The Islamic Republic of Iran suffers from widespread corruption

Political corruption

Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...

.

Corruption levels

According to Transparency International

Transparency International

Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...

, which publishes the annual Corruption Perception Index, in 2009 Iran fell from 141st on the list of 180 countries to eighth from bottom – one of the most marked declines.

President Ahmadinejad has vouched to fight "economic/oil Mafia" at all echelons of government. President Ahmadinejad has also proposed that lawmakers consider a bill, based on which the wealth and property of all officials who have held high governmental posts since 1979 could be investigated.

Statistical evaluations

Years	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Corruption Perceptions Index Corruption Perceptions Index Since 1995, Transparency International publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index annually ranking countries "by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys." The CPI generally defines corruption as "the misuse of public power for private...	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3.0	2.9	2.7	2.7	2.5	2.3	1.8

Scores are on a 0-10 scale, 10 being best (least corrupt / bribery least necessary).

In modern Iran, it is widely accepted that corruption is one of the main obstacles to the country's economic development. Many Iranians believe the country's miserable economic

Economy of Iran

The economy of Iran is the eighteenth largest in the world by purchasing power parity and according to Iranian officials' claims is going to become the 12th largest by 2015. The economy of Iran is a mixed and transition economy with a large public sector and some 50% of the economy centrally planned...

 situation is a byproduct of mismanagement and widespread corruption at the top. Reformists and conservatives alike - at times even the Supreme Leader - routinely criticize corruption in the government.

See also

• Smuggling in Iran
• History of the Islamic Republic of Iran
  History of the Islamic Republic of Iran
  One of the most dramatic changes in government in Iran's history was seen with the 1979 Iranian Revolution where Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown and replaced by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini...
  
  
• Supreme Audit Court of Iran
  Supreme Audit Court of Iran
  The Supreme Audit Court of Iran is a government agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Located in Tehran, it is supervised by the Iranian Parliament and dates back to 1906....
  
  
• Islamic Revolutionary Court
  Islamic Revolutionary Court
  Islamic Revolutionary Court is a special court in the Islamic Republic of Iran designed to try those suspected of smuggling, blaspheming, inticing violence or trying to overthrow the Iranian government...
  
  
• 3,000 billion embezzlement in Iran