America First Legal, a group of conservative lawyers, announces that it has launched a probe into the activities of a pro-Iran influence network in the United States which can pose a threat to the American national security.
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the group started its investigations on October 24 about Robert Malley, the suspended US special envoy for Iran, and Ariane Tabatabai, a former associate of Malley and the current Chief of Staff for the Assistant Secretary of Defense.
Iran International’s exposé, Inside Tehran’s Soft War: How Iran Gained Influence in US Policy Centers, and its twin report by Semafor, Inside Iran’s Influence Operation, proves the existence of the “Iran Experts Network”, whereby members acted as agent provocateurs of the regime.
Referring to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), America First Legal has demanded that the US State Department and Pentagon provide information regarding the two officials’ alleged contacts with the Iranian regime.
The legal watchdog touches upon Tabatabai’s role “in a covert Iranian influence campaign” and her alleged lobbying for the interests of the Iranian regime in the United States, requesting that the Justice Department decide whether she can be considered a foreign agent.
America First Legal’s probe can lead to the discovery of new documents regarding Washington’s secret diplomatic relations with Tehran, especially the ones conducive to a controversial prisoner swap deal between the two countries in September 2023.
"It is of paramount importance that the truth about the role that Iranian assets may have played, and may continue to be playing, in formulating US policy be brought to light," Freebeacon quoted Reed Rubinstein, the group’s senior counselor as saying.
