Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf faces calls for his resignation after photos that went viral show his family members returning from a trip to neighboring Turkey.  

Drawing a wave of rage from Iranians, the pictures were initially posted in a chain on Twitter by well-known whistleblower Vahid Ashtari, who said he had confirmed the identities of Ghalibaf's wife, daughter and son-in-law with staff at Tehran's international Imam Khomeini Airport. 

Ghalibaf's son, Elias, although not involved in the trip, was quick to issue an apology of his own in an Instagram post, criticizing his sister and brother-in-law for their "unforgivable wrongdoing" by traveling abroad at a moment when ordinary Iranians are grappling with economic hardships. Yet he denied reports that the family visit was meant for shopping for a layette set for his yet-to-be-born nephew or niece.  

The speaker's son expressed regret at how the family trip "will now make all past accusations leveled against my father appear credible." He claimed that despite the parliament speaker having opposed the trip, his daughter and son-in-law had proceeded with it regardless. Elias did not explain why his mother had also joined the pair despite her husband's disapproval.