But Alimi is now far from home, reportedly in Syria.
Iranian websites have quoted Alimi as saying that he has joined those defending the shrine of Sayida Zeinab, a granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad. The golden-domed mausoleum, located in the southern suburbs of Damascus, is a center of pilgrimage for Shi'ites from around the world.
The news about Alimi's trip to Syria broke earlier this week after photos emerged on the Internet showing him posing with a rifle, apparently somewhere in the Syrian capital.
Alimi is quoted in his blog as saying that he wasn’t sent to Syria by any figure or any official group.
"It took me 20 days to get here," he reportedly said. "Most of the flights between Tehran and Damascus have been canceled. I entered Syria through another country."
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