Former Iranian vice president faces jail

The vice president of former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been fined and sentenced to jail for crimes that are as of yet unclear, but are thought to be related to corruption.

Mohammad Reza Rahimi, who served as vice president under Ahmadinejad from September 2009 to August 2013, has been referred to as being on trial for “corruption” by Iranian media, but the judiciary are at present keeping details of his case under wraps.

"I cannot reveal the details because the sentence is not final,” said Iran’s prosecutor-general Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, “but it includes a term of imprisonment and a fine."

Elias Naderan, a prominent Iranian legislator and MP, first publicised corruption allegations against Rahimi in April 2010, claiming that he was the ringleader of a corruption band within the National State Insurance Company known as the "Fatemi Circle”, which was involved in crimes including embezzlement.

At the time, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defended his vice president, describing Rahimi as “a brilliant, innocent and pious brother”.

If convicted, the 65-year-old would be the highest profile politician from the Ahmadinejad era to face jail.

Iranian media reported Rahimi had been indicted In March; Rahimi has maintained his innocence throughout.

The sentence must be confirmed by the Court of Appeal before it becomes final, and Iranian media will not be able to reveal details of the case before then.

Rahimi was involved in the presidential campaign of Ahmadinejad during the highly contested 2009 elections, which saw demonstrations on the street over alleged vote-rigging in the country.

A former presidential candidate, he dropped out of the running in May 2013 due to “heavy executive responsibilities”.