The son of a senior Iranian official has sparked outrage after flaunting a £2,690 Louis Vuitton bag on social media as he boarded a private jet with a model wearing an outfit that breaks the regime’s strict dress codes – as millions of Iranians struggle to afford necessities and face ongoing oppression.
Influencer Sasha Sobhani, whose father Ahmad Sobhani is a former Iranian ambassador to Venezuela, was filmed twirling his 20-year-old girlfriend, Laura Neimas, before the pair boarded the plane.
In a clip posted on his Instagram on Wednesday, the 38-year-old is seen kissing the Spanish model, who carries a £25,000 Hermes Birkin bag, inside the jet, allegedly en route to Ibiza for the 2026 season-opening weekend.
The camera follows Sobhani as he strides to the back of the plane and sprawls across a luxurious sofa, raising his hands to the sky and exclaiming: ‘Thank God for all these blessings.’
While many Iranians face arrest, violence and strict state controls, Sobhani captioned the post: ‘Ibiza opening 2026 [fire emoji] from the comments I will choose the winners who will accompany us on an adventure in Ibiza.’
In another video, Sobhani and a friend are seen enjoying a Persian meal mid-flight while seated on a traditional rug, before the camera switches to the view outside the plane’s window.
Sobhani is part of a group known in Iran as the aghazadeh, the privileged children of senior regime figures who benefit from political power, corruption and sanctions evasion.
As Iranian authorities continue to tighten their control over society, with security officials saying they will stay as long as ‘enemy threats’ remain, the privileged offspring continue to live extravagantly abroad and at home.
Influencer Sasha Sobhani, 38, the son of a senior Iranian official, has sparked outrage after flaunting his lavish lifestyle on social media, as millions of Iranians face war and ongoing oppression. Screen grab from a clip posted on his Instagram shows the 38-year-old is kissing the Spanish model – who carries a £25,000 Hermes Birkin bag
Sobhani has built a controversial online persona centred on extreme wealth
Sobhani’s father is a former Iranian ambassador to Venezuela. He is pictured here with his girlfriend, 20-year-old model Laura Neimas
Boasting nearly four million followers, Sobhani has built a controversial online persona centred on extreme wealth, showcasing superyachts, private jets, luxury cars and alcohol-fuelled parties with scantily clad women – a lifestyle that has provoked fury among Iranians.
The lavishness stands in stark contrast to daily life in Iran, where many face economic hardship, political repression and the broader impact of ongoing regional tensions.
Earlier this month, Iran entered a temporary ceasefire with the US, which Trump extended on Tuesday to allow time for Tehran to submit to a unified peace proposal.
However, the ceasefire has been repeatedly strained, with both sides accusing each other of violations around the use of the Strait of Hormuz after it was closed by Iran – the effects of which have been most strongly felt by Iranian citizens.
The conflict, which began in February, has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people throughout Iran.
Despite this, Sobhani continues to flood social media with images of his opulent life, including frequent trips, often by private jet, with Ms Neimas to ski resorts and luxury yachts.
The couple went public with their relationship in May 2024 on Instagram, after getting together in December 2023.
Before their relationship, Sobhani frequently shared images of himself surrounded by different women wearing very little clothing, including one showing him posing while surrounded by seven bikini-clad women on a boat in Dubai in 2023.
Sobhani is part of a group known in Iran as the aghazadeh, the privileged children of senior regime figures who benefit from political power. He is pictured here surrounded by different women on a luxury yacht
Picture shows Sobhani and Neimas onboard a private jet as they tuck into fast food
As Iranian authorities continue to tighten their control over society, with security officials saying they will stay as long as ‘enemy threats’ remain, the privileged offspring continue to live extravagantly abroad and at home. Pictured: Sobhai and Neimas posing next to a sports car as they enjoy some fast food together
In Iran, women must dress modestly, which includes covering their hair and neck with a headscarf or hijab, while wearing long, loose-fitting clothing that covers arms and legs.
Ms Neimas’s own social media closely mirrors his, with similarly curated posts flaunting designer fashion, luxury travel and highly public displays of affection to her 351,000 followers.
