Watchdog

An Iranian news website has reported the arrest of the brother of the country's vice president over various finance-related matters.

The Tabnak website, affiliated with Iran's hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), reported on October 6 that Eshaq Jahangiri's brother, Mehdi Jahangiri, was taken into custody.

Eshaq Jahangiri appeared to confirm his brother's arrest in a post on Instagram on October 6.

"I have no exact information about how the arrest was made; neither do I know anything about the allegation," he wrote.

He said the arrest was "predictable" and that he hopes it is not a case of political "abuse."

Eshaq Jahangiri, a presidential candidate in the May election, is one of the most prominent reformist figures in President Hassan Rohani's government.

Mehdi Jahangiri runs the Tehran Chamber of Commerce and is also the founder of the private Gardeshgari Bank.

Based on reporting by AP and Tabnak

Iran's Special Clerical Court has tightened restrictions against former President Mohammad Khatami, barring him from all public events for three months.

Khatami, who headed a reformist government between 1997 and 2005, has been banned from appearing in the media since mass antigovernment protests following the disputed 2009 presidential election.

The opposition Kalemeh website said on October 6 that the Special Clerical Court had sent Khatami a letter asking him "not to take part in any political ceremonies and publicity for three months."

The ban is reported to include attending meetings, theater performances, and concerts. It also bars government officials and student union members from meeting with him.

Ali Motahari, an outspoken lawmaker and a political moderate, criticized the new measures.

"We have a good constitution and the parliament has also devised good laws but some councils and institutions such as the Special Clerical Court bypass the constitution and the parliament and drag the country toward autocracy," he said in remarks published by the semiofficial ISNA news agency on October 6.

Based on reporting by AFP and ISNA