LATEST: Civil Rights Activist Tabarzadi Arrested

Iran’s regime has stepped up its attacks on the US over Iraq and Syria, claiming that American bombing of the Islamic State is merely a “political stunt”.

Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani (pictured), picking up weeks of derision of the US by the Supreme Leader and the Iranian military, said after meetings in Pakistan on Friday, “The coalition formed under the US leadership to fight the Islamic State is a propaganda campaign.”

Larijani repeated the regime line that Washington had helped create the Islamic State “to serve US and Israeli interests”.

The Iranians have been increasingly concerned about the US involvement in the region since the American aerial intervention against the Islamic State began in Iraq in early August and expanded to Syria in September. Tehran may also be lashing out because of the failure to complete a comprehensive nuclear agreement two weeks ago.

However, Larijani’s latest assault was somewhat undercut when he was caught out in a propaganda lie. The Speaker insisted, despite video evidence, that Iran had not pursued aerial operations against the Islamic State in eastern Iraq: “Iran has carried out no airstrikes either directly or in collaboration with others because it regards this course as wrong.”

However, in Tehran, Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Rahimpour was acknowledging Iran’s attacks, supporting ground operations to reclaim territory from the Islamic State:

[This was] the defence of the interests of our friends in Iraq….

We will not allow conditions in Iraq to descend to the level of Syria, which has been created by foreign players. And certainly our assistance is stronger than our assistance to Syria, because they are nearer to us.


Civil Rights Activist Tabarzadi Arrested

Civil and animal rights activist Ali Tabarzadi was arrested on Thursday in Tehran.

Friends and family of Tabarzadi said at least 10 judiciary and intelligence agents raided his home at 2 am. They did not say what charges had been filed against the activists.

Tabarzadi’s family said that he had organized a demonstration in support of animal rights, due to take place on Friday.

The activist is the son of well-known detainee Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, who is serving an eight-year sentence for his political activities. He condemned the arrest of his son in a text message from prison:

Once again the savage servants of Khamenei [the Supreme Leader]…raided my house, terrorizing my family and looting my belongings. They captured Ali. This is the first time they have arrested Ali.

Khamenei should know that if he does not release Ali immediately and not apologize to my family, he will be held responsible for our loss.