Families of Iran’s elite live lavishly abroad while ordinary citizens suffer at home

Families of Iran’s elite live lavishly abroad while ordinary citizens suffer at home

Iran's elites "should be treated no differently from Putin’s oligarchs… The West should identify, sanction and deport these individuals,' expert says

Iranian women walk past a mural painting of Iranian flags in Tehran on Nov. 26, 2024. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)

Iranian women walk past a mural painting of Iranian flags in Tehran on Nov. 26, 2024. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)

Masoumeh Ebtekar, the English-speaking face of the 1979 U.S. embassy hostage crisis, later rose to senior roles in Iran’s government while her family built ties to life in the West. (Vahid Salemi/AP Photo)

Masoumeh Ebtekar, the English-speaking face of the 1979 U.S. embassy hostage crisis, later rose to senior roles in Iran’s government while her family built ties to life in the West. (Vahid Salemi/AP Photo)

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (L) gives a certificate of appreciation to leading reformist politician Saeed Hajjarian during the annual congress of the Islamic Iran Participation Front in Tehran December 4, 2008. (Caren Firouz/Reuters)

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (L) gives a certificate of appreciation to leading reformist politician Saeed Hajjarian during the annual congress of the Islamic Iran Participation Front in Tehran December 4, 2008. (Caren Firouz/Reuters)

A billboard depicting Iran's supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (until 1989), Ali Khamenei (until 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a highway in Tehran on March 10, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as its supreme leader on March 9, 2026. (AFP/Via Getty Images)

A billboard depicting Iran's supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (until 1989), Ali Khamenei (until 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a highway in Tehran on March 10, 2026. Iran marked the appointment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father as its supreme leader on March 9, 2026. (AFP/Via Getty Images)

A woman holds an Iranian flag during the funeral and burial of Ali Shamkhani at Imamzadeh Saleh in northern Tehran, Iran, on March 14, 2026. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

A woman holds an Iranian flag during the funeral and burial of Ali Shamkhani at Imamzadeh Saleh in northern Tehran, Iran, on March 14, 2026. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Ali Larijani, addresses a press conference in Tehran, Iran. Larijani, a top Iranian security official and a conservative force within Iran’s theocracy, was killed in an Israeli strike on March 17, 2026. (Henghameh Fahimi/AFP via Getty Images)

Ali Larijani, addresses a press conference in Tehran, Iran. Larijani, a top Iranian security official and a conservative force within Iran’s theocracy, was killed in an Israeli strike on March 17, 2026. (Henghameh Fahimi/AFP via Getty Images)

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, looks on in Tehran on October 13, 2024. (Hamed JAFARNEJAD / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images)

In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency, Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, looks on in Tehran on October 13, 2024. (Hamed JAFARNEJAD / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images)

A person holds an image of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranian demonstrators protest against the U.S.-Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 28, 2026. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)

A person holds an image of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranian demonstrators protest against the U.S.-Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 28, 2026. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)

Pro-government demonstrators burn an American flag at Tehran University, on June 19, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images)

Pro-government demonstrators burn an American flag at Tehran University, on June 19, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images)