Deputy of IRGC Intelligence Organization Promises to Announce 'Important News' on Anti-Corruption Efforts

The deputy of the IRGC Intelligence Organization rejected reports about the arrest of several of its deputies due to 'economic corruption' and stated that in the coming days, 'important news' regarding the confrontation with 'large economic gangs' and 'infiltration networks of foreign services' will be announced. According to Fars News Agency, Hossein Najat on Sunday, January 26, called the reports about the arrest of several deputies of the IRGC Intelligence Organization due to 'economic corruption' 'false and fabricated by certain enemy-affiliated media.' He added, 'The fabrications of several known media outlets in recent days are an attempt by elements connected to the arrested suspects to prevent the judicial process.' Mr. Najat promised that in the coming days, 'important news about dealing with large economic gangs and infiltration networks linked to foreign services' would be communicated to the public. He did not provide further details about what he referred to as the confrontation with 'infiltration networks' and 'economic gangs.' The Amad News website had reported in recent days that three deputies of the IRGC Intelligence Organization named 'Mehrab,' 'Azim,' and 'Afshari' were arrested on charges of 'large-scale economic corruption,' 'facilitation of illegal activities,' 'extortion from the wealthy and capitalists,' and 'money laundering.' According to this report, these individuals were arrested following the discovery of a large smuggling shipment of raw materials for producing vegetable oil by the IRGC’s Intelligence Protection Organization. The IRGC has previously been implicitly accused by Iranian officials. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president of Iran, in July 2011, criticized the unregulated import of goods through illegal channels, using the term 'our own smuggler brothers,' which experts attributed to the economic activities of the IRGC. Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran, also criticized the concentration of political, military, and economic power in one institution in December 2014, stating, 'If intelligence, guns, money, newspapers, news agencies, and other manifestations of power are concentrated in one institution, even if it is Abu Dharr and Salman, it will become corrupt.' Hossein Najat was appointed as the deputy head of the IRGC Intelligence Organization on December 27. Mr. Najat, whose real name is Mohammad Hossein Zibaei Nejad, was previously the cultural and social deputy of the IRGC commander. The IRGC Intelligence Organization operates in political and security matters and has dealt with many critics of the Islamic Republic in recent years. The head of this organization is Hossein Taeb. The IRGC’s Intelligence Protection Organization is another body responsible for addressing the violations of the forces of this institution.