Ali-Reza Asgari: Difference between revisions

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==Disappearance==
==Disappearance==
Asgari disappeared on [[February 7]], [[2007]] in [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]] after flying in from [[Damascus]], [[Syria]]. One report said that he had been in Syria to discuss production of military equipment, and his trip to Turkey was to meet with a European arms dealer.<ref>Zadeh, Ali Nouri. "[http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=8247 Missing Iranian Minster Reportedly Cooperating with Western Intelligence]", ''Asharq Alawsat'', March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2007.</ref> This was challenged by a woman in Tehran who claimed she was Asgari's wife, and who said that Asgari flew to Istanbul on December 7 and disappeared on December 9.<ref name="IHT">"[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/12/africa/ME-GEN-Iran-Turkey-Missing-Official.php Wife of missing former Iranian official urges authorities to investigate]", ''International Herald Tribune'', March 12, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.</ref> She also said that "He [Asgari] was doing business in olive oil in Syria."<ref name="SignOnSanDiego">"[http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070312-0404-iran-missing-.html Missing Iranian official was kidnapped – relatives]", ''SignOnSanDiego'', March 12, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.</ref>
Asgari disappeared on [[February 7]], [[2007]] in [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]] after flying in from [[Damascus]], [[Syria]]. One report said that he had been in Syria to discuss production of military equipment, and his trip to Turkey was to meet with a European arms dealer.<ref>Zadeh, Ali Nouri. "[http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=8247 Missing Iranian Minster Reportedly Cooperating with Western Intelligence]", ''Asharq Alawsat'', March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2007.</ref> '''This was challenged by Ziba Ahmadi, the wife Ali Reza Asghari, said her husband, who has five children, did not defect to Turkey and she believes evidence shows he was abducted.''' Asgari's wife said that Asgari flew to Istanbul on December 7 and disappeared on December 9.<ref name="IHT">"[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/12/africa/ME-GEN-Iran-Turkey-Missing-Official.php Wife of missing former Iranian official urges authorities to investigate]", ''International Herald Tribune'', March 12, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.</ref> She also said that "He [Asgari] was doing business in olive oil in Syria."<ref name="SignOnSanDiego">"[http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070312-0404-iran-missing-.html Missing Iranian official was kidnapped – relatives]", ''SignOnSanDiego'', March 12, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.</ref>


Reports say that two other people had reserved a room for Asgari at the Ceylan Hotel in Istanbul for three nights, but that after arriving Asgari reserved a room at the cheaper Hotel Ghilan.<ref>Dan, Oron. "[http://www.nypost.com/seven/03052007/news/worldnews/terror_linked_iranian_in_kidnap_puzzle_worldnews_oron_dan__post_correspondent.htm TERROR-LINKED IRANIAN IN 'KIDNAP' PUZZLE]", ''The New York Post'', March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.</ref><ref>"[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1171894570087&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull General vanishes; Mossad/CIA blamed]", ''The Jerusalem Post'', March 4, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.</ref> It is not clear if he ever checked into the hotel.<ref>Butcher, Tim. "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/05/wspy105.xml Spy's disappearance sparks kidnap fears]", ''The Telegraph'', March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.</ref>
Reports say that two other people had reserved a room for Asgari at the Ceylan Hotel in Istanbul for three nights, but that after arriving Asgari reserved a room at the cheaper Hotel Ghilan.<ref>Dan, Oron. "[http://www.nypost.com/seven/03052007/news/worldnews/terror_linked_iranian_in_kidnap_puzzle_worldnews_oron_dan__post_correspondent.htm TERROR-LINKED IRANIAN IN 'KIDNAP' PUZZLE]", ''The New York Post'', March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.</ref><ref>"[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1171894570087&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull General vanishes; Mossad/CIA blamed]", ''The Jerusalem Post'', March 4, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.</ref> It is not clear if he ever checked into the hotel.<ref>Butcher, Tim. "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/05/wspy105.xml Spy's disappearance sparks kidnap fears]", ''The Telegraph'', March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.</ref>

Revision as of 14:21, 19 November 2007

Ali-Reza Asgari (Template:PerB) is a retired[1] Iranian general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, former deputy defense minister, and former cabinet member of President Mohammad Khatami.[2] In the 1980s he was commander of the Revolutionary Guard in Lebanon[3] and during the 1990s Asgari was the top Iranian intelligence official in Lebanon, where he worked with the Shia militia Hezbollah. One report said that during this time, Asgari was involved in the alleged transfer of captured Israeli pilot Ron Arad to Iran.[4] The Israeli website Debkafile claims that Asgari ran Iranian operations in Iraq, and is linked to the January 20, 2007 Karbala provincial headquarters raid.[5]

He had been "pushed aside" from his ministerial role after president Ahmadinejad, a former rival, had came in to power.[3] According to The Sunday Times, Asgari has been described as a "gold mine for western intelligence” by an Israeli defence source who claimed that they had been following him since the 1980s.[3] Asgari disappeared in Turkey in late 2006 or early 2007, and news reports indicate that he has either defected or been kidnapped[6]by Western intelligence agencies. His disappearance has also led to reports that Iran will retaliate by kidnapping American or Israeli officials in Europe.[7]

