The trial of Hamid Nouri, a former prison guard and torturer involved in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, has developed into a significant political and legal challenge for the regime in Iran. A report from a Revolutionary Guards–affiliated news agency suggests that the regime initially had certain expectations from this court. However, with the active involvement of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK/PMOI) in the case, the regime perceives a “changed trajectory”, leading to its outrage. The report also overtly indicates Tehran’s threat of terrorist operations against individuals on European soil.
In an article published on November 14, Fars News Agency made numerous threats and accused Sweden of supporting terrorism, stating,
“1,416 days of solitary confinement [for Hamid Nouri], holding a court session in Albania, changing the course of the case from its original plaintiff (Iraj Mesdaghi), and the direct involvement of the hypocrites in taking control of the case, and… these are just examples of the political actions of the Swedish government in this case. But what was the main reason for this change in Sweden’s approach?”
The Iranian regime has employed the term hypocrites for the last four decades to discredit the Mujahedin-e Khalq organization (MEK/PMOI) within Iranian society. Iraj Mesdaghi is an intelligence operative of the Iranian regime who presents himself as a staunch opponent of the regime, much like other intelligence and infiltrative elements of this regime operating in Western countries. However, his primary focus lies in attacking the MEK. Notably, he also garners attention from Western media and think tanks.
However, it is extremely puzzling that a regime, that officially failed to recognize the Stockholm court from the outset, had specific expectations regarding the court proceedings and their progression. Furthermore, the emphasis on Iraj Mesdaghi’s role and slamming the Swedish court for diverting focus from Mesdaghi is quite pondering. Fars News Agency also clearly acknowledges the pivotal role of the MEK and highlights that the regime did not anticipate their involvement in the case. As per the IRGC mouthpiece, the organization has now altered the trajectory of the court proceedings.
The report reveals a second, striking point towards its conclusion. Fars News Agency, referring to an assassination attempt in Spain against the former First Vice President of the European Parliament Prof. Alejo Vidal Quadras, conveys a threatening message using a reversed language:
“The Spanish government should avoid participating in the hypocrites’ dubious scenario. Despite efforts and support from Sweden’s security services, when the hypocrites were faced with their failure in Hamid Nouri’s case, concocted the scenario of Alejo Vidal Quadras’ assassination. This incident has put the credibility of the Spanish government in jeopardy. Spain needs to understand that hosting hypocrites or getting involved in their plots will carry serious consequences.”
10)The War Crimes Unit (@WCU) of the National Operations Department (NOA) of the Swedish Police: Iraj Mesdaghi email was found on Hamid Noury's phone &he has sent 2emails to Mesdaghi’s email on Jan17, 2019 (10 months b4 Noury’s trip& subsequent arrest in Sweden).#1988Massacre
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 27, 2021
Contrary to the Iranian regime’s expectations, the independent judicial system of Sweden has fairly brought Hamid Nouri to justice in a legal process denied to the 30,000 political prisoners in the 1988 mass murder. Through this lawful process, Swedish judges and prosecutors have recognized the main victims of this massacre and acknowledged the role of the MEK.
The regime’s plan to involve Iraj Mesdaghi in this process, as exposed in the July 27, 2021 report number 3 of the Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, is a highly intricate scheme crafted by the regime’s intelligence services.
In essence, the regime aimed to deploy Iraj Mesdaghi to disrupt Hamid Nouri’s trial and undermine the international campaign for justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre. Mesdaghi, presenting himself as a key figure in the trial and selecting plaintiffs with questionable testimonies, sought to support the regime’s plan. However, this strategy collapsed when former prisoners, members of the MEK, and substantial evidence presented by the organization dismantled Tehran’s efforts.
While Hamid Nouri may not hold as high a position in the current Iranian regime as figures like President Ebrahim Raisi, the significance of this trial lies in its broader implications, marking the potential end of impunity for the regime’s leaders and 44 years of committing crimes against humanity.
In reaction to the impartial and professional legal proceedings in Sweden, the Iranian regime has resorted to diverse tactics, including intelligence operations, political maneuvers, and even hostage-taking involving foreign nationals.
Hamid Nouri’s behavior during the trial suggests that he had no expectation of evading the court’s judgment. His only option was to demonstrate loyalty to the regime, with the hope that a negotiation between Tehran and Stockholm could alter his ordeal.
The critical question now arises: Will the diplomatic and executive branches of Sweden, Spain, and other European countries prioritize their core mission of ensuring the security and upholding the rights of their citizens, or will they yield to the threats posed by the most active state sponsor of terrorism?