Denial of News on Mehdi Hashemi's Arrest: 'These False Reports Are Not a Good Sign'

The lawyer of Mehdi Hashemi, son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has denied reports about his arrest, stating that the aim of those spreading this news is to 'continue pressure' on Mehdi Hashemi's case. He also mentioned that these 'false reports are not a good sign.' He stated, 'We consider the dissemination of such information as part of the ongoing pressure on Mehdi Hashemi's case.' On Thursday, March 21, the Student News Agency, affiliated with the student Basij, and some news outlets announced that Mehdi Hashemi had been arrested and transferred to Evin Prison. Hours after this news was published, Vahid Aboualmaali, Mehdi Hashemi's lawyer, told ILNA, an Iranian labor news agency, 'I just met with Mehdi Hashemi a few minutes ago, and he is currently at his father Ayatollah Hashemi's home.' Mr. Aboualmaali added that these false reports are not a good sign and reiterated that 'we consider the dissemination of such information as part of the ongoing pressure on Mehdi Hashemi's case.' The Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also announced hours after the arrest news that based on its reporters' investigations, this matter is false. In recent days, there have also been reports on the Viber social network about Mehdi Hashemi being sentenced to 15 years in prison, but Iranian judicial authorities have not yet confirmed or denied this news. Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency reported last Wednesday that the verdict in Mehdi Hashemi's case had been issued by the Tehran Revolutionary Court and would likely be announced early next week. According to Gholamhossein Esmaili, head of the Tehran judiciary, the verdict in Mehdi Hashemi's case is expected to be announced by the end of this year. This comes as Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, head of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran, stated on Tuesday, March 19, that 'a large number of accusations' had been fabricated against Mehdi Hashemi 'without any evidence,' but the court has yet to find any evidence of his crime. One day after Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's remarks, Sadegh Amoli Larijani, head of the Iranian judiciary, critically stated that 'implying that the accused would be acquitted but then being condemned by order' is 'against the law' and its dissemination is 'pursuable.' Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, spokesperson for the judiciary, declared Mehdi Hashemi's charges as 'security-economic,' but according to Mehdi Hashemi's lawyers, most of his charges are 'political' and related to the events of 2009. Hadi Sadeqi, cultural deputy of the judiciary, also described Mehdi Hashemi's case as a 'heavy' case with '12 charges.' Meanwhile, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Mehdi Hashemi's lawyer, predicted on Wednesday, November 28, that he would ultimately be acquitted and stated that the 'main issue' in his client's case is Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani himself, not Mehdi Hashemi.