Iran's Minister of Intelligence Denies Espionage Allegations Against 'Child of the Head of the Judiciary'

Following reports circulating on social media regarding the child of Sadegh Larijani, the head of Iran's judiciary, Mahmoud Alavi, the Minister of Intelligence of the twelfth government, stated on Tuesday, October 3, that none of the family members of the head of the judiciary are under suspicion of espionage. The 'Amadnews' website had previously reported that 'Zahra Ardeshir Larijani, known as (Ms. Vahid), the daughter of Sadegh Amoli Larijani,' has been accused of spying for the West and has a 'top-secret' case. Meanwhile, the Iranian Minister of Intelligence responded to a question from an ISNA reporter on this matter, stating: 'The only professional authority for determining espionage actions in the country is the Counter-Espionage Department of the Ministry of Intelligence, which has found no evidence of actions that could even raise suspicion of espionage regarding any family members of Ayatollah Amoli Larijani, the head of the judiciary.' Mahmoud Alavi stated that the issue of espionage concerning the child of the head of the judiciary was raised 'with the aim of undermining public trust in the senior officials of the Islamic Republic.' The Minister of Intelligence also commented on some rumors regarding a directive from Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, to investigate the espionage allegations against a relative of the head of the judiciary, saying: 'This claim is fundamentally false, and naturally, all claims surrounding it are also lies stemming from the fantasies of those who design such rumors.' 'Amadnews' reported on October 1 that after the disclosure of Zahra Larijani's espionage case for the British Embassy in Tehran, she was arrested by the 'Intelligence of the Revolutionary Guards' on the direct order of Vahid Haqaniyan, an official from the Leader's Office. This report had previously indicated attempts by the head of the judiciary to silence the Counter-Espionage Department of the Ministry of Intelligence. Additionally, on Tuesday, Nader Qazipour, a principlist representative, dismissed a report from an 'anti-revolutionary website' regarding the Canadian citizenship of Ali Larijani, the Speaker of Parliament, and his children's trip to that country as false. According to ISNA, Nader Qazipour has called for the Ministry of Communications to take action against this website.