Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, was reportedly caught on camera pocketing a gold-plated fountain pen valued at over $14,000 during nuclear negotiations in Muscat, Oman. The pen, provided by the Omani hosts as part of standard diplomatic protocol, was intended for use during the discussions.
The incident was first reported by the Times of Oman and subsequently confirmed by the Iranian newspaper Hafte Sobh, which described Gharibabadi’s action as a “habitual gesture” of placing pens in his pocket. Despite this, Iranian state media outlets, including Mizan News Agency and Nour News, have denied the occurrence, attributing the reports to hostile opposition groups.
In response to the incident, Iran’s ambassador to Oman, Mousa Farhang, issued an official apology to Omani authorities and assured them that the pen would be returned via the Iranian embassy in Muscat.
Gharibabadi, a senior Iranian negotiator and former judiciary official, has been involved in previous diplomatic engagements, including efforts to secure the release of convicted regime agents in Europe.
