Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In 2007, Iranian General Ali Reza Asgari walked out of a hotel in Istanbul and vanished, taking decades of Iran’s military intelligence and nuclear secrets with him. Iran says he was kidnapped. Others say he defected. But after he disappeared, a chain of major intelligence operations shook the Middle East, raising one question: What really happened to Iran’s missing general?
0:00 Intro
0:57 Who was Ali-Reza Asgari?
3:00 Iran’s nuclear inner circle
3:15 The disappearance
4:04 Defection or kidnapping?
5:38 Was Asgari already a spy?
6:16 Why he turned against Iran
7:55 The escape plan
9:18 The intelligence he revealed
10:44 Did Asgari really defect?
Sources
Alavi, Shahed, and Kambiz Ghafouri. “Missing IRGC General Alive and Living in US, 17 Years after Defection to West.” Iran International, Apr. 24, 2024.
Bergman, Ronen. The Secret War with Iran: The 30-Year Clandestine Struggle Against the World's Most Dangerous Terrorist Power. Trans. Ronnie Hope. Free Press, 2008.
Bergman, Ronen, and Farnaz Fassihi. “The Scientist and the A.I.-Assisted, Remote-Control Killing Machine.” New York Times, Sept. 18, 2021.
Bird, Kai. The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames. Crown, 2014.
Esfandiari, Golnaz. “Ex-Vigilante ‘Shocked’ at Iran Violence.” RFE/RL, July 9, 2009.
Haberman, Clyde. “Israelis Abduct Guerilla Chief From Lebanon.” New York Times, May 22, 1994.
Haghighatnejad, Reza. “The Case of the Missing General: Is Ali Reza Asgari in the United States?” IranWire, May 28, 2014.
Lathem, Niles, and Oron Dan. “Iran ‘Defector’ Top Nuke Gen. Flees to U.S.” New York Post, Mar. 7, 2007.
Linzer, Dafna. “Former Iranian Defense Official Talks to Western Intelligence.” Washington Post, Mar. 8, 2007.
Mahnaimi, Uzi. “Defector Spied on Iran for Years.” Sunday Times, Mar. 11, 2007.
Maloney, Suzanne. “Remembering Iran’s Student Protests, Fourteen Years Later.” Brookings, July 9, 2013.
Pleitgen, Frederik. “Iran Militia Members Exposed by Blogger.” CNN, Aug. 5, 2009.
Rezaei, Roghayeh. “Blood, Batons, and Broken Dreams: Iran’s Bloody Friday.” IranWire, July 9, 2024.
Shuster, Mike. “Death of Former Iranian General in Question.” NPR, Jan. 6, 2011.
Stein, Jeff. “Top Iran Terrorist Under CIA Protection in U.S., Book Says.” Newsweek, May 19, 2014.
Symonds, Peter. “Targetting Tehran: The Case of the Missing Iranian General.” World Socialist Web Site, Mar. 14, 2007.
Timmerman, Kenneth R. “39 Years after Marine Barracks Bombing in Beirut and the Killers Have Still Not Been Brought to Justice.” Front Page Magazine, Oct. 21, 2022.
“Amir Farshad Ebrahimi.” Blogger for Freedom.
“Interview: Amiri ‘Was Not Who He Pretended He Was.’” RFE/RL, July 19, 2010.
“Missing Iranian Official Was Kidnapped – Relatives.” SignOnSanDiego, Mar. 12, 2007.
“Report: IRGC General Missing Since 2007 Defected, Living in US under New Name.” Israel National News, Apr. 24, 2024.
“Reputed Terrorist Long Sought by CIA Killed in Explosion.” CNN, Feb. 14, 2008.
“U.S. Renews Bid to Catch Beirut Bombing Suspect.” CNN, Oct. 10, 2001.
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Image and footage credits:
20th Century Fox
ABC News
Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera World
Alain Goldman Productions
AP Archive
Apple TV+
Artlist
As Is Productions
Australian Military Aviation History
BBC News
BBC Studios
BBC World News
Canal+
Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Channel 4 News
CNN
Diplomatic Security Service
Donna and Shula Productions
DW History and Culture
DW News
Fox 2000 Pictures
FRANCE 24 English
Genius Productions Ltd.
Getty Images
Gingerline Media
GK Films
Goftaniha
HBO Entertainment
Iran International
Israel Defense Forces
KAN 11
Keshet Studios
Legende Films
lumaix
MS NOW
National Geographic
NBC News
Netflix
Paper Entertainment
Paper Plane Productions
Paramount Pictures
Royalworld - Nobility & Dynasties
Saved in Edit
Scott The Woz
Showtime
Smokehouse Pictures
ThamesTv
The Australian
The Tisch Company
Toledo Productions
Truther TV Archives
Vice
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Television
Weazel News
Wendy Finerman Productions
WestEnd Films
WITNESS
World History Documentaries
Zanuck Company
Zucker/Netter Productions
חדשות 13 (רשת 13)
تاریکخانه اسرار
غسان بن جدو | Ghassan Ben Jeddo
------
Executive Producers:
Michael Steinhardt
Co-Executive Producers:
Marc Shmuel Levine
Iris & Shalom Maidenbaum
Gold Level:
The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life
------
Translation credits:
Portuguese: Saymon Pires
#iran #mossad #espionage
In 2007, Iranian General Ali Reza Asgari walked out of a hotel in Istanbul and vanished, taking decades of Iran’s military intelligence and nuclear secrets with him. Iran says he was kidnapped. Others say he defected. But after he disappeared, a chain of major intelligence operations shook the Middle East, raising one question: What really happened to Iran’s missing general?
