The director of the Swedish Institute for International Policy has been linked to an influence network orchestrated by Iran’s regime, according to a Swedish TV investigation relying on emails provided by Iran International.
The Swedish TV channel, TV4 Nyheterna, reported on Tuesday that Rouzbeh Parsi, the head of the Middle East program at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI), communicated with authorities in Tehran who actively sought to amplify official Iranian foreign policy talking points in Western policy circles.
The discussions, TV4 reported, aimed to shape Western perceptions of Iran’s regime during critical nuclear negotiations.
TV4 said Parsi had held meetings with Iranian diplomats, including former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, and worked alongside senior figures closely affiliated with the IRGC.
In 2023, a joint investigative report by Iran International and Semafor examined thousands of emails from Iranian diplomats, revealing a network of academics and think tank analysts cultivated by Iran’s foreign ministry to extend the regime’s soft power.
Members of the grouping, called the Iran Experts Initiative (IEI), were guided by Iran’s Foreign Ministry in their public writing and media appearances. They were key voices in Western think tanks and policy institutions helping promote the Iranian regime’s stances.
Parsi, listed in the leaked emails as an IEI member, attended its inaugural meeting in May 2014 at Vienna’s Palais Coburg hotel, coinciding with nuclear talks. Documents indicate that Iran’s foreign ministry covered the event’s costs.
While Parsi acknowledges his participation, he denies collaborating with Tehran.
“My purpose was to observe how Iranian officials reason and act in real-time,” he told TV4.
The leaked emails revealed that IEI members, including prominent Iranian-American scholars like Ali Vaez and Ariane Tabatabai, published articles supporting official Iranian regime positions.
In a 2015 email to Iranian officials, Khatibzadeh, a senior Iranian diplomat who helped mastermind the IEI, referred to participants as “our friends” and shared links to their work, which aligned with the regime’s narrative on nuclear negotiations.
Khatibzadeh was appointed on Saturday as the head of the foreign ministry’s think tank, the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS).
The IEI’s activities have drawn scrutiny, particularly regarding figures like Tabatabai, who held senior positions within the US Department of Defense.
The Iranian Regime’s Lobbying Network
Iran’s regime has long invested in lobbying and influence operations, particularly in Western academic and policy circles, to shape narratives favorable to its strategic objectives. This effort dates back to the early years following the 1979 revolution when Tehran sought to counteract the negative global perception of its theocratic rule and human rights abuses.
A key instrument in these efforts has been Iran’s network of affiliated think tanks and cultural organizations, often operating under the guise of academic cooperation or diplomatic engagement. Institutions such as the IPIS, Tehran’s primary foreign policy research center, have maintained extensive ties with Western intellectuals and policymakers.
Over the years, Iran’s foreign ministry has carefully cultivated relationships with academics, journalists, and former diplomats who can serve as intermediaries in promoting the regime’s positions. The Iranian regime has also utilized front organizations and well-funded initiatives to influence Western discourse, particularly on issues like nuclear negotiations, sanctions relief, and regional conflicts.
Documents and testimonies from defectors and whistleblowers suggest that Iran’s lobbying efforts are highly coordinated, with clear directives from the regime’s leadership. This strategy not only amplifies Tehran’s narratives in influential circles but also works to discredit opposition voices, particularly those advocating for human rights and democratic change in Iran.
The exposure of the Iran Experts Initiative is just one example of how deeply embedded the Iranian regime’s influence networks are within Western institutions. With ongoing geopolitical tensions and renewed focus on Tehran’s global activities, scrutiny of these lobbying efforts is likely to increase.
Source » irannewsupdate