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Double Agent's Memoir
A former Iranian student turned French double agent recounts his decades-long career of deception and espionage, balancing the needs of two warring intelligence agencies.
French
France
Middle EastFranceCybersecurityEspionageIntelligenceRiskDouble AgentSecrets
DstDgseDgsiFrench Socialist PartyFrance Telecom
Matthieu GhadiriMohamadFernand DelpechFrançois De GrossouvreManuel Valls
- How did Matthieu Ghadiri's career as a double agent begin?
- Matthieu Ghadiri, an Iranian student in Paris, was blackmailed by a French DST officer in the mid-1980s. To remain in France, he became a double agent, providing information to both French and Iranian intelligence services.
- What are the main themes or takeaways from Ghadiri's story?
- Ghadiri's story highlights the complexities and dangers of double agent work, the ethical dilemmas involved, and the often-uncertain relationship between an agent and the country they serve. His actions helped to protect French interests while navigating treacherous circumstances.
- Describe a significant incident involving Ghadiri in Bulgaria.
- In 2008, Ghadiri worked as a liaison officer in Turkey and Bulgaria, where he was involved in an incident involving the arrest of four DGSE agents. He almost faced imprisonment in Iran in 2018 but managed to escape by skillfully bluffing the Iranian intelligence agents.
- What were some of the dangers and threats Ghadiri faced during his career?
- Throughout his career, Ghadiri faced numerous threats on his life. His work for French intelligence often put him in perilous situations and he had multiple close calls with Iranian agents seeking to eliminate him.
- What were some of the missions Ghadiri undertook for both the French and Iranian intelligence services?
- Ghadiri's double life involved infiltrating various groups, including the French Socialist Party, and carrying out missions for the Iranians. He also worked as an informant for the French police, posing as a Lebanese drug trafficker.