IRGC Expert: Detained Journalists Were Linked to Western Spy Networks

The Islamic Republic's television aired statements from one of the 'experts of the IRGC Intelligence Organization', labeling recently detained journalists in Iran as affiliated with 'organized networks' of Western espionage agencies. This media outlet broadcast an interview on Tuesday evening, November 12, with an individual named 'Asif', who claimed that the recent arrests of media activists in Iran were connected to 'a complex and multi-layered hierarchical process of networking among domestic journalists'. According to him, in this case, 'a collection of the most experienced media activists from both foreign and domestic opposition were working to shape perceptions and prioritize public opinion', and were discovered and arrested after 'two years' of work by the IRGC Intelligence Organization. The report does not mention the names of the detained journalists, but media outlets close to the IRGC, such as the news website 'Rah Dana' and the Fars News Agency, have named Eisa Saharkhiz and Ehsan Mazandarani, who were apparently detained along with three other media activists. According to the 'Rah Dana' website, these two figures were linked to the 'American infiltration network' and were arrested by judicial order. Eisa Saharkhiz, who was the director of domestic press at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, is considered a journalist close to the reformist movement and was arrested following the protests of 2009 and imprisoned for four years. Ehsan Mazandarani is the editor-in-chief of the Farhikhtegan newspaper, affiliated with Azad University, and has a history of collaboration with reformist newspapers such as Etemad and Aftab Yazd. The IRGC intelligence expert states that there are 'traces of American and European intelligence services' in the case of the detained journalists. He claims that this process is being carried out 'under the political and diplomatic guidance of the UK', and that 'members of this network' have been trying to network within Iran and attract some media elites through 'foundations affiliated with the foreign ministries of the Netherlands, the UK, and Sweden'. 'Polishing America's image, paving the way for the official presence of Americans in Iran, and creating fake human rights narratives' are also among the goals of this 'network', according to this IRGC member. Previously, following the nuclear agreement between Iran and the US and other members of the 1+5 group, the Leader of the Islamic Republic stated that the US was seeking 'influence' in Iran through the nuclear agreement and that it should be countered.