For companies in the Gulf, Turkey, Central Asia, Europe and beyond, Iran is rarely the destination they choose, but it is often a risk they must manage. A trading partner in a free zone may have Iranian owners that do not appear in any register. A distributor may be quietly re-exporting your products across the Gulf. A new supplier's financing may trace back to entities subject to international sanctions. Any of these can expose a business to serious penalties, lost banking relationships and reputational damage.
Risk Investigators provides compliance-focused investigations involving Iran, helping businesses identify and manage sanctions exposure. As an online venture of GREVESGROUP®, headquartered in Dubai with more than 30 years of group experience and around 1,000 cases a year, we combine regional knowledge, Persian-language research and a network across the Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia and more than 100 countries to answer one core question for our clients: is there an Iran-related risk in this relationship, and how serious is it?
Our Compliance Commitment
All of our work involving Iran is designed to support compliance, not to circumvent it. We do not act for, on behalf of or for the benefit of persons or entities designated under UN, US, EU or UK sanctions, and we do not accept instructions that would breach sanctions applicable to us or to our clients. Every instruction with an Iran connection is reviewed before acceptance, and we may ask for information about the purpose and the parties involved. Clients remain responsible for their own sanctions compliance and should take legal advice on their specific obligations.
Why Iran-Related Risk Is Hard to See
- Hidden ownershipIranian interests can sit behind companies registered in other jurisdictions, using nominees, relatives or layered holding structures
- Trade diversionGoods sold to legitimate-looking buyers in neighbouring countries can be re-exported
- Name variationsPersian names transliterate in many ways, so automated screening can miss true matches or flag false ones
- Changing designationsSanctions lists and regulations change frequently across different authorities
- Limited public recordsInformation about Iranian entities is often available only in Persian and from specialist sources
Red Flags That Suggest Hidden Iran Exposure
Our clients typically ask us to investigate when they see warning signs such as:
- A new counterparty with a short trading history, large orders and payment from third parties
- Directors or shareholders who appear to be nominees with no visible business background
- Shipping routes, consignees or freight forwarders that do not fit the declared end use
- Addresses, phone numbers or staff shared with companies previously linked to designated entities
- Requests to change product labelling, documentation or delivery arrangements without clear reason
- Reluctance to provide end-user statements or ownership information
Our Compliance-Focused Services
Iran Sanctions Due Diligence
Our Iran sanctions due diligence screens counterparties, customers, suppliers and intermediaries for direct or indirect links to Iran and to sanctioned persons. We review corporate records in relevant jurisdictions, Persian-language sources, trade data and media, and investigate ownership and control rather than relying on names alone. The result is a documented risk assessment your compliance team can rely on.
Hidden Ownership and Company Verification
When you suspect that a company in the UAE, Turkey, Iraq, Central Asia or elsewhere has undisclosed Iranian owners or controllers, our investigators trace shareholders, directors, financing, addresses and business relationships to establish who really stands behind it. Our Iran company verification also confirms whether an Iranian entity mentioned in a transaction exists and whether it is linked to designated parties.
Export Diversion Investigations
Manufacturers and distributors of controlled, dual-use or sensitive products use our export diversion investigations to check whether goods sold to regional distributors are reaching Iran in breach of end-user commitments. We examine buyer profiles, shipping patterns, market availability of your products and relationships between distributors and onward buyers, supporting corrective action and voluntary disclosure decisions with your counsel.
Background Checks
Our background check services verify education and employment history for candidates who studied or worked in Iran and are now applying for roles abroad, with consent and within applicable law. Verification is carried out through lawful channels and focuses solely on confirming facts relevant to hiring.
Brand Protection and IP Investigations
Brand owners use our investigators to identify unauthorised sales and counterfeit versions of their products in markets connected to Iran, and to understand the supply routes involved. Any IP enforcement activity touching Iran is undertaken only where permitted under applicable sanctions rules and licences.
Claim Verification
International insurers sometimes need to verify a death or medical event reported in Iran for a policyholder living abroad. Where this can be carried out lawfully and in compliance with applicable sanctions, we assist with verification of the facts. We confirm feasibility on a case-by-case basis.
