Opposition Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iranian Regime Is a Soviet Product

Iranian anti-regime protests. (AFP)
Iranian anti-regime protests. (AFP)
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Opposition Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iranian Regime Is a Soviet Product

Iranian anti-regime protests. (AFP)
Iranian anti-regime protests. (AFP)

The US Congress described the National Iranian Congress (NIC) as the most influential opposition group in the country. Its founder, Amir-Abbas Fakhravar, has been in opposition to the regime since he was a student and he has been thrown in jail 19 times for his views. His torture in prison has not deterred him from pursuing his mission to expose the regime as a Russian product that only seeks to expand in the region at the expense of the Iranian people. In 2006, Fakhravar managed to flee to the US where he established contacts with senior officials.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that former US President Barack Obama betrayed the Iranians, the Middle East and the whole world. Had it not been for him, the current regime would have collapsed. Fakhravar, 42, is currently close to the administration of President Donald Trump and he makes frequent visits to Congress to inform them of the real developments inside Iran.

Fakhravar first came at odds with the Iranian regime when he delivered a speech when he was a student of 16 years, asking: “Why doesn’t the regime benefit from the talents of the new generation to fix the country’s problems?” That question landed him eight months of solitary confinement in a prison in northwestern Iran. There, he mocked the supreme leader, saying: “Contrary to what he claims, I do not believe we have freedom in this country.” This landed him another prison sentence where he came under severe torture.

In 1999, he released a book, “The Greenest Eyes on Earth,” that earned him international fame. This, in turn, earned him an eight-year term in jail. He never finished the sentence and instead managed to escape to the US, where he later released another book, “Comrade Ayatollah.”

In the book, he highlights the role played by the Soviet Union in the Iranian revolution and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s eventual ascension to power. Over three million copies of the publication were sold in the black market in Iran. The book includes hundreds of documents that reveal that Iran’s mullahs are not spiritual leaders, but in fact Soviet agents of the KGB intelligence agency. They received training in Moscow in the 1960s and 70s and the book includes documents to verify these assertions.

“I obtained the documents from the KJB archive, as well as the CIA and Israeli Mossad and even the Iranian intelligence itself. I did not use a single Iranian opposition document,” Fakhravar told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“After the book was released, several Khamenei supporters, Basij and Iranian Revolutionary Guards members contacted me to thank me for opening their eyes because they believed the regime was holy,” he added.

The recent anti-regime protests have demonstrated the weakness of the regime, he said, while stressing that the demonstrations are still ongoing.

He also asserted that Khamenei and his family had fled to Russia, to which Russian officials said that he was currently in Turkey.

Several hundred other senior Iranian officials have also fled the country, stated Fakhravar.

How can a regime claim to be so stable when something as simple as a social media call for protest could make it falter? he asked.

The opposition figure said that his movement had worked from as far back as 1999 to try to achieve change in Iran. Despite the failure of demonstrations in 1999 and 2009, “we have hope in the new protests.” Fakhravar attributed his optimism to the new US administration after Obama “betrayed the 2009 movement.”

Trump in a tweet said that he will support the people if they took to the streets once again.

“We want the president to back the people and prevent the regime from committing a bloodbath,” declared Fakhravar, revealing that he had contacted the administration to urge it for its support. Trump’s tweet was the result of Fakhravar’s efforts.

“This gave hope to the people that the situation this time around would be different,” he claimed.

Moreover, he said that his book, “Comrade Ayatollah,” also helped shed light to the Iranians on the developments going on behind the scenes in their country. “This was demonstrated in how several members of the Basij and Revolutionary Guards refused to confront the protesters, while several Guards personnel actually fearlessly tore up their membership cards,” he remarked.

Asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin would allow the Iranian regime to falter, Fakhravar replied that he will help it stay in power and protesters were heard chanting: “The Russian embassy is a center for the spies.” In the past, the chants used to be directed against the American embassy, but the Iranians now know the real story behind the revolution and regime.

“Russia and China will support the regime until the end and they will not leave our country alone,” he noted.

“We are struggling to achieve democracy and freedom and we stand against the mullah regime and their Russian protectors,” he declared.

He revealed that the opposition had presented a new Iranian constitution to the US Congress. The opposition stressed that a new Iran would not be a state sponsor of terrorism or seek to control other countries.

“We want freedom and democracy and we want to be good neighbors in the region,” Fakhravar said.

The demonstrations, he added, have not stopped and protesters have been instructed to write anti-regime slogans on walls throughout the country.

