Iranian President Hassan Rouhani criticized the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Nov. 4 for arresting journalists, marking his first public response to high-profile incarcerations that have undermined his efforts to create a more open political climate, particularly since concluding the nuclear deal in July with the six world powers. Rouhani let his objections be known in a speech to administration officials.
In a video shared on his Instagram page, Rouhani said, “We should not senselessly go after one person or two people, and take them from here or there, and say this is linked to infiltration and make this a big case in the country.” On Nov. 3, the IRGC's Intelligence Unit had released a statement announcing, “A number of members of an infiltration network connected to the American and British governments have been arrested.” According to the unit, the individuals were journalists or active in the media and social media.
