Latest news with #Mousavian
Memri
2 days ago
- Politics
- Memri
Then-Deputy Of Iran's National Security Council Seyed Hossein Mousavian In 2004 Interview: 'After Iraq's Attacks, We Announced Our Defensive Chemical And Nuclear Programs'
In an October 17, 2004 interview conducted in Tehran with the Swiss paper SonntagsBlick, then Deputy of Iran's National Security Council Seyed Hossein Mousavian told German journalist and Iran expert Bruno Schirra that "after Iraq's attacks, we announced our defensive chemical and nuclear programs." He stressed that Iran's regime will never abandon its right to enrichment of uranium and will defy UN sanctions. "Even if we are dragged before the UN Security Council, that will not change our stance," stressed Mousavian. When asked about former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's call for the construction of "biological and radiological weapons" that, Rafsanjani said, can be used "for defensive, but also offensive use," Mousavian responded that Rafsanjani "only spoke about the defensive." Seyed Hossein Mousavian Separately, Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said in a May 26, 2025 interview on that "In one of my interviews, I said that we had reached the capability to build a [nuclear] weapon 15-20 years ago, but we had not built it for several reasons."[1] Mousavian was a key architect of the Iranian regime's nuclear program. He served as a spokesman for the atomic negotiations with the European powers that happened from 2003 to 2005. According to an archived 1997 article from the Berlin newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, Abolghasem Mesbahi, a former Iranian intelligence official, told a Berlin court during the Mykonos trial: "Mousavian participated in most of the [Iranian regime's] crimes that took place in Europe."[2] Iranian dissidents have accused Mousavian of playing a crucial role in the assassinations of at least 24 dissidents in Europe, including Iranian Kurds murdered in a joint Iran-Hizbullah operation in the West Berlin restaurant Mykonos in 1992. Mousavian was the Islamic Republic's ambassador to Germany from 1990 to 1997. He served from 1987-1990 as Iran's General Director of the Foreign Ministry for West Europe and has expressed support for Hamas, Hizbullah, and the Islamic regime's fatwa to assassinate the British-American author Salman Rushdie.[3] Mousavian was a researcher at Princeton University until June 2025.[4] According to the Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA), Princeton University forced Mousavian into retirement. [5] Following is a translation of the SonntagsBlick interview: "After Iraq's Attacks, We Announced Our Defensive Chemical And Nuclear Programs" Bruno Schirra: "Iran is working on mastering the entire nuclear fuel cycle. To build a bomb, all you would need is a political decision." Mousavian: "True. But that applies to all Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) partners. Japan, too, could withdraw from the NPT at any time and build the bomb. Trying to deprive Iran of these contractual rights demonstrates an unacceptable double standard. Especially since we have unconditionally accepted the additional protocol to the NPT." Schirra: "In doing so you are admitting to the possession of chemical weapons. Regarding the nuclear weapons program, Ayatollah Beheshti already stated in 1981 that its goal was the atomic bomb. And your former President Rafsanjani also called for the construction of 'biological and radiological weapons.' Explicitly, 'for defensive, but also offensive use.'" Mousavian: "We have never heard such a statement from Ayatollah Beheshti..." Schirra: "I would be happy to give you the source. And the date of the Friday prayer, at which Ayatollah Beheshti also said it publicly..." Mousavian: "... and Hashemi [Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani] only spoke about the defensive. After Iraq's attacks, we announced our defensive chemical and nuclear programs. We will continue to do so in the future." Schirra: "Chemical and nuclear programs?" Mousavian: "Yes, yes. But only defensive, never offensive." "We Must Be Able To Defend The People Against Nuclear Attacks" Schirra: "So Iran is pursuing a chemical and a nuclear program?" Mousavian: "That's our public policy." Schirra: "Excuse me, but we are talking about weapons!" Mousavian: "We never said we needed to possess chemical and nuclear weapons. Only programs for defense. We must be able to defend the people against nuclear attacks." Schirra: "In Iranian facilities, 37 tons of so-called yellowcake are being converted into uranium hexafluoride. Too little for civilian purposes, but enough for five nuclear bombs." Mousavian: "The 37 tons are for a pilot project in Isfahan, which was under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) supervision from the beginning. We are still in the pilot phase, that is, before production. Incidentally, the conversion of yellowcake is also permitted under the regulations of the NPT." Schirra: "In Isfahan and Natanz, you are working on enrichment. The facility in Arak is intended to produce heavy water. All indications that Iran also has a military nuclear program. Are you working on the bomb?" "We Will Respond In A Way That Will Make Jerusalem Regret It Forever – What Does That Mean? You Will See Then" Mousavian: "Iran has the right to use the technology for peaceful purposes. The danger of a civilian nuclear infrastructure being used for military purposes through a political decision applies, as already mentioned, to every member of the NPT!" Schirra: "The IAEA is demanding an end to uranium enrichment in Iran. Will you accept it?" Mousavian: "We do not accept this ultimatum. It was a political decision by the IAEA. Even if we are dragged before the UN Security Council, that will not change our stance. Dissuading us from this can only be achieved through political discussions, not through ultimatums." Schirra: "Why don't you then ensure international détente and simply comply with the IAEA's ultimatum? You know that Israel is watching your plans with great nervousness." Mousavian: "We will not bow to any ultimatum or resolution. And we are certain that Israel would not dare to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. It does not even have a one percent chance of doing so." Schirra: "And if Israel attacks anyway?" Mousavian: "Then we will respond in a way that will make Jerusalem regret it forever. What does that mean? You will see then." Page one of two of the original German of Mousavian's 2004 interview in SonntagsBlick. Page two of two of the original German of Mousavian's 2004 interview in SonntagsBlick. *Yigal Carmon is Founder and President of MEMRI.