0:00 Intro
0:57 Who was Ali-Reza Asgari?
3:00 Iran’s nuclear inner circle
3:15 The disappearance
4:04 Defection or kidnapping?
5:38 Was Asgari already a spy?
6:16 Why he turned against Iran
7:55 The escape plan
9:18 The intelligence he revealed
10:44 Did Asgari really defect?
Sources
Alavi, Shahed, and Kambiz Ghafouri. “Missing IRGC General Alive and Living in US, 17 Years after Defection to West.” Iran International, Apr. 24, 2024.
Bergman, Ronen. The Secret War with Iran: The 30-Year Clandestine Struggle Against the World's Most Dangerous Terrorist Power. Trans. Ronnie Hope. Free Press, 2008.
Bergman, Ronen, and Farnaz Fassihi. “The Scientist and the A.I.-Assisted, Remote-Control Killing Machine.” New York Times, Sept. 18, 2021.
Bird, Kai. The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames. Crown, 2014.
Esfandiari, Golnaz. “Ex-Vigilante ‘Shocked’ at Iran Violence.” RFE/RL, July 9, 2009.
Haberman, Clyde. “Israelis Abduct Guerilla Chief From Lebanon.” New York Times, May 22, 1994.
Haghighatnejad, Reza. “The Case of the Missing General: Is Ali Reza Asgari in the United States?” IranWire, May 28, 2014.
Lathem, Niles, and Oron Dan. “Iran ‘Defector’ Top Nuke Gen. Flees to U.S.” New York Post, Mar. 7, 2007.
Linzer, Dafna. “Former Iranian Defense Official Talks to Western Intelligence.” Washington Post, Mar. 8, 2007.
Mahnaimi, Uzi. “Defector Spied on Iran for Years.” Sunday Times, Mar. 11, 2007.
Maloney, Suzanne. “Remembering Iran’s Student Protests, Fourteen Years Later.” Brookings, July 9, 2013.
Pleitgen, Frederik. “Iran Militia Members Exposed by Blogger.” CNN, Aug. 5, 2009.
Rezaei, Roghayeh. “Blood, Batons, and Broken Dreams: Iran’s Bloody Friday.” IranWire, July 9, 2024.
Shuster, Mike. “Death of Former Iranian General in Question.” NPR, Jan. 6, 2011.
Stein, Jeff. “Top Iran Terrorist Under CIA Protection in U.S., Book Says.” Newsweek, May 19, 2014.
Symonds, Peter. “Targetting Tehran: The Case of the Missing Iranian General.” World Socialist Web Site, Mar. 14, 2007.
Timmerman, Kenneth R. “39 Years after Marine Barracks Bombing in Beirut and the Killers Have Still Not Been Brought to Justice.” Front Page Magazine, Oct. 21, 2022.
“Amir Farshad Ebrahimi.” Blogger for Freedom.
“Interview: Amiri ‘Was Not Who He Pretended He Was.’” RFE/RL, July 19, 2010.
“Missing Iranian Official Was Kidnapped – Relatives.” SignOnSanDiego, Mar. 12, 2007.
“Report: IRGC General Missing Since 2007 Defected, Living in US under New Name.” Israel National News, Apr. 24, 2024.
“Reputed Terrorist Long Sought by CIA Killed in Explosion.” CNN, Feb. 14, 2008.
“U.S. Renews Bid to Catch Beirut Bombing Suspect.” CNN, Oct. 10, 2001.
Subscribe and turn on your notifications so you don’t miss future uploads!
youtube.com/UNPACKED?sub_confirmation=1
Recommended video – How the Mossad Became the World’s Most Powerful Spy Force youtu.be/YZ0wT3h3m3E?si=TUd8cV25UkFMTlVg
We have merch! – http://shop.Unpacked.media/?utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=video-description&utm_campaign=merch
Let’s connect:
Website — https://www.Unpacked.media
Instagram — /unpackedmedia
Twitter — /unpackedmedia
TikTok — /unpackedmedia
Facebook — /unpackedmedia
------
Image and footage credits:
20th Century Fox
ABC News
Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera World
Alain Goldman Productions
AP Archive
Apple TV+
Artlist
As Is Productions
Australian Military Aviation History
BBC News
BBC Studios
BBC World News
Canal+
Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
Channel 4 News
CNN
Diplomatic Security Service
Donna and Shula Productions
DW History and Culture
DW News
Fox 2000 Pictures
FRANCE 24 English
Genius Productions Ltd.
Getty Images
Gingerline Media
GK Films
Goftaniha
HBO Entertainment
Iran International
Israel Defense Forces
KAN 11
Keshet Studios
Legende Films
lumaix
MS NOW
National Geographic
NBC News
Netflix
Paper Entertainment
Paper Plane Productions
Paramount Pictures
Royalworld - Nobility & Dynasties
Saved in Edit
Scott The Woz
Showtime
Smokehouse Pictures
ThamesTv
The Australian
The Tisch Company
Toledo Productions
Truther TV Archives
Vice
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Television
Weazel News
Wendy Finerman Productions
WestEnd Films
WITNESS
World History Documentaries
Zanuck Company
Zucker/Netter Productions
חדשות 13 (רשת 13)
تاریکخانه اسرار
غسان بن جدو | Ghassan Ben Jeddo
------
Executive Producers:
Michael Steinhardt
Co-Executive Producers:
Marc Shmuel Levine
Iris & Shalom Maidenbaum
Gold Level:
The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life
------
Translation credits:
Portuguese: Saymon Pires
#iran #mossad #espionage
