Tom J. Anderson (born Ahmad Rezaee Mirghaed (Persian: احمد رضایی میرقائد), c. 1975/1976 – 12 November 2011) was an Iranian businessman and the eldest son of Iranian Major General Mohsen Rezaee.
Tom J. Anderson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ahmad Rezaee Mirghaed c. 1975 or 1976 |
| Died | 12 November 2011 (aged 35) |
| Cause of death | Disputed |
| Other names | Tom J. Anderson |
| Citizenship | Iranian, American |
| Children | 1 |
| Father | Mohsen Rezaee |
He defected to the Embassy of the United States, Vienna in 1998, which led to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) bringing him to New York City and granting him political asylum.[1] He then had several interviews with Voice of America, BBC and Radio Israel, voicing his opposition with the Iranian government and activities of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps abroad.[2]
He returned to Iran in 2005, without being prosecuted.[3]
Personal life
editHe married the daughter of his father's close friend when he was 19 and studied mathematics at a teacher training college in Tehran, but the couple soon separated.[1] He reportedly married an American citizen later.[3] According to Kenneth R. Timmerman, he had a daughter who was 7 years old and lived in California as of 2011.[4]
Death
editOn 12 November 2011, his body was found on the floor of room 23 on the 18th floor of Gloria Hotel, located in Dubai Media City. Officials at Dubai Police Force declared that he was identified as a U.S. citizen named Tom Anderson, and the cause of death was "an overdose of a medicine used to fight depression and schizophrenia".[5][6] His death had been described as "suspicious" and alternative reasons such as suicide, murder and assassination were suggested as the cause of death.[3][7][8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Sciolino, Elaine (2001). Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran. Simon & Schuster. pp. 287–288. ISBN 0-7432-1779-9.
- ^ "Iran 'Refugee' Hits Regime on Terrorism". The Los Angeles Times. 5 July 1998. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ a b c Muhammad Sahimi (14 November 2011). "Questions over Death of Ahmad Rezaei; Ahmadinejad Power Play". Tehran Bureau. PBS. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ Kenneth R. Timmerman (2 December 2011). "A dubious death in Dubai". Washington Times. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "UAE: Iranian Official's Son Died of Medicine Overdose". Naharnet. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Hotel death was US businessman, say police". The National. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ Haggai Carmon (2 December 2011). "The Mysterious Death of Ahmad Rezaee: Whodunit?". HuffPost. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Rezai son, who defected to US, found dead in Dubai". Iran Times. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2015.