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Controversial Princeton prof with Iran ties steps down amid criticism from dissidents, senators
A controversial Princeton professor with strong ties to the Iranian regime has quietly stepped down from the Ivy League school, following a campaign from dissidents to remove him. Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a Middle East security and nuclear policy specialist, retired from his position after 15 years as the head of the school's Program on Science and Global Security on June 1, according to an announcement listing retiring employees on Princeton's website. The professor is controversial for being heavily involved in Iran's chemical and nuclear programs beginning in 2004, long before the country was known to have been building up its nuclear arsenal, according to Swiss journalist Bruno Schirra. Advertisement 4 Seyed Hossain Mousavian, an Iranian security specialist, quietly stepped down from Princeton University after 15 years and amid a federal crackdown on alleged antisemitism at the school. Getty Images The move comes amid the news Princeton could lose more than $200 million in grants from the Trump administration for not tackling antisemitism on campus, The Post has learned. Iranian opposition activists as well as Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a Princeton alumnus, had long urged the school to fire Mousavian. Advertisement 4 The Trump administration reportedly paused the payment of more than $200 million in grants. to the Ivy League school amid allegations of antisemitism. LightRocket via Getty Images 'It's a victory, but one has to wonder if he's staying behind the scenes somehow,' said Lawdan Bazargan, a former political prisoner in Iran, a human rights activist and member of the US-based Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists. The group has waged a two-year campaign to get the university to ditch Mousavian. 'We exposed the truth,' the group said in a press release last week. 'Mousavian is not a neutral scholar but a former ambassador of the [Islamic Republic of Iran] who defended the fatwas to kill author Salman Rushdie. Advertisement 4 Former Iranian Kurdish leader Sadiq Sharafkindi (left) and Nuri Dehkordi were two of the four opposition politicians killed in the Berlin restaurant Mykonos in 1992, while Mousavian was Iranian ambassador to Germany. Associated Press Shirin Ebadi, a former Iranian judge who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, has also previously accused Mousavian of supporting the fatwa. Before being hired by Princeton in 2009, Mousavian had also worked as a diplomat and editor of the Tehran Times, the English-language newspaper which is a mouthpiece for the regime. Mousavian was also Iran's ambassador to Germany in 1992 when four dissidents were murdered in the back of a restaurant in Berlin. Advertisement The group of dissidents which campaigned to get him fired from Princeton has previously alleged when Mousavian was ambassador to Germany, 23 Iranians were killed in Europe for being enemies of the mullahs. In 1997, a German court concluded that the Iranian leadership, including the foreign ministry, masterminded the murders and that the headquarters for plotting them was the Iranian embassy, but did not name Mousavian. During the trial, German newspaper Tagesspiegel reported a former Iranian spy, Abolghasem Mesbahi, said under oath, 'Mousavian was involved in most of the crimes that took place in Europe. 4 Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tours a nuclear facility in 2008. The country's nuclear program is much older than many Western intelligence sources had predicted. AP 'Specifically, in Germany, it concerns the crimes that were committed against Iranian opposition members.' Following the trial Mousavian was called back to Tehran. Mousavian, whose Princeton email address is still active and who is still prominently featured on the school's website, did not return a request for comment Tuesday. He wrote of his retirement on Twitter: 'After 15 years of service at Princeton University, I retired at my own request at the end of May 2025. Advertisement 'I am deeply grateful to the university officials for their support and especially for their commitment to freedom of expression.' The retirement coincides with the imminent publication of a 2004 interview with Mousavian by Schirra. The interview, which is now being published by the Middle East Research Institute, a US-based nonprofit that studies extremism, suggests Iran's nuclear program was secretly active for decades before Western intelligence sources warned of its existence. Advertisement 'After Iraq's attack [in 1980], we announced our defensive chemical and nuclear programs,' said Mousavian in the interview, who was then deputy of Iran's National Security Council. In April, Cruz urged the school to fire Mousavian, saying: 'His presence at Princeton makes students feel justifiably afraid for their safety.'
