HOW CORRUPTION AND GREED HAVE DESTROYED IRAN

The Iranian economy has been in a nosedive since the mullahs hijacked the revolution in 1979 and seized control. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader, created the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – the regime’s Gestapo – and put them in charge not only of the military, but also over 70% of the economy, straddling key industries such as oil, gas, telecommunications, and infrastructure. It pays no tax and is answerable directly to the Supreme Leader. Its commanders and their families are now the wealthy elite in a country where the middle class has been destroyed and more than half the population live below the international poverty line, struggling to survive. Today, as tensions rise between Washington and Tehran, Iran’s national currency, the rial, has reached an all-time low against the US dollar, trading at over 1 million rials per greenback. Citizens now almost need a wheelbarrow to carry sufficient rials to buy a loaf of bread.

Decades of squandering billions on proxy militias and terrorist organizations such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi rebels in Yemen and the popular mobilization forces (PMF) in Iraq, have brought the theocratic regime to its knees. The sudden collapse of their key ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria, and the decapitation of their ‘axis of resistance’ proxies, sent shockwaves through the regime and left millions of Iranians questioning why their years of blood and treasure have been wasted. With the rial plummeting by 99.99% since the 1979 revolution, 90 million Iranians wonder why the mullahs seem hellbent on building a nuclear weapon and ballistic missiles, in open defiance of international criticism and maximum pressure sanctions. The majority now recognize that the mullahs use inflation as a useful tool for plunder; a weapon to loot the people.

The theocratic regime’s policies, embracing unrestrained money printing, massive budget deficits, and the distribution of enormous rents, are exploited ruthlessly to preserve its survival. The current ailing Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, presides over a system that funnels the nation’s wealth into the pockets of IRGC commanders and privileged elites. Instead of directing oil revenues and national wealth towards remedying the country’s economic woes, a vast portion has been squandered on aggressive military endeavors and entrenched corruption. This misappropriation of resources, executed through murky and unlawful channels, has strangled investment in productive sectors, swollen unemployment ranks, and entrenched poverty across the nation.

Under Article 110 of its Constitution, the regime in Tehran centralizes unfettered power in the hands of the Supreme Leader, overseeing every political, economic, and military affair. This architecture has not only concentrated wealth and power among an exclusive few but has also obstructed the delivery of social justice. The regime operates as an oligarchy, where major policy decisions serve the regime’s survival and enrich its inner sanctum. Economic policies riddled with opaque resource allocation, inefficient subsidies, and neglect of vital infrastructure, have entrapped the populace in financial distress while amassing colossal fortunes for institutions under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s aegis. Khamenei’s office stands at the regime’s nucleus, orchestrating this crisis. Beyond the reach of legal scrutiny or public accountability, it wields colossal economic entities like the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order (EIKO), Astan Quds Razavi, and the Foundation of the Oppressed (Mostazafan), monopolizing a vast share of the nation’s wealth.

This gross accumulation of wealth starkly contrasts with the impoverished existence of millions of Iranians, exposing the regime’s corruption at its core. Khamenei’s office exploits this wealth to tighten its authoritarian grip, perpetuating systemic plunder through a network of loyalists and privileged offspring, known as Aghazadeh. The term “Aghazadeh” itself is derived from Persian, meaning “noble-born” or “son of the Agha,” reflecting their privileged lineage. Many of these individuals are the children of high-ranking military, religious or political officials within the Iranian regime, providing them with a status that comes with unique advantages and opportunities. Despite Iran’s struggles with international sanctions and economic hardships, these elites maintain a lifestyle that is both luxurious and conspicuous.

The Aghazadehs are often found in the world’s most lavish locales, from high-end districts in Europe to prestigious North American universities. These children of Iran’s elite live in mansions, drive luxury cars, and are frequent patrons of exclusive fashion brands. Social media platforms occasionally serve as windows into their world, where envy and outrage sometimes meet the admiration and aspirations of followers. Education abroad is a common trend among Aghazadehs, with many attending prestigious universities in the West.

While Iran contends with economic sanctions affecting ordinary citizens, the Aghazadehs seem paradoxically immune. This perceived division intensifies domestic tensions, as ordinary Iranians grapple with inflation and unemployment, while these privileged few continue to enjoy international luxuries. This disparity serves to fuel public resentment and questions about the ethical and moral responsibilities of these individuals.

The presence and behavior of Aghazadehs have sparked debates within Iranian society itself. Their lifestyles, often flaunted with little regard for discretion, are seen by many as emblematic of the disconnect between Iran’s ruling elite and its people. Criticism arises not only from the general populace but also from the diaspora, many of whom accuse these elites of undermining the very values they are supposed to espouse.

The lives of Aghazadehs encapsulate a narrative of contrast: between wealth and want, privilege and deprivation, tradition and modernity. As Iran continues to grapple with its political and social landscape, the Aghazadehs symbolize the complex interplay of power and privilege, posing questions about equality, justice, and the future direction of a nation at a crossroads. The luxurious lifestyle of the elite’s offspring are glaring emblems of inequality and corruption, fuelling this crisis.  Shielded by political and economic entitlements owing to their lineage, they indulge in grand-scale embezzlement and lavish living, yawning the social chasm further. Their ventures – ranging from illicit currency trading and smuggling to expropriation of public assets and offshore investments – have not only undermined Iran’s economy but also stoked widespread resentment among the impoverished populace. Iran is now a tinderbox, ready to explode.