An internal probe obtained by Iran International reveals that the US State Department violated regulations by not reporting allegations against former Iran envoy Rob Malley to the department's watchdog.
The state department has yet to release details of these allegations which led to the revocation of Malley's security clearance, and effectively ended his mandate.
The report, initiated by the State Department's Inspector General months ago, highlights procedural lapses that likely allowed Malley to engage in activities beyond his authorized scope of work even after the suspension of his role.
Key issues highlighted in the report are the delay in notifying Malley of his clearance suspension and the department’s failure to inform other staff that Malley was no longer permitted to access classified materials.
The mismanagement allowed Malley to continue participating in sensitive work, including “the opportunity to participate in a classified conference call” after the suspension was approved.
Two influential congressmen suggested in May that Malley lost his security clearance because he had transferred classified documents to his personal email and cell phone, and the documents were then stolen by a hostile cyber actor.
According to the internal report, the State Department justified its decision to allow Malley to keep his access to sensitive but unclassified systems, citing concerns over his potential use of personal email. Use of personal email is prohibited at the state department for conducting official business.
'Hostile cyber actor'
Malley’s security clearance was suspended over a year ago due to alleged mishandling of classified information, sparking confusion over his duties and restrictions during the suspension period.
The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into Malley's handling of classified material.
Some reports suggest that a "hostile cyber actor" may have compromised Malley’s email, raising concerns that foreign actors, possibly linked to Iran, may have accessed the information. Malley has denied any wrongdoing.
Appointed by President Biden in early 2021, Malley was tasked with leading the administration’s efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran which had been abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018. However, after nearly two years in the role, Malley was placed on leave and and his security clearance suspended, first reported by Iran International in June last year.
Republican lawmakers quickly sought clarity on Malley’s suspension circumstances but faced repeated refusals from the State Department. This led Senator Jim Risch, the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to suggest during a hearing that a subpoena might be necessary to compel the department to release the requested information.
Initial revelations: the IEI
Iran International and Semafor revealed in September 2023 an alleged Iranian influence operation in Washington involving individuals connected to Malley. The Iran Expert Initiative (IEI) was created to promote Iran’s nuclear program in op-eds and media appearances.
In May 2024, Semafor reported that Malley may have shared classified information with unauthorized individuals as part of his diplomatic efforts. Documents on Malley’s personal devices were said to range from sensitive but unclassified to classified, and may have included detailed notes of his meetings with Iranian officials as well as information on the US government's response to the protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini.
The revelations amplified the scrutiny surrounding his case, with the House Oversight Committee announcing plans to subpoena Malley as part of its investigation into US policies toward Iran.
The political ramifications of Malley's case have also caused anger in Washington. Republican lawmakers have pushed for more transparency from the administration. The introduction of the ROBERT MALLEY Act by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney reflects efforts to hold government agencies accountable for providing Congress with timely information about employee suspensions or furloughs.
Mohammad Jafar Montazeri stated, "If the morality police are to be addressed, then the 'inappropriateness' of that journalist should also be considered," seemingly alluding to Maryam Shabani's headscarf, which revealed a small portion of her hair.
Iran has been named by Freedom House as the world's most oppressive nation for press freedom, with dozens imprisoned in the wake of the 2022 uprising.
At Pezeshkian's press conference on Monday, held a month after his coming to office, Shabani began her question by mentioning that she had to navigate various alleys and back routes to avoid encounters with the morality police on the streets.
In response, Pezeshkian downplayed the seriousness of her remarks, saying, "Are they still bothering you? They were supposed to stop that. We’ll tell them to stop."
Criticizing Pezeshkian's approach, Montazeri remarked that while Pezeshkian emphasizes national unity as his slogan, such “unity should not come at the expense of relinquishing our core beliefs and fundamental principles.”
During his pre-presidential campaign, Pezeshkian had criticized the presence of the morality police. However, the police have reaffirmed their commitment to Project Nour, the establishment's hijab enforcement initiative that has been in effect since April, insisting that it remains a binding law.