India.com
08-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Why Iran is upset over Russia-India Su-57 fighter jet deal? Tehran says Moscow didn't provide S-400 air defense system despite...
(File) Iran-Israel war: Amid the looming threat of another attack by Israel and its ally the United States, Iran has openly expressed its displeasure over the proposed Russia-India defense deal, stating that Moscow has offered to sell the advanced Sukhoi Su-57E and Su-35M fighter jets to New Delhi, which it claimed is a US ally, but has not provided the S-400 air defense system to the Islamic Republic despite it being under an open threat from two nuclear powers– Israel and the US. Why Iran is upset over Russia-India deal? In a post on X, Seyed Hossein Mousavian, former Iranian ambassador to Germany who was also part of Iran's nuclear negotiations with the EU and the IAEA, criticized Russia for arming US allies while delaying much-needed armaments to its strategic partners like Iran, despite repeated requests. 'Russia did not give the Su-35 fighter aircraft and S-400 air defense system to Iran. Despite the fact that Iran has been under the threat of a military attack by two nuclear powers – America and Israel for decades and this recently proved true when both these countries attacked Tehran,' Mousavian wrote. The veteran Iranian diplomat and policymaker noted that while Russia did not provide the necessary armaments to partners like Iran, it has offered 117 Su-35M fighter jets and joint production of Su-57 with technology transfer to India, even though New Delhi is a US 'ally'. 'This is not a criticism of Moscow because it is acting according to its strategic interests, but what if a NATO member like Turkey or a close US ally like Saudi Arabia wants to buy the Su-35, Su-57, or S-400 air defense from Russia?,' he asked. Mousavian noted that Tehran needs to gain a better understanding of the reality of the current geo-political scenario, and shun dependence on other countries to protect its national interests. What is the Russia-India defence deal? As per a report by Aero News General, Russia and India are working out a deal for the latter to acquire the Russian-made fifth-generation stealth fighter Su-57E and the 4.5-generation Su-35M, including local manufacturing and technology transfer. The proposal submitted by Russian state-owned company Rostec and Sukhoi includes a transfer of technology for the Su-57E, which would allow Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture these aircraft in India. Under the proposed deal, Russia will immediately deliver a fleet of 20-30 Su-57E fighters to meet the IAF's urgent need to replenish its depleted squadrons. Additionally, Russia has also offered the Su-35M as part of India's multi-role fighter aircraft tender for 114 jet, a necessary workaround till Su-57E production is ramped up.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Report: Iran could rebuild its nuclear sites within months
Iran could rebuild its nuclear sites within months, a former Iranian diplomat has warned. Seyed Hossein Mousavian, who previously served as a senior member of Iran's nuclear diplomacy team, said recent US strikes only 'partly' destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities and that the country still retains its nuclear 'know-how'. 'There is no doubt... Iranian nuclear facilities have been attacked, have been bombed, have been damaged,' he told the ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday. 'You can imagine buildings, utilities, even perhaps centrifuges have been destroyed, partly, not all. 'Nevertheless, if the objective of the US-Israeli air strikes aim and objective was to destroy (the) Iranian nuclear program, I'm confident they have failed. 'Even if they have another attack, even if they have 100 attacks, they will fail because you can not kill technology and know-how, Iranians, they have know-how.' Mr Mousavian, who claims to no longer be affiliated with the Iranian regime, suggested it might take only months to reconstruct the country's nuclear facilities. 'Iranians have the know-how technology and they can reconstruct everything, whether that would take one month or five months or six months, it doesn't matter.' The US launched an array of strikes on Saturday after Israel and Iran's long-standing feud developed into a direct conflict earlier this month. The strikes involved 125 US military aircraft and targeted three nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Mr Mousavian's comments stand in stark contrast to those of US President Donald Trump who has claimed the bombings devastated the country's nuclear facilities. ' Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. The former Iranian diplomat is not the first to suggest the damage could have been less extensive than Trump had suggested, including by his own intelligence agencies. An initial assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency also suggested Iran's path to building a nuclear weapon might have been set back only by months. Trump shrugged off the findings in an appearance at a NATO summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, claiming they were 'inconclusive'. 