Centrist website accuses 'The New York Gang' of fueling tensions in Iran
Contributor
Recent statements and campaigns by some Iranian hardliners to influence foreign and domestic policies have sparked anger even among centrists and conservatives within the Islamic Republic's political establishment.
A few of these hardliners, who were born or lived in the United States, have become a particular focus of criticism. Entekhab, a leading centrist news website in Iran, reported on Tuesday that several hardliners with US ties—whether born, raised, or having resided there—are promoting radical ideas in foreign policy. The paper regarded this as a strange phenomenon that people who benefited from education or experience in the US are now promoting policies that could increase Iran's isolation.
The website featured images of several individuals with similar backgrounds, including political commentators Foad Izadi and Mohammad Marandi, as well as former Paydari Party leader Morteza Aqa-Tehrani. It further alleged that "all of these hardline figures support ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili."
Entekhab quoted Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the former head of the Iranian parliament's Foreign Relations and National Security Committee, criticizing Iranian ultraconservative academic Foad Izadi. Falahatpisheh remarked, "Izadi grew up, attended school, and lived in the United States for several decades. Yet, upon returning to Iran, he was appointed as a university faculty member and introduced on state television as a political expert on the United States. In all the programs he has participated in, he has done nothing but promote international tensions. Isn't there something wrong here?"
According to Entekhab, Izadi is a member of the ultraconservative Paydari Party. "Yet, he is not the only Iranian hardliner who grew up in the United States and lived there for some time."
Just last week, Mohammad Marandi, a vocal critic of Iran's nuclear agreement with the United States and other world powers, sparked controversy by suggesting that Iran might target Qatar, and a major US military base located there. Marandi, who frequently appears on Iranian state television and international channels to voice his anti-US rhetoric, raised the threat in an X post about a potential US attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He wrote: “Slight problem. The US Al Udeid air base is in tiny Qatar. In case of aggression, the natural gas facilities and infrastructure in Qatar will be totally destroyed. Hence, there will be no natural gas from Doha. Hence, there will be no Qatar. Things won’t end there either…”
According to Rouydad24 news website in Tehran, Mohammad Marandi was born in the US in 1966 form an Iranian father and an American mother. He is the son of Alireza Marandi who is Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's family doctor. When he first came to Iran after his father was appointed health minister, he was only 13. He was part of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team in Vienna in 2021-2022.
Hardline cleric Morteza Aqa-Tehrani, who has denied holding US citizenship, acknowledged to the press that he possesses a green card, having lived in the United States for many years while serving as the Imam of an Iranian mosque in New York. Notably, Iran's parliament did not address his US residency status when enacting a law that prohibits US citizens and permanent residence permit holders from holding key positions in Iran.
Nonetheless, Mohammad Mohajeri, a former editor of hardline daily Kayhan pointed out that it was because of his US citizenship that Aqa-Tehrani was forced to step down from his position as the leader of the ultraconservative Paydari Party.
Entekhab wrote: "While the hardliners label former Foreign Minister Zarif and his aides as 'the New York Gang,' it seems these ultraconservative figures are the true members of that gang." The website also criticized Mohammad Marandi for his unrealistic claims that Europe would capitulate to Iran's demands during the "hard winter" of 2022 due to a need for Iranian natural gas. In reality, not only did Iran lack gas to supply Europe, but it was forced to purchase gas from Turkmenistan and struggled to pay for it. Marandi used the argument to persuade others that there was no need to make a nuclear deal in mid-2022 and Tehran could wait for the West to capitulate.
The website also charged that "Marandi and his hard winter theory were the main reason why Iran was not able to conclude successful negotiations with the West over its nuclear program."
