The Latest from Iran (12 January): The Killing of the Professor

2110 GMT: Peyke Iran has published the news we heard earlier (see 1810 GMT) that all the detained Mothers of Mourning have been released.

1855 GMT: HomyLafayette has an excellent summary of information around the Mohammadi case.

1845 GMT: More on the Trial of the Baha'i (see 0725 GMT). An EA reader notes confusion over the court hearing for seven Baha'i members arrested in 2008 for "organizing riots". Many accounts say the trial was today but one Iranian source reports that testimony began yesterday, a day early.

1815 GMT: Not A Nuclear Scientist. A highly reliable EA source checks in on the Professor's case: "I hand checked all three UN black lists [of Iranian nuclear scientists]. Ali Mohammadi isn't there."

1810 GMT: Mothers of Mourning Update. Norooz reports that 14 of the mothers arrested in last Saturday's protest have been transferred to Evin prison while the rest have been released.

An Iranian activist is claiming, however, that all mothers have been freed.

1800 GMT: Oh. My. Goodness. The Supreme Leader's representative to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, Ali Saeedi, has reportedly declared that the the deaths of 75,000 people will be worthwhile if the Islamic Republic is preserved. 1745 GMT: The Presidential website has made a contribution to the Mohammadi story, declaring that the Iranian nation will have its "revenge" on the "enemies" who killed the professor. More info, however, on Mohammadi as a particle physicist: his faculty profile and a list of publications which complements those we noted earlier (1445 GMT).

NEW Latest Iran Video: How State Media Frames Killing of “Nuclear” Professor (12 January) NEW Iran: How Far Do The Green Movements Go? NEW Iran & Social Media: Dispelling Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (Parsons) Iran Exclusive: The Latest Nuclear Riddle — Renewed Talks with “West”? Iran Analysis: Beyond the Headlines, The Regime Battles Itself Iran & Twitter: Myth v. Reality of Security and “Deep Packet Inspection” Iran & Twitter: Last Words on The Hell of Heaven (Shahryar) The Latest from Iran (11 January): Reading the Regime

1630 GMT: Rah-e-Sabz is reporting an explosion in Shariati Street, Tehran, which has killed one person.

1605 GMT: How the Mohammadi Story Was Clarified. It should be noted that the "Iranian blogger" mentioned at 1250 GMT, with the post which began to establish that Professor Mohammadi was a particle physicist and not a nuclear scientist, was one of Mohammadi's students.

1555 GMT: We've posted a video showing how Iran's state media are framing the killing of Professor Mohammadi. It is, according to Tehran University academic Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a "terrorist" act --- probably the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MKO) --- supported by the US and Israel.

1535 GMT: Not A Nuclear Scientist. The Iranian Atomic Energy Agency has formally denied any professional relationship with Professor Mohammad Ali Mohammadi. We also have another link for Professor Mohammadi: his involvement in the project "Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East" (SESAME).

1515 GMT: Curbing the Reformists. A group of members of Parliament has asked Speaker Ali Larijani to remove Ali Akbar Motashami, head of Mehdi Karroubi's Presidential campaign, as the chair of Committee for the Defense of Palestine. Motashami has criticised the outcome of the Presidential election since the day after the vote, and his Parliamentary opponents have claimed that he is responsible for the slogan, "No Gaza! No Lebanon! We Sacrifice for Iran!". Motashami was former Minister of Interior when Mir Hossein Mousavi was Prime Minister.

1510 GMT: Motahari's Move. High-profile member of Parliament (and brother-in-law of Ali Larijani) Ali Motahari has continued his recent criticism of the Ahmadinejad Government through a letter  to  Hossein Shariatmardari, the editor of the pro-Ahmadinejad newspaper Kayhan. Motahari declared that the President started the political crisis when he accused all of the candidates in the election of being "spinning tops" of Hashemi Rafsanjani. Motahari put four questions to Shariatmardari, including the reason why Ahmadinejad attacked Hashemi Rafsanjani in pre-election debates, and he concluded the letter, "Maybe you and your colleagues need a rest". Indeed, it would be better for Iranian society if Shariatmardari and his friends went "for a holiday in an enjoyable place" and allowed the situation to improve.