'It was very severe. It was obliteration,' he said. CIA director John Ratcliffe has since said the strikes had 'severely damaged' Iran's nuclear facilities but stopped short of stating the nuclear program had been wiped out. Asked by Mr Speers whether he believed Iran would remain in the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Mr Mousavian was non-committal. 'It depends to the US. If the US would be committed to international rules and regulations,' he said. 'If the US would respect Non-Proliferation Treaty, if the US would respect the rights of Iran like other members of Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran would stay. 'Iran, like before, would never go for nuclear bombs, like before, Iran would cooperate at the highest level of transparency and inspections, to ensure its nuclear program is peaceful.' Mr Speers then asked whether, in Mr Mousavian's view, there would be an 'incentive' for Iran to speed up its efforts towards building a nuclear weapon.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Former Iran diplomat makes disturbing claim to Aussie journalist following US bombings
Iran could rebuild its nuclear sites within months, a former Iranian diplomat has warned. Seyed Hossein Mousavian, who previously served as a senior member of Iran's nuclear diplomacy team, said recent US strikes only 'partly' destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities and that the country still retains its nuclear 'know-how'. 'There is no doubt... Iranian nuclear facilities have been attacked, have been bombed, have been damaged,' he told the ABC's 7.30 program on Thursday. 'You can imagine buildings, utilities, even perhaps centrifuges have been destroyed, partly, not all. 'Nevertheless, if the objective of the US-Israeli air strikes aim and objective was to destroy (the) Iranian nuclear program, I'm confident they have failed. 'Even if they have another attack, even if they have 100 attacks, they will fail because you can not kill technology and know-how, Iranians, they have know-how.' Mr Mousavian, who claims to no longer be affiliated with the Iranian regime, suggested it might take only months to reconstruct the country's nuclear facilities. 'Iranians have the know-how technology and they can reconstruct everything, whether that would take one month or five months or six months, it doesn't matter.' The US launched an array of strikes on Saturday after Israel and Iran's long-standing feud developed into a direct conflict earlier this month. The strikes involved 125 US military aircraft and targeted three nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. Mr Mousavian's comments stand in stark contrast to those of US President Donald Trump who has claimed the bombings devastated the country's nuclear facilities. 'Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. The former Iranian diplomat is not the first to suggest the damage could have been less extensive than Trump had suggested, including by his own intelligence agencies. An initial assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency also suggested Iran's path to building a nuclear weapon might have been set back only by months. Trump shrugged off the findings in an appearance at a NATO summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, claiming they were 'inconclusive'. 'It was very severe. It was obliteration,' he said. CIA director John Ratcliffe has since said the strikes had 'severely damaged' Iran's nuclear facilities but stopped short of stating the nuclear program had been wiped out. Asked by Mr Speers whether he believed Iran would remain in the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Mr Mousavian was non-committal. 'It depends to the US. If the US would be committed to international rules and regulations,' he said. 'If the US would respect Non-Proliferation Treaty, if the US would respect the rights of Iran like other members of Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran would stay. 'Iran, like before, would never go for nuclear bombs, like before, Iran would cooperate at the highest level of transparency and inspections, to ensure its nuclear program is peaceful.' Mr Speers then asked whether, in Mr Mousavian's view, there would be an 'incentive' for Iran to speed up its efforts towards building a nuclear weapon. 'It depends on the US. If the US is going to accelerate hostilities, wars, assassinations, terror, cyberattacks, why they should not? 'That sounds like a threat. 'It is (the) American threat. It is (the) Israeli threat. Why you are saying vice-versa? 'Iran has been attacked. Iran did not attack. Israel attacked Iran. The US attacked Iran. But now we are discussing about Iranian threat?'
