TEHRAN – Iran opened a criminal investigation yesterday into an assault against East Azerbaijan province’s new governor, a former brigadier in the Revolutionary Guards, during his inauguration ceremony, state media reported.
Video of the assault circulated on social media, showing a man running on stage and slapping Governor Abedin Khoram just as he was about to deliver a speech in the presence of Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi.
Stewards then threw the attacker out of the meeting hall.
Today at the introduction ceremony for the new governor of #Iran's East Azerbaijan Province Abedin Khorram, a man went up to the podium and slapped him in the face. pic.twitter.com/vyEFoBy8WA
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) October 23, 2021
IRNA said it was the 55-year-old’s first public appearance since his appointment as governor by ultraconservative President Ebrahim Raisi last Sunday.
“According to some sources, the attacker was an employee of the (Guards’) Ashura Corps with personal motives,” it said. – AFP, October 24, 2021