Deputy Minister of Interior: Baratlou Dismissed in Connection with Attack on Saudi Embassy

Hosseinali Amiri, the Deputy Minister of Interior, stated in a television program on Saturday, January 19, that part of the reasons for the dismissal of Zafar Ali Baratlou, the security deputy of Tehran's governorate, was related to the attack on the Saudi embassy. According to Tasnim, Amiri said, "Part of the reasons for the dismissal of the political-security deputy of Tehran's governorate was due to the assault on the Saudi embassy, but there were other issues that we had warned about, but they did not perform their duties in a timely manner and were dismissed by the Ministry of Interior's decision." Reports indicate that Zafar Ali Baratlou announced on Friday, January 18, that he was dismissed "at the request of the Minister of Interior." The Deputy Minister's comments regarding the reasons for Baratlou's dismissal and its connection to the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran have elicited a reaction from the governor of Tehran. Hossein Hashemi, the governor of Tehran, responded to the Deputy Minister's statements by saying, "Considering that the discussion of changing the security deputy of the Tehran governorate had been seriously raised for several months and the issue of the attack on the Saudi embassy is still under investigation, the connection between this change and the embassy issue seems far-fetched." Hashemi added, "It is possible that the respected Minister of Interior has received information regarding this matter that I am not aware of, and since he is fully occupied with government meetings and the Sixth Development Plan, I have not been able to discuss this matter with him." Nevertheless, the governor of Tehran emphasized, "Mr. Amiri, as the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, likely has more complete information regarding this matter that he raised." Previously, some Iranian media criticized the police and law enforcement for not intervening with the demonstrators and attackers at the Saudi embassy. Following the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, which resulted in partial destruction, Riyadh severed its diplomatic relations with Tehran. Several Arab countries in the region also cut or reduced their diplomatic relations with Iran in this context. Meanwhile, one conservative member of parliament from Tehran criticized the dismissal of Zafar Ali Baratlou. According to Tasnim, Hossein Tala, the Secretary of the Tehran Representatives Assembly in Parliament, and the then governor of Tehran during the 2009 elections, defended Baratlou's "record and performance in conducting elections and the events of 2009," stating that he was "the best option for managing the security atmosphere of the capital." Zafar Ali Baratlou was the political-social deputy of Tehran's governorate during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency. In this context, the security deputy of the Tehran governorate was also dismissed. Haqiqatpour: The attack on the Saudi embassy was the work of supporters of Sadegh Shirazi. Saudi Arabia: More actions against Iran may be taken. The Friday Prayer Leader of Tehran implicitly accused Saudi Arabia of attacking its own embassy. The changing battlefield of "proxy forces"; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalization of Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump: I hope there will be no need for further action regarding Iran; they were killing people indiscriminately. The shadow of war over Tehran; "Trump is seeking decisive military options against Iran." Trump says if the Islamic Republic assassins him, "it will be wiped off the face of the earth." A senior U.S. official: The Trump administration is closely monitoring the case of Reza Valizadeh. Trump emphasizes "stopping executions in Iran": we do not know what will happen in the future.