When Rouzy Vafaie tried to cross the border into Armenia during the war with the United States, he was looking for a way out. Instead, he was intercepted by the IRGC.

In this episode of Global Power Shifts, Suzanne Kianpour speaks with Rouzy about the reality of his detention, the beatings, the threats, and the unexpected reason he was finally let go. It turns out his release came with a price. He was expected to carry out a “service to the motherland” by spying for the regime while living abroad.

This is a first-hand account of the physical reality of escaping Iran and the psychological pressure that follows a person long after they have crossed the border.