UI rejects allegations of undue influence
The Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) wishes to emphasize that we have full confidence in Rouzbeh Parsi, head of our Middle East and North Africa programme, following TV4’s report on January 28.
UI has long been aware of the information underlying TV4’s report and firmly rejects any allegations of undue influence. The fact that Parsi, along with other analysts and researchers, met with Iranian representatives during a period when the West was exploring the possibility of negotiating a nuclear energy agreement with Iran is neither unusual nor suspicious. At the time, Parsi was not employed by UI but was in this context conducting analyses on behalf of the British Foreign Office. His role was to assess the feasibility of reaching a diplomatic agreement between Iran and the West on the nuclear energy program.
Rouzbeh Parsi has every right to conduct independent analyses in his capacity as a researcher and analyst. UI’s assessment is that he does exactly that and operates free from external influence.
Jakob Hallgren, Director