State television host Zahra Mirzai was killed by her cousin as part of his effort to cover his robbery of her wealth May 6.
Mirzai’s body was discovered in her home in the Golestan neighborhood of the capital the next day after neighbors reported the smell of smoke to authorities.
Police found her body in her bedroom with severe head and neck injuries, along with evidence of attempted arson.
Family members told investigators Mirzai had been due to meet her cousin just hours before she died.
Police tracked the cousin’s mobile phone and arrested him at his residence in eastern Tehran within 24 hours.
Authorities found some of the victim’s gold jewelry stuffed in the cousin’s pockets after the arrest.
While initially denying involvement, he later confessed when presented with the evidence, police said. He cited financial difficulties as his motive and admitted to planning the theft for some time.
According to his confession, he struck Mirzai with a hammer and attempted to destroy evidence by setting fire to the scene.
Mirzai worked as a host on Ofogh, one of the Islamic Republic’s state television channels.
