You're listening to the CyberWire Network, powered by N2K.

Hello. Hello and welcome to Spycast from the Secret Files of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.

I'm Peter Ernest, the Executive Director of the Museum. I served for some

36 years in the Central Intelligence Agency, largely as what is called an operations officer

or a case officer.

Every month will be bringing you interesting talks

with visitors, with authors, with others

who have something to do with the world of intelligence

and espionage. world of Intelligence and Espionage.

Our guest today is Rezicalili.

Rezicalili is not his real name.

Rezicalili is an Iranian who was worked under cover for the CIA for several years in the

80s and 90s. He in fact grew up in Tehran, came to this country, attended the University of

Southern California, and when the revolution occurred of 1979 he went back

he felt as he said in his own words, it was a revolution, a Persian

revolution and that there would be a renewal in his country. On returning, he was very disillusioned and in that

disillusionment turned among other things to the CIA and offered to work as an agent inside Tehran and he became a member of the

Revolutionary Guard. That was an extraordinary, courageous, and risky thing to do.

How, what gave you the courage to take that step

and to believe that you could get away with it

in the face of such a ruthless

administration? Well first of all I want to thank you it's a pleasure and an honor

...