Top 11 High-Profile Political Arrests and Corruption Cases Since the Revolution

Iran Political Arrests of High-Ranking Officials’ Children (Aghazadeh Arrests)
Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran has been plagued by scandals involving the children of top government officials, often referred to as “Aghazadeh” — privileged heirs of political power. These individuals have frequently been involved in corruption, embezzlement, and security violations, with many cases ending in arrests, trials, or convictions. Public outrage often erupts over allegations of nepotism and unequal treatment in Iran’s political and judicial systems, raising questions about the rule of law and transparency in the Islamic Republic.

Ayatollah Taleghani’s Children Arrested After the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Just months after Iran’s revolution, Ayatollah Mahmoud Taleghani’s sons, Mojtaba and Abolhassan, along with his daughter-in-law, were detained for political reasons. The arrests were linked to allegations of involvement in violence and the murder of fighters aligned with revolutionary groups. The case drew widespread attention, highlighting the internal conflicts among revolutionary factions and how the families of prominent clerics and revolutionaries faced scrutiny and punishment amidst Iran’s turbulent transition period.