Iranian Brutality, American Soft Power

Dear Colleagues,

The news out of Iran this week is horrific. The regime now acknowledges that at least 5,000 people were killed in recent protests. One haunting image — from Rasht in northwest Iran — shows a pile of abandoned shoes. Surrendering protesters in a historic bazaar were trapped and apparently burned alive by security forces. Independent sources estimate more than 12,000 dead across the country.

This week, the regime gave young people three days to surrender if they were involved in protests and want a chance for “leniency.” There are reports of torture and as many as 100,000 detained.

Roya Hakakian was barely a teenager at the time of the 1979 Iranian revolution. Her father was a school principal. Her mother taught Hebrew. Roya grew up in a mixed, eclectic, middle-class neighborhood in Tehran. On her block were Jewish families, a Zoroastrian family, a Baha’i family, Christian Armenians. Roya befriended a Shiite Muslim family with a daughter her age. Their house became “the best destination for neighborhood kids.”

In 1985, Roya emigrated to the United States with her mother, eventually reuniting with the rest of her family. She studied social work, psychology, and poetry in New York.

Today, as many of you know, Roya is an influential writer and prominent democracy advocate engaged in support for Iran’s opposition.

We’ll host Roya for a salon discussion in February. Details forthcoming. Meanwhile, Leila is kindly arranging an interview.

Interviews

MBN offers our Arabic-language audiences across the Middle East and North Africa — across multiple platforms — accurate, reliable news and information on U.S. policy and developments in their respective countries where free and responsible media are often lacking.

Many are craving serious analysis on the future of Iran’s proxy networks in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Gaza, and elsewhere. We’ve been doing exactly that.

We have a number of important interviews in the works.

We’ve requested an interview with Mike Doran, who argues in the Wall Street Journal this week that it’s time to squeeze the Iranian regime’s offshore accounts.

Eli Lake continues to write about Iran for the Free Press. We want Eli to speak with us about regime stability and U.S. policy.

Let’s get Tom Gross again on Iran, Israel, and mainstream media bias.

Let’s have board member Ilan Berman back soon. Ilan’s most recent podcast deals with Iran, U.S.-funded international media, and public diplomacy.

We need Henry Sokolski back. I spoke with Henry last week. We’ll schedule something soon. When nuclear powers are expansionist, then others join in and establish nuclear umbrellas. Henry can help us sort the new proliferation disorder.

Martha Bayles will engage MBN audiences on Chinese soft power.

I’ve just signed up Frank Ricciardone for a Zoom talk — on Monday February 2 at 10:30 am ET. Join me and the senior leadership team meeting. We’ve interviewed Frank before. This will be an internal conversation. Frank is a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Egypt. He also served as president of the American University in Cairo.

Similarly big picture: We’ve invited board chair Ryan Crocker and board member Susan Ziadeh for an interview to discuss U.S. policy and the shape of the new Middle East. Susan served as U.S. ambassador to Qatar. Four of Ryan’s six ambassadorial assignments were in our region: in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Kuwait. We’re blessed with deep knowledge and experience.

Editorial (and the Hill)

It’s another busy editorial week. Randa has interviewed Darin LaHood, attorney and member of the House of Representatives since 2015. A Republican from Illinois, Mr. LaHood  — with a father of Lebanese descent — argues for concrete action that includes disarmament of Hezbollah if Beirut wants continued Washington support.

Our Tuesday newsletter this week is a must read — Arabic and English. We have Mahtab Qolizadeh drawing on first-hand testimony explaining how Iranian authorities have been trying to use a communications blackout to erase evidence and details of mass killings.

But there’s also valuable reporting on Washington’s red lines. So much is driven now from the American capital. From Syria to Gaza, Tehran, Beirut, and beyond, the U.S. — together with key regional capitals, to be sure — is testing how far pressure can go without tipping into open war. Impressive work Joe, Ringo, Randa, Ghassan, Rasha (and tip of hat to Leila, Abed, Matt).

In the information and ideas space, MBN matters. We have an opportunity to show our wares both this week and next on Capitol Hill. We’re grateful for the chance.

We’ve downsized by more than 90 percent, saving the American taxpayer millions of dollars. We’ve enhanced internal oversight and accountability.

We’ve created a new digital-first strategy and launched new programs and a suite of exciting newsletters.

We continue to refine our alignment with broad U.S. foreign policy goals.

We’re focused every day on nurturing our authentic American voice.

We are America’s Arabic language voice in the Middle East. It’s not lost on us that competition in our region is fierce. We work in areas where disinformation runs rampant — and credibility is king.

It’s great work, all of you. MBN goes now from strength to strength.

Sincerely, Jeff