The legal case against journalists, controversial financial reports from Gol Gohar Company, and the long history of representatives' involvement in managing mining industries have once again put Shahbaz Hasanpour, a five-term member of parliament, at the center of questions about power and wealth dynamics in southern Iran. In public circles, he is known as 'Two Shares' due to his demands for shares in projects.
In March 2024, Kimia Fathizadeh, a Sirjan journalist, was sentenced to six months in prison, a fine, and a two-year ban from journalism for publishing a report on the financial sources behind the construction of a luxurious house on Jomhouri Boulevard in Sirjan. The execution of this sentence was suspended for 30 months.
The reports by this journalist revealed the financial sources of a project funded by Gol Gohar Mining Company with the intervention of Shahbaz Hasanpour, and the house was given to Mohsen Nikvarz, the former prosecutor of Sirjan.
However, the journalist's conviction did not answer the questions but rather highlighted the cost of inquiry, a cost that has often been borne by journalists and civil activists in the political structure of the Islamic Republic.
Gol Gohar; Astronomical Costs and Larger Crimes
Gol Gohar Company, one of Iran's largest mining complexes, has faced controversial financial reports in recent years. The financial statements for the year 2025 show: 222 billion tomans in travel and mission expenses, 178 billion tomans in consultancy fees, and over 21 billion tomans in board member bonuses, which have significantly increased compared to the previous year. The Court of Audit began reviewing them in September 2026. In November of the same year, Independent Persian quoted a Sirjan lawyer stating: an investigation into at least 20 trillion tomans embezzlement in Gol Gohar has begun, and "several former and current members of parliament" have been involved in this case.
However, Ebrahim Hamidi, the controversial head of Kerman's judiciary at the time, denied these claims, and none of the reports named Hasanpour as even a secondary suspect, which later earned this judicial official special privileges for hiring his children in industries due to this service.
In July 2027, Gol Gohar's complaint against Tabnak website for publishing reports on financial corruption involving representatives was dismissed; a decision that indicates many of these reports are accurate.
The Path of Power; From Municipality to Five Terms in Parliament
Shahbaz Hasanpour has been the representative of Sirjan and Bardsir for four terms since 2008, and in the March 2024 elections, he changed his constituency and was elected to the twelfth parliament from Kerman and Ravar with 74,219 votes. He also has a background in being the mayor of Sirjan and holding executive positions in Kerman province.
In parliament, Hasanpour has almost always been present in economic and budgetary commissions: the Planning and Budget Commission for three terms, Deputy Chairman of the Economic Commission in the eleventh parliament, and a member of the Industries and Mines Commission in the twelfth parliament. These positions have made him one of the key figures in the political economy of southern Iran, where mining, steel, and energy industries play a decisive role.
In an interview with the specialized media "Steel News" about the change of CEO of Goharzamin Company, Hasanpour confirmed that many companies and individuals consult with him, but he denied any involvement in the selection of the CEO.
In his office's information channel, requests from managers of Gol Gohar, Goharzamin, and two steel companies for assistance in equipping the Economic Network studio in Sirjan have been recorded; correspondences that show work relations with industries. But why is the nickname 'Shahbaz Two Shares' repeatedly mentioned on social media; a nickname that locals use to refer to his economic influence and two shares out of six in projects.
Complaints Against Critics and Political Stances
IranWire reported in September 2015 that Hasanpour had filed complaints against 14 political and civil activists who criticized him. In November 2019, when protests over gasoline price hikes in Sirjan turned violent, he described the protests as "disturbances." In October 2022, he also used the term "riots" to describe the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. These stances indicate his alignment with the official narrative of the government.
The final question in this case is not only whether Hasanpour or Gol Gohar's managers committed misconduct; the issue is whether the oversight mechanisms of the Islamic Republic allow for independent auditing and the publication of its results without pressure on critics.