Exclusive; Ted Cruz, Republican Senator, Describes Iran's Treatment of Jamshid Sharmeh as 'Brazen and Brutal'

Ted Cruz, the Republican Senator from Texas, described the Iranian government's treatment of Jamshid Sharmeh as 'brazen and brutal' during an interview with the Persian section of Voice of America on Tuesday. He called on the global community to 'demand that the Ayatollah immediately release Sharmeh unconditionally.' Ted Cruz told VOA's Shahla Arasteh, 'The Iranian regime believes that the Biden administration and the West will continue to appease them regardless of the number of hostages they imprison, torture, and even kill. Unfortunately, they seem to be correct in their assumptions. The regime's behavior towards Jamshid Sharmeh has been brazen and brutal, and instead of being held accountable, they have received billions in ransom. The Biden administration must end its appeasement and the global community must demand that the Ayatollah immediately release Sharmeh unconditionally.' The Biden administration has responded multiple times to the destructive actions and behaviors of the Islamic Republic using various tools, including sanctions, and has stated that it does not appease the Iranian government. On Monday, in response to the Islamic Republic's claim for $2.5 billion in damages against the Tondar group, the Iranian Monarchist Association, Jamshid Sharmeh, and the U.S. government, the United States stated that it would continue to support the right to free speech for the people of Iran. Given that the Tondar group is an opposition group to the Islamic Republic in Iran, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, told VOA's Persian section that the United States supports the free speech of the Iranian people for democratic political ideals and will continue to do so. He did not mention the Tondar group. Since the Iranian judiciary has attributed the bombing of April 13, 2008, in Shiraz to the Tondar group and the U.S. government, Matthew Miller emphasized in his daily press conference that the United States does not endorse resorting to violent actions. It is unclear what objectives the Islamic Republic has in issuing financial judgments, as neither the Islamic Republic nor the plaintiffs have the means to collect. The U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that the U.S. has had doubts for years about the rule of law in the Iranian government system, which includes its judiciary. In this regard, Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, a lawyer, warned on Monday in response to a question from VOA's Persian section regarding the possibility of canceling Mr. Sharmeh's death sentence in light of this new ruling that cases like this dual-national citizen's ruling are 'treated as criminal punishment independent of private claims,' and therefore today's ruling should not be regarded as a cancellation of the death penalty. The media center of the Iranian judiciary announced that the 55th branch of the Tehran International Claims Court has ordered the Tondar group, the Iranian Monarchist Association, Jamshid Sharmeh, and the U.S. government to pay material, moral, and punitive damages totaling $2.5 billion. According to this report, the Iranian judiciary claims that this ruling was issued in 'response to the victims' claims of the bombing at the Shiraz Hosseiniyeh in 2008.' The damage claim against the Tondar group, the Iranian Monarchist Association, its imprisoned director Jamshid Sharmeh, and the U.S. government was announced a few weeks after the launch of the 'Cut the Rope' campaign by Ghazaleh Sharmeh, Jamshid Sharmeh's daughter. Ghazaleh Sharmeh previously stated in an interview with VOA's Persian section that they are facing a wave of executions in Iran, saying, '834 people were executed just last year. Over 50 people were executed in January this year. We want to draw the world's attention to the executions in Iran with this campaign.' She also referred to simultaneous gatherings in support of this campaign in many countries around the world, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and European countries. Ghazaleh Sharmeh stated in another interview with VOA that the day this campaign was launched coincided with the day Jamshid Sharmeh was sentenced to death. According to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, 68-year-old Jamshid Sharmeh was kidnapped in the summer of 2020 in the UAE and forcibly transferred to Iran. The Islamic Republic has stated that Mr. Sharmeh was arrested in a 'complex operation.' Jamshid Sharmeh, a dual-national Iranian-German citizen who also has permanent residency in the United States, was sentenced to death on charges of 'corruption on earth' after a trial that the international community deems 'fabricated.' Ghazaleh Sharmeh has previously stated that her father suffers from Parkinson's disease and may die due to his deteriorating health. She also mentioned, 'His teeth have been broken under torture or due to malnutrition [and] he cannot pronounce words properly or chew or eat food.' Ghazaleh Sharmeh also stated last November that her father had been in complete solitary confinement for 'more than 1185 days.' Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, previously stated on August 14, 'The Iranian regime's treatment of Mr. Sharmeh has been shameful. He has been sentenced to death after a legal process that has been heavily criticized as a sham trial. We strongly condemn this kind of behavior.' Ghazaleh Sharmeh: My father is one of thousands who have death sentences; I empathize with their families. Ghazaleh Sharmeh speaks about the 'Cut the Rope' campaign in protest against the executions of the Islamic Republic. The 'Campaign Against Executions in Iran'; activists on social media are calling for 'cutting this 45-year-old rope.' Masih Alinejad told VOA: The Islamic Republic's supportive arms in the West will be exposed. The UN Truth Commission has deemed discrimination against women in Iran a violation of human rights and a crime against humanity. Statements from several professional organizations in Iran on the occasion of International Women's Day: Women have become pioneers in struggles. About 25 civil and political groups outside Iran have called for the release of female political prisoners.