A minister of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration has been detained over economic malfeasance charges.

Parviz Kazemi, former minister of welfare and social security in the first cabinet of Ahmadinejad, was detained two days ago and transferred to Tehran's Evin House of Detention on charge of causing disruption in the country's economic system, an informed judicial official told IRNA on Sunday.

Kazemi has also served as the chairman of Bank Sarmayeh's board of directors and a member of the board of trustees of Teachers' Investment Fund.

He was proposed by Ahmadinejad to the Parliament in August 2005, but resigned after one year.

Iran has launched an unrelenting campaign against economic corruption and any act aimed at disrupting the country’s economic system as the country is facing re-imposition of sanctions on its various economic sectors by the US administration.

In late September, Iranian Judiciary spokesman, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, told reporters that the Iranian judicial officials had handed down death sentences to three people convicted of economic corruption.

Mohseni-Ejei said that the death sentences were given by special tribunals set up in Tehran, which have so far handed down various sentences to 35 economic offenders.

He added that out of 35 convicts, three were sentenced to death for “spreading corruption on earth,” noting that the sentences would have to be upheld by Iran's Supreme Court before being carried out.

Mohseni-Ejei said 32 other defendants were given various jail terms up to 20 years for economic corruption.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said in September that enemies of Iran have unleashed an all-out economic and media war against the country with the aim of creating “despair” and “pessimism” among people.

“Today, the Islamic establishment is faced with an all-out economic war, which is being led from a war room with full precision and hard work,” said the Leader.</s>By The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s official IRNA news agency says authorities have arrested the former minister of welfare and social security for financial fraud. The Sunday report says Parviz Kazemi was taken to Tehran’s Evin…

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s official IRNA news agency says authorities have arrested the former minister of welfare and social security for financial fraud.

The Sunday report says Parviz Kazemi was taken to Tehran’s Evin prison two days ago.

Kazemi resigned from his post in 2006 after nearly a year under former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over political differences. He later worked in the banking sector.

In recent years, Kazemi turned into a critic of Ahmadinejad.

Several of Ahmadinejad’s allies are in jail over charges relating to security and financial fraud.

In September, a court sentenced Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of Ahmadinejad to six-and-a-half years in prison for plotting to commit crimes against national security, propaganda against the Islamic Republic and insulting officials.

Copyright © 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.</s>Iran arrests ex-minister of welfare over financial fraud

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's official IRNA news agency says authorities have arrested the former minister of welfare and social security for financial fraud.

The Sunday report says Parviz Kazemi was taken to Tehran's Evin prison two days ago.

Kazemi resigned from his post in 2006 after nearly a year under former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over political differences. He later worked in the banking sector.

In recent years, Kazemi turned into a critic of Ahmadinejad.

Several of Ahmadinejad's allies are in jail over charges relating to security and financial fraud.

In September, a court sentenced Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of Ahmadinejad to six-and-a-half years in prison for plotting to commit crimes against national security, propaganda against the Islamic Republic and insulting officials.</s>(RFE/RL) — A former Iranian minister of welfare and social security has been arrested for financial fraud, official media reported on November 11.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency said Parviz Kazemi was taken to Tehran’s Evin prison on November 9.

Kazemi resigned from his post in 2006 after nearly a year under former hard-line President Mahmud Ahmadinejad over political differences. He later worked in the banking sector.

In recent years, Kazemi turned into a critic of Ahmadinejad.

Several of Ahmadinejad’s allies are in jail over charges relating to security and financial fraud.

In September, a court sentenced Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close ally of Ahmadinejad, to 6 1/2 years in prison for plotting to commit crimes against national security, propaganda against the Islamic Republic, and insulting officials.
Parviz Kazemi, former Iranian welfare minister, is arrested and transferred to Tehran's Evin Prison on charge of causing disruption in the country's economic system.