{"id":332897,"date":"2025-06-11T22:37:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T21:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=332897"},"modified":"2025-06-12T08:05:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T07:05:47","slug":"kazem-seddiqis-family-symbolizes-institutionalized-corruption-in-irans-regime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/iranian-regime-infighting\/kazem-seddiqis-family-symbolizes-institutionalized-corruption-in-irans-regime\/","title":{"rendered":"Kazem Seddiqi\u2019s Family Symbolizes Institutionalized Corruption in Iran\u2019s Regime"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Kazem
Kazem Seddiqi, Tehran\u2019s temporary Friday prayer leader<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three-minute read<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The recent arrest of relatives of Kazem Seddiqi<\/a>, Tehran\u2019s temporary Friday prayer leader, has once again exposed the deep-rooted and systemic corruption within Iran\u2019s ruling regime, hinting at the selective enforcement of justice aimed at diffusing societal anger rather than genuinely addressing the core issues of injustice and hardship.<\/p>\n

The detention of Seddiqi\u2019s son and daughter-in-law, coupled with judicial investigations and the dissolution of one of their companies, highlights a broader pattern of illicit activities involving high-ranking officials, their families, and powerful institutions like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).<\/p>\n

A detailed report by the government-affiliated outlet Rouydad24 reveals<\/a> the extensive business dealings of the Seddiqi family, shedding light on their involvement in land grabbing, hotel management, mining, and partnerships with IRGC commanders and other influential figures.<\/p>\n

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A document published by the state-run Rouydad24 website exposing the Seddigi family’s murky deals\u2013 June 10, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Web of Corruption<\/h2>\n

The Seddiqi family\u2019s business empire spans multiple sectors, from real estate to mining and hospitality, often facilitated by their connections to regime insiders. At the heart of their operations is the Imam Khomeini Seminary, located on a sprawling 23,000-square-meter property in northern Tehran.<\/p>\n

According to reports by state-controlled media, this land was acquired over two decades through questionable transfers from the Tehran Municipality, the Endowment Organization, and the Seminary Services Center.<\/p>\n

The land, divided into 20 title deeds, was incorporated into the seminary\u2019s holdings, allegedly through the family\u2019s company, Sherkat Peyrovan Andisheh Qaem. This company, established in 2022 by Seddiqi\u2019s sons, Mohammad Mahdi and Mohammad Hossein, along with their sister-in-law Rezvaneh Aqagoli and a former municipal official, exemplifies the family\u2019s ability to exploit institutional connections for personal gain.<\/p>\n

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A document published by the state-run Rouydad24 website exposing the Seddigi family’s murky deals\u2013 June 10, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond real estate, the Seddiqi family has ventured into mining and hotel management. A mining company established in 2012 on Tehran\u2019s Mirdamad Street, in partnership with a former parliamentarian, secured permits for mineral extraction.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Mohammad Hossein Seddiqi, the more active of the two brothers, has established multiple companies between 2010 and 2022, including ventures in hotel management. One notable case involves the Jahan Hotel in Mashhad, reportedly transferred to the Imam Khomeini Seminary in 2014 under questionable circumstances.<\/p>\n

Ties to the IRGC and Regime Elites<\/h2>\n

The Seddiqi family\u2019s partnerships extend to some of the regime\u2019s most powerful figures. Their businesses include collaborations with former IRGC commanders, such as Hamid Shakibmehr, and prominent business figures like Mohammadreza Mousavi, CEO of Saipa Citro\u00ebn, and Ehsan Bagherian, a key player in Iran\u2019s oil and gas sector.<\/p>\n

The Imam Khomeini Research and Educational Institute, chaired by Kazem Seddiqi, counts among its board members and shareholders individuals like Reza Motallebi Kashani, Mehdi Khamoushi, Gholamreza Fayyazi, and the slain IRGC Quds Force deputy commander General Mohammad Hejazi<\/a>. These connections illustrate how the Seddiqi family has leveraged its proximity to the regime\u2019s political and military elite to amass wealth and influence.<\/p>\n

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Kazem Sedighi, A Khamenei Ally, Exposed to Have Grabbed Billions Worth of Land in #Iran<\/a>'s Capitalhttps:\/\/t.co\/CmbzjfHMsP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/cze9r5g7rI<\/a><\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 18, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n