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Report Raises Concerns Over Kamala Harris’s Meeting with Iranian-Linked Cleric & Tehran’s Influence in the US
Edited by: TJVNews.com
A new report from researchers at George Washington University has drawn attention to Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2021 meeting with Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, an Iranian-born cleric with close ties to Iran’s regime. The encounter, which took place at a Detroit vaccination event, is highlighted in the report as a potential example of how Iran is extending its influence into the U.S. political landscape. According to a report on the Vois Es Nais web site, the study sheds light on the concerns that Iran may be using individuals such as Elahi to shape American discourse on Middle Eastern policy.
Kamala Harris, in July 2021, met with an Iranian regime operative, Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, who has close ties to groups fueling antisemitic hate on American campuses.
Source: George Washington University’s Program report on Extremism.https://t.co/QCF1IL8rAS pic.twitter.com/BahGSTG62I— SeKooh (@3KooH) October 12, 2024
Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, who once led the political office of the Iranian Navy and has expressed open support for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Hezbollah, has been a controversial figure in the U.S. for decades. During his brief interaction with Vice President Harris, he praised the administration’s efforts in combating COVID-19, a moment captured in photographs that has since raised questions. As Vois Es Nais reported, the research suggests that figures like Elahi, who maintain ties to the Iranian regime, are part of a broader network through which Iran is attempting to spread its ideological reach in the U.S.
The report, produced by George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, examines Iran’s efforts to promote its ideological and political goals within the U.S. One of the key points of concern is Elahi’s role as the leader of the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn, Michigan. According to Vois Es Nais, the report notes that Elahi’s organization has received substantial funding from the Alavi Foundation, a group previously accused of acting as a front for the Iranian government.
THIS IS WHO KAMALA IS👇SHE IS ANTISEMETIC
Kamala happily met with an Iranian regime operative w close ties to groups fueling antisemitic hate on American campuses
An Iranian-born cleric who served as head of the Iranian Navy’s political-ideological office during the 1980s, Imam… pic.twitter.com/dLbV70X70L
— Myrna 𝕏 (@GigaBeers) October 12, 2024
The Alavi Foundation has invested millions of dollars in U.S.-based religious and educational institutions, raising concerns among researchers and officials about Iran’s growing influence. The foundation’s financial ties extend to various institutions involved in anti-Israel activism on American college campuses, further complicating the political landscape. Researchers believe that through such connections, Iran is able to indirectly influence American debates on Middle Eastern issues, particularly those involving Israel and Iran’s regional role.
The fact that Imam Elahi was able to meet with Vice President Harris is viewed by the report’s authors as an indication of how deeply Iran’s influence could penetrate into high-level American networks. According to Vois Es Nais, the report emphasizes that through such interactions, individuals with connections to the Iranian regime may gain access to political figures, potentially affecting American discourse on sensitive topics like U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
The meeting itself was relatively brief and centered around the vaccination efforts in Detroit, but the implications of the interaction have sparked significant concern. Some officials have called for greater scrutiny of figures like Elahi and their connections to American political leaders. As the report highlights, such interactions may seem innocuous on the surface but could be part of a broader strategy by Iran to exert influence in the U.S.
In light of the findings, there have been growing calls from some lawmakers and analysts to investigate the broader network of Iranian influence in the U.S. Vois Es Nais reported that the George Washington University study has prompted officials to request more thorough vetting of individuals with ties to the Iranian regime, especially when they are seen interacting with high-ranking American politicians.
Iran’s alleged efforts to expand its ideological reach into the U.S. come at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, particularly over issues such as nuclear negotiations and Iran’s regional ambitions. The report from George Washington University suggests that figures like Elahi, with their deep connections to Iran’s ruling clerics, may serve as conduits for Iranian influence in American political discussions. As Vois Es Nais noted, the interaction between Harris and Elahi serves as a reminder that the reach of foreign influence can extend into even the highest levels of American politics.
The report from George Washington University underscores the challenges the U.S. faces in identifying and addressing foreign influence, particularly from countries like Iran. While Vice President Harris’s meeting with Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi may have appeared routine, the broader context raises serious questions about how Iran is using individuals like Elahi to shape political narratives in the U.S. According to Vois Es Nais, this interaction is part of a larger effort by Iran to influence American discourse on Middle Eastern policy and potentially sway decision-making processes.
