THREAD
1)
Why are @JZarif & #Iran’s lobby @NIACouncil so concerned about an Iranian scientist in U.S. custody?
Is this a simple case of a humanitarian emergency?
Or is there a far more important reason behind all this brouhaha?
1)
Why are @JZarif & #Iran’s lobby @NIACouncil so concerned about an Iranian scientist in U.S. custody?
Is this a simple case of a humanitarian emergency?
Or is there a far more important reason behind all this brouhaha?
2)
The story begins in 2011 when Dr. Sirous Asgari, a materials science and engineering professor, travels to the U.S. with a B2 (tourism) visa seeking to supposedly see his children in New York, Florida, Los Angeles and Pennsylvania.
The story begins in 2011 when Dr. Sirous Asgari, a materials science and engineering professor, travels to the U.S. with a B2 (tourism) visa seeking to supposedly see his children in New York, Florida, Los Angeles and Pennsylvania.
3)
Asgari is a professor at the Department of Engineering and Material Science in Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology. His field of work is quite important for the regime in Iran to advance their nuclear and ballistic missile industries.
sharif.edu/~sasgari//
Asgari is a professor at the Department of Engineering and Material Science in Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology. His field of work is quite important for the regime in Iran to advance their nuclear and ballistic missile industries.
sharif.edu/~sasgari//
4)
Sharif University of Technology plays an important role in Iran’s controversial nuclear & ballistic missile programs.
-ncr-iran.org/en/news/role-o…
-reuters.com/article/us-ira…
-isis-online.org/uploads/isis-r…
-israeldefense.co.il/en/node/28582
Sharif University of Technology plays an important role in Iran’s controversial nuclear & ballistic missile programs.
-ncr-iran.org/en/news/role-o…
-reuters.com/article/us-ira…
-isis-online.org/uploads/isis-r…
-israeldefense.co.il/en/node/28582
5)
It is worth noting that this took place during the Obama era, during which “the Obama admin granted citizenship to 2,500 Iranians, including family members of government officials, while negotiating the Iran nuclear deal” & God knows how many visas.
foxnews.com/politics/obama…
It is worth noting that this took place during the Obama era, during which “the Obama admin granted citizenship to 2,500 Iranians, including family members of government officials, while negotiating the Iran nuclear deal” & God knows how many visas.
foxnews.com/politics/obama…
6)
In his 2011 trip to the U.S., despite his announced destinations, Asgari goes to Ohio to meet Iranian professor Pirouz Pirouz in CWR University. In 2012, Asgari asks Pirouz for an invitation & a recommendation letter from CWRU. He later provides the letters to Sharif Univ.
In his 2011 trip to the U.S., despite his announced destinations, Asgari goes to Ohio to meet Iranian professor Pirouz Pirouz in CWR University. In 2012, Asgari asks Pirouz for an invitation & a recommendation letter from CWRU. He later provides the letters to Sharif Univ.
7)
“… Asgari came to Cleveland & did research at the Swagelok Center after having earlier worked at the Center with a research colleague, Dr. Pirouz: ‘Asgari came to [Case Western] on at least one other instance in 2011 or 2012...’”
casetext.com/case/united-st…
“… Asgari came to Cleveland & did research at the Swagelok Center after having earlier worked at the Center with a research colleague, Dr. Pirouz: ‘Asgari came to [Case Western] on at least one other instance in 2011 or 2012...’”
casetext.com/case/united-st…
8)
In an email Pirouz tells Asgari he needs a J1 visa to conduct research in the U.S. He sends Asgari the form & email necessary for this visa. The difference between a B2 & J1 visa is that B2 visas do not allow an individual to work, conduct research or even get a temporary job.
In an email Pirouz tells Asgari he needs a J1 visa to conduct research in the U.S. He sends Asgari the form & email necessary for this visa. The difference between a B2 & J1 visa is that B2 visas do not allow an individual to work, conduct research or even get a temporary job.
9)
Following approval from Sharif University, Asgari files for a B1/B2 visa & states his son’s New York homes as his residence in the State Dept. form. He claims his visit will last three months but says nothing about his profession.
Following approval from Sharif University, Asgari files for a B1/B2 visa & states his son’s New York homes as his residence in the State Dept. form. He claims his visit will last three months but says nothing about his profession.
10)
Asgari obtains a B2 visa. Six days after entering the U.S. he goes to CWRU, conducts an interview & signs an agreement to not disclose the University’s secrets. He then begins to work on a U.S. Navy-funded project.
However, 👇
Asgari obtains a B2 visa. Six days after entering the U.S. he goes to CWRU, conducts an interview & signs an agreement to not disclose the University’s secrets. He then begins to work on a U.S. Navy-funded project.
