U.S. Moves to Seize Assets of Charity Suspected of Iran Ties

Federal prosecutors took legal action Thursday to seize the assets of a Muslim charity suspected of funneling funds to government of Iran, Agence France-Presse reports.

Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, filed papers Thursday to lay claim to bank accounts and property in five states – including several mosques and a 36-story Manhattan office tower – from the Alavi Foundation. Bharara said the group, “has effectively been a front for the government of Iran,” with top officials from that country’s government involved in its business dealings.

Alavi is the successor to an organization set up by the late Shah of Iran to pursue charitable interests in the United States. A lawyer for the foundation said it has been cooperating fully with U.S. investigators and is “disappointed” with the government’s decision to take forfeiture action, according to The New York Times.

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