US State Department fires Iranian employee over Gaza stance

The US State Department has dismissed a senior Iranian press officer due to a policy dispute concerning Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Media reports indicated that Shahed Ghoreishi, whose State Department email was last used the previous Wednesday, had recently been terminated.

Ghoreishi's dismissal follows internal disagreements regarding US policy on the Palestinians in Gaza.

He was fired days after disagreements over key Trump administration policies, including the controversial plan approved by the Israeli war cabinet to escalate the ongoing genocidal war, which could displace thousands of Palestinians from their homes or result in potential fatalities.

Ghoreishi had drafted a statement asserting that "the United States does not support the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza."

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He was terminated on Monday, soon after the internal dispute over a press statement he prepared, which included the phrase, “We do not support the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza.”

This language mirrored remarks made by former President Donald Trump and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who stated in February that the US would not endorse a “Gaza eviction plan.”

Senior officials at the State Department vetoed Ghoreishi’s statement and instructed that the language be removed, according to a memo from the previous week.

Anonymous US officials told the Post that Ghoreishi’s dismissal conveys the message that the department will not permit communications that diverge from strongly pro-Israeli positions, despite aligning with longstanding US policy.

The State Department did not elaborate on the reasons for his termination but suggested he had strayed from the White House agenda.

“We don’t comment on leaked emails or allegations,” stated State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, adding that employees must prioritize government policy over personal views.

Ghoreishi, a graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), informed the Post that he was not provided with a reason for his dismissal from the State Department, where he was employed on a contractual basis.

He expressed concerns about the department's position on the potential expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.

“Despite my strong reputation and good rapport with my colleagues, I could not withstand these disputes,” he said, noting that the phrasing he recommended had received prior approval from the State Department since Trump began his second term on January 20.

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Earlier in the month, another policy dispute arose following the killing of Al Jazeera journalists.

As US officials deliberated on how to respond, Ghoreishi suggested a statement expressing mourning for the journalists and condolences to their families.

Senior officials rejected this proposal in an August 10 email, stating, “No response is needed. We can’t be sending out condolences if we are unsure of this individual’s actions.”

Ghoreishi faced opposition from David Milstein, a senior adviser to US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Mike Huckabee. Sources familiar with the situation noted that Milstein was known for his contentious interactions with department staff and his defense of the Israeli regime. 

Critics inside the department say he is overly eager to please Israeli officials and often oversteps his authority.

“Milstein is merely an adviser to an ambassador, yet he involves himself in everything,” one official commented. Milstein did not respond to the Post's request for comment.

Critics of Ghoreishi argued that he was an anti-Israeli, anti-Trump, and pro-Democrat advocate for Palestinian issues.

According to his resume, Ghoreishi (@ShahedGhoreishi) is currently the communications manager at Win Without War, where he promotes a progressive foreign policy and efforts to end endless wars.

His previous roles include communications consultant, policy fellow at Defense Priorities, and volunteer foreign policy adviser for multiple presidential campaigns in 2020.

His analyses of US foreign policy and Southwest Asia have been published in Defense One, Business Insider, CSIS’ CogitAsia blog, Newsweek, Responsible Statecraft, Inkstick, and The Atlantic.

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