Spying

According to The Sunday Times, Asgari was recruited as a spy in 2003 during a business trip; however, it is not known what Western intelligence agency recruited him.[3] He decided to defect once it was suspected by the Iranian VEVAK that he was a mole.[3]

Disappearance

Asgari disappeared on February 7, 2007 in Istanbul, Turkey after flying in from Damascus, Syria. One report said that he had been in Syria to discuss production of military equipment, and his trip to Turkey was to meet with a European arms dealer.[8] This was challenged by Ziba Ahmadi, the wife Ali Reza Asghari, said her husband, who has five children, did not defect to Turkey and she believes evidence shows he was abducted. Asgari's wife said that Asgari flew to Istanbul on December 7 and disappeared on December 9.[9] She also said that "He [Asgari] was doing business in olive oil in Syria."[10]

Reports say that two other people had reserved a room for Asgari at the Ceylan Hotel in Istanbul for three nights, but that after arriving Asgari reserved a room at the cheaper Hotel Ghilan.[11][12] It is not clear if he ever checked into the hotel.[13]

Some Arab diplomats told the media that Asgari was kidnapped by the US CIA and or Israeli Mossad. On March 6, a top Iranian police chief confirmed that kidnapping was a possibility.[14]

Reports say that Iran sent several defense officials to Turkey to discuss the matter during the last week of February, and have also asked Interpol to investigate the case.[15] Because of claims that Israel was behind the disappearance, security was boosted for Israeli embassies and senior officials abroad.[16] On March 6 the Turkish Foreign Minister said that Turkey was conducting "an extremely broad investigation."[17]

According to the Islamic republic state-run newspaper "Iran", Asgari was captured by a joint team of Mossad and CIA and then tortured by them.[18] This claim of torture was denied by a source in the Iranian military, who said that the Iranians have no information on his current situation.[19] In an interview with Fars News, his daughter told that "I'm sure that United States and Israel have kidnapped him".[20]

Defection

The Israeli paper Haaretz first reported that Asgari may have defected.[15] This was echoed by a report in Asharq Alawsat, which stated that Asgari defected to the United States.[21] That same paper reported on March 7 that Asgari was being questioned in northern Europe (later identified as a NATO base in Germany)[3] before eventually being moved to the US.[22] However, a US intelligence official told The New York Post "We don't have him."[23]

Asgari was able to leave Turkey under a different passport.[24]

On March 8 The Washington Post said that Asgari is willingly cooperating with Western intelligence officials, and is providing information on Hezbollah and its Iranian connections.[25] Among other things, this includes information with regards to the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing.[26] Asgari also smuggled out intelligence documents and maps that detail Iranian involvement with Muslim militia groups, including Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad in Palestine, and the Iraqi Mahdi army and Badr Organization.[24] A US intelligence official said that his defection was "orchestrated by the Israelis", although Israeli spokesman Mark Regev has denied this.[25] The New York Post reported that an Iranian dissident group helped plan the defection and is negotiating with Western intelligence agencies for a "permanent place of exile".[27]

On March 12 the German Minister of Defense, Franz Josef Jung was asked about the disappearance during a visit to Ankara, Turkey. Jung's answer was "I cannot say anything on this issue."[28]

Family

Several sources say that some of Asgari's family left Iran before he defected, possibly under the guise of a vacation.[23][27] One article said that 10 close family members left, including two sons and a daughter.[3] This has been contradicted by Farda News, which said his wife and children were still in Tehran.[29] On March 12, Asgari's wife Ziba Ahmadi and daughter Elham lodged a complaint at the Turkish embassy in Tehran, saying that "He has not asked for political asylum and will never do."[10] On March 19 10 relatives including another wife Zahra Abdollahpour again gathered at the Turkish embassy, and said that "It was America and Israel who did it but... [the] Turkish government is responsible and they should inform us about his situation as soon as possible."[30]

In an interview on July 10 with the news agency Mehr, Ziba Ahmadi said that 90% of the evidence points towards Israel being responsible for her husband's disappearance, although she has not received any information on him.[31]

2007 Iranian seizure

Main article: 2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel

After 15 British navy personnel were seized by Iranian forces on March 23, 2007, some media reports suggested that the Iranian government wanted to trade them for Iranian personnel allegedly abducted, including Asgari.[32]

Follow-up Investigation

In April 2007, journalist Richard Miniter published an article detailing his own investigation in Turkey as to Asgari's disappearance. Miniter found that it is impossible to reserve a room at the Ceylan Hotel in cash (as was previously reported) and that no such "Hotel Ghilan" exists, although it may have been a mispronunciation of "Hotel Divan", just across the street from the Ceylan. Miniter spoke with Professor Hasan Koni of the American Studies program at Bahcesehir University, who said that senior Turkish generals were angry at not being told which ally had taken Asgari, and that the identity of this country was a hot debate among "military, intelligence, and police circles."[33]