1505 GMT: The Attack on Rafsanjani. Cleric Hamid Rohani  has announced that former President Hashemi Rafsanjani is "not a very important man" and asserted that Imam Khomeini believed Rafsanjani could be "deceived" by others.

1455 GMT: Makhmalbaf Puts Out Mousavi's Message? The filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who is closely connected with Mir Hossein Mousavi, has set out a series of declarations, defining the state of the Green movement, in an interview:

Who are main leaders of the movement? It's the young generation. In each alley, in each street, you will see one smart youth lead 10 others. We have some famous people everywhere, but even if the government kills all of them, this movement will continue.

Makhmalbaf added a specific declaration on methods, "The past seven months have been the first time that we could ask people to think about non-violence. We are going to kill dictatorship, not dictators. We don't want to empty the prisons and then fill them with other people." The filmmaker also repeated his wish for "targeted sanctions" against the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps.

1445 GMT: More on the Particle Physicist. A fellow physicist has posted a link to 40 listed academic papers of "M. Alimohammadi" or "Mohsen Alimohammadi". None of them, according to the sources, are connected with nuclear physics.

1305 GMT: The Mohammadi Blame Game. Press TV, after carrying the message of Iran's Foreign Ministry of "signs of the involvement of the Zionist regime [Israel], the US and their allies" in the killing of Professor Mohammadi, rolls out the latest accusation

A terrorist group, whose radio station broadcast from the United States, took responsibility Tuesday for the fatal attack on an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran. The Iran Royal Association, an obscure monarchist group that seeks to reestablish the Pahlavi reign in Iran, announced in a statement that its "Tondar Commandos" were behind the assassination of Masoud Ali-Mohammadi.

And very quickly the "Iran Royal Association" denies the allegation.

1250 GMT: The Real Professor Mohammadi? A highly-reliable EA source provides the following important information:

I knew Ali Mohammadi personally and talked to him at length in Tehran in March. Almost certainly he had nothing to do with Iran's nuclear programme, according to very informed sources, and he was indeed a supporter of the Green movement. Rah-e-Sabz has published his signature on a letter sent by a group of university professors in support of Mousavi.

An Iranian blogger makes similar points, while adding that Mohammadi was a specialist on particle physics and linking to his Tehran University profile.

1050 GMT: The Battle over the Dead Professor. Wow, this is going to get heated. Ayande News , considered close to former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, has fought back against state media's portrayal that Massoud Mohammadi was a "dedicated revolutionary" killed by "anti-revolutionary" elements with the reminder that Mohammadi was publicly identified as a supporter of Mir Hossein Mousavi. The Mousavi site Kalameh also pushes this line and adds that Mohammadi, one of the first Ph.D. graduates in physics at Tehran University, was instrumental in the development of the programme over the last 20 years. (English summary)

0930 GMT: Killed Professor in Iran's Nuclear Programmme? The Internet chatter that Massoud Mohammadi, the Tehran University professor killed in an explosion this morning (see 0720 GMT), is a nuclear physicist now appears to be confirmed. Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi has said that Mohammadi was a member of the country's "scientific elite" killed by Iran's enemies. (English summary in Los Angeles Times)

[NOTE: This update has been eclipsed by later news. It appears that the "nuclear physicist" claim is a line put out by Iranian authorities and does not represent Mohammadi's work.]

0920 GMT: Trials for US Citizens? The Iranian Foreign Ministry has repeated this morning that the three American citizens detained this summer when they crossed on foot into Iran from Iraq will soon be in court: "The judiciary will make a decision and we know that they will be tried soon." (Original story from Fars)

0750 GMT: A Cyber-Attack Too Far? Remember the "Iranian Cyber-Army", the group that carried out attacks on Twitter and, more importantly, the opposition website Mowj-e-Sabz? Well, they're back with a curious operation. This morning, their "diversion" attack posted their images and slogans on Baidu, China's top search engine. Baidu is now back in operation, but news of the hijacking has quickly spread. More importantly, so has the head-scratching. Why, given Tehran's need for Chinese support on a number of issues, would an Iranian group take down a prominent site accepted by the Chinese Government? If the Iranian Cyber-Army is close to the Government, someone has authorised a very stupid operation. If, on the other, the ICA is just a private group carrying out a bit of damage and silliness, it is not really helping anyone.

