{"id":325678,"date":"2024-11-11T13:36:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T12:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=325678"},"modified":"2025-11-04T19:45:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T18:45:01","slug":"khameneis-succession-strategy-using-palizdars-corruption-revelations-to-legitimize-mojtabas-rise-in-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/iranian-regime-infighting\/khameneis-succession-strategy-using-palizdars-corruption-revelations-to-legitimize-mojtabas-rise-in-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Khamenei\u2019s Succession Strategy: Using Palizdar\u2019s \u201cCorruption Revelations\u201d to Legitimize Mojtaba\u2019s Rise in Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Abbas Palizdar, a figure long known for his \u201ccorruption expos\u00e9s\u201d within Iran\u2019s 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\u2019s judiciary and political elite, Palizdar now appears to be serving a new purpose in Iran\u2019s power play. His recent statements have revived allegations against figures close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but his praise for Mojtaba Khamenei<\/a>, Ali Khamenei\u2019s son, as the one capable of reforming Iran\u2019s corrupt system suggests a larger motive at play.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A History of Expos\u00e9s and Early Release<\/h3>\n

Palizdar first made<\/span><\/a> headlines in 2008 as part of a parliamentary investigation committee tasked with exposing corruption in Iran\u2019s 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<\/a>, whom he accused of ordering the killing of the Canadian-Iranian journalist Zahra Kazemi<\/a>. His disclosures extended to prominent figures such as former President Rafsanjani, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi<\/a>, and the Supreme Leader\u2019s own family circle, including Mojtaba Khamenei\u2019s 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\u2014a fact that sparked speculation about his true role within the regime\u2019s machinations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whistleblowing to Preserve the Regime<\/h3>\n

Palizdar\u2019s recent reappearance, marked by a <\/span>2.5-hour interview<\/span><\/a> with a state media outlet that has remained online since its posting on November 9, is underscored by a familiar set of corruption allegations\u2014this 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<\/a> without facing repercussions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He accused Rafsanjani\u2019s family of siphoning off \u201cbillions through vehicle import taxes,\u201d while claiming that the influential Haddad-Adel<\/a> tried to remove his family members\u2019 names from corruption cases linked to land deals. Palizdar also alleged that Shahroudi\u2019s 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Khamenei\u2019s Circle and the Complex Incoherent World of Iran\u2019s Power Strainhttps:\/\/t.co\/WZ6tJu2lo8<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 9, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n