- A video relayed online allegedly shows the daughter of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Monaco.
- The images emerge as anti-regime protests continue.
- But it is actually a Spanish model dating an Iranian influencer in exile.
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A life of luxury in full revolt? A video (new window) shared by Tommy Robinson, British far-right activist, and viewed more than 5 million times, would show the splendor of “children of Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime”,
the Supreme Leader of Iran. In the images, we see in particular a young girl dressed in pink leaving a luxury hotel and heading towards a vehicle with a driver. “She’s Ali Khamenei’s daughter”
add this user (new window) following suit in a publication seen a million times, specifying that the scene would take place in Monaco.
Images emerging as protests against the Iranian regime (new window) have been going on for almost a month. According to an NGO, the death toll from the repression is at least 6,000, a count based on partial and probably underestimated information.
Who are the people visible in these images and are they related to the Iranian leader? We checked.
An Iranian influencer in exile, opposed to the mullahs’ regime
A search for the video online allows you to find the original publication (new window)posted on September 7, 2025, more than three months before the start of the revolt in Iran. It was indeed carried out in Monaco, in front of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, as proven by the comparison of the images with the geolocation of the establishment (new window) that we carried out.
And the man is far from unknown: he is Sasha Sobhani (new window)an Iranian rapper influencer with nearly 4 million followers on Instagram. He is the son of a former Iranian ambassador to Venezuela and Gabon, who has since publicly disowned him on Iranian television. And for good reason: the young man, who leads a life of Western luxury, displayed his festive evenings and sexual escapades, which earned him the wrath of Tehran. Now a refugee in Spain (new window)he was notably accused by Iran of money laundering, via online betting sites, and human trafficking. Converted to Christianity, he does not hesitate to criticize the Iranian regime.
Questioned on these publications presenting him as a “child of the regime”
he also reacted sharply on his Instagram account (new window) : “It is completely false to claim that I have any connection to the Iranian government or that I receive any financial support from them. Any accusations that link me or my family to the violence and suffering occurring in Iran are lies.”
A Spanish model
The man therefore has no connection with the Supreme Guide, and is even rather critical of the Iranian authorities. And what about the young woman who accompanies him? It’s nothing less than his girlfriend, model Laura Niemas. (new window). She had posted images at the beginning of September located in Monaco. She is, moreover, absolutely not Iranian, but Spanish. She therefore has absolutely nothing to do, directly or indirectly, with Ali Khamenei’s family.
Ayatollah Khamenei is the father of two daughters, Hoda and Boshra, and four boys, Mostafa, Mojtaba, Massoud and Maysam. Very little information is available on his daughters, who lead a private and professional life out of sight, unlike their brothers, who are rather politically exposed. Mojtaba is particularly expected to take over from his father (new window)although many senior regime officials oppose hereditary succession.
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