In the latest escalation of pressure on Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, his brother and senior advisor Hossein Fereydoun has been detained by security forces.
Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei said Fereydoun failed to meet the bail terms over financial issues and was taken to prison.
In spring 2016, opponents of President Rouhani tried to link Fereydoun to the “payslips scandal” over excessive salaries and bonuses for managers at State and State-linked firms, including the national insurance company.
The attacks were unable to prevent Rouhani’s re-election in May, but the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and other conservative critics have maintained their warnings to the President. In recent weeks, the Guards and Rouhani have clashed publicly over the IRGC’s extensive stakes in the Iranian economy.
See Iran Daily, July 15: Revoutionary Guards Continue Battle with Rouhani
Ejei said on Sunday:
Multiple investigations have been conducted regarding this person. Also other people have been investigated, some of whom are in jail.
Yesterday, bail was issued for him but because he failed to secure it he was referred to prison.
Ejei said Mr Ferydoun would be “released once he provides the bail”.
