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Following his recent release from custody in the United Arab Emirates, Pooyan Mokhtari sat down for a highly anticipated live interview with Pouya. In a candid and often controversial conversation held on March 24th, Mokhtari opened up about the details of his arrest, his time behind bars, his shifting political stances, and his vision for the future.
Here is a deep dive into the key highlights of that conversation.
One of the most striking points Mokhtari made early in the interview was the critical role of media in modern conflict. He took a moment to specifically thank media activists and digital creators who supported him.
"The work these media teams do is no different from those standing at missile launchers defending the country," Mokhtari stated. He emphasized that in the current climate, the digital "front line" is just as vital as any physical battlefield.
Mokhtari shared the specifics of his legal ordeal in the UAE. He was detained one week before Eid al-Fitr and spent a total of 35 days in custody before being released.
Interestingly, Mokhtari revealed that he had been summoned to the police station twice before his actual arrest. He shared a personal anecdote regarding his faith: he had made a religious vow (niyyat) to remain inside his home for the entire month of Ramadan. However, just one week before the month ended, the UAE "Amn al-Dawla" (State Security) called him in.
"I told them, ‘I’ve made a pact with God to stay home this month. Why don’t you come and stay at my house instead? I’ll cover all the expenses,’" Mokhtari recounted. The Dubai police, however, did not accept the offer. He criticized the move, claiming they were interfering with his spiritual commitment.
After five weeks, he was released on a Friday morning. While he is currently residing in another Asian country, he sent a message to his detractors: "For those who celebrated my arrest—don't worry. My God is greater than you, and His shadow is always over me."
During the talk, the conversation turned toward how Iranians are perceived abroad. Mokhtari claimed that during his travels and interactions, he witnessed people from India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan expressing immense respect for the Iranian people's resilience against oppression.
"I truly felt a sense of pride in being Iranian," he said. "People are often afraid to say these things in the virtual world, but they told me to my face. It’s an incredible feeling that every Iranian should experience." He expressed his gratitude to the "nations who stand with us against media propaganda and psychological warfare."
Mokhtari also addressed a viral and disturbing video from London, where a father walking with his two young children while carrying the Iranian flag was reportedly attacked with a knife.
"You can see the true face of oppression in that behavior," Mokhtari said, condemning the attackers for showing no mercy even to small children. He went on to cite a famous narration attributed to Imam Sadiq: "Praise be to God who made our enemies among the fools."
He concluded this segment by calling on London police to bring the perpetrators to justice and placed the blame on opposition figures like Reza Pahlavi for inciting such hatred. It’s worth noting that Mokhtari recently released a track titled "Vatan Game," which is a direct musical critique of the Pahlavi family.
Due to his vocal support for the Iranian government, Mokhtari’s mainstream social media accounts have faced repeated bans and restrictions. Consequently, he announced that he is moving all his digital activity to a new social media network called Vatangram.
The platform was launched while he was in detention and is currently being optimized. Mokhtari clarified a key business move: he intends to keep the betting features of the Vatan site entirely separate from the social media side to maintain the platform's integrity.
When the interviewer, Pouya, brought up Mokhtari’s charitable works for the people of Iran, Pooyan remained humble. "I’ve done nothing," he responded. "I wish I had the merit to do even a fraction of what our martyrs have done."
He reflected on his time in prison, saying his thoughts often turned to the POWs (prisoners of war) of the Iran-Iraq conflict. "When I thought about the hardships they endured for years, I realized my situation was nothing compared to their sacrifice."
The interview ended on a high-stakes note. Mokhtari vowed to fight "until the last drop of the enemies' blood," expressing absolute certainty that the current "battle" would end in victory for his side.
"The whole world now knows who is truly in charge," he said. He concluded by expressing his loyalty to the Leadership and his hope to celebrate a final victory soon in his hometown of Izeh.
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