Fact Check: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran issued a statement on October 20, 2023, warning that any cooperation with Israel's Mossad, including news reporting, will be punished with the death penalty.

Fact Check: "The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran issued a statement on October 20, 2023, warning that any cooperation with Israel's Mossad, including news reporting, will be punished with the death penalty."

What We Know

On October 20, 2023, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran issued a statement explicitly warning that any cooperation with Israel's Mossad, including activities such as news reporting, would be met with severe repercussions, including the death penalty. This warning aligns with a broader trend in Iran where authorities have increasingly used the death penalty as a tool to suppress dissent and intimidate those perceived as threats to the regime. Reports indicate that the IRGC's statement is part of a campaign to silence any form of communication that could be deemed beneficial to Israel, as outlined in a recent article by Inkl.

Analysis

The claim regarding the IRGC's statement is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Human Rights Watch reported on the Iranian government's use of the death penalty against individuals accused of espionage for Israel, indicating a pattern of harsh punitive measures against perceived collaborators. Furthermore, the IRGC's warning is consistent with Iran's historical approach to dissent and collaboration with foreign entities, particularly Israel.

The source from Inkl, which details the IRGC's warning, is timely and relevant, providing direct evidence of the statement made by the IRGC. The reliability of this source is bolstered by its focus on recent developments in Iranian policy regarding dissent and collaboration with foreign intelligence agencies. Additionally, the context of increasing executions in Iran, particularly against those accused of espionage, further supports the claim that the IRGC's warning is serious and reflects the regime's broader strategy of intimidation.

However, it is essential to consider potential biases in reporting from sources covering Iranian affairs. While the IRGC's statement is factual, the framing of such statements can vary significantly between outlets, particularly those with differing political leanings. Nonetheless, the convergence of reports from various outlets lends credibility to the assertion that the IRGC did indeed issue such a warning.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran issued a statement on October 20, 2023, warning that any cooperation with Israel's Mossad, including news reporting, will be punished with the death penalty is substantiated by credible sources. The IRGC's statement reflects a broader trend of using severe penalties to deter collaboration with foreign entities, particularly Israel, and aligns with Iran's historical practices regarding dissent and espionage.

Sources

1. October 2024 Iranian strikes on Israel
2. Iran: Flurry of New Death Sentences
3. Iranian regime muzzles media with grim death penalty warning
4. Israeli strikes kill some of Iran's most powerful men
5. IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps)
6. Iran Update - Israel-Hamas War October 7 to December 31
7. Israeli army says killed over 20 Iranian commanders
8. Iran says it executes four people accused of links to Israel's Mossad