Despite scaling back for a short time after the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 - a tragedy that sparked months-long protests in Iran known as the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement - the morality police continue to maintain a presence on the streets.
Following Amini's death, more than 550 Iranians were killed as the government responded with full force to what has been the most significant challenge to the establishment's legitimacy since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
The most recent publicized instance of the ongoing pressure on women in Iran involves 31-year-old Arezou Badri. After allegedly violating hijab rules, she was shot by police and suffered severe injuries to her spine and lungs. While hospitalized in extreme pain and unable to sit or eat, she was coerced into making a confession.
Two years after the protests ignited by Mahsa Amini’s death, a UN Fact-Finding Mission report released on Friday highlighted the persistent human rights violations in Iran, particularly targeting women.
Ahead of the anniversary, Amnesty International also raised alarms, condemning the Iranian authorities' brutal crackdown on the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. The organization emphasized the establishment's ongoing "war on women and girls," noting the intensified repression of those defying stringent veiling laws and the increased use of the death penalty to stifle dissent.
The rights group highlighted the country's persistent culture of impunity for crimes under international law.
In a Tuesday address to the country’s Olympic and Paralympic teams, Khamenei called on officials to compensate athletes who withdraw from matches against Israel, describing it as a "sacrifice" for national and religious ideals.
The directive is nothing new in Iran where athletes face pressure to forfeit matches against Israeli opponents, but with waning compliance, the country's supreme leader reiterated the country's hardline approach.
Some athletes are even going as far as shaking hands with Israeli competitors as cracks begin to show, a gesture that would have been unthinkable under Khamenei’s system.
Last year, Iran’s Weightlifting Federation (IRIWF) imposed a lifetime ban on Mostafa Rajaei after he shook hands with an Israeli athlete at the World Masters Championships in Kraków. Rajaei, who secured second place in his category and stood on the podium draped in the Iranian flag, greeted Israel's Maksim Svirsky, who finished third.
The two were photographed shaking hands and conversing, sparking outrage from the IRIWF and the Iranian government, which prohibits its athletes from engaging directly with Israelis. The IRIWF condemned Rajaei's actions as an "unforgivable" violation.
Iran’s hardline stance against Israel in sports has become a longstanding policy since 1979, with athletes pressured by government-controlled sports federations to either forfeit or intentionally lose matches. Those who comply are often rewarded handsomely. Some reports suggest that athletes who refuse to compete against Israel receive rewards equivalent to gold medalists.
"Our athlete refuses to compete or play against a Zionist opponent, and because of this, they pay a price. We must not neglect the well-being of this athlete," Khamenei said. The Iranian leader also emphasized that it is the government’s duty to address the livelihood and employment needs of the athletes, many of whom are under immense financial strain.
But as the Islamic Republic tries to uphold its anti-Israel stance, more athletes are fleeing the country to seek freedom. Since the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom uprising and the death of Mahsa Amini, the number of defecting athletes has skyrocketed.
The International Olympic Committee’s Refugee Team included 14 Iranian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics, athletes who had fled Iran due to political repression and the forced policies within the sports sector.
Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei, left Iran and since competed under Mongolia’s flag, facing off against Israeli opponents regularly in global competitions.
This wave of defections has been fueled not only by the government’s anti-Israel policy but also by the corruption in Iran’s sports federations. Female athletes, in particular, face additional challenges due to the mandatory hijab, which has sparked international criticism.
Khamenei has also praised athletes who dedicate their victories to the Palestinian cause, such as those who have offered their medals to Ismail Haniyeh and taken photos with the Palestinian flag. He described these acts as "a display of spiritual strength and self-confidence of the Iranian nation" against its enemies. According to Khamenei, such gestures “carry a lot of meaning in the world."
In this week's address, Khamenei commended Iranian women athletes for wearing the hijab during international events, seeing this as a sign of their "national, religious, and Islamic identity."
He even went so far as to praise male athletes who refuse to shake hands with women during award ceremonies, calling it "meaningful" and a demonstration of "self-confidence."