:Alireza Jafarzadeh
{{Short description|Iranian political activist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Alireza Jafarzadeh
|native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|fa|علیرضا جعفرزاده}}}}
|image =
|caption = Alireza Jafarzadeh interview with CNN
|birth_place = Mashhad, Imperial State of Iran
|occupation = Middle East commentator, public speaker
|party = People's Mujahedin of Iran
|website = {{URL|alirezajafarzadeh.org}}
}}
Alireza Jafarzadeh ({{langx|fa|علیرضا جعفرزاده}}) is an Iranian dissident, media commentator on the Middle East, and US representative of the People's Mujahedin of Iran.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1993/08/15/giving-short-shrift-to-irans-mojahedin/cc483ba9-af20-4b7e-a081-640a21de7873/ |title=Giving Short Sift to Iran's Mojahedin |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016165125/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1993/08/15/giving-short-shrift-to-irans-mojahedin/cc483ba9-af20-4b7e-a081-640a21de7873/ |url-status=live }} He is known for releasing information on Iran's secret nuclear program.{{cite news |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/10/11/iranians-are-crying-out-for-regime-change-not-nuclear-power-the-west-should-listen-view |title=Iranians are crying out for regime change, not nuclear power. The West should listen|newspaper=Euronews }}
Jafarzadeh has published columns and appeared on television interviews both in conservative and liberal media. He seems to have bi-partisan respect for his work. Jafarzadeh has a regular column on the Huffington Post.{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alireza-jafarzadeh |title=Alireza Jafarzadeh Bio and his columns in the Huffington Post |date=2010-01-01 |publisher=Huffington Post |access-date=October 25, 2011 |archive-date=October 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020193406/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alireza-jafarzadeh/ |url-status=live }}
In 2006, Jafarzadeh was introduced as the last representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in an interview with Claude Salhani in which he responded to comments by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made towards Israel.
In 2007, Jafarzadeh was a guest on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight news show (6:00 pm ET) discussing Iran's proxy war in Iraq.{{cite news | url=https://www.youtube.com/user/strategicpolicy#p/u/4/ahLS467zl7E | work=CNN Lou Dobbs | title=CNN Lou Dobbs Interviews Alireza Jafarzadeh - November 5, 2007 | date=2007-01-15 | access-date=May 3, 2016 | archive-date=April 6, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406204716/https://www.youtube.com/user/strategicpolicy#p/u/4/ahLS467zl7E | url-status=live }}
Intelligence disclosures
In 2002, Jafarzadeh drew worldwide attention by revealing that Iran was running a secret nuclear facility in Natanz, and a dideuterium oxide facility in Arak. These revelations led to inspections of the sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). After their first inspection, IAEA, said in a report on Iran's nuclear activity that traces of uranium, greater than what is needed for a civilian power program, were found on Iranian nuclear equipment. However, Iran claimed that the source of the uranium was equipment imported to Iran from Pakistan.{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/04/us.iran.nuclear/index.html |title=U.S. to seek IAEA action on Iran nukes |date=2003-09-05 |publisher=CNN.com |access-date=January 8, 2007 |archive-date=December 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212172231/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/04/us.iran.nuclear/index.html |url-status=live }} These revelations eventually led to United Nations Security Council's imposing sanctions on Iran on December 23, 2006, over its nuclear program.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/world/24nations.html |title=Security Council approves sanctions on Iran over nuclear program |date=2006-12-23 |work=New York Times |access-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115083202/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/world/24nations.html |url-status=live }}
In 2007, Jafarzadeh claimed that Iran's government had sharply increased its efforts to fan sectarian violence in Iraq, easily transferring money and arms across the Iraqi border.{{Cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKN0526033520070105 |title=Iran exile says Tehran steps up efforts in Iraq |date=2003-09-05 |publisher=Reuters |first=Carol |last=Giacomo |access-date=July 13, 2008 |archive-date=June 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606220556/http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKN0526033520070105 |url-status=dead }}
In 2010, Jafarzadeh revealed satellite imagery and program details of a secret underground uranium enrichment facility under construction in Behjat-abad near Tehran, drawing international attention.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/world/middleeast/10nuke.html?_r=3 | work=New York Times | title=Dissidents Claim Iran Is Building a New Enrichment Site | date=2010-09-09 | first=David E. | last=Sanger | access-date=February 24, 2017 | archive-date=February 28, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228213810/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/world/middleeast/10nuke.html?_r=3 | url-status=live }} In April 2011, Jafarzadeh then revealed a new nuclear site known as TABA, where Iran has secretly built centrifuge parts.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/dissident-group-says-iran-factory-really-a-nuke-site/2011/04/07/AF9jO1wC_story.html | newspaper=Washington Post | title=Dissident group says Iran factory really a nuke site | date=2011-04-07 | first=Joby | last=Warrick | access-date=August 24, 2017 | archive-date=March 10, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310100137/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/dissident-group-says-iran-factory-really-a-nuke-site/2011/04/07/AF9jO1wC_story.html | url-status=live }} In July, he further detailed the reorganization of Iran's nuclear program and the formation of a new organization run by the Defense Ministry, known by its Persian acronym, SPND, which oversees all nuclear weaponization work under the direct supervision of Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh Mahabadi. The information was compiled by the network inside Iran of Iran's opposition group, the MEK. This information provided by Jafarzadeh was later reflected in the November 2011 report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).{{cite news | url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-07-23-iran-nuclear-program_n.htm | work=USA Today | title=Opposition: Iran consolidates nuclear bomb effort 23 July 2011 | date=2011-07-23 | access-date=November 21, 2014 | archive-date=December 2, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202013714/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-07-23-iran-nuclear-program_n.htm | url-status=live }}
In 2015, Jafarzadeh revealed that Iran has a hidden site, known as Lavizan-3, in a military complex in Tehran, where Iran has worked on research and development of advanced centrifuges, including IR-2m, and secretly enriched uranium in violation of the Joint Plan of Action. Members of Congress asked Secretary John Kerry about Lavizan-3, which he promised to follow up on. Still, there are no follow-up reports in the media suggesting that the United States or the IAEA has acted on this.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/exile-group-accuses-iran-of-secret-nuclear-weapons-research/2015/02/24/ad8d64d6-bc5a-11e4-8668-4e7ba8439ca6_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Exile group accuses Iran of secret nuclear weapons research | date=2015-02-24 | access-date=August 6, 2015 | archive-date=March 4, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304170155/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/exile-group-accuses-iran-of-secret-nuclear-weapons-research/2015/02/24/ad8d64d6-bc5a-11e4-8668-4e7ba8439ca6_story.html | url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{C-SPAN|14032}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jafarzadeh, Alireza}}
Category:Iranian emigrants to the United States
Category:Nuclear program of Iran
Category:University of Michigan College of Engineering alumni
Category:Cockrell School of Engineering alumni