Mohmmad Ali Abtahi, former reformist vice president and blogger, writes that when he was the deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, he met an Iranian official who had "bought" his Ph.D. According to Abtahi, it seems the price was around US$1000. 
Mohmmad Ali Abtahi, aliyekuwa Makamu wa Rais katika serikali ya kimageuzi na ambaye pia ni mwanablogu, anaandika kwamba enzi zake alipokuwa Naibu Waziri wa Utamaduni na Miongozo ya Kiislamu, aliwahi kukutana na afisa mmoja wa Irani ambaye aliwahi 'kununua' Shahada 'feki' ya Udaktari. Abtahi anasema kwamba bei ya kununua cheti kama hicho ilikuwa ni karibu dola za Marekani 1000.