Statement by Former Iranian President’s Daughter Opens a New Pandora’s Box

Astonishing remarks by the daughter of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani have drawn global attention, prompting Iran’s judiciary to take notice. According to international news agencies, an Iranian court has summoned Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, the daughter of the late president, after a judicial official filed a case against her.
The case stems from Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani’s statement accusing the Iranian government of being involved in the murder of her father, former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. She has been summoned to court to explain what officials described as a baseless and unverified allegation.
In an interview, Faezeh Hashemi claimed that while some people blamed Israel or Russia for her father’s death, she personally believed that “elements within the government” were responsible. She added that her father had become an obstacle for certain influential figures in the country, and that “those individuals removed him from their path.”
This is not the first time the Rafsanjani family has questioned the official account of his death. Previously, Rafsanjani’s son, Mohsen Rafsanjani, and his daughter, Fatemeh, also described his death as mysterious and rejected the notion that it was due to natural causes. Statements made earlier by former Revolutionary Guard commander Yahya Rahim Safavi had also fueled controversy over the issue.
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani served as Iran’s president for two consecutive terms from August 17, 1989, to August 2, 1997. He passed away in northern Tehran in January 2017. After the 2005 presidential elections and the rise of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Rafsanjani became one of the government’s most prominent critics. His disagreements with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei intensified during the 2009 elections. In 2013, despite formally registering as a candidate, Rafsanjani was barred from running by Iran’s Guardian Council.
Faezeh Hashemi’s accusation could provide a new rallying point for reformists and opposition circles in Iran, increasing internal pressure on the government. If the public begins to believe that even a former president was denied justice, confidence in the judicial system and state institutions could erode further.
Rafsanjani is widely regarded as a symbolic figure for Iran’s reformist and moderate factions. Renewed controversy surrounding his death may reignite political polarization and confrontation. The Iranian government is likely to dismiss Faezeh Hashemi’s statement and accuse her of spreading “anti-state propaganda” or “false information.”
Internationally, the allegation raises new questions about transparency, human rights, and internal accountability within Iran’s political system—especially among Western nations. Exiled Iranian opposition groups and human rights activists are expected to amplify the issue in global media, increasing diplomatic pressure on Tehran. Such allegations may also strain Iran’s relations with countries already critical of its human rights record.