However, 👇
11)
Asgari emailed his Sharif University students, transferring information that CWR University believed were business secrets. He apparently even took a lab test sample back to Iran. The secrets were also used in a petrochemical proposal in Iran.
Asgari emailed his Sharif University students, transferring information that CWR University believed were business secrets. He apparently even took a lab test sample back to Iran. The secrets were also used in a petrochemical proposal in Iran.
12)
FBI’s perspective: They probably became suspicious of Asgari in 2012. They investigated & obtained search warrants in 2013 & 2015, pursuing the case forward. In 2017 the U.S. government registers its complaint & accuses Asgari in 2018.
FBI’s perspective: They probably became suspicious of Asgari in 2012. They investigated & obtained search warrants in 2013 & 2015, pursuing the case forward. In 2017 the U.S. government registers its complaint & accuses Asgari in 2018.
13)
Asgari claims all the info sent to his students were publicly available. The U.S. gov says the entire process carried out in that center was not registered as an article or a patented invention. The court agrees with Asgari’s claims while an appeals court rejects them.
Asgari claims all the info sent to his students were publicly available. The U.S. gov says the entire process carried out in that center was not registered as an article or a patented invention. The court agrees with Asgari’s claims while an appeals court rejects them.
14)
Asgari claims the affidavit used to obtain the 2013 search warrant has errors & his possible crime is not mentioned. Asgari adds his crime is “being an Iranian citizen” & requests the evidence used to obtain the search warrants (e.g. his emails) be ruled not permissible.
Asgari claims the affidavit used to obtain the 2013 search warrant has errors & his possible crime is not mentioned. Asgari adds his crime is “being an Iranian citizen” & requests the evidence used to obtain the search warrants (e.g. his emails) be ruled not permissible.
15)
The judge first finds a few peculiar errors in the affidavit, but an appeals court considers all the errors as insignificant in due process and rules the evidence as permissible based on the “Leon Exception,” or the “good faith exception.”
The judge first finds a few peculiar errors in the affidavit, but an appeals court considers all the errors as insignificant in due process and rules the evidence as permissible based on the “Leon Exception,” or the “good faith exception.”
16)
Asgari requests court session to be held without a jury, claiming the American people have a biased opinion about Iranian citizens. The court turns down his request. It is interesting that Asgari makes the same request a year later, only to be turned down again.
Asgari requests court session to be held without a jury, claiming the American people have a biased opinion about Iranian citizens. The court turns down his request. It is interesting that Asgari makes the same request a year later, only to be turned down again.
17)
In 2018, while waiting for the Ohio court ruling, Asgari is released based on his request & placed under certain restrictions. He asks to go to New York to live with his son & have all restrictions lifted, claiming life in Ohio is very expensive.
In 2018, while waiting for the Ohio court ruling, Asgari is released based on his request & placed under certain restrictions. He asks to go to New York to live with his son & have all restrictions lifted, claiming life in Ohio is very expensive.
18)
The government turns down all these requests, saying, for example, Asgari himself asked to be released & chose a $2,200/month apartment. Now he was using his conditions to file a complaint of his circumstances in order to seek transfer to New York.
The government turns down all these requests, saying, for example, Asgari himself asked to be released & chose a $2,200/month apartment. Now he was using his conditions to file a complaint of his circumstances in order to seek transfer to New York.
19)
The court agrees with his transfer to New York. Asgari then requests to be transferred to California to live with his daughter, claiming living with his son & his girlfriend in a small apartment is difficult. The court green lights this request, too.
The court agrees with his transfer to New York. Asgari then requests to be transferred to California to live with his daughter, claiming living with his son & his girlfriend in a small apartment is difficult. The court green lights this request, too.
20)
The court rules in Asgari’s favor in Nov 2019. However, ICE arrested and takes him into custody due to the fact that his visa had been revoked. Asgari remains in custody as we speak.
The court rules in Asgari’s favor in Nov 2019. However, ICE arrested and takes him into custody due to the fact that his visa had been revoked. Asgari remains in custody as we speak.
21)
During this process Asgari officially had three U.S. attorneys. However, his interview with the Guardian was with the help of Mehrnoush Yazdanyar, an OFAC lawyer. It appears Yazdanyar has close ties with Iran’s U.S.-based lobby NIAC through Assal Rad.
events.kodoom.com/en/san-diego-c…
During this process Asgari officially had three U.S. attorneys. However, his interview with the Guardian was with the help of Mehrnoush Yazdanyar, an OFAC lawyer. It appears Yazdanyar has close ties with Iran’s U.S.-based lobby NIAC through Assal Rad.
events.kodoom.com/en/san-diego-c…
22)
Asgari once called the Guardian from inside prison to state his complaints. He was interviewed again by the Guardian on April 28, saying he is COVID-19 positive & will die if not taken to a hospital.
