Iran: Foreigners Conducting "Psychological Warfare"

By: Daniel Carty
Topics: Iran

(AP Photo)

Iran claimed that several foreigners who conducted "psychological warfare" against the government were arrested during last month's renewed opposition protests, according to a Reuters report Monday.

The late-December clashes between reformists and Iranian security forces were the bloodiest since the protests following June's highly controversial presidential election – one opposition supporters say was rigged in favor of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinedad.

Eight people, including opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi's nephew, died in the violence Dec. 27. More than 40 pro-reform figures have been arrested.

According to the report, Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslehi told state television that "several foreigners … were leading a psychological war against the system" and had been arrested.

Moslehi didn't indicate the nationalities of the foreigners, but said their cases would be handed over to the judiciary by Wednesday.

The battle between the two sides has become increasingly bitter. Pro-government hardliners have called for the execution of Mousavi and other opposition leaders. And an unknown group posted a message online indicating suicide squads would assassinate reformist leaders if the government failed to prosecute them.

Mousavi, in response to the threats, said in a statement he was "not afraid to be one of the martyrs people have offered in the struggle for their just demands."

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by YoureSoWrong18 January 4, 2010 2:49 PM EST: "Thinking" is what the Iranian regime calls "psychological warfare." Not to worry: those who support police states are immune to this.; Reply to this comment

by thesevenveils January 4, 2010 1:35 PM EST

Iran's tyrant supreme leader is quick to blame anything but himself for Iran's citizens who wish only to have the basic freedoms that they had even under the Shah's rule.

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by jwesel1 January 5, 2010 2:55 PM EST: who wish only to have the basic freedoms that they had even under the Shah's rule.
=====================================================================
Here is an article from Wikipedia that describe the activities of Shah's secret police.

In 2000, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright stated:

"In 1953 the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular Prime Minister, Mohammed Massadegh. The Eisenhower Administration believed its actions were justified for strategic reasons; but the coup was clearly a setback for Iran's political development. And it is easy to see now why many Iranians continue to resent this intervention by America in their internal affairs."[3]

Various controversial policies were enacted, including the banning of the Tudeh Party and a general suppression of political dissent by Iran's intelligence agency, SAVAK. Amnesty International reported that Iran had as many as 2,200 political prisoners in 1978. By 1979, political unrest had transformed into a revolution which, on 16 January forced the Shah to leave Iran after 37 years of rule. Soon thereafter, the revolutionary forces transformed the government into an Islamic republic.


by maddog0802 January 4, 2010 1:21 PM EST: the Iranian people as a whole are much more educated than people in the U.S. think. And as an educated people, hopefully the resistance movement will pick up more steam and overthrow the repressive theocracy. Call me wrong, but I have a hunch that lots of Iranians see the freedom the Iraqis now enjoy, and want the same thing. Anyway let's hope so, for everybody's sake.; Reply to this comment


by YoureSoWrong18 January 4, 2010 12:05 PM EST: Nothing as severe as Jihad and its supporters are doing on the internet.; Reply to this comment

by mary-miami January 4, 2010 11:41 AM EST

They don't like it when people go there spreading civilized ideas...I don't like it when they come to the U.S. enter a public place, like say, a library...wearing a burqua...How do we know they're not going to blow themselves up? It's a scary thing to see. If they want to practice freedom of religion, they should do it in their home or temple.

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by AOCGUY January 4, 2010 1:53 PM EST: Mary - Your comment is very disturbing. How would you like it if you were told you could only practice freedom of religion in your home or what you could and could not wear? How do the rest of us know that your not packing heat in your big ol dress? As near as I can tell you are just like the Iranians you are coplaining about.

by DaVicar8 January 4, 2010 11:08 AM EST

So what...is Iran now like declaring war on psychological?

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by I_am_me1953 January 4, 2010 12:53 PM EST: No, actually they have given a really big misnomer here.

To have a psychological war one must assume all parties have brains.

It is evident that Iran's armadidajohn doesn't have a brain nor do many of the iranians.

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