Brother of Iran's First Vice President Arrested in Kerman and Charged

The Attorney General of Iran criticized the judicial system's treatment of close associates of the current government and former officials, announcing that a case has been opened against Mehdi Jahangiri, brother of Iran's First Vice President, in Kerman. The head of Tehran's judiciary also confirmed that Mr. Jahangiri has been arrested in Kerman. According to Tasnim News Agency, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General, stated on Sunday, October 8, that 'the main case' against Mehdi Jahangiri has been established in Kerman and is currently in the preliminary investigation stage. Meanwhile, according to Mehr News Agency, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, head of Tehran's judiciary, responded to a question regarding Mehdi Jahangiri's arrest in connection with a case involving bank debtors, stating that he has been arrested in Kerman and his case has also been established there. These two judicial officials did not provide further details regarding the reasons for Mehdi Jahangiri's arrest. Eshaq Jahangiri, First Vice President under Hassan Rouhani, confirmed the report about his brother's arrest on his Instagram page on October 6, expressing hope that the arrest would not be a 'political misuse.' He emphasized in a speech on Saturday that political settlements should not be made under the pretext of fighting corruption. Meanwhile, the Attorney General stated that when the judiciary takes action against the former president's deputy or close associates of the current government, it is labeled as a 'political stigma.' Montazeri claimed that the judiciary acts based on 'documents' against these individuals but does not disclose them to prevent 'enemies' from accessing this information. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently wrote to the head of the judiciary, suggesting that the manner of arrest and the allegations against Hamid Bakai indicate the execution of a 'prior decision' to deal with his deputy during his presidency. He also linked the judiciary's statements regarding his case to the upcoming presidential elections. Previously, some political figures criticized the lack of action regarding the allegations against Fazel Larijani, brother of the head of the judiciary. Meanwhile, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, government spokesman, stated after the arrest of Hossein Fereydoun, brother of Hassan Rouhani, that this issue should also apply to the head of the judiciary or the legislative branch, asserting that the judiciary should act independently just as it did with the president's brother. Fazel Larijani's name came to light in late 2012 when Ahmadinejad publicly played a recording of his conversation with Saeed Mortazavi, the then-head of the Social Security Organization. In the recording, Larijani suggested to Mortazavi that he use his brothers' influence in the government in exchange for certain economic advantages. Mehdi Jahangiri's arrest comes as the trial of Hamid Bakai is scheduled for October 16. Mehdi Jahangiri is the head of a financial group established during Bakai's presidency at the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization. He served as the deputy for investment at this organization during Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei's presidency in Ahmadinejad's first term. The tourism financial group operates in five main companies in banking, tourism, construction, oil and gas, petrochemicals, and mining. The companies under this group include Tourism Bank, Samga Investment Company, Bonab Industry Steel Complex, Negin Investment Company, Mahan Industries and Mines Holding, Omid Ofogh Tourism Development, and Iranian Tourism Horizon Company. The website Alef published a report in 2011 about 'some of the rents of the tourism financial group' during Ahmadinejad's presidency. This website announced one of the 'special rents' as the transfer of 1,258,000 square meters of land in Lavasan in northeastern Tehran to this private company. The website, affiliated with Ahmad Tavakoli, also listed the transfer of the rights to build and operate international hotels at Imam Khomeini Airport to this private company as another 'rent of Samga' during the government. According to this contract, Samga received 31,000 square meters of free land at Imam Khomeini International Airport and built hotels on it. Samga is set to transfer the rights to these hotels to the country's airports company after 25 years. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a presidential election candidate, implicitly accused Mehdi Jahangiri of involvement in banking corruption during the third presidential debate. In this context, the First Vice President of Rouhani confirmed the report from Tabnak regarding his brother's arrest.