High-Level Iranian Defector?

[Marauder06]

I have no way of knowing if this story is true or not, I saw it on a listserve I'm a member of, and thought it was interesting so I'm posting it here.

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Defecting Iranian cameraman brings CIA priceless film of secret nuclear
sites
http://www.debka.com/article/22412/Defecting-Iranian-cameraman-brings-CIA-pr
iceless-film-of-secret-nuclear-sites-

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.

 

[TH15]

This was on Fox News about a week ago. Sounds like a pretty good snag.

 

[Kraut783]

Yeah, if true, a great recruitment operation.

 

[SpitfireV]

I wouldn't call him "high level" but I would say he's "valuable."

Questions:

Why would they film meetings of such a nature? It's not like transparency is such a concern there.

Why would they let him keep the unused footage? All very odd.

Hope it's true.

 

[Ranger Psych]

Because it's easier to show video to the various mucky mucks and/or share it with friends that "hey, we can actually do this for you if you want to nuke the infidels", than to have to pack them up and bring them there.

If he's the photographer, he's going to have all the stuff and probably do some production stuff as well, editing and such.

 

[SpitfireV]

Yeah but once it's all over with I mean. It's probably lax security on their part but you'd think paranoid guys like that wouldn't allow me. Meh, at the end of the day, I hope he's genuine.