Process Service
Iran is not a party to the Hague Service Convention, and serving legal documents on parties in Iran is usually slow and dependent on diplomatic channels or letters rogatory. We advise law firms on the practical options, and on alternatives such as serving Iranian-linked parties or their representatives located in other jurisdictions where the issuing court allows.
Asset Tracing and Litigation Support
For creditors and law firms, we trace assets held outside Iran by Iranian-linked parties, for example in the UAE, Turkey or Europe, to support lawful enforcement of judgments and awards, and we locate witnesses and parties abroad.
Cities and Provinces We Cover in Iran
Our investigators work across Iran, from the main commercial centres to secondary cities, ports and industrial zones. We regularly handle investigations, due diligence, background checks and process service in the following locations.
Major Cities
- Tehran
- Mashhad
- Isfahan
- Tabriz
- Shiraz
- Karaj
- Ahvaz
- Qom
- Bandar Abbas
Provinces
- Tehran
- Razavi Khorasan
- Isfahan
- East Azerbaijan
- Fars
- Khuzestan
- Hormozgan
Work involving Iran is strictly compliance-focused. We review every instruction before accepting it and never act for designated persons or entities.
Need coverage in a location not listed here? We also handle enquiries in smaller towns and remote areas of Iran on request.
Who Uses Our Iran-Related Services
Banks and payment companies, trading houses, free zone companies, logistics and shipping firms, manufacturers of controlled and dual-use goods, insurers and law firms. Many are based in the UAE, where proximity to Iran makes robust due diligence particularly important.
Typical Matters We Handle
The examples below are illustrative of the compliance work clients bring to us:
- A UAE bank investigates whether a free zone trading company's new shareholders are nominees for an Iranian businessman
- A European equipment maker checks whether a Gulf distributor's rising orders are being re-exported to Iran
- A shipping company screens a charterer whose directors share addresses with companies linked to designated entities
- A law firm traces assets of an Iranian-linked defendant held in the UAE and Turkey to enforce an award
How We Work on Iran-Related Matters
Every instruction starts with a compliance review of the parties and purpose. We then agree the scope, methods, timeline and fee in writing. Research is carried out in Persian, Arabic, Turkish and English as needed, coordinated by your case manager in Dubai. Reports clearly distinguish verified facts, intelligence and remaining uncertainties.
Why Choose Risk Investigators
Regional proximity
Dubai headquarters with deep understanding of Gulf-Iran trade patterns.
Persian-language capability
Research in the original language, with careful handling of name variations.
Control-focused analysis
We look at who controls a business, not just whose name appears on it.
Compliance-first approach
Clear boundaries and careful review of every instruction.
Group experience
More than 30 years of investigation work through GREVESGROUP®.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work for sanctioned Iranian persons or entities?
No. We do not act for, on behalf of or for the benefit of sanctioned persons or entities, and we do not accept instructions that would breach applicable sanctions.
Can you tell us whether a company has hidden Iranian owners?
Yes. We trace ownership, control, financing and relationships across jurisdictions to identify undisclosed Iranian interests.
Can you check whether our products are being diverted to Iran?
Yes. Our export diversion investigations examine distributors, onward buyers, shipping patterns and market availability to identify diversion.
Why is automated sanctions screening not enough?
Persian names transliterate in many ways, ownership can be hidden behind nominees and structures change quickly. Human investigation looks at control and relationships that screening tools cannot see.
Is Iran part of the Hague Service Convention?
No. Service in Iran usually depends on diplomatic channels or letters rogatory. We advise on practical options, including serving related parties elsewhere where the court permits.
Can you verify Iranian education and employment history?
Yes, for hiring decisions abroad, with consent and through lawful channels.
Who is responsible for sanctions compliance?
Each client remains responsible for its own compliance. Our findings support your decisions, and we recommend taking legal advice on your specific obligations.
Do you provide reports in English?
Yes. All reports are in English, with key Persian documents summarised or translated where needed.