---
category: Iran-Contra
summary: The Hashemi brothers were a trio of Iranian brothers living in the West who
  claimed to have connections in Iran with Ahmed Khomeini, the son of Ayatollah Ruhollah
  Khomeini.
tags:
- Person
- IranContra
- Israel
- Military
---

The [Hashemi brothers](/people/hashemi-brothers/) were a trio of [Iranian](/places/iran/) brothers living in the [West](/places/united-states/) who claimed to have connections in [Iran](/places/iran/) with Ahmed Khomeini, the son of [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini](/people/ayatollah-ruhollah-khomeini/). They offered their services to the [Carter](/people/jimmy-carter/) administration to help secure the release of the [American](/places/united-states/) hostages held in [Tehran](/places/tehran/).[^1]

The brothers, [Cyrus Hashemi](/people/cyrus-hashemi/), [Jamshid Hashemi](/people/jamshid-hashemi/), and [Reza Hashemi](/people/reza-hashemi/), also claimed to be cousins of the influential [Hojjat El-Islam Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani](/people/ali-akbar-hashemi-rafsanjani/). They made a significant amount of money in arms sales, using their influence with the White House to sell small quantities of military equipment to the [Iranians](/places/iran/), supposedly to gain goodwill for the release of the hostages.[^1]

Their [Tehran](/places/tehran/) contact, [Iran Najd Rankuni](/people/iran-najd-rankuni/), was connected with the [Iranian Revolution](/events/iranian-revolution/) but did not have direct access to the Supreme Council, which made it impossible for them to set up a serious dialogue between the [Americans](/places/united-states/) and the [Iranians](/places/iran/) for the hostages' release. The [Hashemi brothers](/people/hashemi-brothers/) could not promise major arms sales through the [Israelis](/places/israel/), which limited their effectiveness.[^1]

After the [Reagan](/people/ronald-reagan/) administration took office in 1981 and the hostages were released, the [U.S. Customs](/organizations/us-customs/) began investigating the [Hashemi brothers](/people/hashemi-brothers/). In 1984, they were indicted under the Arms Export Control Act for the illegal sale of weapons to [Iran](/places/iran/). [Cyrus](/people/cyrus-hashemi/) and [Jamshid](/people/jamshid-hashemi/) were tipped off and escaped the [U.S.](/places/united-states/), but [Reza](/people/reza-hashemi/) was arrested and became a hostage himself. His elder brothers then negotiated with [Customs](/organizations/us-customs/) to become informants against the [Iranian](/places/iran/) exile community in Europe and the [United States](/places/united-states/).[^1]

[Cyrus](/people/cyrus-hashemi/) was later used by [Oliver North](/people/oliver-north/) and [U.S.](/places/united-states/) Customs in a sting operation to entrap individuals connected with [Israeli](/places/israel/) intelligence arms sales to [Iran](/places/iran/). [Cyrus](/people/cyrus-hashemi/) was found dead in his [London](/places/london/) apartment, with his death attributed to a sudden case of virulent leukemia, though [Israeli](/places/israel/) intelligence suspected foul play.[^1]

[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992.