Manucher Ghorbanifar

Manucher Ghorbanifar is an Iranian businessman and former Savak agent, known for his involvement in the Iran–Contra affair, a major scandal during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Ghorbanifar has been linked to various intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the Mossad, and has been involved in several high-profile espionage cases, including the Iran hostage crisis. His activities have also been connected to prominent figures such as Ariel Sharon, Robert McFarlane, and Oliver North.

Early life and background

Manucher Ghorbanifar was born in Tehran, Iran in 1945, during the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was educated at the University of Tehran and later moved to the United States, where he became involved in international business and intelligence work. Ghorbanifar's early career was marked by his involvement with the Savak, the secret police of the Imperial State of Iran, and his connections to prominent Iranian figures such as Hossein Fatemi and Abbas Hoveyda. He also had ties to the CIA and the Mossad, and was involved in several covert operations in the Middle East, including the Yom Kippur War and the Iran–Iraq War.

Iran–Contra affair involvement

Ghorbanifar's most notable involvement was in the Iran–Contra affair, a major scandal that rocked the presidency of Ronald Reagan. He acted as a middleman between the United States and Iran, facilitating the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages held by Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ghorbanifar worked closely with Robert McFarlane, Oliver North, and other key figures in the Reagan administration, including John Poindexter and Caspar Weinberger. His involvement in the affair was also linked to the Contras, a group of anti-Sandinista rebels in Nicaragua, and the CIA's support for them, which was led by figures such as Duane Clarridge and Alan Fiers.

Later activities and allegations

After the Iran–Contra affair, Ghorbanifar continued to be involved in international business and intelligence work, with connections to figures such as Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu. He has been accused of involvement in various scandals and espionage cases, including the Pollard affair and the Iran nuclear deal. Ghorbanifar has also been linked to the Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky and the Ukrainian oligarch Pavlo Lazarenko, and has been involved in several high-profile business deals, including the Rosneft-Gazprom merger. His activities have been the subject of investigations by the FBI and the CIA, and have been linked to prominent figures such as Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.

Media portrayals and public image

Ghorbanifar has been the subject of numerous media portrayals, including books such as Bob Woodward's Veil and The Iran-Contra Connection by Jonathan Marshall and Peter Dale Scott. He has also been featured in documentaries such as Frontline's The Secret War and The Iran-Contra Affair by PBS. Ghorbanifar's public image is that of a mysterious and influential figure, with connections to powerful intelligence agencies and world leaders. His legacy is marked by controversy and scandal, and his activities continue to be the subject of investigation and debate, with figures such as Seymour Hersh and Glenn Greenwald writing about his involvement in intelligence and espionage cases. Category:Iranian people