Reportedly, Jared Kushner helped raise about $5 billion for his firm, Affinity Partners, during Iran-related negotiations, prompting conflict-of-interest concerns. The New Yorker says Affinity used Middle Eastern capital to invest in Israeli companies, including roughly $110 million in Shlomo Group and nearly $300 million in Phoenix Financial. Gulf leaders are reportedly disappointed by Kushner's inability to secure a settlement, and critics warn private investments may complicate U.S. diplomacy.
Jared Kushner Raised $5 Billion From Gulf Investors During Iran Talks — Conflict-Of-Interest Questions Follow
Jared Kushner Is Making Bank Off of Iran Negotiations
Jared Kushner, serving as a special envoy for peace in the Trump administration, has been reported to attract billions in investments for his private firm, Affinity Partners, from donors across the Middle East while also participating in diplomacy related to Iran.
What Was Reported
The New Yorker reported that, during negotiations concerning Iran earlier this year, Kushner helped secure roughly $5 billion for Affinity Partners. According to the magazine, those fundraising activities coincided with a period of renewed tensions between the United States and Iran, prompting observers to question whether Kushner's commercial ties overlapped with his official diplomatic role.
Investments Cited
Affinity Partners is reported to have used capital from Middle Eastern sources to finance acquisitions and investments. The New Yorker says the firm backed the Israeli car-leasing company Shlomo Group with about $110 million and invested nearly $300 million into Phoenix Financial, an insurance company.
Diplomatic Fallout And Reactions
Observers and some U.S. officials described Gulf leaders as disappointed that Kushner did not deliver a settlement to their satisfaction. The magazine quoted anonymous sources saying Gulf states had invested in Kushner with the expectation that those ties would translate into influence and protection — an outcome they say has not materialized.
“My sense is that he thinks he was killing two birds with one stone—he was helping the Arabs defeat the Iranians, and he wanted to be paid for it,” an unnamed American source with ties to Middle Eastern leaders told The New Yorker.
Conflict-Of-Interest Concerns
Citing these overlapping roles, critics raise straightforward conflict-of-interest questions: when Kushner travels to countries such as Pakistan or Qatar, is he advancing U.S. national interests or the financial interests of Affinity Partners? Could lucrative deals from Gulf states and Israeli companies influence U.S. diplomacy?
Kushner has also faced controversy over other private ventures, including a real estate project in Albania. Critics warn that seeking profit in regions of high geopolitical tension could complicate or even compromise U.S. policy goals.
Reporting Notes
Most of the specific fundraising and investment details are attributed to The New Yorker and to unnamed sources quoted by that publication. Where possible, this article frames those claims as reported rather than independently verified.
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