Ahmad Tavakkoli, a member of the regime’s Expediency Discernment Council, declared that corruption within the regime has reached its final stage, where the government and elites are ensnared by its grip.
At the “Transparency and Justice Inspector” national conference on Friday, March 8th, Tavakkoli spoke about how corruption progresses. He explained that it begins with individuals engaging in corrupt acts with fear or insecurity. Then, corruption becomes more widespread and systematic, forming networks. Finally, it can become so ingrained that it is seen as legitimate, which is the situation the Islamic Republic currently faces.
Elaborating on this stage further, he stated: “It signifies the capture of governments. There are various means of capture, and we are nearing the culmination of this process.”
He continued: “At this juncture, the system ceases to protect itself. Subsequently, even individuals of integrity succumb to corruption and engage in wrongful acts. Consequently, official institutions witness a decline in productivity and influence.”
In recent years, numerous instances of financial corruption have been reported across various sectors and industries, with notable cases involving Debsh Tea, Petrochemicals, and Mobarakeh Steel ranking among the most significant.
The slogan of combating corruption has been echoed within the regime for years, with the government of Ebrahim Raisi frequently affirming its commitment to this cause.
However, Ali Khanmohammadi, the head of an institution known as the ‘Administrative Guidance Patrol Garison’ in the Iranian presidency, conceded in December that corruption is deeply entrenched within Iran’s administrative institutions, citing legal shortcomings in addressing managerial corruption.
The latest report by Transparency International, published earlier this year, reveals that Iran ranks 147th out of 180 countries in terms of the prevalence of financial corruption, placing it alongside Uganda and Afghanistan.
