FT:

[The article is about the Iranian economy but the part below spells out the use of dual nationals as pawns for internal reasons]


Dual-nationals bear brunt of political power struggle

“Dear friends and supporters! This is a cry for help!!” read a letter released earlier this year by a wealthy Iranian-American art dealer who has been detained in Iran since July 2016.

According to the letter, smuggled out of Evin prison, Karan Vafadari, and his wife Afarin Neyssari, were convicted of “collusion to conspire against national security”. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison, his wife to 16 years. Both are to receive lashes.

The judiciary has not yet confirmed the charges nor the sentences. But the arrests, carried out by the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence service, are being interpreted as part of the long-running power struggle between Iran’s hardline political and military forces and pro-reform groups over the future of the Islamic republic.

“Such arrests are a message by hardliners to the outside world that Mr Rouhani cannot do much [to open up the economy],” says a reform-minded analyst.

Delivering on promises of economic recovery are crucial for Mr Rouhani to remain in power. Part of that effort is tied up with the use of a vast network of wealthy, educated dual-nationals.

Other businessmen detained include the Iranian-British consultant Kamal Foroughi, 78, who worked for Malaysia’s Petronas and was arrested in 2011 on charges of espionage. Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American business consultant, was jailed for 10 years in 2015 on charges of co-operating with the US.

“Dual-nationals are very important to Mr Rouhani’s government. Many of them are in senior positions in big companies which make communication with western companies and banks easier,” says one regime insider. “They can be effective connections. The government’s opponents want to cut such links.”

 

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