchetron.com (alchetron.com) — https://alchetron.com/Astan-Quds-Razavi
34. Hourieh Peramaa - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hourieh_Peramaa
35. GB News - Reform UK gains third billionaire backer for election. | Facebook (facebook.com) — https://www.facebook.com/GBNews/posts/pfbid0251j4v7yUxbGZ8f5mGk1f2oDqV63bCjE6u4N1zL8g51sL5g5K7Z9qP7c6P7x7G5k4S8G8k3Z6G6j8c9/comment_embed_modal/?comment_id=1498616187531776
36. Farage accused of hypocrisy over billionaire donor’s Iran links (upday.com) — https://www.upday.com/news/detail/916327668612985856/farage-accused-of-hypocrisy-over-billionaire-donors-iran-links?utm_source=upday&utm_medium=referral
37. Reform UK set to receive millions from third billionaire donor (leftfootforward.org) — https://leftfootforward.org/2026/07/06/reform-uk-set-to-receive-millions-from-third-billionaire-donor/
38. Reform UK received £100,000 from design firm facing winding-up order | Reform UK | The Guardian (theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/19/reform-uk-donation-design-firm-facing-winding-up-order
39. Reform UK - All donations, grants and loans (donation.watch) — https://www.donation.watch/party/reform-uk
40. worldwideecho.com (worldwideecho.com) — https://worldwideecho.com/
41. livedigest.news (livedigest.news) — https://livedigest.news/
42. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/2026/10/25/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
43. gyford.com (gyford.com) — https://gyford.com/
44. Billionaire Reform UK Donor Sasan Ghandehari Faced Past Business Ties to Iranian State-Linked Foundation - Daily Tarjuman (dailytarjuman.com) — https://dailytarjuman.com/
45. Billionaire Reform UK donor Sasan Ghandehari had business ties with Iranian religious foundation - Barlekha Today (barlekhatoday.com) — https://barlekhatoday.com/
46. Abbas Vaez-Tabasi - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbas_Vaez-Tabasi
47. Abbas Vaez Tabasi - Alchetron.com (alchetron.com) — https://alchetron.com/
48. Khamenei Asserts Control of Astan-e Qods | The Washington Institute (washingtoninstitute.org) — https://washingtoninstitute.org/
49. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/2026/10/23/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
50. Revealed: Billionaire Reform Donor Was In Business With Foundation Linked To Iranian Regime (magzter.com) — https://magzter.com/
51. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Shabtab News (shabtabnews.com) — https://shabtabnews.com/
52. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/2026/10/24/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
53. Billionaire Reform UK Donor Had Business Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/2026/10/22/billionaire-reform-uk-donor-had-business-ties-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
54. One Unaccountable King is Dead, Long Live another Unaccountable King! (iranwire.com) — https://iranwire.com/en/iran-features/6468/
55. Case T-295/13: Judgment of the General Court of 23 October 2013 — Bank Tejarat v Council (juristeca.com) — https://juristeca.com/
56. Farage’s Reform UK donor partnered with Iran religious foundation (worldwideecho.com) — https://worldwideecho.com/2026/10/22/farages-reform-uk-donor-partnered-with-iran-religious-foundation/
57. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iranian Religious Foundation (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/2026/10/24/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-to-iranian-religious-foundation
58. Reform UK gains third billionaire backer as Farage pledges election spending blitz (upday.com) — https://upday.com/news/reform-uk-gains-third-billionaire-backer-as-farage-pledges-election-spending-blitz-1718042407519992000
59. Facebook post by Old Britain Spirit Fans (facebook.com) — https://facebook.com/OldBritainSpiritFans/posts/pfbid0259b48B83aFp2Xy7d7y5uS4B1Ww9j6bT1M5q8gK5B4Z6Y7B5T9Y0Y5H9F7P3/permalink.php
60. Woman owner of £50m home was once a penniless refugee | London Evening Standard | The Standard (standard.co.uk) — https://standard.co.uk/news/woman-owner-of-50m-home-was-once-a-penniless-refugee-6447847.html
61. Hourieh Peramaa - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia (alchetron.com) — https://alchetron.com/Hourieh-Peramaa
62. London’s £50m mansion is not big enough | The Velvet Rocket (thevelvetrocket.com) — https://thevelvetrocket.com/2009/10/09/london%E2%80%99s-%C2%A350m-mansion-is-not-big-enough/
63. Wealth sparks fury in London (gulfnews.com) — https://gulfnews.com/uae/real-estate/wealth-sparks-fury-in-london-1.472719
64. Picasso court case throws light on Reform UK donor’s offshore finances (theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/feb/06/picasso-court-case-davos-iran-sasan-ghandehari-reform-uk
65. Sasan Ghandehari: A Prominent Art Market Figure (heni.com) — https://heni.com/news/sasan-ghandehari-a-prominent-art-market-figure
66. Christie's Sued Over Picasso Owned by Cocaine Trafficker (rehs.com) — https://rehs.com/blogs/news/christies-sued-over-picasso-owned-by-cocaine-trafficker
67. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iranian Religious Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/2026/10/25/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-to-iranian-religious-foundation-guardian
68. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/2026/10/21/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-to-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
69. Reform UK Donor Had Ties To Iran Supreme Leader-Linked Foundation - Guardian (iranintl.com) — https://iranintl.com/2026/10/22/reform-uk-donor-had-ties-to-iran-supreme-leader-linked-foundation-guardian
70. Reform UK donor was in business with Iranian religious foundation (fapevahe.blog) — https://fapevahe.blog/2026/10/23/reform-uk-donor-was-in-business-with-iranian-religious-foundation/