[ April 19, 2024 ]
This is the “gold standard” of American journalism.
New York Times opinion writer arrested as alleged Iran agent, accused of writing ‘propaganda’ pieces
By: Annaliese Levy, Sara Carter, Jan 28, 2021
A New York Times opinion writer was arrested and charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Iranian government last week, The Algemeiner reported.
Story continues below advertisementKaveh Afrasiabi, a former political science professor and former adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiation team, has been accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, “Afrasiabi allegedly sought to influence the American public and American policymakers for the benefit of his employer, the Iranian government, by disguising propaganda as objective policy analysis and expertise,” Acting U.S. Attorney DuCharme said.
The press release states that Afrasiabi has a PhD and frequently publishes books and articles. He also appears on American television programs discussing foreign relations matters, particularly Iran’s relations with the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office now accuses him of pushing propaganda.
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Afrasiabi was allegedly paid, directed and controlled by the Government of Iran to lobby U.S. government officials and to create and disseminate information favorable to the Iranian government for over a decade.
“For over a decade, Kaveh Afrasiabi pitched himself to Congress, journalists, and the American public as a neutral and objective expert on Iran,” stated Assistant Attorney General Demers.
“However, all the while, Afrasiabi was actually a secret employee of the Government of Iran and the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations (IMUN) who was being paid to spread their propaganda. In doing so, he intentionally avoided registering with Department of Justice as the Foreign Agents Registration Act required.”
The Times published an opinion article co-written by Afrasiabi in 2018 that called for a meeting between former President Trump and President Hassan Rouhani of Iran.
“Mr. Trump and Mr. Rouhani should listen to reason and take the opportunity this month to sit down for a face-to-face conversation. It would be the truly bold thing to do,” the article states.
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In 2012, The Times published an article by Afrasiabi which claimed world leaders gathering in Tehran for a summit would “elevate Iran as the movement’s new president for three years and enhance Tehran’s regional and international clout” but “unfortunately, the United States … adopted a purely negative approach toward the Tehran summit.”
In a statement to The Algemeiner, Afrasiabi called the government’s claim that he was a secret Iranian agent “absurd” and “wild.”
“Whatever I did was perfectly legal and fully transparent,” Afrasiabi said.
“My conscience is clear, and if the U.S. government had an iota of sense of appreciation, they would thank me for all my tireless activities for the cause of detente, non-proliferation, human rights, inter-religious dialogue and understanding.”
Afrasiabi acknowledged that he was paid by the Iranian mission at the United Nations.
“I received checks from the Mission’s UN account and it never occurred to me that I was doing anything illegal,” he said.
Afrasiabi said that he was not lobbying America on behalf of Iran, but rather lobbying Iran on behalf of America.
Afrasiabi was ordered released Friday, on the condition that he have no contact with any known, current, or former members of the Iranian government unless in the presence of his lawyer. He was also required to post a $250,000 unsecured bond, and family members posted an additional $325,000 in unsecured bonds.
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29 Comments
3 years ago
This is not nearly as alarming as the fact that for the eight years during which the Marxist, Kenyan, America-hating, terrorist-worshipping, anti-Semitic Obamatollah turd pile defiled the White House, he had a spy and paid wh0re of the genocidal towelheads in Tehran embedded inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Fatima Jarrett.
3 years ago
What about Mehdi Hassan and Reza Aslan? At least one of them (if not both) is on the board of NIAC which is an arm of the Iranian gov’t seeking to influence US citizens and spread lies/propaganda against America.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, what about the 31 plus Muslim Brotherhood groups who are trying to destroy the US from within? It’s good to see some of these foreign enemy agents are being caught, but there’s millions more where that came from.
3 years ago
What about Mehdi Hassan and Reza Aslan? At least one of them (if not both) is on the board of NIAC which is an arm of the Iranian gov’t seeking to influence US citizens and spread lies/propaganda against America.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, what about the 31 plus Muslim Brotherhood groups who are trying to destroy the US from within? It’s good to see some of these foreign enemy agents are being caught, but there’s millions more where that came from.
3 years ago
What about Mehdi Hassan and Reza Aslan? At least one of them (if not both) is on the board of NIAC which is an arm of the Iranian gov’t seeking to influence US citizens and spread lies/propaganda against America.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, what about the 31 plus Muslim Brotherhood groups who are trying to destroy the US from within? It’s good to see some of these foreign enemy agents are being caught, but there’s millions more where that came from.
3 years ago
This guy has to be wondering how the DOJ/FBI overlooks 37 other cases by democrats but somehow singles him out.
3 years ago
He will be let off, be given compensation and nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize
3 years ago
A leftist spy has been arrested in USA ?
3 years ago
A leftist spy has been arrested in USA ?
3 years ago
In other words, a US democrat.
3 years ago
GOOGLE LLC, US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SETTLEMENT RESOLVES ALLEGED PAY, HIRING DISCRIMINATION AT CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON STATE LOCATIONS
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/ofccp/ofccp20210201
3 years ago
Does he still get his 72 holy hookers or is that on hold now?
3 years ago
So… Is this how Joe is even tougher on Iran?
That said, the parts that are quoted in this post, look more like someone who wants the two nations to come to some middle ground. But with an extortionist ru(i)ning the USA now, those fines explain it all.
3 years ago
I thought that all NYT editors and writers were foreign enemy agents. Sure as day turns to night none of them are supporters of the Constitutional Republic!
3 years ago
A paid enemy propagandist never imagined he was doing anything illegal. Hee hee.
3 years ago
So, there really is no problem with him disseminating propaganda damaging to the United States on behalf of Iran, a foreign enemy nation, the real problem is that he didn’t fill out and file a piece of paper to inform the government that he was doing that. Ok.
So, if he registered, there would have been no problem, I guess???? So, all the other America-haters at the New York Times are ok, as long as they send in the form.
3 years ago
What’s the big deal? 90% of the media could be arrested for the same thing. This is now common and accepted practice throughout the world. Lie first and ask no questions and accept no truth. Propaganda is now the new truth.
3 years ago
Look for the charges to be quietly dropped in a week or so.
3 years ago
What dd you expect of the hiring practices of the NYT? After all, the NY Times prints all the news fit to twist (or distort). The WAPO is no better than the NYT.
Get used to this. Biden and the Dems just love the Iranians. Turks too.
3 years ago
Surprised he wasn’t given a fffkking medal by slo joe and his camel toed hooker vp!!
3 years ago
hang the bastard.
3 years ago
Aren’t all of them propaganda writers? Pam, when I joined, you asked me to like you on Facebook. DROP that media. I do not nor will I ever use tools of the enemy. Love your site, I’ll promote it on every other site but I won’t be a cuck for Zuck.
3 years ago
He was released with unsecured bail. Sounds like a bail out to me.
3 years ago
Gone. Zip. Vanished. Back to Iran. Go get him now.
3 years ago
THE NYT is the Iron Pyrite standard of American “journalism”
