Wedding ceremony footage showing Ali Shamkhani's daughter's May 2024 celebration has triggered renewed criticism across Iranian social media. Shamkhani, who represents the Supreme Leader on the Supreme National Defense Council under the Supreme National Security Council, faced similar backlash when Arman Melli originally reported on the Espinas Parsian Hotel event, citing Faraz's estimate of 1.4 billion tomans in costs. Shamkhani was
فیلم عروسی دختر علی شمخانی به دستم رسیده. شما هم ببینید. گشت ارشاد و بیکاری و فقر مال مردمه، مراسم میلیاردی با پول ملت هم مال اینا. pic.twitter.com/El7emXKkPh
— Cameron Behzadi (@CameronBehzadi) October 18, 2025 q=shamkhani+israelhayom.com&ie=UTF-8">reportedly targeted by Israel during the 12-day war in June, but survived.
Video: Iran's hijab-free wedding has sparked outrage / Credit: Social media
The newspaper questioned how officials could request public patience during economic sanctions while hosting such extravagant celebrations. "If we are not accused of painting things black, may we ask how we can tell people to be patient in the face of economic sanctions when the wedding ceremony of the former secretary of the Supreme National Security Council's daughter is held in one of the most luxurious and expensive halls in the country," Arman Melli wrote.
Shamkhani's tenure as Supreme National Security Council Secretary spanned from 2013 to 2023, though the motivation for the video's current viral spread remains unexplained. Social media users have particularly criticized the "Western-style" nature of the ceremony, noting its departure from conventional Iranian wedding traditions.
فیلم عروسی دختر علی شمخانی به دستم رسیده. شما هم ببینید. گشت ارشاد و بیکاری و فقر مال مردمه، مراسم میلیاردی با پول ملت هم مال اینا. pic.twitter.com/El7emXKkPh
— Cameron Behzadi (@CameronBehzadi) October 18, 2025
A video purportedly showing the wedding of the daughter of Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, has sparked widespread reactions on social media.
Users are criticizing the Islamic Republic officials' hypocrisy and double standards, pointing to the lavish nature… pic.twitter.com/Dk5y9Vvgqy— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) October 18, 2025
The footage has drawn additional scrutiny given recent government announcements about forming a "Modesty and Hijab Situation Room" and deploying 80,000 morality police forces. Critics have condemned these enforcement initiatives while pointing to the contrast with elite families' celebration styles.
The video's circulation has reignited discussions about economic inequality and the gap between government austerity messaging and the lifestyles of prominent officials' families during Iran's ongoing sanctions period.