He warned that the situation could escalate into an armed conflict if the regime chose to use force to suppress the protesters, who could easily acquire weapons from border regions.

Fakhravar firmly believed that the protesters, if successful, could change the region and the world.

“The regime is not as smart as the new generation of Iranian youths,” he stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat.

On whether President Hassan Rouhani aspires to become the new supreme leader, Fakhravar replied that up until last month, this dream was feasible.

“His recent budget, however, revealed that the funds are going to the spiritual leaders and powerful officials. Rouhani was lining himself to be the new supreme leader, but the recent protests destroyed that dream.”



Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Yemen Defense Minister: Houthi Attacks May Persist Even After Gaza War Ends

Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Yemeni Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Yemen’s Defense Minister, Lt. Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri, does not expect Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to stop even if the Gaza war ends. He also warns of rising tensions in the region, which could lead to a major conflict.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Daeri affirmed close coordination between Yemeni forces and the Saudi-led Arab Coalition. He praised Saudi Arabia’s key role in the coalition, highlighting its continuous support for Yemen.

Al-Daeri said there has been significant progress in unifying government-aligned military forces, with committees set up by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) establishing a joint operations authority.

Despite challenges, he remains optimistic that these efforts will help unify the military command against the common enemy — Yemen’s Houthi militias.

Al-Daeri warned that Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea are a serious threat to Yemen and the region. He noted that the Houthis are using these attacks to distract from their internal problems and are trying to capitalize on Yemeni sympathy for Palestine by claiming support for Gaza.

He added that the Houthis are unlikely to stop targeting international shipping, even if the Gaza war ends, and are constantly seeking new alliances with terrorist groups to strengthen their position.

Al-Daeri, accused Iran of fueling instability in Yemen by supporting Houthi militias for years, smuggling weapons and military experts to spread chaos without regard for regional stability.

On US relations, Al-Daeri said ties are good but military cooperation remains limited. He noted that US military aid, suspended in 2014, has not yet returned to previous levels.

Al-Daeri said his visit to Saudi Arabia was part of ongoing coordination with the Joint Operations Command and the Saudi Ministry of Defense to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries.

During his “productive” visit, Al-Daeri met with several military leaders, congratulated the new commander of the Joint Operations, Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Salman, and held talks with officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition.

Al-Daeri emphasized the strong defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia, particularly during Yemen’s war in recent years.

He noted that the high level of coordination with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Arab Coalition members has significantly improved regional military readiness.

Al-Daeri said relations with Saudi Arabia are growing stronger, with both countries working closely together to fulfill their missions in the region.

He described defense cooperation as being at its peak, praising Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Arab Coalition.

“Saudi Arabia has always provided full support—military, financial, and moral. As the region’s strongest power, they have supported Yemen not just with resources, but also with strategic expertise and by fighting alongside us, even sacrificing their lives for our cause,” Al-Daeri told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said Houthi militias have taken advantage of the ceasefire and the Saudi-led initiative, which later became a UN effort, to conduct hostile activities and assert their presence.

He referred to the Houthis’ actions as creating a “massive prison” for millions of Yemenis who do not want to live in their controlled areas.

Al-Daeri, described the situation in the region as dangerous, pointing to recent events in Gaza and Lebanon as signs of increasing tensions. He warned of the risk of an unprecedented regional war due to the rising violence and conflicts.

“What is happening is very alarming, especially with the recent events, including terrorist militias in Yemen, the unacceptable violence in Gaza over the past year, and the situation in southern Lebanon. This all signals the risk of an unusual war,” said al-Daeri.

Regarding potential outcomes, al-Daeri noted that Yemeni forces are ready for both war and peace. He acknowledged significant efforts to achieve peace but warned that renewed conflict could occur at any moment. He also pointed out ongoing provocations from Houthis, which continue to lead to casualties.

"We are ready for all options and have comprehensive strategic plans for deploying our forces. The past two years have seen a ceasefire, and the Arab Coalition is making significant efforts to achieve peace rather than resorting to war. However, this does not mean that conflict won’t resume; it could restart at any time,” explained al-Daeri.

“Despite the ceasefire and the presence of our forces, the legitimate troops have not fired back, yet the militias provoke us daily, resulting in casualties,” he added.

“Patience is a key quality of the legitimate authority in Yemen, led by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and his colleagues in the Presidential Leadership Council. This patience reflects our readiness for the moment of truth, whether for peace or war—we are prepared,” asserted al-Daeri.