Economics

Iran Detains Rouhani's Brother Amid Spat With Hardliners

Sibling is held for ‘financial issues,’ state-run news reports
Tasnim reports later that Fereydoun was released on bail

Hossein Fereydoun.
Photographer: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

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By Ladane Nasseri

July 16, 2017 at 4:21 PM UTC

Updated on

July 17, 2017 at 5:21 PM UTC

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The brother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been detained over unspecified “financial issues,” the judiciary said, reflecting growing tensions between the president and his hardline political opponents. He was later reportedly released on bail.

Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei confirmed the custody of Hossein Fereydoun in comments to the state-run Tasnim news agency. He didn’t give a reason for the arrest of a brother who assisted Rouhani during nuclear talks that led to Iran’s 2015 agreement with world powers.