Iran's Minister of Intelligence Denies Espionage Charges Against Sadegh Larijani's Daughter

The spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly quoted Iran's Minister of Intelligence as denying espionage charges against the daughter of the head of the judiciary, stating that the individual who spread this information has confessed. Hossein Naqavi Hosseini reported from a session of this commission with Mahmoud Alavi that took place on Tuesday, May 7, addressing the accusations against Zahra Larijani, daughter of Sadegh Amoli Larijani, which have gained widespread attention in recent months in the media and social networks. The website 'Amad News' published letters last autumn attributed to the Protection and Information Center of the Judiciary, claiming them as evidence of Zahra Larijani's espionage for the British government. In these letters, a person with the surname 'Sedaqat' and the title 'Director General of the Discovery Center of the Protection and Information of the Judiciary' issued orders regarding the 'surveillance' of Zahra Larijani. Amad News claimed that Zahra Larijani was detained by the intelligence forces of the Revolutionary Guards. However, at that time, the Protection and Information of the Judiciary denied these reports and labeled the letters as fake. Nevertheless, from the remarks of the spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, it appears that this issue is still being discussed in the mentioned commission, and one of its members inquired about it from the Minister of Intelligence. Mr. Naqavi Hosseini quoted the Minister of Intelligence as stating that his ministry conducted a professional investigation regarding the daughter of Ayatollah Amoli Larijani and found that 'all these claims are lies and completely false.' According to him, the Minister of Intelligence also mentioned that 'the individual who spread these claims has confessed that his actions were false and had no basis in reality.' However, this report does not provide further details and does not clarify the identity of the individual who allegedly confessed, what organizations he may have collaborated with, and what his current situation is. The Minister of Intelligence of Iran had previously emphasized that 'none of the family members of the head of the judiciary are under suspicion of espionage.' The Revolutionary Guards' intelligence also denied this news, attributing it to Western security agencies. In another question posed to the Minister of Intelligence during the session of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, it was related to the complaints of Parastoo Farah, a civil activist and daughter of Dariush and Parvaneh Farah, victims of serial killings in Iran. According to the spokesperson of this commission, Mahmoud Sadeghi, a representative from Tehran, inquired about the outcome of the case of the murder of Dariush and Parvaneh Farah, the confiscation of Parastoo Farah's passport at the airport, and her complaint against the Ministry of Intelligence. Parastoo Farah has accused the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence of preventing the holding of memorial ceremonies for her parents in Tehran every year and has filed a complaint against this ministry. Last year, for the first time in 12 years, permission was granted to hold this memorial ceremony at the Farah's home. According to Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, the Minister of Intelligence responded by stating that 'permission to hold the ceremony is given every year for the Farahs, and no one has disturbed them, but others who come to their ceremonies take advantage, so it is natural that action is taken.' Based on this report, the Minister of Intelligence of Iran also mentioned regarding the confiscation of Parastoo Farah's passport that 'this ministry has dealt with those who intervened regarding Farah's passport, and in any case where someone is treated contrary to regulations, the Ministry of Intelligence intervenes and takes action.' Parastoo Farah lives in Germany and every year when she comes to Iran to hold ceremonies for her parents, her passport is confiscated upon her arrival in the country.