So-Called Strategist Arrested over His Remarks against Iranian Army

Abbasi’s website announced that he has been arrested on Wednesday morning after appearing in a military court.

Calling himself the ‘Kissinger of Islam’, he is known for his controversial speeches about various fields like Cinema, Economy, History and Politics.

In a video clip recently published of his remarks during a speech back in 2009 in University of Tehran, Abbasi lashes out at the Iranian Army’s inaction, particularly over the country’s political and social issues.

The remarks were widely criticized by Iranian officials, especially those in the IRGC and the Army, which are the two units of Iranian Armed Forces.

Head of the IRGC’s Public Relations Department General Ramezan Sharif said on Sunday, July 31, that the IRGC never confirms such remarks, and any move that weakens the Islamic Republic’s institutions and structures is condemned.

Earlier, the Commander of Army Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan noted that Abbasi should apologize for his remarks.

He said the Army’s legal department has filed a lawsuit against Abbasi, and he should appear in the court soon.

Abbasi’s Wednesday arrest came in spite of his apology. He had earlier appeared in the military court and explained about his remarks.

After the court appearance, he sent a message on Monday, August 1, to Army Commander Major General Ataollah Salehi and apologized for his remarks. He at the same time noted that the move to release the video after six years was an effort by ‘liberals’ and ‘anti-Revolution’ media to deviate Iranian public opinion from such important issues as the astronomical salaries, widespread economic downturn, the US betrayal in the post-JCPOA era, a secret meeting [between President Hassan Rouhani and Israelis] in August 1986 in Paris, among other things.