Tehran Prosecutor: Investigation of Several Members of Ahmadinejad's Government in Babak Zanjani Case

Abbas Jafari Dolat Abadi, the Tehran prosecutor, stated on Saturday, January 24, that investigations have been conducted regarding Babak Zanjani's case involving several ministers from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government and the former head of the Central Bank. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Jafari Dolat Abadi commented on the statements made by the First Vice President of Iran, saying: "In this case, necessary investigations have been carried out on the former head of the Central Bank and several former ministers, and given the extensive dimensions of the case, completing the investigations will require more time." The Tehran prosecutor added: "The investigator is currently focusing on the three main defendants in the case, and after completing this task, actions will be taken regarding other defendants in the case." Babak Zanjani, who is said to have collaborated with the Iranian Oil Ministry during Ahmadinejad's presidency in selling oil and transferring its funds after the intensification of international sanctions against Iran, was arrested last year for failing to pay his debts to the Iranian Oil Ministry and was transferred to Evin Prison. The Tehran prosecutor's reference is to last week's statements by Eshaq Jahangiri, the First Vice President of Iran, who said that Babak Zanjani had close relationships with the former head of the Central Bank of Iran and several ministers from Ahmadinejad's government. Jahangiri stated: "I have heard that when this person went to the Central Bank, the head of the Central Bank would leave the meeting to talk to him, and ministers were similarly inclined. We must ask who was behind the scenes, and these hidden hands must be revealed." Jahangiri added: "I do not know how a young man entered the country's economic system and was given 2.7 billion dollars in cash or oil. If this money is not returned to the country, it will bring disgrace to the country. The people are waiting for us to announce when this money will return to the country." Meanwhile, the CEO of the Qeshm Free Zone announced the transfer of Qeshm Air airline due to Babak Zanjani's debt to the Oil Ministry. According to ISNA, Ali Akbar Shabani Far stated: "The Qeshm Hotel, for which Babak Zanjani had invested 150 billion tomans, is to be returned." The CEO of the Qeshm Free Zone emphasized that Babak Zanjani had spent 150 billion tomans to establish a five-star hotel, stating: "According to received information, Qeshm Air airline has been assigned due to Babak Zanjani's debt to the Oil Ministry. Additionally, there is land worth 36 billion tomans in the Qeshm Free Zone that will also be returned due to Babak Zanjani's debt."