Hassan Rouhani's brother sentenced to 5 years in prison

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks with Hossein Fereydoun, the brother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, before the Secretary and Foreign Minister addressed an international press corps gathered at the Austria Center in Vienna, Austria, on 14 July 2015 [Wikipedia]

Iran’s judiciary sentenced Hossein Fereydoun, brother and adviser of President Hassan Rouhani, to five years in prison, Tuesday.

Fars News Agency quoted judicial spokesman Gholam Hossein Ismaili as saying: “the judiciary has sentenced Rouhani’s brother, Hossein Fereydoun, to five years in prison.”

Ismaili said in a press conference that the Court of Appeal issued the final verdict of five years commuted from seven years against Fereydoun.

He added that the court found him guilty of taking bribes.

Read: Iran sentences 1 to death for spying for the US

Fereydoun, a diplomat who is known to be close to his brother Hassan Rouhani, changed his name at the beginning of his political career.

Fereydoun was first detained in 2017, then, released on bail after spending a night in detention.

Supporters of reformist President Rouhani believe that the charges against Fereydoun are politically motivated and aimed at putting pressure on the head of state.

Fereydoun has been involved in the talks that ultimately led to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and global powers.

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