0745 GMT: Free the Mothers of Mourning. Amnesty International has called on Iran's authorities to release 33 Mothers of Mourning and their supporters, detained at the weekly protest in Laleh Park on Saturday.

0740 GMT: Nuclear Talks. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed, after  discussion of further US sanctions and Iran's latest proposals, that talks of the "5+1" powers (US, UK, France, Germany, China, Russia) on Tehran's nuclear programme will take place in New York at the end of this week.

0725 GMT: Blaming the Baha'is. A story that we should have noted this weekend. The Iranian regime will soon try seven leaders of the Baha'i faith, held in Evin prison since spring 2008. While the detentions occurred two years ago, the handling of the cases is now clearly tied to the Government's manoeuvres in the post-election crisis, blaming groups like the Baha'i, "terrorists", and foreign powers for the conflict. Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi declared:

These people were not arrested because they were Baha'is....In searching their homes, a number of weapons and ammunition were discovered....[They] played a role in organizing the riots and sending pictures of the riots abroad. That is why they were arrested.

0720 GMT: Press TV is reporting that Dr Massoud Mohammadi, a Tehran University professor, has been killed near his home by the explosion of a booby-trapped motorbike. Mohammadi recently presented a paper on water resource management at an Australian conference. 0715 GMT: We begin today with two analyses. After yesterday's major development, the issuing of statements by Mehdi Karroubi and Mohammad Khatami, we put the question, "How Far Do The Green Movements Go?" in their demands. And amidst the recent discussion of #IranElection and Twitter, Christopher Parsons busts some fears and dispels some myths about Iran and social media.

Comments

[Cecil]

@ Karolien

That program/debate is designed to identify some politicians who are sympathetic to the green movement. Once they come out and talk against the excesses of the regime through this debate, I'm pretty sure after the program, they will be arrested using their comments and arguments as evidence.

[ange paris]

The regime set off the explosions as Poutine did it in Russa on behalf of Tchetchens aiming unrest, fear and terror !! the major target is to save their own skin.

[Ali]

I think everyone's in agreement that the bombing was state run.
My personal theory is that they're trying to stir other countries to get into the act. I may be wrong, but that's my suspicion.

The irony is that in the long run this will actually hurt the regime itself. If I were Israel, I could now easily place some strategic bombs in Iran and no one will believe it was Israel. People are now so used to the iranian regime lying that they won't believe them even if they were right for once. The man who cried wolf.

PS: I'm not advocating violence. I'm just making a point about the regime's lies.

[Hossein]

The talk in Tehran has been than agents of Hezbollah, specifically two whose pictures appeared first when Mousavi's headquarters were ransacked in June and then during the demonstrations especially Ashoora. The men are trained Hezbollah agents and have carried out despicable acts of violence in Iran against the Green and now this sophisticated bombing, which can only have been carried out with tacit knowledge of the Information folk, ettela'ati-ha. Go to Peiknet and you will see pictures posted. I have been saying this for some time now, and we are fed up with Hezbollah meddling in Iran's affairs and in promoting the culture of death to and violence. Iran will rid itself of these elements, and soon. The mood on the streets of all cities in Iran, big and small, is very clear and of course very tense. No more Hezbollah, No more Lebanon, Only Iran.

[Samuel]

"Here is an article about one of the many health benefits of living in the glorious Islamic Republic of Iran. Bless them for all they have given the Iranian people.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100112/hl_nm/us_stroke_iran_1"

Hey Chef Bozorgi,

It's all those high calorie snacks and cake which the govt. hands out. One can imagine the cholesterol content of all that meat you keep talking about.

