Iranian TV dissident survives stabbing by fake ‘Jerusalem Post’ reporter

Pouria Zeraati, a prominent dissident Iranian TV presenter who recently survived a stabbing attack outside his home, revealed a deceitful attempt to compromise his security through a bogus interview request – according to a report by The Jewish Chronicle (JC). The attacker, posing as a journalist from The Jerusalem Post, aimed to lure Zeraati into a trap, highlighting the lengths to which adversaries will go to target vocal critics of the Iranian regime.

A key figure on the anti-regime channel Iran International, Zeraati recounted his harrowing experience and the subsequent psychological battle he faced in the aftermath of the assault. “Physically I’m feeling better,” the dissident shared with the Chronicle, but “mentally, it’s totally different. It’s going take a long time to get over it.”

The investigation into the attack is being led by counter-terrorist police, pointing to the grave nature of the assault and the possible involvement of state-backed operatives. Zeraati hinted at the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force’s history of targeting dissidents abroad, suggesting their potential role in the machinations against him.

Zeraati and his colleagues have faced escalating threats, particularly after critiquing anti-Israel marches in Britain. He specifically mentioned an insidious cyber attempt masquerading as an outreach from the Post. “I’ve been told that in the past 24 hours, they have been in touch with partner forces abroad to try to bring them back here to justice,” Zeraati revealed about the ongoing efforts to apprehend his assailants. 

Conversation took a turn after discussing need to place IRGC on UK terror list

According to the Chronicle, the conversation took a significant turn when discussing the need for the UK to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, a standpoint Zeraati fervently supports. In an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year, Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, underscoring the IRGC’s global threat and offering intelligence to justify such a move by the British government.

Iran International tweeted on Thursday that its “presenter Pouria Zeraati who recently survived a knife attack outside his London house, told The Jewish Chronicle he “received a message from someone using a phone with an Israeli +972 code, purporting to be a journalist from The Jerusalem Post who wanted to interview him.

Iran International’s presenter @pouriazeraati who recently survived a knife attack outside his London house told @JewishChron he “received a message from someone using a phone with an Israeli +972 code, purporting to be a journalist from @Jerusalem_Post who wanted to interview… pic.twitter.com/jc8M6Br5On

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) April 11, 2024

But when the ‘reporter’ tried to set up an online meeting and sent a link, he became suspicious and reported it.”

“Zeraati says the source ‘was a known cyber warfare unit of Iran’s IRGC’ according to cyber security experts,” it said.Iran International, a Persian-language news channel based in London and broadcasting worldwide, focuses on news, culture and sports, and is influential in Iran despite government jamming.

It temporarily moved to Washington in 2023 due to threats but returned to London later that year, and has faced accusations of being linked to Saudi Arabia while also being targeted by the Iranian government.

JPost