Cutting Off Hezbollah’s Cash Flow: Israel’s Focus on UK Oil Smuggling
In the shadowy world of oil smuggling and organized crime, Sherif AlAskari's family has played a crucial
role in linking Iran’s illicit operations to international markets. Sherif’s daughter, living in the UK with her
husband Meghdad Tabrizian and their sons Mohammad and Amir Tabrizian, stands at the center of a
network that connects Iranian oil smuggling, money laundering, and terrorism financing. Their
involvement has stretched across borders, from the oil fields of Iran to the financial centers of London,
fueling conflicts in the Middle East and challenging global security efforts.
A Key Link to Hezbollah
Sherif AlAskari’s daughter is more than just a family member; she is the vital connection between her
father’s criminal operations and Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group notorious for its long-
standing conflict with Israel. Through her close friendship with the wife of Hezbollah leader Hassan
Nasrallah, AlAskari’s daughter has become an integral part of a complex web of money laundering and
terrorism funding. The funds generated through oil smuggling, front companies, and other illicit
operations are funneled through her, allowing Hezbollah to maintain its operations despite international
efforts to cut off its financing.
Illegal Residency and Money Laundering Operations
The AlAskari family has been able to operate under the radar in the UK by obtaining residency through
illegal means. With suspected help from Iranian intelligence, Sherif AlAskari’s daughter, her husband
Meghdad, and their sons Mohammad and Amir have secured legal status in the UK, providing a safe
haven from which to run their operations. Meghdad Tabrizian, a man with deep ties to the Iranian
regime, previously worked under Ali Fallahian, Iran’s former Minister of Intelligence. His role in the UK
has been to facilitate the laundering of profits generated by his father-in-law’s oil smuggling activities.
Their UK-based companies, including “London Surface Design Limited” and “London Heritage Stone
Limited,” act as fronts for the money laundering scheme. By funneling money into these firms under the
guise of construction and design projects, the family can launder the funds generated by illegal oil sales,
making them appear legitimate. False contracts and fake invoices are created to justify these financial
transactions, with the ultimate goal of cleaning the dirty money and reintegrating it into the global
financial system.
Ali Fallahian: A Dark Figure in the Background
The involvement of Ali Fallahian, a key associate of Sherif AlAskari, adds another layer of complexity to
this operation. Fallahian, Iran’s former Minister of Intelligence, is infamous for his role in the 1994
bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people
and injured hundreds. His connection to the AlAskari family is not just professional but personal, as the
two men are linked by marriage: Sherif AlAskari’s wife and Fallahian’s wife are sisters. This family
connection has cemented a deep and enduring partnership between the two men.
Fallahian has been instrumental in helping AlAskari build an oil smuggling network that circumvents
international sanctions. The operation begins in Bandar Abbas, a major port city in southern Iran. Here,
the two men control vast fuel storage facilities that hold Iranian crude oil, which is smuggled out of the
country using Panamanian-registered vessels. These ships transport the oil to Iraq, where its origin is
falsified to make it appear as though it comes from Iraq rather than Iran. This clever deception allows
them to sell the oil on the global market without drawing suspicion.
Once the oil is sold, the profits are transferred to the UK, where AlAskari’s daughter and her family
launder the funds through their companies. The money is then funneled back to Iran and used to
support Hezbollah’s activities, creating a continuous cycle of smuggling, laundering, and financing
terrorism.
Countries Affected by Oil Smuggling
The repercussions of this oil smuggling network are felt far beyond Iran and Iraq. Countries across the
globe, particularly in the Middle East and Europe, have been affected by the illegal sale of Iranian oil.
The economic impact is significant, as smuggling undercuts legitimate oil markets, driving down prices
and destabilizing economies.
In addition to Iraq, where the oil is falsely documented, other countries, including Syria and Lebanon,
have been used as transit points for smuggled oil. The profits from these operations are then funneled
into Hezbollah’s coffers, helping to finance its military operations against Israel. Hezbollah, which has
long been at odds with the Israeli state, relies heavily on smuggled oil revenues to fund its war efforts,
making this network a critical lifeline for the organization.
UK: A Base for Illicit Activities
The UK’s role in this network cannot be understated. As a global financial hub, the country has become
an attractive location for money laundering operations. The Tabrizian family’s use of UK-based
companies to launder the proceeds of oil smuggling is a clear example of how international financial
systems can be exploited by criminal networks.
The UK’s relatively open immigration policies and its position as a financial center have made it a target
for those seeking to evade international sanctions and launder illicit funds. The involvement of Iranian
intelligence in securing the Tabrizian family’s residency only heightens concerns about the country’s
vulnerability to foreign infiltration. This case highlights serious failures in the UK’s immigration and
financial monitoring systems, raising questions about the government’s ability to protect its borders and
financial institutions from exploitation.
Key Points:
 Hezbollah Connection: Sherif AlAskari’s daughter links her father’s oil smuggling operations to
Hezbollah through her close ties with the wife of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
 Money Laundering Fronts: The Tabrizian family operates UK-based companies, “London Surface
Design Limited” and “London Heritage Stone Limited,” as fronts for laundering profits from oil
smuggling.
 Ali Fallahian’s Role: Former Iranian Minister of Intelligence Ali Fallahian, notorious for his
involvement in terrorism, is a key associate of Sherif AlAskari, with ties cemented through family
connections.
 Smuggling Network: The oil smuggling network uses Panamanian-registered vessels to transport
Iranian oil to Iraq, where its origin is falsified, enabling its sale on the global market.
 UK’s Involvement: The UK’s financial systems and immigration policies have been exploited by
the AlAskari family to launder money and evade international sanctions.
The case of Sherif AlAskari’s daughter and her family is just one example of how criminal networks
exploit international systems to further their illicit activities. The consequences of this operation are felt
globally, from destabilized oil markets to the funding of terrorist activities, and the involvement of Iran
and Hezbollah underscores the geopolitical significance of this criminal network. The UK must act swiftly
to address these vulnerabilities before they further erode international security.