When it went on air about a year ago, its boss, the London based Asghar Ramezanpour – a former high official in the “Ministry of Islamic Guidance” the main censorship organ of the Islamist fascism ruling over Iran- disputed the widespread rumors about Saudi money being behind his London based 24 hour Persian news satellite channel operation.

Here is Saeed Ghasseminejad, Research Fellow at foundation For Defense of Democracies, a PhD candidate & adjunct Prof of finance:

“Here are the facts: Saudis wanted to have a Persian language TV. They hired a firm to launch the TV. The firm then hired pro-Rouhani anti-Saudi people to run the TV. Now the Saudis are stuck with a multi-million dollar project run by mullah sympathizers.

Asghar Ramezanpour, former high-ranking Islamic Republic official, who is now running the Saudi funded Iran International TV denies the TV is funded by Saudis & says it is owned by Volant media whose shareholders are European & British. Ramezanpour is a liar, here is the proof. (Above document)”

I’ve previously posted two Persian blogs (here and here) on the occasion of “Iran International” going on air. While wishing them all the best, I did at the time mention the strong rumors about Saudi money being behind the endeavor.

There is nothing wrong with getting foreign money per se; however, transparency dictates truth to be told. Now it is up Ramezanpour to come clean about whose money is behind his operation.

Ps. The Minister of Ministry of censor, aka “Ministry of Islamic Guidance” and Ramezanpour’s boss back in Iran was Ata’ollah Mohajerani, who is now also residing in London.

Wikileaks papers revealed Mohajerani had received substantial amount of money from Saudi government, one of his sons is also implicated in the theft of $80 million dollars from Iran’s Oil Ministry.

Airtight sanctions, a la against the despicable South Africa apartheid, works. U.S. lawmakers get to it.