Valiati Describes Australia's 'Security System' as the Designer of the Sydney Hostage Crisis

The head of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran, Ali Akbar Velayati, referred to the hostage crisis in Sydney, which resulted in the deaths of two hostages, as a 'trivial plot' that, according to him, 'the Australian security system has implemented by following the United States.' According to Fars News Agency, on Wednesday, December 17, he described Mohammad Hassan Manteqi, who was killed along with two hostages after taking dozens of people hostage in Sydney, as a 'psychopath' and claimed that he had become a 'puppet of the Australian security system and Western countries.' Velayati stated that Australia is not a 'reputable country in the international arena and follows U.S. orders.' He added, 'Australia's capability is limited to carrying out such a trivial act and then exploiting it for propaganda and criticizing others.' Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam, the commander of Iran's police force, also likened the Sydney hostage crisis to 'a play' and stated that 'Western countries intend to divert attention from their shortcomings in combating terrorism by linking this issue to Iran.' He mentioned that the hostage-taker had 'fled' Iran after a 'fraud' in 1996. Mohammad Hassan Manteqi Boroujerdi, a 50-year-old Iranian refugee in Australia, took dozens of people hostage at the 'Lindt' cafe in Sydney on Monday, December 15. He was killed early Tuesday after a 16-hour standoff when police stormed the cafe, along with two hostages. In response to the incident, Marzieh Afkham, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated on Tuesday that his 'background and mental health conditions' had been 'repeatedly' raised with Australian authorities. Velayati further commented on Wednesday, 'It is unlikely that this person has even studied in a seminary.' He noted that this individual had a history of 'murder and irrational and illegal actions' and added, 'It is surprising that this person roamed freely on the streets of Australia and the police did nothing about him.' Manteqi referred to himself as 'Sheikh Haroun' and wore Shia clerical clothing, but later claimed to have converted to Sunni Islam. According to Australian media, the police identified Manteqi as someone with a long history of criminal offenses. Reports indicate that he had written 'vengeful' letters to the families of several Australian soldiers killed in the Middle East seven years ago and had been on the police's radar since then. He was also accused last year of involvement in the murder of his ex-wife, who was stabbed to death and her body burned. Reports suggest that Manteqi's hostage-taking occurred after he failed in his last attempt to acquit himself in the High Court of Australia on Friday. The Australian newspaper 'The Age' reported that he was also accused of approximately 50 sexual assaults.