The son of Iran's former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a founder of the Islamic Republic, was detained on Monday after returning from exile, accused of inciting post-election unrest in 2009.
Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani arrived in Tehran Sunday having spent three years in Britain.
The 43-year-old presented himself at court to hear the charges and face questioning.
Rafsanjani was then transferred to Tehran's Evin prison after the court issued a temporary detention order.
Analysts say Mehdi's return could indicate a deal has been agreed with authorities to resolve the charges, and may signal a revival in the political fortunes of his father.
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a close aide to the late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has held most of Iran's top political positions, including armed forces commander and president.
But the pragmatic conservative's power has waned since he expressed sympathy for opposition demonstrators after the 2009 vote that triggered the deepest political crisis and worst unrest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
However, as oil and banking sanctions bite, some are saying Rafsanjani could make a surprise comeback bid for the presidency at an election scheduled for June 2013.
Reuters