A federal judge has denied a bid to preclude an audio recording of a nonprofit's former accountant discussing how to hide Iran's role in the ownership of a building.

The ruling may boost the U.S. government's argument in its forfeiture suit to seize Manhattan property partially owned by the nonprofit with alleged ties to Iran.

Southern District Judge Katherine Forrest on Monday permitted as evidence an audio recording of a conversation between an informant and Hamid Firooznia, the former accountant for the Alavi Foundation, the majority owner of the 36-story building at 650 Fifth Ave. that prosecutors allege is a front for the Iranian government to circumvent U.S. sanctions.