Mahdi Hashemi Underwent Surgery

Mahdi Hashemi, the son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, underwent surgery on Monday at Nikaan Hospital in Tehran due to a "dangerous tumor in his abdomen," according to his lawyer. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani visited his son on Sunday in the presence of a "special prison officer." Lawyer Vahid Aboualmali stated that the tumor was completely removed and described Mahdi Hashemi's health as "satisfactory." After undergoing tests, it was determined through an endoscopic examination that there was a "suspicious tumor" in his body. In an interview with Khabar Online, Aboualmali mentioned that Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Expediency Discernment Council, visited the hospital on Sunday and met with his son in the presence of a "special prison officer." He noted that during family visits, "prison officers are also present, and one of the special officers never leaves the room." According to Young Journalists Club, Mahdi Hashemi's foot was previously injured due to a "broken ankle," and he was walking with a cane in prison. Mahdi Hashemi has been serving a 10-year sentence in Evin Prison since August 9. Tasnim News Agency previously reported that he was also sentenced to two cases of "asset confiscation" and a cash fine exceeding $10 million and nearly 2 billion tomans. However, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Mahdi Hashemi's lawyer, stated on Saturday that his client does not accept the conviction and will not pay the asset confiscation and cash fine. While some Iranian parliament members and conservative media have accused Mahdi Hashemi of involvement in economic corruption related to Statoil and Crescent contracts, his lawyer and the Hashemi family have repeatedly emphasized that the "main issue" in this case is Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, not Mahdi Hashemi. Meanwhile, Fa'ezeh Hashemi previously stated that her brother's prison sentence aimed to "reduce" Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's presence and influence in the Assembly of Experts and the Islamic Consultative Assembly elections. Mahdi Hashemi has repeatedly called for the "full and unedited" broadcasting of all his trial sessions by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Additionally, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani mentioned on Sunday, December 20, that his son intended to go on a "dry hunger strike" in protest of the non-broadcasting of his trial but he prevented him from doing so. The day after, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje'i, the first deputy of the Iranian judiciary, accused Rafsanjani of applying "extraordinary pressure" on the judiciary regarding his children's cases and stated that Mahdi Hashemi "always had a copy of the judiciary and the General Inspection Organization's documents" related to his case.