Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Defecting Iranian Cameraman Brings CIA Priceless Film of Nuclear Sites
DebkaFile ^ | 10/05/12 | DebkaFile

Posted on 10/05/2012 11:17:38 AM PDT by RobertClark

Debkafile reveals one of the CIA's most dramatic scoops in many years, and epic disaster for Iran.

Our most exclusive Iranian and intelligence sources disclose that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's personal cameraman, Hassan Golkhanban, who defected from his UN entourage in New York on Oct. 1, brought with him an intelligence treasure trove of up-to-date photographs and videos of top Iranian leaders visiting their most sensitive and secret nuclear and missile sites.

The cameraman, who is in his 40s, is staying at an undisclosed address, presumably a CIA safe house under close guard.

He stayed behind when Ahmadinejad, after his UN speech, departed New York with his 140-strong entourage. For some years, Golkhanban worked not just as a news cameraman but personally recorded visits by the Iranian president and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of top-secret nuclear facilities and Revolutionary Guards installations.

When he left Tehran in the president's party, his luggage was not searched and so he was able to bring out two suitcases packed with precious film and deliver it safely into waiting hands in New York.

The Iranian cameraman has given US intelligence the most complete and updated footage it has ever obtained of the interiors of Iran's top secret military facilities and various nuclear installations, including some never revealed to nuclear watchdog inspectors. Among them are exclusive interior shots of the Natanz nuclear complex, the Fordo underground enrichment plant, the Parchin military complex and the small Amir-Abad research reactor in Tehran. Some of the film depicts Revolutionary Guards and military industry chiefs explaining in detail to the president or supreme leader the working of secret equipment on view. Golkhanban recorded their voices.

Our sources also disclose that, in late September, he took the precaution of sending his wife and two children out of Iran on the pretext of a family visit to Turkey. They are most likely on their way to the United States by now.

From his years as a member of the loyal Bassij militia, the cameraman earned the complete trust of Iran's security services and was able to reach his professional pinnacle as personal photographer for the two most eminent figures in the country, Khamenei and Ahmadinejad, with the task of recording their most confidential pursuits.

This was his second visit to New York. The first time, a year ago, US intelligence was able to make contact and persuade him to defect with his stock of priceless photos and film.

Although Golkhanban's defection to the United States and request for asylum was disclosed to the media some days ago, Tehran has not made any comment.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: ahmadinejadcameraman; cia; golkhanban; hassangolkhanban; iran; irancameraman; israel; nuclear; nucleariran; waronterror
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-32 last
To: RobertClark

Why have they made this public? We can’t afford this being made known. I’m so tired of these politicians breaking clandestine stories to improve their status with the American people. How many humlint sources have been tracked down and murdered, because of the Libyan terrorist attack? Zero’s playing both sides; the American people vs. Sunni moslems!


21 posted on 10/05/2012 12:04:21 PM PDT by STD (“Cogito, ergo armatum sum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STD

Bttt


22 posted on 10/05/2012 12:09:49 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: CapnJack
Why am I reading this? This should be a state secret ... shouldn’t it?

Secret from who? I'm sure if this story is true Iranians already know that they lost their photographer, and they would do well if they assume that he took secret materials with him or in his head.

The list of materials that Debka published may or may not be correct. A good play could be envisioned when Iranians are convinced that the USA knows all their secrets - even if in reality the photographer hasn't taken much.

Also, if what the story says is true then Iranians are complete incompetents in handling top secret materials - on so many levels that a whole book can be written on how wrong they were.

23 posted on 10/05/2012 12:29:21 PM PDT by Greysard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Greysard

We still should not be haring about it.

If we had a media that was thoughtful, they would spike this kind of story.

If they knew, we do not need to have them know we know.

No, this should be kept secret and the fact that we know should be kept secret or at least not broadcast over the entire world by a foolish media.

If this is coming from the white house again, they are spilling our candy in the lobby for our enemies to plunder.

It has become more and more clear that are idiots running the show.
(unless it is disinformation. oh wait, not these guys. They are not that slick)


24 posted on 10/05/2012 12:38:25 PM PDT by Only1choice____Freedom (FDR had the New Deal. President 0bama has the Raw Deal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: RobertClark

careful, this is from Debkafile - not the most trustworthy of sources...


25 posted on 10/05/2012 12:46:53 PM PDT by WorkerbeeCitizen (we are so screwed - ^_^)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BipolarBob

I’m wondering which directions he was going before and after he deflected.


26 posted on 10/05/2012 1:50:48 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault (Dick Obama is more inexperienced now than he was before he was elected.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: RobertClark
"...he was able to bring out two suitcases packed with precious film..."

They're still using celluloid film?

27 posted on 10/05/2012 2:37:58 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (Libs, dems, unions, leftist scum & murderous muzzies - are like bacteria: attack, attack, attack!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WorkerbeeCitizen

I’ve read it in two other daily papers in Jerusalem, however, I read the Hebrew editions and didn’t bother to link to them. Not many here fluent in Hebrew.


28 posted on 10/05/2012 2:57:59 PM PDT by RobertClark (Be prepared, be polite, be professional and have a plan to kill everyone you meet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks RobertClark.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's personal cameraman, Hassan Golkhanban, who defected from his UN entourage in New York on Oct. 1, brought with him an intelligence treasure trove of up-to-date photographs and videos of top Iranian leaders visiting their most sensitive and secret nuclear and missile sites.
The Obama administration plans to hide him in a safe house in Benghazi.


29 posted on 10/05/2012 5:39:34 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: RobertClark

But you see, why are we hearing about the the film? I would call that a leak already.

One thing to say the guy defected, quite another to tell the whole world what info he provided.


30 posted on 10/05/2012 5:43:30 PM PDT by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RobertClark

When the CIA played the film, it was a Three Stooges movie!


31 posted on 10/05/2012 5:46:28 PM PDT by stboz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Sidebars:
32 posted on 10/14/2012 1:51:44 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-32 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson