عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Men Accused of Impersonating Federal Agents Investigated for Possible Ties with IRGC

US Capitol police attend a morning briefing outside the US Capitol in Washington, US, August 3, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
US Capitol police attend a morning briefing outside the US Capitol in Washington, US, August 3, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
TT
TT

Men Accused of Impersonating Federal Agents Investigated for Possible Ties with IRGC

US Capitol police attend a morning briefing outside the US Capitol in Washington, US, August 3, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
US Capitol police attend a morning briefing outside the US Capitol in Washington, US, August 3, 2021. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

The US Department of Justice issued a ruling to maintain the imprisonment of two persons arrested in Washington, for impersonating federal security officials over several years, as well as recruiting people to gain access to the security service that protects President Joe Biden and his wife.

The authorities launched an investigation into possible links with Iranian intelligence services, particularly Al-Quds Force, the foreign arm of the Revolutionary Guards.

The US authorities announced the arrest of Iranian-born Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Pakistani-born Haider Ali 35, on Wednesday evening in their residence in the luxurious Crossing Building, in the Eastern Market neighborhood near the US Capitol building in Washington.

Justice Department Assistant Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein told the court on Friday that the two men, who hold US passports with visas to Iran and Pakistan, have impersonated Department of Homeland Security officials, including members of federal law enforcement agencies, since February 2020.

Rothstein said that during 2019 and 2020, the two men recruited professional security personnel in an apartment building in Washington, and traveled several times to Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Qatar.

In addition, Rothstein said that Ali “made claims to witnesses that he had connections to the ISI, which is the Pakistani intelligence service.”

Investigators found in the residence a number of pistols, stockpiles of weapons, flak jackets, radios, a small drone, training manuals and surveillance equipment.

They were also charged with providing bribery and favors to members of the United States Secret Service, including an agent working with the bodyguards of First Lady Jill Biden, and another officer in the White House Uniformed Division.

Judge Michael Harvey ordered that the two men not be released on bail, due to fears that they might escape the United States. The Pakistani embassy in Washington did not comment on the allegations of the suspects’ links with Pakistani intelligence. CBS News reported that investigators are looking into the possibility that the accused have links to Iranian intelligence, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, or its foreign arm, Al-Quds Force.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

‘JD, Habibi.’ Arabs Celebrate El-Sayed’s Use of a Term of Affection in His Victory Speech

Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed reacts during an Election Night rally after his victory in the US midterm elections, in Detroit, Michigan, US, November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed reacts during an Election Night rally after his victory in the US midterm elections, in Detroit, Michigan, US, November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
TT
TT

‘JD, Habibi.’ Arabs Celebrate El-Sayed’s Use of a Term of Affection in His Victory Speech

Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed reacts during an Election Night rally after his victory in the US midterm elections, in Detroit, Michigan, US, November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed reacts during an Election Night rally after his victory in the US midterm elections, in Detroit, Michigan, US, November 4, 2026. (Reuters)

From Michigan to the Middle East, Arabs are celebrating Abdul El-Sayed’s election win and delighting in his introduction of Arabic terms like “habibi” and “inshallah” to the American political lexicon.

After being the target of Islamophobic rhetoric on the campaign trail, the rising political star who will be the first Muslim American US senator has mocked his critics on the right while championing the Palestinian cause and leaning into his faith and Egyptian heritage.

“JD, habibi,” El-Sayed said in his victory speech, addressing US Vice President JD Vance, who had warned that the candidate would lead rioters in burning down Detroit. “There is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January.”

El-Sayed's supporters have sported shirts reading “Habibi for Abdul.”

El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, said his campaign had turned “inshallah” — “God willing” — into “hamdulillah,” which means “thank God.”

Arabs thrilled to the gentle ribbing of the vice president, with many posting music video clips featuring “habibi” to social media. It was a rare outpouring of joy in a region traumatized by past and present conflicts — which have also fueled negative stereotypes in the West.

One user on X posted a video of Egyptian diva Shireen Abd El-Wahab dancing to one of her most popular songs, joking that El-Sayed would make it the new national anthem.

