Abbas Palizdar, a figure long known for his “corruption exposés” within Iran’s elite circles, has returned to the public eye, revealing a series of scandals that echo past claims he made over a decade ago. Previously imprisoned after uncovering high-level corruption cases among Iran’s judiciary and political elite, Palizdar now appears to be serving a new purpose in Iran’s power play. His recent statements have revived allegations against figures close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but his praise for Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei’s son, as the one capable of reforming Iran’s corrupt system suggests a larger motive at play.
A History of Exposés and Early Release
Palizdar first made headlines in 2008 as part of a parliamentary investigation committee tasked with exposing corruption in Iran’s judiciary. His accusations targeted some of the most influential figures in the regime, from former judiciary head Mohammad Yazdi to high-profile clerics like Saeed Mortazavi, whom he accused of ordering the killing of the Canadian-Iranian journalist Zahra Kazemi. His disclosures extended to prominent figures such as former President Rafsanjani, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, and the Supreme Leader’s own family circle, including Mojtaba Khamenei’s father-in-law, Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel. Despite these explosive claims, Palizdar was eventually arrested and sentenced to a decade in prison, though he was quietly released after serving only 13 months—a fact that sparked speculation about his true role within the regime’s machinations.
Whistleblowing to Preserve the Regime
Palizdar’s recent reappearance, marked by a 2.5-hour interview with a state media outlet that has remained online since its posting on November 9, is underscored by a familiar set of corruption allegations—this time aimed at high-ranking officials who are now either deceased or politically sidelined. Remarkably, Palizdar operates with apparent impunity, having previously shared similar disclosures on foreign-based Persian language media without facing repercussions.
He accused Rafsanjani’s family of siphoning off “billions through vehicle import taxes,” while claiming that the influential Haddad-Adel tried to remove his family members’ names from corruption cases linked to land deals. Palizdar also alleged that Shahroudi’s family seized control of gold mines, a corrupt act that went unpunished at the time. Each of these accusations reiterates past exposures that are well-known in Iran. Despite these revelations, Palizdar has consistently avoided implicating the Supreme Leader, who has presided over a regime rife with corruption.
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— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 9, 2023
Instead, Palizdar’s statements paint Mojtaba Khamenei as a solution to Iran’s internal corruption. “I believe Mojtaba has the spirit to truly confront corruption,” Palizdar stated, praising him as a potential savior. This aligns with the Supreme Leader’s calculated efforts to build support for his son’s leadership ambitions. For a regime that established itself on principles of anti-monarchy and rule by merit, the promotion of Mojtaba as a hereditary successor represents a stark contradiction. By using Palizdar as a mouthpiece, Khamenei aims to justify the ascent of his son under the guise of combating the very corruption he has allowed to fester.
A Calculated Move Amid Succession Speculation
The timing of Palizdar’s reemergence corresponds with key events within Iran’s political sphere. In late September, Mojtaba Khamenei released a video announcing the suspension of his advanced religious classes on Islamic jurisprudence. Though Mojtaba described this as a “personal decision…between me and God,” it was widely interpreted as a strategic step to establish his authority as a cleric and to signal his readiness for a leadership role. The move coincided with rumors of Ali Khamenei’s failing health, suggesting an urgency to secure Mojtaba’s succession in the near future.
This tactic of selective sacrifice is not new. When Ebrahim Raisi ascended to the presidency, the regime promoted his image as a justice-driven reformer by prosecuting mid-level officials and positioning him as the enforcer of accountability. Now, Palizdar’s “exposés” set the stage for Mojtaba as the only figure capable of addressing corruption within Iran, diverting scrutiny away from Khamenei’s own role in enabling systemic graft. Palizdar describes Mojtaba as a reformist willing to enact social reforms, claiming he would “free political prisoners” and promote an environment of lawful criticism over street protests. However, such rhetoric starkly contrasts with Mojtaba’s notorious reputation for his role in the 2009 crackdown on protestors and allegations of amassed wealth abroad.
Son of #Iranian Regime’s Supreme Leader Suspends Religious Classes Amid Growing Speculation About Successionhttps://t.co/pxdrusavZD
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 24, 2024
Whitewashing Mojtaba’s Image and Shielding Khamenei
Palizdar’s exposés serve the dual purpose of reinforcing his own credibility as an anti-corruption figure while portraying Mojtaba Khamenei as a future leader with a reformist vision. Despite decades of unchecked corruption at the highest levels, Ali Khamenei is positioning Mojtaba as a figure capable of purging the problems plaguing his father’s regime. “Mojtaba is the only one who can address these issues,” Palizdar claimed, presenting the younger Khamenei as the antidote to Iran’s governance crisis. This narrative attempts to obscure the regime’s true objective: a dynastic power transfer from father to son, framed as a righteous crusade against corruption.
For the Iranian public, who are all too familiar with the regime’s hollow promises of reform, these orchestrated statements may ring hollow. Yet the regime hopes to shore up loyalty among its conservative base, promoting Mojtaba as a solution to a problem he has been complicit in perpetuating. Palizdar’s claims ultimately serve to protect Khamenei’s own legacy, using Mojtaba’s projected “anti-corruption” image as a shield to deflect criticism from the Supreme Leader himself.
A Hollow Succession Strategy
By reviving past scandals and presenting Mojtaba as a solution to Iran’s corruption crisis, the regime seeks to mask the hypocrisy of an anti-monarchist state turning to hereditary succession. For Iranians witnessing these events unfold, Palizdar’s statements serve as a reminder of the regime’s willingness to sacrifice its own principles in the pursuit of survival.
In reality, Khamenei’s endorsement of his son as a supposed reformer exposes the desperation of a dictatorship that has lost its legitimacy, scrambling to maintain control over a disillusioned populace and even its own demoralized follower base. Through Palizdar’s scripted revelations, Khamenei’s regime signals an intent to secure its legacy by reshaping its own power base—a gamble that risks alienating even its core supporters and deepening disillusionment within its ranks rather than ensuring the regime’s future stability.
