I always say;
When it comes to diplomacy and ‘statecraft,’ Iran is a country that should never be underestimated. Iranians, with a history spanning thousands of years, excel in espionage and influence spy operations.
While there is so much going on in Turkey’s agenda, some may wonder, “Where did this ‘Iran and espionage’ issue come from?”
Let me explain.
There is currently a heated debate going on in Washington. Allegedly, a ‘high-level Iranian spy network’ has been exposed.
The file written by Joy Solomon, an experienced name from The Wall Street Journal, reads like a movie script.
Involved in this matter are important institutions ranging from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to famous think tanks of the U.S. and EU, from the Pentagon to the U.S. State Department.
The claim of the ‘espionage network’ that made headlines in the media can be summarized as follows:
Officials from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially those concerned with creating an image related to Iran’s nuclear program, took action and established the “Iran Experts Initiative” in 2014.
The Iranian regime, specifically for nuclear negotiations and generally for Iran’s interests and ideology, assembled a team of second-generation Iranian academics who had grown up in the diaspora.
The funding for this initiative was provided by Mustafa Zahrani, a leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Organization. Zahrani both coordinated with team members and served as a bridge between Foreign Minister Zarif.
Official emails belonging to the Iranian government, as reported in the American media, reveal the establishment, operation, and efforts to influence the American government by this team.
Amidst the series of events defined as a ‘scandal’ by American media, we find Robert Malley, the special envoy for Iran in the Biden administration.
Last June, Malley, who had to resign from his position due to a ‘security investigation,’ was revealed to have worked with three critical figures in the International Crisis Group (ICG), where he worked both in the ministry and as a leader, who turned out to be operatives of the IEI established by the Iranian regime.
According to the correspondence obtained, Malley hired experts such as Ariana Tabatabai, Ali Vaez, and Dina Esfandiary and ensured their accreditation.
In 2021, Malley added Ariane Tabatabai to the Iran team at the U.S. State Department.
According to the intercepted correspondences, Tabatabai consults with the Iranian government on every step she takes. For example, she evaluates whether to accept an invitation to a conference or the framework of her published articles in consultation with the Iranian government.
According to the American media, Ariane Tabatabai’s correspondence with the leaders of the Revolutionary Guard provides clear evidence that she was an active member of a secret Iranian influence campaign designed to shape U.S. government policies.
In Solomon’s analysis, it is stated, “Requesting guidance from senior Iranian officials and faithfully adhering to this guidance cannot be the attitude of an impartial academic or a bureaucrat serving the American public.”
After the news reached the American media, the situation became chaotic, to say the least.
While the Pentagon is currently investigating allegations involving Ariane Tabatabai, the U.S. State Department has denied the ‘espionage network’ claim, stating that Tabatabai was appointed due to her expertise in nuclear and Iranian matters.
In short, the debate is escalating, and the issue is on the agenda not only of politics but also of the academic and intelligence world. This is because Tabatabai is a respected figure who teaches at prestigious universities and works for important think tanks.
The question of whether the Iran Experts Initiative is a spy ring or an influence operation directed by the Iranian regime is not easy to resolve. The reason is that these individuals are in a position to access the most sensitive information of the U.S. government.
Furthermore, they are part of the team negotiating on behalf of the United States.
Conservative voices claim that there is an ‘Iranian agent’ involved in negotiations with Iran and argue that Congress should get involved.
Looking at the official state correspondence that has emerged in the American media, we see the following picture:
The Iranian government is establishing an organization under the Revolutionary Guard Organization to exert influence in the global media and academic circles. This center, funded by the Revolutionary Guard, includes second and third-generation Iranian academics from famous universities and think tanks. These individuals write articles related to the regime, attend official meetings, and even gain access to the U.S. government. For example, Tabatabai currently holds a high-level position at the Pentagon.
While the impact and success of the Iran Experts Initiative are debatable, one thing is clear.
Documents regarding the Iranian government’s involvement in such activities demonstrate the complexity and pervasiveness of propaganda and influence operations in international relations.
So, what does this incident tell us about Turkey?
Do you think the Iranian government, which carries out long-term projects to influence the U.S. government and uses academics from the diaspora for this purpose, would not do anything in a critical country like Turkey?
The Selam Tevhid Investigation conducted in Turkey was, in fact, an operation of this kind.
The police tracking Iranian agents infiltrating the Erdogan government and high-level bureaucracy had come across striking evidence. The contacts of Ali Mirvakili, a leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Organization, and his team with Hakan Fidan and AKP officials had been recorded. I had covered the remarkable details of this investigation in this news.
The file was hastily closed by İrfan Fidan, who is now a member of the Constitutional Court. The names that appear throughout the file are at the top of the security and judiciary bureaucracy.
There are even those who are ministers or advisers to the Presidential Palace.
One can’t help but wonder: What might the Iranian regime, which carries out the operations I’ve summarized to influence the U.S. government, have done in a country as critical to them as Turkey?