Egyptians are renowned in the Arab world for their sense of humor and are known for cracking jokes in the face of life's difficulties, a spirit that has been popularized in films and by famous comedic actors.

Riffing off El-Sayed's victory speech, some shared a meme from an Egyptian film in which a man attends a funeral while high and is unable to stop laughing. “I came here to crack jokes,” read the caption, quoting a line from the film.

An Egyptian academic, Khalil al-Anani, praised El-Sayed on X, saying: "'Habibi' is the sweetest word.” He thanked the senator-elect for bringing joy to Egyptians.

Arab and Muslim Americans have faced prejudice for decades, with popular films depicting them as terrorists and politicians on the right fanning baseless fears about the imposition of Sharia, or Islamic law.

During the campaign, US President Donald Trump referred to El-Sayed as a “jihadist,” evoked the Sept. 11 attacks and deliberately misstated the candidate's name.

On social media, users responded to such attacks by posting light-hearted videos, including of Lebanese diva Haifa Wehbe belly dancing and young veiled women breakdancing in the streets.

“Donald, look, I know you've struggled with my name,” El-Sayed said in his victory speech. “So, after JD swears me in in January, you can just go on and call me ‘senator.'”

World

France to Order Long-range Naval Cruise Missile from MBDA

The French national flag is raised at the French embassy, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 17, 2024. (Reuters)
The French national flag is raised at the French embassy, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 17, 2024. (Reuters)
TT
TT

France to Order Long-range Naval Cruise Missile from MBDA

The French national flag is raised at the French embassy, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 17, 2024. (Reuters)
The French national flag is raised at the French embassy, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 17, 2024. (Reuters)

France's Directorate General of Armaments said on Friday that it planned to sign a contract with defense group MBDA for a new version of its MdCN ‌Mk2 naval cruise ‌missile, with ‌deliveries ⁠from 2030.

The missile ⁠is designed for long-range land attacks from multi-mission frigates and Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines. The planned ⁠contract comes as ‌European ‌countries seek to develop deep ‌strike capabilities amid ‌a growing Russian threat.

-The missile has a range of more ‌than 1,000 km

-Upgrades include greater stealth, ⁠increased ⁠lethality, more resistance to satellite navigation jamming and a better ability to penetrate enemy air defenses

-Mission preparation will use AI components developed by MBDA teams

World

Türkiye Arrests Ex-minister as Part of a Widening Fund Manipulation Scandal

A Turkish flag with the Bosphorus Bridge in the background, flies on a passenger ferry in Istanbul, Türkiye, September 30, 2020. (Reuters)
A Turkish flag with the Bosphorus Bridge in the background, flies on a passenger ferry in Istanbul, Türkiye, September 30, 2020. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Türkiye Arrests Ex-minister as Part of a Widening Fund Manipulation Scandal

A Turkish flag with the Bosphorus Bridge in the background, flies on a passenger ferry in Istanbul, Türkiye, September 30, 2020. (Reuters)
A Turkish flag with the Bosphorus Bridge in the background, flies on a passenger ferry in Istanbul, Türkiye, September 30, 2020. (Reuters)

Authorities in Türkiye have arrested a former minister and deputy chair of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’s ruling party over her alleged involvement in a share-price manipulation scandal involving several investment funds.

Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya resigned as the deputy chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party in September, shortly after allegations emerged that she had sold shares worth tens of millions of dollars just before regulators decided to liquidate the investment funds over alleged manipulation, The Associated Press said.

Kaya, who served as family and social affairs minister from 2016 to 2018, was taken into custody late on Thursday pending a possible trial on charges of membership in a criminal organization and violating Türkiye’s Capital Markets Law, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Her husband was released on condition that he regularly report to police, following a second round of questioning for the couple.

Türkiye’s main opposition party has accused Kaya of receiving 2.17 billion liras ($43 million) after reportedly investing 163 million liras ($3 million) in one of the funds.

The couple have denied any wrongdoing but have transferred some of the profits to an account designated by the banking regulators, according to media reports.

More than 430 people are under investigation over suspected market manipulation and insider trading, including 112 who have been arrested as part of the scandal, Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said this week.