By Published On: October 25, 2023Categories: NEWS
Vali Nasr, a prominent figure within the U.S. government and a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, has been an influential voice in American foreign policy for many years.

Vali Nasr, a prominent figure within the U.S. government and a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, has been an influential voice in American foreign policy for many years.

 

Serving on the U.S. Department’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board and as a senior advisor to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, his recommendations have reached the ears of several Secretaries of State.

However, new findings indicate a deeper involvement of Nasr with Iran’s regime, one that has raised eyebrows in political and policy circles. The exposure of the Iran Experts Initiative (IEI) has revealed efforts by Iranian Foreign Ministry officials, since 2014, to enhance Tehran’s global image and stance on security matters, especially its nuclear program. The initiative’s goal was to build ties with influential foreign academics and researchers.

Nasr’s connection to the Iranian regime is now under intense scrutiny. Records suggest that his recruitment within the U.S. State Department was influenced by his connections with notable figures in the Iranian clerical regime.

 

Translation of a tweet from Hasan Jaberi Ansari, then-FM spokesperson under Hasan Rouhani: “Like other countries, Iran needs both national heroes on the battlefield, such as the martyr Commander Soleimani, and national politicians and diplomats like Mohammad Javad Zarif. While immersed in extremist dichotomies and political games played by Iran’s enemies, let us not sacrifice this undeniable historical fact and the interests of the country through our negligence”

Translation of a tweet from Hasan Jaberi Ansari, then-FM spokesperson under Hasan Rouhani: “Like other countries, Iran needs both national heroes on the battlefield, such as the martyr Commander Soleimani, and national politicians and diplomats like Mohammad Javad Zarif. While immersed in extremist dichotomies and political games played by Iran’s enemies, let us not sacrifice this undeniable historical fact and the interests of the country through our negligence”

 

A 2009 article from the state-run Donyaye Eqtesad praised Nasr for his deep knowledge of the region. Moreover, the Tabnak website, run by the ex-IRGC Chief Mohsen Rezaee, highlighted Nasr’s visit to Tehran to discuss the release of American hostage Roxana Saberi. This article outlined connections between Iranian high-ranking officials, Haddad Adel and Larijani, and Nasr’s family, tracing back to their association with the late Ayatollah Motahari.

The narrative deepens with Gholamali Haddad Adel and Ali Larijani, both of whom have held significant roles in Iran’s government, being pegged as reliable negotiators by Fararu, a state-run website. Nasr’s trustworthiness to the Iranian side is attributed not only to his familial ties but also to his close connections with revolutionary figures in Iran.

 

 

 

Nasr’s influence isn’t confined to political corridors. His writings for prestigious publications such as Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy Magazine consistently align with Iran’s strategic interests.

Another intriguing aspect of Nasr’s career is his consistent opposition to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its primary component, the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK). With the Iranian regime striving to discredit the NCRI and MEK, Nasr’s stance seems to resonate with Tehran’s.

Post the 2003 Iraq invasion, Nasr advocated for engagement with the Iranian regime concerning the MEK. In various interviews with reputable media outlets like PBS, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsweek, and the Wall Street Journal, Nasr portrayed MEK in a negative light and even termed it a “small price to pay” for improved U.S.-Iran relations.

 

 

 

This revelation about Nasr’s possible dual role and his views on key policy matters begs the question: To what extent are so-called experts influencing policy decisions, and are their recommendations genuinely unbiased?

 

 


MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her siteTwitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu

 

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