Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says one of its officers has been assassinated in the capital Tehran by gunmen riding on two motorcycles, according to the state news agency IRNA. Hassan Sayyad Khodayari has been one of the closest to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenein. He has been the most vocal Quds Officer against the USA Sanctions on Iran but above all he has been the architecture of Iranian combat programs against the State of Israel.Hassan Sayyad Khodayari was an officer of the Quds Force, IRGC’s foreign arm, who served in Syria in past years.#Buyinza.com
Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem said that the IRGC issued a statement on Sunday saying Hassan Sayyad Khodayari was assassinated by enemies of the revolution. He said that Khodayari was a member of the Quds Force (which is responsible for the IRGC’s foreign operations) and that he served in Syria in past years.
The IRGC, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, identified Khodayari as a colonel. Khodayari was killed by five bullets as he returned home near Mojahedin-e-Islam Street at about 4pm (11:30 GMT), according to the IRNA.
The agency published pictures showing a man slumped over in the driver’s seat of a car, with blood around the collar of his blue shirt and on his upper right arm.
The state agency described him as a “defender of the sanctuary” – a term used to describe anyone who works on behalf of Iran in Syria or Iraq.
The enemies of the revolution’
Iran has been a key military backer of the Syrian regime. It has sent thousands of fighters to Syria and Iraq to fight against the ISIL (ISIS) group under the Quds Force that oversees foreign operations.
Al Jazeera’s Hashem, speaking from Doha, said that this assassination is being seen in a different context. “Most of the previous assassinations that took place in Tehran over the past decade were related to the nuclear file,” the Al Jazeera correspondent said referring to the previous assassinations that targeted the country’s nuclear scientists.
“This is probably for the first time, an assassination is related to Iran’s regional policies if that’s the right word to say.
“It seems very clear that the Iranians were keeping a distance in all the statements that were issued in Tehran from pointing fingers to a direct side. They did not say Israel. They kept a distance from naming who is behind the assassination.”
Instead, they blamed ‘the enemies of the revolution’ for the killing, the Al Jazeera correspondent said.
‘Terrorist act’
In a statement posted on their website, the IRGC also denounced a “terrorist act” they claimed was carried out by “elements linked to global arrogance”.
The IRGC said they launched an investigation to identify the “aggressor or aggressors”.
The motorcycle attack was a reminder of the killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in November 2020.
At least six Iranian scientists and academics have been killed or attacked since 2010, several of them by assailants riding motorcycles, in incidents believed to have targeted Iran’s nuclear programme, which the West says is aimed at producing a bomb.
Iran denies this, saying its nuclear programme has peaceful purposes, and has denounced the killings of its scientists as acts of “terrorism” carried out by Western intelligence agencies and the Israeli Mossad. Israel has declined comment on such accusations.
“This is not the first time that assassination has taken place in Tehran. There have been examples in the past. And most of the time the Israelis and Americans have been at fault,” Aslani from the Centre for Middle East Strategic Studies, said.
In a separate development, Iran’s state TV earlier announced that members of an Israeli intelligence network had been found and arrested by the IRGC.
Under the guidance of the Zionist regime’s intelligence service, the network attempted to steal and destroy personal and public property, kidnapping and obtaining fabricated confessions through a network of thugs,” the IRGC public relations service said in a statement.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, which oversees the national intelligence agency Mossad, declined comment on the events in Tehran.
In April, Iran’s intelligence ministry said it had arrested three Mossad spies, according to a statement published by the semi-official Fars news agency.
In January 2020, General Qassem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force and architect of its regional security apparatus, was killed following a United States air raid at Baghdad’s international airport.
The White House and the Pentagon confirmed the killing of Soleimani in Iraq, saying the attack was carried out at the direction of then US President Donald Trump and was aimed at deterring future attacks allegedly being planned by Iran.
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Public Opinions was founded by Makerere University students in 2004 in Lumumba Hall Makerere University and it operated as a study group on students welfare as well as Networking. In 2008 it was incorporated as a company Limited by Guarantee by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
Public Opinions work towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
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- In 2009, Public Opinions organized a High Level United NATIONS Millennium Development Goals Dialogue at Hotel Africa Kampala and it attracted stakeholders from the Public and Private Sector, Religious Leaders and Diplomats.
- In 2009, Public Opinions organized 5 Small and Medium Enterprises Sessions for Youth Leaders such as at Gretton Hotel in Masaka which was addressed by Brig David Muhoozi who was commander of the Armoury Brigade in Masaka. Others Speakers included Prof Maggie Kigozi, Ambassador of ICELAND to UGANDA, Dr Kassim Omar who was Director of East Africa Business Council,etc. The Luwero SMEs Sessions for Youth Leaders organised by Public Opinions was presided over by Katikiro of Buganda JB Walusimbi and Hajji Abdul Nadduli.
- In 2010, Public Opinions organized the Buganda Youth Leaders Conference on wealth Creation. The conference was held at Katikomu Country Hotel in Kayunga and it was presided over by the Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi who was the minister for Security and Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).It was attended by youth leaders from Central Region. Key speakers were from Uganda Investment Authority and Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID).
- In 2011,Public Opinions organised a Kampala Wealth Creation Awareness Conference for Youth Leaders
- In 2012,Public Opinions organized the 2012 Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony which was presided over by Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda
- In 2012,Public Opinions organized the Uganda Who is Who Summit at imperial Royale Hotel and launched a book titled Uganda Who is Who Book of Records launched by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi
- In 2013, Public Opinions organized the Pearl of Africa Lifetime Achievement Award (PALITA Award) in which over 80 High Profile Personalities were awarded and inducted in the Uganda Who is who Book of Records. Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Presided over.
- In 2014, Public Opinions organized the 2014 High Level Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony in which 50 Responsible Investments were awarded. The Ceremony was presided over by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President of the Republic of Uganda, Rt Hon Amama Mbababazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda and Prof Emmanuel Mutebile Governor Bank of Uganda.
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- In November 2017, Public Opinions recognized the University of Bologna in Italy with the Global Sustainable Development Award as the oldest continuing University in the world. The Award was received by the Rector University of Bologna in his Office in the city of Bologna in Italy. This was followed with a meeting between Rector University of Bologna and Luzindana Adam Buyinza Team Leader of Public Opinions.
- In 2018, Public Opinions in partnership with the Asia Africa Development Council in new Delhi India organized the Asia Africa Development Summit in New Delhi Republic of India.
- In 2016, Public Opinions and Computer Society of India together with Asia Africa development Council organized the India-Africa ICT Summit. The summit was held in New Delhi Capital of the Republic of India.
- On 22ndNovember 2019, Public Opinions held a High Level Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony which was presided over by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Hon Evelyn Anite Minister of State for Investment and Privatization. During the Summit, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was declared the Uganda Peace and Development Champion by Public Opinions and 62 Uganda Responsible Investments were recognized with the 2019 Uganda Responsible Investment Award (URI Award).
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