An Iranian lawmaker has accused the son of First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref of holding German citizenship, saying that the appointment of Aref in President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government is therefore “illegal.”
Hamid Rasai made the remarks during Sunday’s parliamentary session without providing evidence, reviving hardline criticism over dual nationality among senior officials.
“First I spoke directly with Mr. Aref and told him that if you have any plan to revoke your child’s German citizenship, we will remain silent and wait. He replied: ‘No, I do not interfere in my children’s affairs'," Rasai told the parliament.
"I told him: ‘Mr. Aref, the law interferes in our affairs.’ After that, I filed the matter. Why is it not being pursued after six months? The Court of Audit has also confirmed the issue.”
The remarks come amid ongoing efforts by Iran’s ultra-conservatives to undermine Pezeshkian’s cabinet and figures such as former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who has faced similar scrutiny over his son’s US citizenship.
A 2022 law prohibits individuals with dual nationality -- or those whose spouses or children hold it -- from occupying “sensitive positions,” though Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office has previously signaled flexibility, saying automatic citizenship by birth abroad should not disqualify officials.
Despite that, hardliners have continued to challenge the government over the issue, viewing it as part of a broader fight against Pezeshkian’s reformist-leaning team.
Ghalibaf said any foreign platform seeking to operate in Iran must comply with domestic laws and regulations set by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace.
“If a platform does not accept internal regulations, it will not receive a license,” he told parliament after a lawmaker said the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian had signed an agreement with Telegram that had yet to be reviewed by the council.
Under existing policy, a nine-member committee oversees whether foreign platforms adhere to Iranian cyber regulations, including cooperation with judicial authorities and removal of content deemed threatening to national security or public morals.
The reports of a Telegram deal surfaced after the Mehr news agency said Tehran had outlined conditions for lifting the app’s years-long ban, including blocking posts that incite ethnic tensions and assisting the judiciary with user data requests.
Telegram, which has been blocked since 2018 following anti-government protests, remains widely used through virtual private networks despite restrictions.
The alleged talks prompted criticism in parliament, where lawmakers warned that any agreement with Telegram must first be approved by the legislative body. One MP threatened to seek the impeachment of the communications minister if a deal were concluded without parliamentary consent.
He pointed out that the fatwa by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei against nuclear weapons has strong Shia jurisprudential foundations.
Larijani, a former senior judiciary official who also served as a top adviser to the Supreme Leader, added that he supports the expansion of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, framing them as a deterrent and emphasizing the country’s decision not to weaponize.
He also voiced sharp criticism of the 2015 nuclear deal, saying the so-called “diplomacy doctrine” of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had led Iran to “distress and reversed courage.”
Larijani, speaking at a conference examining the thoughts of Ali Khamenei, said that the JCPOA doctrine -- based on trading rights for concessions -- was akin to surrendering part of Iran’s rights in order to preserve others, and he invoked Iran’s war-era ethos of resisting aggressors.
Larijani’s comments reflect a nuanced position often heard from Tehran: while Iran signals that it remains technically close to nuclear weapon capability, it continues to assert that its policy remains peaceful and that the decision not to build such weapons stands.
The remarks come amid international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program, where questions remain over enrichment levels and stockpiles, and where the authenticity and legal force of Khamenei’s so-called fatwa have been contested by analysts.
International experts say the Iranian stance complicates diplomatic efforts, as Tehran’s acknowledgement of capability but insistence on conditional restraint leaves room for ambiguity.
Critics argue this could be designed to serve both as deterrence and diplomatic leverage.
