Iran's Ministry of Intelligence: We Have Not Withdrawn Our Report on Mehdi Hashemi

The Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran states that it has not withdrawn its complaint and report to the judiciary regarding Mehdi Hashemi's activities in England. In a statement released on Thursday, March 18, the ministry mentioned that the judge handling Mehdi Hashemi's case had posed questions regarding parts of the defendant's indictment and requested the ministry's expert opinion. According to the IRNA and Fars news agencies, the Ministry of Intelligence stated that 'based on existing documents and evidence, it has expressed its opinion regarding the case and the aforementioned questions.' The statement did not provide any details about the complaint and report from the Ministry of Intelligence and referred to Mehdi Hashemi by the initials 'M.H.' Previously, the Deputy Cultural Prosecutor of Iran had described Mehdi Hashemi's case as 'heavy' with '12 charges.' Mehdi Hashemi had spent three years in London before returning to Iran on September 24, 2012. The ministry's statement appears to be a reaction to a report from the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, which quoted a member of parliament stating that the ministry had withdrawn its complaint and report against Mehdi Hashemi. Abolfazl Abutalebi, a member of the Judicial Commission of the parliament, stated on March 16 that there are 'three ambiguous points' in Mehdi Hashemi's case, one of which is: 'The Ministry of Intelligence provides a report regarding Mehdi Hashemi's activities in England, which is later withdrawn; we must ask the Minister of Intelligence why this happened, and the decision-making system in a ministry should not change with a change of minister.' He described Mehdi Hashemi's charges as 'heavy' and criticized the judge for not issuing a severe sentence for this 'defendant.' In response to these statements, the Ministry of Intelligence of Iran stated: 'The disclosure of the confidential content of the questions and answers in this judicial case reserves the right of this ministry to pursue legal action against the attribution of false claims.' As Iranian judicial officials have announced, the court ruling for Mehdi Hashemi has been issued and is expected to be announced by the end of the year. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, spokesperson for the judiciary, said on March 15 that sentences such as 'imprisonment, fines, and dismissal from service' have been issued for this defendant. Although he did not specify the details of these sentences, some conservative media outlets, including the Fars news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, which are following this case, reported that Mehdi Hashemi has been sentenced to a total of '15 years' imprisonment due to three charges in his case. Mr. Hashemi's lawyers have stated that no ruling has yet been communicated to them, and they will seek a review if they receive it. Mehdi Hashemi was arrested at the airport upon his return to Iran on September 24, 2012, after being informed of the charges and presenting himself to the prosecutor's office. He was released on bail on December 17, 2012, after nearly three months in custody. The first court session for the son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, head of the Expediency Discernment Council, was held on July 2 in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammad Mogheiseh.