[Megan]

Rev. Magdalalen,

I listened to a radio program that offered a review of all sources with news on Dr. Masoud Alimohamadi. Here is a summary:

Dr. Alimohamadi was a political activist and lately he was encouraging his students and supporting their involvement in democracy movement. He had received a warning from Iran intelligence Ministry to dial it down. He had shared that warning with his students even though he had been told not to. He was in contact with University of Stockholm in Sweden and making arrangements to go for a one-year research project. He knew researchers in Iran nuke project. Regime did not want him to leave the country for the fear that he might share confidential nuke info.

I personally do not have any firsthand knowledge if any of the above is true but from reading comment section of some Iranian Web blogs, no one in Iran is buying regime version of why and who murdered the professor.

If any EA readers lives in Sweden they can check with University of Stockholm, if they can, and find out if there is any truth to Dr. Masoud Alimohamadi’s plan to work on a research project there.

Signed: Mohareb for ever

[Gloumdalclitch]

To Samuel
The consumption of food with high cholesterol level is one factor but stress caused by living conditions under a totalitarian regime certainly doesn't help.

[A Murderous Deception in Tehra]

[...] Mir Hossein Mousavi during last spring’s heated electoral campaign (see the entry at 1259 GMT on Enduring America [2]).  Why was he killed now?  Because he was planning to leave the country for Stockholm, where [...]

[Samuel]

After a major event like the bombing today the paranoia/conspiracy theory crescendo in many of the posts becomes quite a spectacle. Now everone is convinced that the the Govt. itself did the bombing. It reminds me of the death of Montazeri when some of the more adventurous ones even pushed the theory that he had been killed by govt. agents. Of course in that case eventually these ridiculous assertions were pulled back when others did not bother to bite.

Does it even occur to anyone that a govt. that prides itself on security and control would not want to do something that would show that its security can be pierced? Of course not it makes no sense.

Now we have the wild accusations that the ARABS-Yes the arabs-from Lebanon's Hezbollah are responsible. Now it's Hezbollah meddling in Iran's affairs. Funny how the govt. has to reach all the way into Lebanon to get folks to do its dirty work.

[Arshama]

Security? Government in control? Just remember the assassination of Brig. Gen. Nurali Shushtari in Sistan. By now the Eastern and Southern borders are closed: http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=12079
tars baradare marge ...

[Megan]

Oh, please. Islamic Rubbish Republic does not know how to spell security let alone maintaining it.

The only think this regime knows well is creating terror inside and outside of its borders by the way of rape, torture, murder and assassination. We do not need to point finger at failed Islamic Republic, mullah Ali and his apes do that themselves every time they speak.

People of Iran remember too well the serial killing of the 90’s. The difference is today people are more engaged and much more fed up with a system of government that has failed and are not ready for a sequel.

Regime thugs assassinated Professor Ali Mohamadi and any suggestion to the contrary is preposterous. If opposition groups wanted to target a university professor, why not shut down the regime microphone, Marandi.

This was a bloody murder with regime finger prints all over it. Buying regime line is being mega stupid.

Signed: A Proud Mohareb

[Des Rätsels Lösung (?) «]

[...] Mir Hossein Mousavi during last spring’s heated electoral campaign (see the entry at 1259 GMT on Enduring America).  Why was he killed now?  Because he was planning to leave the country for Stockholm, where [...]

[Hossein]

Thanks Megan in 37. Yes, that is the case. This regime is rapist and it lies all the time, no one believes what is said by agents of IRI. Period. Prof. Ali Mohammadi was active in the Greens and had signed the famous letter. This type of despicable acts by the IRI only strengthens our resolve. Period. The agents and the mouthpieces of IRI on this and on any other forum only show how childish their arguments are, their attempts to cover up the lies, the killings, the rapes, the murders, and all the rest have one effect: The Iranian people are getting united and more every day against despots. We all know Iranian mythology and we are aware of Zahhak's evil acts and we all know how it ends. Pretend all you want. One has to only laugh at how primitive the government's statements have been. An hour or so after the killing they come out and say they know who had done it, who are the agencies and such, how utterly primitive and simplistic. The obscurantist agenda no longer works. We see through you and we see only lies and deceit.