disinfozone/The_Info_Web
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull requests Projects Releases Packages Wiki Activity Actions

vault backup: 2026-10-15 11:55:05

Browse source
This commit is contained in:
disinfo.zone 2026-10-15 11:55:05 -04:00
parent de84622565
commit 70fb85249f
No known key found for this signature in database
55 changed files with 2213 additions and 364 deletions
Download patch file Download diff file Expand all files Collapse all files

15
10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Cyrus Hashemi.md
View file

@ -9,15 +9,22 @@ summary: "Iranian exile involved in secret arms sales and hostage negotiations d
born: 1938-12-27
died: 1986-07-21
location: "Iran"
updated: 2026-10-14
---
[[Cyrus Hashemi]] was one of the [[Hashemi brothers]], an [[Iran|Iranian]] living in the [[United States|West]] who claimed connections to [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini's]] son, [[Ahmed Khomeini]]. He was involved in secret arms sales and negotiations concerning the [[United States|American]] hostages in [[Tehran]].[^1]
[[Cyrus Hashemi]] was one of the [[Hashemi brothers]], an [[Iran|Iranian]] living in the [[United States|West]] who claimed connections to [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini's]] son, [[Ahmed Khomeini]]. He was involved in secret arms sales and negotiations concerning the American hostages in [[Tehran]].[^1]
[[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] and his brothers made money selling small quantities of military equipment to [[Iran]], supposedly to gain goodwill for hostage release. He was later indicted under the [[Arms Export Control Act]] for illegal arms sales to [[Iran]], but escaped the [[United States|U.S.]] before apprehension. He subsequently agreed to become an informant for [[U.S. Customs|U.S. Customs]] against the [[Iran|Iranian]] exile community.[^1]
Hashemi and his brothers made money selling small quantities of military equipment to Iran, supposedly to gain goodwill for hostage release. He was later indicted under the [[Arms Export Control Act]] for illegal arms sales to Iran, but escaped the U.S. before apprehension. He subsequently agreed to become an informant for [[U.S. Customs|U.S. Customs]] against the Iranian exile community.[^1]
[[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] was used by [[Oliver North]] and [[U.S. Customs|U.S. Customs]] in a sting operation to entrap individuals connected with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to [[Iran]]. He was to act as bait, claiming to have $1 billion of [[Iran|Iranian]] money to spend on weapons. He allowed his phone to be tapped and himself to be wired for this operation.[^1]
The report of the congressional Iran-Contra committees records that in May 1984 federal criminal charges were filed against Cyrus Hashemi and his brothers [[Reza Hashemi|Reza]] and [[Jamshid Hashemi|Jamshid]], among others, for alleged arms export control violations; that Hashemi arranged with the U.S. Customs Service to run a sting operation resulting in the April 22, 1986 indictment of 17 individuals in the Southern District of New York on charges of an illegal scheme to smuggle $2.5 billion in American-made weapons to Iran; and that until his death in July 1986 he was to be the primary prosecution witness.[^2] The Second Circuit wrote that the arms in that case were destined for Hashemi, "a government agent pretending to be an Iranian buyer," and that the original indictment was returned in May 1986.[^3] Judge [[Leonard B. Sand]] wrote in 1987 that none of the arms deals charged was consummated and that Hashemi's negotiations with the defendants were tape recorded.[^4]
[[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] was found dead in his [[London]] apartment, with his death attributed to a sudden case of virulent leukemia. However, [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence suspected foul play, noting the presence of [[Joe King]], a [[U.S. Customs|Customs]] officer, at his apartment shortly before his death and needle punctures on his elbow joint. Tapes of his phone calls to the [[United States|U.S.]] Attorney's office indicated a falling out with his controllers.[^1]
Hashemi was used by [[Oliver North]] and U.S. Customs in a sting operation to entrap individuals connected with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to Iran. He was to act as bait, claiming to have $1 billion of Iranian money to spend on weapons. He allowed his phone to be tapped and himself to be wired for this operation.[^1]
Hashemi was found dead in his [[London]] apartment, with his death attributed to a sudden case of virulent leukemia. However, Israeli intelligence suspected foul play, noting the presence of [[Joe King]], a Customs officer, at his apartment shortly before his death and needle punctures on his elbow joint. Tapes of his phone calls to the U.S. Attorney's office indicated a falling out with his controllers.[^1]
### Footnotes
[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. Sheridan Square Press, 1992 (TrineDay reprint, 2015).
[^2]: Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair, H. Rept. 100-433, S. Rept. 100-216 (Nov. 1987), ch. 9, note 13, p. 171. https://archive.org/details/reportofcongress87unit
[^3]: United States v. Evans, 844 F.2d 36 (2d Cir. 1988). https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/504381/united-states-v-evans/
[^4]: United States v. Evans, 667 F. Supp. 974 (S.D.N.Y. 1987). https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2158497/united-states-v-evans/