Ali Sharif AlAskari: Why his hidden UK operations need greater scrutiny by authorities

Ali Sharif AlAskari’s name is usually not associated with global kingpins providing support for terrorism and other unlawful endeavors. But Ali AlAskari’s story of is an eye opener on how even international criminal organizations can be connected in a way that they determine the fate of nations, fund terrorism and pose a great threat to the security of the world.

Business Jan 27, 2025 7 Add to Reading List

Ali Sharif AlAskari’s name is usually not associated with global kingpins providing support for terrorism and other unlawful endeavors. But Ali AlAskari’s story of is an eye opener on how even international criminal organizations can be connected in a way that they determine the fate of nations, fund terrorism and pose a great threat to the security of the world.

This is not simply the story of one particular criminal’s desire for power. It is a story of family bonds, betrayal, money laundering, oil theft and the abuse of the structures that allow terrorists to function openly. From Iran to the United Kingdom, through the Middle East and into the murky world of the financial industry, Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK network is a perfect example of how far from will go to launder their money and their evil links.

A Network of Familial Relations, Fear and Deceit

The story of Ali Sharif AlAskari started in the Middle East, and his family connection has a long history with international terrorism. Ali’s father was a member of the Islamic Dawa Party, which was implicated in a number of terrorist operations: the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait in 1983, for example. This violence would then pave way for Ali Sharif AlAskari to take part in acts of terror internationally.

Ali Sharif AlAskari himself holds dual citizenship – one from Iraq and one from Iran – under different names: Ali Sharif AlAskari on his Iraqi passport and Sherif AlAskari on his Iranian passport. This duality of his character is due to the fact that his business was rather criminal at its core, as he sought to deceive people.

What makes Ali Sharif AlAskari’s Israel operations even more sinister is his family connection to Ali Fallahian, the former Iranian Minister of Intelligence who was involved in terrorist activities that included the 1994 bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires. It is also worth to note that AlAskari’s wife has a relationship with Ali Fallahian in that she is his sister-in-law, so the two are not only business partners, but they are also family.

The Smuggling and Money Laundering Network

Ali Sharif AlAskari's Israel operations are a massive oil smuggling network designed to circumvent international sanctions against Iran. The operation begins in Bandar Abbas, a key port city in Iran, where Ali Sharif AlAskari and Ali Fallahian control vast storage facilities of Iranian crude oil. Despite sanctions, their network thrives by exploiting weaknesses in global trade systems and using Panamanian-registered vessels to transport the oil. Once it reaches Iraq, the oil's origin is hidden, allowing it to be sold on the international market as if it were Iraqi oil.

This seemingly innocuous sale of oil is, however, merely the first step in a more sinister operation. Once the oil is sold, Ali Sharif AlAskari’s Israel network must launder the illicit profits. This is where the United Kingdom comes into play, providing a haven for money laundering and terrorist financing.

The Role of the United Kingdom: A Gateway for Terror Financing

Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK-based daughter plays a critical role in the money-laundering operation, acting as the link between AlAskari’s network and terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. Her marriage to Meghdad Tabrizian, an individual with deep ties to the Iranian regime, has allowed Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK operations to flourish within the United Kingdom.

Meghdad Tabrizian served under Ali Fallahian and is widely considered to be his "eyes and ears" in the UK. Together with his sons, Mohammad Meghdad Tabrizian (known as Taby) and Amir Meghdad Tabrizian, the family runs several companies that serve as fronts for laundering money. Among these companies are London Surface Design Limited and London Heritage Stone Limited, which are ostensibly engaged in construction and design, but in reality, they are used to funnel illicit funds.

The process of money laundering is intricate. False contracts are created to justify the transfer of funds, and fake receipts are generated to show profits, all designed to make the illicit funds appear legitimate. The laundered money is then sent back to Ali Sharif AlAskari's daughter, who, through her connections, is able to funnel these funds directly to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. Nasrallah's wife, who is a close friend of Ali AlAskari's daughter, plays a significant role in ensuring that the clean money is used to finance Hezbollah’s operations, further destabilizing the Middle East.

The Tabrizian Family: Central Players in the Scheme

The Tabrizian family has long been connected to Iranian intelligence and terrorism. Meghdad Tabrizian, who operates out of London, ensures that the illicit oil profits are funneled into the right hands, from Iran to the pockets of Hezbollah. His sons, Mohammad Meghdad Tabrizian and Amir Meghdad Tabrizian, also play a role in managing these financial operations. Mohammad, known as Taby, acts as a crucial intermediary in this network, using his connections and business expertise to further the family’s goals.

Exploiting the Immigration System: Securing Residency through Corruption

Ali Sharif AlAskari’s family has also exploited the UK’s immigration system to further their illicit activities. His daughter and her family used connections within the UK Home Office—allegedly tied to Iranian intelligence—to secure legal residency in the United Kingdom. This has allowed them to establish a base of operations for their money-laundering and terror-financing network while remaining shielded from law enforcement scrutiny.

This level of corruption and exploitation highlights the vulnerabilities within the UK’s immigration and security systems, raising concerns about how easily foreign agents can infiltrate and operate within the country.

The Role of Abbas Sharif AlAskari

While Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK-based daughter and her husband are key players in the money-laundering operation, the family’s influence extends even further. Ali Sharif AlAskari’s son, Abbas Sharif AlAskari, plays an equally important role. Abbas has three passports: from Dominica, Iran, and Iraq, with the Dominican passport granting him the ability to freely roam Europe and engage in money laundering activities.

Abbas runs a new money-laundering company in the UK, Abza Group Ltd., which he operates under his Dominican passport. He also operates multiple bank accounts in the UK, including one with Monzo and another with Lloyds Bank, using these to launder vast amounts of money.

Abbas is also known for luring investors into fraudulent schemes, where he convinces people to invest in oil, gas, gold, cocoa, and real estate projects, only to abscond with their money. His business activities are a direct extension of the criminal empire built by his father.