The trial has begun for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s brother and close confidant, who faces corruption allegations brought by hardliners who dominate the country’s judiciary.
In this picture taken on July 3, 2017, Hossein Fereidoun, brother and top aide of moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sits in a conference in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
The semi-official ISNA news agency reports that Hossein Fereidoun, who was on the team that negotiated Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers, went on trial today with four other defendants. They are charged with financial misconduct dating back to 2016.
Earlier this month, hard-line Iranian lawmakers called on the judiciary to expedite the trial. Fereidoun spent a night in prison in 2017 but has since been free on bail.
Rouhani, a relative moderate within Iran’s political system, changed his surname decades ago.
Iran has jailed allies of former presidents for similar charges.
— AP
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