News Brief: In a controversial set of remarks, a top commander from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) suggested that “the people” would want the death penalty to be imposed on the two leaders of Iran’s opposition movement. Hossein Nejat was referring to Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who spearheaded the mass protests against the regime during 2009-2011. “These people under house arrest enjoy wonderful amenities. They have swimming pools and access to the internet. They have private doctors and the best of foods.” Nejat continued that “people would be surprised if they knew how they [Mousavi and Karroubi] live.”
Comment:
Nejat is a long-time former commander of the IRGC’s Vali Amr Corps, which is responsible for the personal security of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The head of the IRGC, Mohammad Ali Jafari, only last week appointed Nejat to become the deputy head of the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization. This is the branch of the IRGC that suppresses political dissent and is answerable to Khamenei only.
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