The Caribbean nation of Dominica has taken decisive action by revoking the citizenship of Abolfazl Shamkhani, the son of a high-ranking Iranian official, following revelations that he concealed critical information during his application for citizenship. The move comes amid growing international scrutiny over the misuse of citizenship-by-investment programs and allegations of sanctions evasion involving politically connected individuals.

According to official correspondence dated March 27, 2026, Dominica’s Ministry of Labour informed Abolfazl Shamkhani that his citizenship had been revoked with immediate effect. Authorities determined that he had obtained his passport under false pretenses by failing to disclose a significant fact: his father, Ali Shamkhani, held a prominent position within Iran’s political structure as a senior advisor to the country’s leadership. This omission was deemed material to his application and ultimately invalidated the legitimacy of his citizenship.

Abolfazl Shamkhani had reportedly acquired Dominican nationality in 2020 under the alias “Sami Hayek,” part of a broader strategy that allegedly involved the use of alternative identities. Investigations later revealed that he and his brother, Hossein Shamkhani, used these aliases to build and manage a portfolio of high-value real estate assets in Dubai, estimated at approximately $29 million.

The case gained international attention after an in-depth investigation uncovered how the Shamkhani brothers leveraged second identities and offshore structures to obscure their financial activities. Their operations are believed to be linked to a wider network involved in circumventing sanctions imposed by Western governments on Iran and its affiliates.

Dominican authorities stated that the revocation was not based solely on the concealment of political connections. The official notice also referenced an unspecified act deemed........

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