Sadegh Larijani: Pompeo's Statements About My Assets Were Unethical

The head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, described U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks about his assets and those of certain Shia clerics as 'unethical.' On Monday, August 8, Larijani stated that these comments 'are not only contrary to legal and ethical standards, but also do not befit a politician.' He added, 'Many officials in other countries, even if they lack piety, at least observe the dignity of their positions. U.S. officials have failed to uphold even this much, which is very strange.' Pompeo, on July 22, likened the Iranian government to a 'mafia' and mentioned, 'For instance, look at Sadegh Larijani, the head of Iran's judiciary. He has at least $300 million in personal accounts from embezzled public funds. The Trump administration sanctioned Larijani in January for human rights violations because we are not afraid to confront the regime at its highest levels.' He further stated, 'Call me crazy; you won't be the first, but I am somewhat suspicious that a wealthy, powerful figure under international sanctions is a suitable person for the highest judicial position in Iran.' Mahmoud Sadeghi's comments about the 'personal' accounts of the judiciary head in 2016 led to the prosecutor's indictment against this member of parliament and attempts to arrest him. The U.S. Secretary of State also mentioned that Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi is known as the 'Sugar Sultan' due to his 'illicit sugar trade, which has earned him over $100 million,' and has pressured the Iranian government to reduce subsidies for domestic sugar producers. He emphasized that Mohammad Emami Kashani, one of Tehran's Friday prayer leaders, has 'transferred several profitable mines to his foundation' and 'has millions of dollars in wealth.' Allegations of financial corruption against Nasser Makarem Shirazi, Mohammad Emami Kashani, and other prominent clerics, including Mohammad Yazdi, had previously been raised by Abbas Palizdar, the secretary of the seventh parliament's investigative committee on the judiciary, in a speech at Hamadan University. Pompeo also announced that the assets of the 'Executive Headquarters of Imam's Command,' which is under the supervision of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, amount to $95 billion. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that Sadegh Mahsouli, a former commander of the Revolutionary Guards and Minister of Interior under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has become 'a man with billions of dollars' due to receiving 'lucrative construction and oil contracts from companies affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards.' In recent years, numerous reports have emerged regarding financial corruption among individuals close to the leader of the Islamic Republic and the institutions under his supervision, but it remains unclear whether the allegations against them have been addressed. According to reports from the news agencies IRNA, ISNA, and Radio Farda.