Iranian parliament approves tax on $95 billion in seized assets controlled by the supreme leader.

Our credit to Circa and to Reuters for publishing and researching this issue. We felt like this was of great interest, in light of Iran’s impact on the Middle East.  If you have friends in Iran, or anywhere, this is an article worth sharing.  Boothe Global Perspectives

 An investigation into Setad, the Iranian holding company of Ali Khamenei, estimates it has $95 billion in assets, despite the leader's conspicuously spartan lifestyle.

Khamenei in prayerful pose. With $95 Billion in property that he has seized, (taken without paying) and controls, no wonder he is smiling in this photograph.  Many have wondered over the years why his  leadership has been so hesitant to allow a true democracy, without “religious control”.    

Iran's parliament approved a bill to allow taxes on organizations overseen by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the armed forces, Reuters reported Dec. 11. Khamenei's Setad would be included in the tax, which still must go through several steps before becoming law.

"Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam," or the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, was set up by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran's first post-revolution leader, shortly before his death in 1989. A Reuters investigation published on Nov. 11 shows how Setad became a vast corporate empire, all controlled by Khamenei.

The Reuters report found that much of Setad's wealth and real estate holdings were accumulated through property seizures and extracting payments from property owners. Setad often claims in court that properties are abandoned, and regularly sells seized property via auctions. (BGP note: Many Iranians report, that their property was simply stolen or taken by Setad because of political differences). In the meantime Iran's people are under deep financial and economic pressures as the economy struggles. 

Reuters estimated the total assets of Setad at $95 billion, based on public auctions, statements by Setad officials, the Tehran Stock Exchange, company websites and the U.S. Treasury Department. In the last six years, Setad has expanded into industry, finance, oil, telecommunications, farming and pharmaceuticals.

Khamenei is known for a modest lifestyle, and although Reuters found no evidence Setad enriched him personally, it said "Setad has empowered him." Setad has a court-ordered monopoly on taking property in his name and parliament has prohibited monitoring of organizations he controls. In the meantime, many Iranians suffer. 

Iran's religious leaders are often contrasted with the opulent lifestyle of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, deposed in the Islamic revolution of 1979. Pahlavi was also known to amass a fortune by property seizures. A suit by Iran dismissed in U.S. courts claimed the Shah stole $35 billion, or $79 billion in today's dollars.

Note from BGP: History documents that the Shah’s family had been wealthy through business investments for several generations and he inherited substantial wealth from his father and grandfather. The allegations of theft were ruled to have no credibility by U.S. courts. But in light of the contrast with the current religious leadership of Iran, and the blatant seizing  and control of over $95 billion dollars, by Khamenei when a huge part of the Iranian population struggles and suffers from economic pressures, suggests a huge ‘hypocrisy’ of this religious leadership.  

 

"WHEN YOU THROW A ROCK AT A BUNCH OF DOGS, THE DOG WHO GETS HIT IS THE ONE WHO HOWLS" (Old negro saying)

Apparently, the research of the seizures and the huge scope of the funds that the nation's religious leader controls touched a nerve in Iran's government.  They howled. They did not want the people to know and wrote the following threat to Reuters: 

"This communication puts you on notice that any action by your organization could prejudice our dispute in the United States and harm our position for which we hold you responsible."Hamid Vaezi, Setad's director general of public relations

Vaezi said in a email that Reuters could be interfering with litigation regarding U.S. Treasury sanctions against Setad. The office of the Iranian president and foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Iran's embassy in the United Arab Emirates said Reuters' investigation was "scattered and disparate."

In a related story, Iranian Behrouz Dolatzadeh, a board member of Setad subsidiaries, has an outstanding arrest warrant in Arizona for gun smuggling charges, Reuters says. He was indicted on federal charges of trying to buy more than 3,500 U.S. military-issue rifles with the intent of smuggling them into Iran to get around sanctions

Members of the persecuted Baha'i community say that their assets have been particularly targeted by Setad. Iran's constitution only recognizes Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians as religious minorities with rights.

 

Note from BootheGlobalPerspectives (BGP):

Our interviews with Iranians have for years indicated that the rich religious leaders of Iran, have long profited from the “Revolution” and there have been reports of their friends, families and children living opulent lifestyles for decades.  We now, with this disclosure of research realize the size of the wealth that the Supreme Leader through his “Setad” has accumulated, by seizing or stealing assets from Iranians.  Setad appears to be free to seize assets from whoever they, or the Supreme Leader, selects, making other religious groups or anyone with different political opinions vulnerable.  Using this method, they have collected and control over $95 Billion in assets in Iran.  One must wonder what millions of Iranians are thinking these days living in a nation of educated and progressive people, but ruled by an autocrat who can seize anything at his will.