Iran Sentences ‘Sultan of Cars’ to Death

General view of a highway in Tehran, Iran. (Reuters)
General view of a highway in Tehran, Iran. (Reuters)
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Iran Sentences ‘Sultan of Cars’ to Death

General view of a highway in Tehran, Iran. (Reuters)
General view of a highway in Tehran, Iran. (Reuters)

Iran sentenced Vahid Behzadi, dubbed the “sultan of cars”, to death for a number of crimes, such as disruption of the country’s automobile market, currency smuggling and money laundering, announced Iran’s judiciary spokesman.

Spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said at a press conference that Behzadi, and his wife Najva Lasheidaee, are both involved in the cases and sentenced to death.

They are accused of purchasing and hoarding over 6,700 cars from the Saipa car factory, one of Iran’s two major car manufacturing companies.

Reuters reported that Esmaili spoke about the couple, in their early 40s, without giving any further details about them or their background.

“They have smuggled hard currency and laundered around $200 million,” he said. “Also, around 100 kg of gold and over 24,700 gold coins were found and seized in the couple’s home.”

The spokesman said the couple could appeal the verdict within 20 days.

In addition, two Iranian lawmakers, Fereydoun Ahmadi and Mohammad Azizi, were linked to a financial corruption case at Saipa and sentenced to 61 months in jail each on charges of “disrupting the country’s car market.

Neither lawmaker has commented publicly about the case.

Esmaili added that former CEO of the Saipa car factory, Mahdi Jamali, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in distribution disruption mechanisms.

Iran’s judiciary has been waging a campaign against corruption at the state and private levels, especially with the deterioration of the economy due to US sanctions and the coronavirus outbreak.

Since August 2018, the Judiciary has been holding public trials of individuals involved in major financial corruption cases, including the brother of President Hassan Rouhani.

Hardline critics say state corruption has exacerbated since Rouhani was first elected in 2013, while the government dismisses the claims as politically motivated.



Netanyahu Takes Witness Stand Again in His Trial for Corruption

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
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Netanyahu Takes Witness Stand Again in His Trial for Corruption

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his trial on corruption charges at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified again on Wednesday in his ongoing trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant. He denies wrongdoing, saying the charges are a witch hunt orchestrated by a hostile media and a biased legal system out to topple his lengthy rule.

The corruption trial testimony is another low point for Israel’s longest-serving leader, who also faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to Hungary later Wednesday for a meeting with the country's prime minister, Viktor Orban, despite the international arrest warrant.