Her Barbie-like page is filled with posts celebrating their relationship, including images of her wrapped by Sobhani’s arms and a Marbella-tagged post showing McDonald’s items placed along the spoiler of a green Porsche. The couple are pictured supposedly digging into the food, despite their toned physiques.
Notably, the model has turned off comments on some posts featuring Sobhani, while others are showered with praise from her followers.
In one recent video, Sobhani appears topless on a private jet while Ms Neimas perches on his armrest as they eat American-owned KFC in the middle of a flight. After taking bites of fried chicken and a burger, the pair exchanged a kiss while posing for the camera.
The caption reads: ‘Too much hate in the world, I choose love every time. No more wars, just peace, just us, just hearts aligned.’
Other posts show the couple kissing while on holiday and in luxury cars, with Ms Neimas straddling him in one set of images.
One image of the couple, dressed in bathrobes in Switzerland’s exclusive resort of St Moritz, was captioned: ‘They judged me for things I’m not, they made things up and talked without knowing the truth, but thanks to the few real ones and especially to you. Laura my love, who always knew who I really am, while everyone was talking…I was just learning how to stay strong in silence.’
Despite his large following, Sobhani has faced backlash for his ostentatious lifestyle. He is pictured here with his girlfriend on a yacht
Now based in Spain after leaving Iran in 2019, Sobhani – whose real name is Mohammad-Reza – claims Iranian authorities are targeting him over his lifestyle and criticism of the regime
He is reportedly wanted in Iran on charges including money laundering and running illegal gambling operations, which he denies. He is pictured here posing with a sports car
Despite his large following, Sobhani has faced backlash for his ostentatious lifestyle, with critics writing in Persian: ‘They are boasting our rights with our money’, ‘These should be sent to Iran’, ‘This is disgusting’ and ‘Thank you to your father!’
Ms Neimas has also faced criticism. One post showing her draped over Sobhani’s shoulder in front of designer gifts, including Dior, beneath a Christmas tree drew comments such as: ‘The money of Iranian people. Enjoy the blonde lady’ and ‘With the money of Iranian people [sad face emoji]’.
Another critic warned: ‘Don’t get too comfortable with these days. Your partner will be with father soon enough, and they’ll both return to where they truly belong.’
Undeterred, Sobhani documented gifting Ms Neimas a Porsche valued at around £54,000 for Valentine’s this year, writing: ‘Today I’m not just giving you a gift…I’m giving you a promise. A promise to protect you, respect you, and choose you every single day. Thank you for bringing light, peace and meaning into my life. Happy Valentine’s Day, my love.’
Now based in Spain after leaving Iran in 2019, Sobhani – whose real name is Mohammad-Reza – claims Iranian authorities are targeting him over his lifestyle and criticism of the regime.
He is reportedly wanted in Iran on charges including money laundering and running illegal gambling operations, which he denies.
Responding to Iran’s request for his extradition, he told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo in 2021: ‘I criticise the regime, the lack of freedom they have, I teach them how I live and tell them that they too could live like this.’
Sobhani has since been publicly disowned by his father, who allegedly tried to change his son’s behaviour before he left Iran. Ahmad Sobhani told Fars News Agency: ‘Mohammad-Reza is my child. But in terms of lifestyle and beliefs, he differs from me, and all of my attempts to direct him to the right path failed.’
Sobhani has been publicly disowned by his father, who allegedly tried to change his son’s behaviour before he left Iran
Economic sanctions have taken a heavy toll on Iran’s general population, fuelling inflation and shrinking incomes.
One Iranian outlet, Asr-e Iran, recently estimated up to four million jobs may have been lost or impacted by the combination of war and the government’s almost complete internet shutdown.
This comes as around 10 million people in Iran rely on digital connectivity for their livelihoods.
However, critics say these hardships have largely missed the country’s power elite, enabling the relatives of senior officials to maintain their privileged, luxurious lifestyles – as seen with Sobhani.
As he boards his private jet and frequents luxury car showrooms, Sobhani continues to ignore the reality that faces many Iranians as they continue to grapple with intensifying repression, insecurity and financial strain.
