Iran Parliamentary Speaker’s Son Granted Australian Residency Amid Sanctions Concerns

Key revelations raise questions about Australia’s sanctions framework and visa screening processes.

The Connection

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker, has extensive ties to Australia—including an investment property whose rental income was collected by his son, Eshagh Ghalibaf, 38.

Eshagh Ghalibaf secured long-term Australian residency despite having two Canadian visa applications rejected.

Timeline of Australian Residency

Eshagh arrived in Melbourne in early 2014 and began studies at the University of Melbourne, where he earned a master's degree in engineering (2015–2018).

From July 2016 to June 2018, he worked as a research assistant at the Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration (CSDILA).

Bank statements from ANZ and NAB accounts showed monthly rent payments of $1,353.63 from a Melbourne real estate agency in late 2018.

Financial Disclosures

Eshagh held Australian temporary residency until at least September 2022 and stated he did not pursue permanent residency. As of January 2019, he disclosed:

• Over US$148,000 in Iranian bank accounts
• Over AU$15,000 in Australian bank accounts

Concerning Ties

Eshagh's former employer in Iran, Seyyed Abouzar Khazraei Afzali, is the son-in-law of Qassem Suleimani, the former head of Iran's Quds Force.

Canada's immigration minister announced the refusal of Eshagh's permanent residency application in February 2024, citing the Iranian regime's human rights violations.

Expert and Political Reactions

Dr. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a British-Australian academic formerly detained in Iran, criticized the Australian government for allowing entry to high-level Iranian officials' relatives, citing security threats to Iranian-Australian and Jewish communities.

Senator Dave Sharma (NSW Liberal) stated the revelations show Australia's sanctions framework is "full of holes."

Dr. Rodger Shanahan, a former Lowy Institute fellow, noted that Australia's listing of the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism in November 2024 would likely change how visa applications from relatives of Iranian officials are reviewed.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson declined to comment on sanctions compliance or potential future measures.

Broader Context

• Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is a former head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' air force and police chief, and has been leading Tehran's peace negotiations with the US.
• He has boasted about his role in beating student protesters.
• The IRGC was designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by Australia in November 2024.
• Australia expelled Iran's ambassador in August 2024 after finding credible evidence that Iran directed attacks against Australia's Jewish community.
• Eshagh's Canadian visa applications were rejected in 2013 and 2024.

Key takeaway: The case highlights potential gaps in Australia's visa screening and sanctions enforcement mechanisms concerning family members of high-ranking Iranian officials.