Plot Against Iranian-American Journalist Is 'Transnational Repression', State Department Says

Washington /16.08.22/Turan: Washington on Monday made it clear that it views the latest plot against Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad — which involves an Azerbaijani citizen who is currently under investigation for possibly planning to harm Masih Alinejad — as a "case of transnational repression," TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We do see this as a case of transnational repression, and in some ways attempted transnational aggression," State Department spokesman Ned Price told TURAN's correspondent at a daily press briefing.

"The Department of Justice has released information about the plot against [Alinejad], and obviously there have been concerning developments since. I don’t want to weigh in on the specific actors involved in this, because there’s still an active law enforcement component," Price added when asked about further details of the investigation.

Police arrested Azerbaijani citizen Khalid Mehdiyev last month after he was seen lurking near the Brooklyn home of Masih Alinejad, looking in the window and trying to open the front door. The State Department on Monday refrained from providing further information about Mehdiyev, his visa status, as well as his possible connections with Iran.

In the meantime, Price said, Iran is one of the many governments that has "sought to export not only repression, but also aggression."

"And we have – again, using all of the tools at our disposal, including in this case law enforcement tools – sought to in the first instance thwart threats against individuals,"  he added.

"We have spoken to the plot not only against [Alinejad], but also [former White House National Security Advisor] John Bolton as well, and to use the tools at our disposal to make clear that there will be severe costs and consequences if this type of activity continues," Price said.

Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.