Guardian Report Reveals Iranian Parliament Speaker's Son Invested in Australian Real Estate

The Guardian Australia reported that Eshaq Ghalibaf, son of Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, invested in Melbourne real estate and earned rental income while holding temporary residency. These details emerged from documents submitted during Ghalibaf’s unsuccessful five-year legal battle for permanent residency in Canada, which was ultimately rejected in February 2026. Court filings revealed that between 2015 and 2018, Ghalibaf studied at the University of Melbourne and worked as a research assistant. Bank statements showed monthly rental payments from a Melbourne agency, though specific property ownership details remain unclear. The report highlights connections to Abuzar Khazraei Afzali, husband of Qasem Soleimani’s daughter, who is linked to past financial corruption cases. Australian Senator Dave Sharma criticized these findings as evidence of loopholes in Australia’s sanctions framework, arguing that individuals with close ties to the Iranian regime should not operate freely in the country. The article also notes broader concerns within the Iranian-Australian community regarding the presence of relatives of officials involved in suppressing protests, framing the situation as a significant security failure.