Nuclear information

In early July 2007 the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported that Asgari told US interrogators that Iran is secretly attempting to enrich uranium with a combination of lasers and chemicals at a weapons facility in Natanz; this would act as a backup if the publicly known facilities and activies were stopped by sanctions or military strikes.[34]

Operation Orchard

On September 28 the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jareeda reported that Asgari provided information for the Israeli airstrike on September 6 in Syria, Operation Orchard;[35] this was confirmed by the intelligence group Stratfor, which reported that Asgari "gave Israel the intelligence on Syria’s missile program needed for the Syrian airstrike."[36]

Personal life

Ali Reza Asgari was born in Shiraz.[37] His age has been cited as 46,[9] 57, or 63.[37] Asgari is married to Ziba Ahmadi and Zahra Abdollahpour[30] and has five children.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Iran pursuing fate of former defense ministry official missing in Turkey", Islamic Republic News Agency, March 6, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  2. ^ "Iranian general's disappearance a mystery", UPI, March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Mahnaimi, Uzi. "Defector spied on Iran for years", The Sunday Times, March 11, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
  4. ^ "Report: Iranian general has info on Arad", The Jerusalem Post, March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
  5. ^ "The Vanishing Iranian General: Did He Leave or Was He Taken?", Debkafile, March 2, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
  6. ^ http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=8512160287
  7. ^ Mahnaimi, Uzi. "Iran to hit back at US ‘kidnaps’", The Sunday Times, March 18, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  8. ^ Zadeh, Ali Nouri. "Missing Iranian Minster Reportedly Cooperating with Western Intelligence", Asharq Alawsat, March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
  9. ^ a b c "Wife of missing former Iranian official urges authorities to investigate", International Herald Tribune, March 12, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  10. ^ a b "Missing Iranian official was kidnapped – relatives", SignOnSanDiego, March 12, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  11. ^ Dan, Oron. "TERROR-LINKED IRANIAN IN 'KIDNAP' PUZZLE", The New York Post, March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
  12. ^ "General vanishes; Mossad/CIA blamed", The Jerusalem Post, March 4, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
  13. ^ Butcher, Tim. "Spy's disappearance sparks kidnap fears", The Telegraph, March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
  14. ^ "Iran accuses West of kidnapping former senior official", People's Daily Online, March 6, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  15. ^ a b Stern, Yoav. "Iran intelligence official said missing, may have defected", Haaretz, March 5, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
  16. ^ Yehoshua, Yossi. "Israel boosts security around embassies abroad", Ynetnews, March 6, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  17. ^ "Ankara ‘delicately investigating’ Asghari’s disappearance", Today's Zaman, March 9, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2007.
  18. ^ http://www.iraninstitute.com/1385/851222/html/politic.htm#s675144
  19. ^ Zadeh, Ali Nouri. "Top al Quds Brigade Official Disappears in Iraq", Asharq Alawsat, March 14, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  20. ^ http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8512210191
  21. ^ "Report: Missing Iranian Defected To U.S.", The Post Chronicle, March 6, 2007. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  22. ^ "Report: Missing Iran general in Europe", The Jerusalem Post, March 7, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  23. ^ a b Lathem, Niles and Dan, Oron. "[http://www.nypost.com/seven/03072007/news/worldnews/iran_defector_worldnews_niles_lathem_and_oron_dan.htm Iran 'Defector' Top Nuke Gen. Flees to U.S.: Report]", The New York Post, March 7, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
  24. ^ a b Zadeh, Ali Nouri. "Missing Iranian Minister is Cooperating with Western Intelligence - Source", Asharq Alawsat, March 9, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  25. ^ a b Linzer, Dafna. "Former Iranian Defense Official Talks to Western Intelligence", The Washington Post, March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
  26. ^ Lathem, Niles and Dan, Oron. "SPILLING HIS GUTS", The New York Post, March 8, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2007.
  27. ^ a b Lathem, Niles. "Secret Network Helped Defector", The New York Post, March 9, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2007.
  28. ^ Arsu, Sebnem. "German aide adds intrigue in case of missing Iranian", International Herald Tribune, March 13, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2007.
  29. ^ Smyth, Gareth. "Mystery of former Iranian minister deepens", The Financial Times, March 11, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
  30. ^ a b "Wives blame Turkey for Iranian official's 'kidnap", SignOnSanDiego, March 19, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
  31. ^ Cohen, Dudi. "Iranian general's wife says Israel kidnapped him", Ynetnews, July 10, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
  32. ^ Panja, Tariq and Quinn, Jennifer. "Blair Warns Iran on 15 Seized Sailors". Forbes, March 25, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  33. ^ Miniter, Richard. "The General Vanishes", Pajamas Media, April 9, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2007.
  34. ^ Bergman, Ronen. "US closer to cracking Iran's nuclear secrets", Ynetnews, July 8, 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
  35. ^ "Report: Defecting Iranian official gave info before alleged Syrian foray". The Jerusalem Post. 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  36. ^ "Israel: Asghari Gave Syrian Intelligence". Stratfor. 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  37. ^ a b Dan, Oron. "'Moderate' on Hating US..", New York Post, March 11, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2007.
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