Eshagh Ghalibaf, the son of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf—Iran's parliamentary speaker and lead negotiator with the US—has established extensive ties to Australia over more than a decade, including rental income from an investment property collected by his son. Guardian Australia reveals that the Ghalibafs have links to a research centre at the University of Melbourne, and Eshagh secured long-term Australian residency despite Canada twice rejecting his visa applications.
Background and Concerns
These connections raise questions about how Eshagh, whose father is a former head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' air force and police chief, was able to receive income from Australian property and obtain temporary residency. This comes despite Ghalibaf's role in suppressing student protests. The revelations also highlight Australia's handling of sanctions against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) figures; the IRGC was only designated as a state sponsor of terrorism in November, and no sanctions have been imposed on Ghalibaf by Australia, unlike Canada.
British-Australian academic Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert, detained in Iran for over 800 days, said Eshagh's presence in Australia is another example of the government failing to vet high-level Iranian officials and their relatives. She noted that such individuals pose a security threat to the Iranian-Australian community, which is overwhelmingly anti-regime, and to the Jewish community.
Property and Residency Details
Court documents from Canada show Eshagh first arrived in Melbourne in early 2014, studied English, and later earned a master's in engineering from the University of Melbourne (2015–2018). He lived in South Yarra and received monthly rent payments of $1,353.63 from a Melbourne real estate agency in late 2018. The property's details are unclear, and records were removed per Victorian legislation. Eshagh stated he had temporary residency until September 2022 but did not pursue permanent residency while waiting for Canadian PR.
In February 2024, Canada's immigration minister announced Eshagh's permanent residency application was refused, citing the Iranian regime's terrorism and human rights violations. This was his second failed Canadian visa attempt; he was denied a student visa in 2013 due to lack of documentation.
Employment and Financial Ties
While studying, Eshagh worked as a research assistant at the University of Melbourne's Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration (CSDILA) from July 2016 to June 2018, about seven hours per week. In his Canadian PR application, he declared access to over US$148,000 from Iranian bank accounts and over AU$15,000 in Australian accounts. He also worked for a civil engineering firm in Iran, whose employer, Seyyed Abouzar Khazraei Afzali, is the son-in-law of Qassem Suleimani, the former Quds Force head killed in 2020.
Political and Security Implications
Australia's Iranian community has long campaigned against relatives of Iranian officials residing in the country, citing safety threats. NSW Liberal senator Dave Sharma said the revelations show Australia's sanctions framework is "full of holes." In August, Australia expelled Iran's ambassador after intelligence found Iran directed attacks against Australia's Jewish community. The IRGC was listed as a state sponsor of terrorism in November.
Dr Rodger Shanahan, a former Lowy Institute fellow, noted that Australia maintained diplomatic relations with Iran beyond 2012, when Canada ceased ties, which may affect visa assessments. He added that the breakdown in relations and IRGC listing would now change how visa applications from children of Iranian officials are viewed.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson declined to comment on sanctions compliance. Ghalibaf and Eshagh were approached for comment.