Asgari once called the Guardian from inside prison to state his complaints. He was interviewed again by the Guardian on April 28, saying he is COVID-19 positive & will die if not taken to a hospital.
23)
Both interviews were with the same reporter who has pushed Iran’s talking points about U.S. sanctions depriving the Iranian people. It is interesting that this reporter has acquaintances with Yazdanyar & Rad.
Both interviews were with the same reporter who has pushed Iran’s talking points about U.S. sanctions depriving the Iranian people. It is interesting that this reporter has acquaintances with Yazdanyar & Rad.
24)
In an interview Asgari’s wife accused the U.S. of having a political objective in this ordeal.
Iran’s Minister of Sciences called on Iranian scientists to not travel to the U.S.
Zarif has also voiced concerns about Asgari’s conditions.
In an interview Asgari’s wife accused the U.S. of having a political objective in this ordeal.
Iran’s Minister of Sciences called on Iranian scientists to not travel to the U.S.
Zarif has also voiced concerns about Asgari’s conditions.
25)
-Is this an ordinary individual?
-If so, why is he so important for Iran?
-Why are the regime’s ministers so concerned about him?
-What caused BBC Persian & Iran’s state media to become so active in his case?
-Why did NIAC launch a podcast about him & issued a statement?
-Is this an ordinary individual?
-If so, why is he so important for Iran?
-Why are the regime’s ministers so concerned about him?
-What caused BBC Persian & Iran’s state media to become so active in his case?
-Why did NIAC launch a podcast about him & issued a statement?
26)
-Why just six days after arriving in the U.S. did he go to Ohio/CWRU & begin his collaboration while saying nothing to the State Dept.?
-Despite his measures being very suspicious & sensitive?
-Why did he specifically choose Yazdanyar as a lawyer?
-Why all the propaganda?
-Why just six days after arriving in the U.S. did he go to Ohio/CWRU & begin his collaboration while saying nothing to the State Dept.?
-Despite his measures being very suspicious & sensitive?
-Why did he specifically choose Yazdanyar as a lawyer?
-Why all the propaganda?
27)
-Iran’s senior officials being involved shows the regime’s concerns of about its operatives in U.S. custody.
-Asgari is linked to Iran’s military programs (nuclear and ballistic), and the regime intends to steal American technology under the cover of scientific research.
-Iran’s senior officials being involved shows the regime’s concerns of about its operatives in U.S. custody.
-Asgari is linked to Iran’s military programs (nuclear and ballistic), and the regime intends to steal American technology under the cover of scientific research.
28)
NIAC has a history of supposedly rushing to the support of Iranian nationals who actually happened to be closely linked to the mullahs’ regime in Iran.
Thread
NIAC has a history of supposedly rushing to the support of Iranian nationals who actually happened to be closely linked to the mullahs’ regime in Iran.
Thread
29)
NIAC founder @tparsi enjoyed unprecedented access to the White House (most likely through Ben Rhodes) prior to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
“Former Iranian Official, Pro-Tehran Lobbyist Hosted at Obama White House Dozens of Times”
freebeacon.com/national-secur…
NIAC founder @tparsi enjoyed unprecedented access to the White House (most likely through Ben Rhodes) prior to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
“Former Iranian Official, Pro-Tehran Lobbyist Hosted at Obama White House Dozens of Times”
freebeacon.com/national-secur…
30)
Congressional leaders have petitioned the Trump administration to investigate NIAC that has long faced accusations of acting as Tehran’s unregistered mouthpiece in America.
freebeacon.com/national-secur…
Congressional leaders have petitioned the Trump administration to investigate NIAC that has long faced accusations of acting as Tehran’s unregistered mouthpiece in America.
freebeacon.com/national-secur…
31)
For those interested, this thread sheds light on the dangerous influence NIAC has established in the United States.
For those interested, this thread sheds light on the dangerous influence NIAC has established in the United States.
33)
ADDENDUM
#Iran apologists/lobbyists across the board voice concerns about Asgari. This should indicate his high value for the regime in Iran & that he is no ordinary Iranian. He has knowledge about the regime's nuclear & ballistic missile programs.
@StateDept
ADDENDUM
#Iran apologists/lobbyists across the board voice concerns about Asgari. This should indicate his high value for the regime in Iran & that he is no ordinary Iranian. He has knowledge about the regime's nuclear & ballistic missile programs.
@StateDept
