Adel Fardousi Poor Denies Hand‑Kissing Allegation Involving Minister Abbas Salehi

During the funeral ceremony for the late cultural figure Akbar Abdi, a short video circulated on social media that appeared to show sports commentator Adel Fardousi Poor bringing his hand close to the face of Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Abbas Salehi. Some outlets reported the incident as a confirmed hand‑kiss, while others highlighted the ambiguous camera angle and the lack of clear visual evidence.

Fardousi Poor later posted a video response denying that he kissed the minister’s hand, explaining that the footage was edited and that he had only been seated near the minister in the mosque. He criticized the rapid spread of the claim and the sensational headlines, emphasizing that no such gesture occurred.