Thread by @HeshmatAlavi

(1)
Let’s talk about a very controversial development regarding #Iran.

Less than a week after the “Iran Action Group” formation, U.S. authorities are taking action targeting #IranianRegimeSpies inside mainland America.
justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/two…

(2)
“An indictment was returned today charging Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, 38, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, and Majid Ghorbani, 59, an Iranian citizen and resident of California, with allegedly acting on behalf of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran…”

(3)
“… by conducting covert surveillance of Israeli and Jewish facilities in the United States, and collecting identifying information about American citizens and U.S. nationals who are members of the group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).”

(4)
Considering the importance of this subject, a wide variety of media outlets are covering this developing story.
#IranianRegimeSpies

(5)
“Doostdar traveled to the US from Iran in order to collect intelligence information about entities & individuals considered by the government of Iran to be enemies of that regime, including Israeli & Jewish interests, & individuals associated w/ MEK”
freebeacon.com/national-secur…

(6)
“In one instance, the two met in Decmber 2017, and Doostdar paid Ghorbani about $2,000 for photographs -- some with captions describing the people featured in the images -- he had taken at the MEK event that September, the news release said.”
edition.cnn.com/2018/08/20/pol…

(7)
“Ghorbani also allegedly photographed attendees at a MEK-affiliated event in Washington, D.C., in May. Doostdar called Ghorbani 10 days later to discuss how to get the information gathered at the event back to Iran, according to the indictment.”
thehill.com/policy/interna…

(8)
This is also very interesting.
Ghorbani “can be seen lifting up his smartphone and pointing its lens at the speech, speaker, and/or attendees” during an MEK event.
documentcloud.org/documents/4777…

(9)
That same report, prepared by FBI Special Agent Mikel Weir, explains how Doostdar & Ghorbani received their orders from Iran & Doostdar has been briefed in Iran three times.

(10)
The report explains unusual activities by Doostdar:

(11)
Special Agent Wier explains how Doostdar had received special training:

(12)
More of such special training:

(13)
About Ghorbani:

(14)
Doostdar arriving in the U.S.:

(15)
More signs of special training for the two individuals:

(16)
The two men discussing the Iranian opposition MEK:

(17)
The two discussing both loopholes in security systems & how desperate Iran's regime is for any information about the MEK, even if incomplete:

(18)
"Ghorbani also informed Doostdar that he would be travelling to Iran on March 31, 2018, to conduct an in-person briefing."

(19)
The agents seeking sensitive information about the Iranian opposition MEK:

(20)
Further focus on the Iranian opposition MEK:

(21)
Upon returning to the U.S. from Iran, Ghorbani focuses again on the Iranian opposition MEK:

(22)
The report goes on to add Ghorbani's intention to attend further MEK events in Washington & Paris.

(23)
More use of huge amounts of money in cash ($16,000) and focusing again on the MEK:

(24)
Conclusion about Ghorbani & Doostdar receiving training from an "Iranian intelligence service."

(25)
And FBI Special Agent Mikel Wier's important conclusion:

(26) Looking into the name of Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, I realized his brother is Alireza Doostdar, Assistant Professor, Divinity School, University of Chicago, who is a signatory to this letter to @federicamogherini to save the #IranDeal.
opendemocracy.net/can-europe-mak…

(27)
Alireza Doostdar is the brother of Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar.

(28)
A @NIACouncil fundraiser held in New York back in April 2014, for which @tparsi especially thanked Fathali Ghahremani, (Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar’s uncle), one of the event organizers.

(29)
#Iran apologist/lobbyist @tparsi is also a signatory to this letter.

(30)
Rouzbeh Parsi (@rparsi), Trita’s brother, is also a signatory.

(31)
@NIACouncil had launched a “watch program” for the Iranian-American community long ago.

(32)
This link used to open a short while ago.
Mysteriously, it now leads to this:

(33)
“Doostdar and Ghorbani were charged with acting as agents of Iran, violating U.S. sanctions and conspiracy. The charges carry maximum statutory penalties of 10 years, 20 years and five years in prison, respectively.”
washingtonpost.com/local/public-s…

(34)
Back in May, I had reported about unconfirmed reports regarding the FBI raiding @NIACouncil offices. I emphasized then and now that those reports were unconfirmed.

(35)
@tparsi also quit @NIACouncil in May.

(36)
And let’s not forget how @tparsi & @NIACouncil enjoyed unprecedented access to the White House during the Obama years.
freebeacon.com/national-secur…

(37)
My instincts are telling me the FBI raid was real & @tparsi has been busy erasing his tracks ever since.
Yet, I emphasize again, this remains unconfirmed & I haven’t seen the FBI issue any public statement about such a raid.

(38)
Conclusion: Yours to make.
I know for sure that #Iran’s regime is in deep waters & the arrest of these two individuals is only the beginning.
#IranianRegimeSpies

Thank You for reading.
I always welcome constructive feedback.
Best!

(39)
ADDENDUM:
The court judge of this case has turned down Ghorbani's plea for release on bail & asked for 75 years behind bars for the defendant.
ir.voanews.com/a/us-iran-spy-…

(40)
ADDENDUM:
Images Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, the Iranian-American detained in the U.S. on charges of espionage.
He is the son Hossein Mohammadi-Doostdar, former head of Iran's "College Publications Center."

(41)
This issue definitely needs Washington's focus.

(42)
ADDENDUM:
Susan Ghahremani Ghajar, said to be a language professor of Al-Zahra University, is the mother of Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar.
She's seen here attending a 2016 session chaired by @khamenei_ir.
No outside of the regime's ring is allowed into such events.