Iran executes ‘Sultan of Coins’
Vahid Mazloumin sentenced to death for hoarding gold and other currency

Iran has executed two currency traders, including one nicknamed the “Sultan of Coins”, for allegedly amassing two tonnes of gold coins.
Vahid Mazloumin and his business associate, Mohammad Esmail Ghasemi, were found guilty of “spreading corruption on earth” and sentenced to death for hoarding gold and other currency in what Tehran says was an attempt to manipulate the market.
The Tehran Times says the pair were sent to the “gallows” on Wednesday morning local time, in a move that Amnesty International quickly condemned as “horrific” and a violation of international law.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Use of the death penalty is appalling under any circumstances,” Amnesty said, adding that under international law “the death penalty is absolutely forbidden for non-lethal crimes, such as financial corruption”.
The BBC reports that, in August, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “approved a judicial request to set up special courts to deal with those suspected of financial crimes”.
Since then, several people have been sentenced to death for financial crimes in trials that are often broadcast on state television.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
June 25 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons include war on a loop, the New York City mayoral race, and one almighty F-bomb
-
How generative AI is changing the way we write and speak
In The Spotlight ChatGPT and other large language model tools are quietly influencing which words we use
-
How long can Nato keep Donald Trump happy?
Today's Big Question Military alliance pulls out all the stops to woo US president on his peacemaker victory lap
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran
-
How developed was Iran's nuclear program and what's left now?
Today's Big Question Israel and the United States have said different things about Iran's capabilities
-
Trump gives himself 2 weeks for Iran decision
Speed Read Trump said he believes negotiations will occur in the near future
-
What would a US strike on Iran mean for the Middle East?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION A precise attack could break Iran's nuclear programme – or pull the US and its allies into a drawn-out war even more damaging than Iraq or Afghanistan
-
US says Trump vetoed Israeli strike on Khamenei
Speed Read This comes as Israel and Iran pushed their conflict into its fourth day
-
After Israel's brazen Iran attack, what's next for the region and the world?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Following decades of saber-rattling, Israel's aerial assault on Iranian military targets has pushed the Middle East to the brink of all-out war
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program
-
Why Israel is attacking Iran now
The Explainer A weakened Tehran and a distracted Donald Trump have led Benjamin Netanyahu to finally act against long-standing foe