Recent reports from various state-run media outlets have unveiled widespread corruption and economic mismanagement within Iran’s clerical dictatorship, sparking significant public outrage.
According to Tasnim News Agency, over 485 essential goods have been removed from the 28,500-rial exchange rate since last year, with the trend accelerating this year. This development is reminiscent of the disastrous removal of the 42,000-rial exchange rate in May 2021, which led to a surge in prices, disproportionately affecting the majority of Iranians while benefiting a privileged minority.
In a separate report, the state-run newspaper Ham Mihan revealed extensive corruption within Tehran’s municipal government, highlighting the sale of official positions. The report referenced a viral video on social media in which an individual detailed the corrupt process he underwent to secure the position of Deputy Head of Urban Development for District 1. According to the video, he had multiple meetings with senior officials, including a consultant to the Mayor of Tehran, and was eventually asked to pay 400 gold coins and $450,000 to secure a villa in Alanya, Turkey, as a bribe.
Former Minister of Economy, Ali Tayyebnia, recently admitted to corruption in currency sales. On July 11, he acknowledged that preferential currency rates were being sold to regime insiders, allowing them to acquire immense wealth overnight. Tayyebnia questioned the incentive for individuals to engage in productive, creative work when they could easily amass fortunes through access to cheap currency.
Factions Close to Khamenei Clash After #Iran’s Sham Electionhttps://t.co/BDEcFQUGOM
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 8, 2024
Adding to the controversy, the state-run Rajanews reported on July 13 that the Crescent corruption case continues to dominate headlines, even a week after the sham presidential election. In a tweet, Parliament Member and Energy Commission Member Malek Shariati Niasar disclosed the names of the defendants involved in the Crescent case, providing new details about the corruption scandal. Shariati revealed that judicial proceedings on the Crescent corruption case date back to 2012, with Branch 80 of the Criminal Court finding several board members of the National Iranian Oil Company guilty. These convictions were upheld in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Shariati further disclosed that after Crescent’s failure to provide a bank guarantee, the contract was set to be annulled. However, Bijan Zangeneh, then-Minister of Oil, allegedly facilitated meetings between Crescent’s CEO and other officials after receiving a $1.8 million bribe, which led to the signing of an addendum detrimental to Iran’s interests. This judicial process was near completion, and the international complaint was poised to be ruled in the regime’s favor when Hassan Rouhani became president in 2013, reinstating Zangeneh as Oil Minister and reversing previous progress. Consequently, Iran was ordered to pay a $2.4 billion penalty.
The ongoing corruption and economic mismanagement revelations highlight deep-seated issues and escalating power struggles within the regime. These scandals, exposed by state officials and media, are fueling public anger and outrage. As the majority of the population struggles to make ends meet, daily revelations only intensify their fury.
