May 26, 2017

The President of an NGO representing freedom for those in the middle east has criticized the Iranian Regime for their sham elections, noted that the cracks in their ‘democracy’ are showing and indicated that the fall of the Regime could not be far off.

Struan Stevenson, who is president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association and also served as a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland until 2014, wrote: “Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hates the West, hates Sunnis, hates Saudi Arabia, hates religious minorities of any kind and as the final arbiter of all power in Iran, favored the election of his friend, the ultra-hardline Ebrahim Raisi, the black-turbaned mullah often cited as his potential successor. The fact that Hassan Rouhani was declared the runaway victor in the presidential election was proclaimed in the West as a triumph for the forces of moderation and reform. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Stevenson, who was also chairman of Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup until 2014, wrote that the final weeks of the presidential campaign became a “dogfight” between the leading candidates Rouhani and Raisi, both acknowledging the other’s atrocious crimes.

Rouhani spoke openly about Raisi’s role in the 1988 massacre which saw 30,000 political prisoners executed, while Raisi announced that Rouhani had blood on his hand as a result of the executions that he oversaw as President. Both men are right: their opponent was unfit for public office.

Stevenson wrote: “Normally, the supreme leader would have carefully adjusted the bogus election results to ensure victory for his favored candidate Raisi. But such is his fear of an uprising similar to the events that followed the fraudulent re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009, that Khamenei could do nothing. He knows that Iran is a tinderbox ready to ignite at the slightest spark. Another revolution would sweep the despised mullahs from power. But this sudden exposure of his weakness will add to Khamenei’s wrath.”

He predicted that Khamenei would begin to attack Rouhani, a move that will only drive a deeper wedge between the Regime’s rival factions.

Then, the time will come for the Iranian Resistance and their president, Maryam Rajavi, who holds the support of the Iranian people.

Stevenson, who was also president of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq until 2014, wrote that the fall of the Regime would be welcomed around the world, but especially by the 80 million Iranians who are suffering because of the Regime.

He wrote: “The regime’s days are numbered.”

 

May 19, 2017

The Iranian authorities must immediately transfer Atena Daemi, an imprisoned human rights defender, whose health has sharply deteriorated in recent days, to a hospital outside of prison so that she can receive the specialized medical care she requires, said Amnesty International.

Atena Daemi, who has been on hunger strike for 40 days, has been coughing up blood, suffered severe weight loss, nausea, vomiting, blood pressure fluctuations, and kidney pain. Doctors have warned that she requires immediate hospitalization. However, the authorities at Tehran’s Evin prison have refused to authorize her transfer to a hospital outside prison for medical treatment.

“Deliberately denying specialized medical treatment to someone in critical health is not only blatantly unlawful but also cruel and may amount to torture. By refusing to transfer Atena Daemi to hospital, the Iranian authorities are causing damage to her health and are potentially putting her life at risk,” said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.

“Atena Daemi is only in prison because the Iranian authorities are punishing her for her human rights activism. Now, in addition to this injustice, they are inflicting needless suffering on her by depriving her of medical care.
“Instead of flouting their international human rights obligations by recklessly ignoring Atena Daemi’s medical needs, the Iranian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release her and address the grievances underpinning her hunger strike.”

Atena Daema began her hunger strike on April 8, in protest at the suspended prison sentences imposed on her sisters Hanieh and Ensieh for “insulting public officers on duty” after an unfair trial. Amnesty International believes that they were targeted simply because they are related to her.

On May 8, after briefly losing consciousness days earlier, she was transferred to a hospital outside of prison for medical tests arranged by her family, but was returned to the prison before her test results were received. At a follow-up appointment on May 15, her doctor advised that she needed to be immediately admitted to hospital. However, she was returned to the prison again the same day. Later that day she was taken to the prison clinic after coughing up blood.

Atena Daemi has been in prison since November 2016 serving a seven year prison sentence, reduced from an original 14 year sentence. She was convicted, following an unfair trial, on trumped-up national security-related charges arising solely from her peaceful human rights activities. The court verdict cited as “evidence” comments she had made on Facebook criticizing executions and human rights violations in Iran, her participation in solidarity events for death row prisoners, distributing anti-death penalty pamphlets and having ties to human rights defenders and the families of those killed during the post 2009-election crackdown.

Monday, 22 May 2017
By Heshmat Alavi – Al Arabiya

As Iran’s incumbent President Hassan Rouhani reached a second term on May 19th, one major issue of concern must be how to bring an end to Tehran’s destructive meddling across the Middle East.

If we take into consideration how The Telegraph said, “The re-election of President Hassan Rouhani changes nothing. Iran remains an impoverished dictatorship governed by a theocratic elite,” Tehran, from its own perspective, will need to continue defying domestic demands and international calls for a changed approach.

At a time when Saudi Arabia and the entire region were sidelined by the Obama administration, Tehran enjoyed eight years of disastrous concessions leading to atrocities across the board in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain and so forth.

Sensing how Obama turned his back on the 2009 uprising in Iran, the mullahs of Tehran came to realize they could exploit the young and inexperienced president to realize much of their objectives in the Middle East. Obama also began distancing from the Arab World and downgrading vital US presence in the fledgling and highly Iran-influenced state of Iraq, providing a green light to Iran to expand its reach across the region.

Battle between good and evil

US President Donald Trump arrived in the region with a mission to launch a Middle East initiative aimed at establishing an unprecedented coalition, only hours after the announcement of Rouhani obtaining a second term.

Following the signing of mammoth economic contracts worth hundreds of billions of dollars, Trump delivered a cornerstone speech on Sunday at the Arab-Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh on the challenge of uprooting extremism and describing this endeavor as a “battle between good and evil.”

“Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism… we can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong… Terrorism has spread across the world. But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land… If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned,” excerpts of his speech included.

“The Iranian regime’s longest suffering victims are its own people,” he added, indicating his stark difference with his predecessor’s fallacy dogma of literally embracing Iran.

Focusing on Iran

The top diplomats of America and Saudi Arabia, Rex Tillerson and Adel al-Jubeir, respectively, very specifically embarked on blueprinting a new and powerful alliance as a bulwark to counter and rein in Iran’s dangerously growing regional influence.

Setting the stakes high, Tillerson and al-Jubeir made their points understood very clearly by demanding Iran to terminate its notorious efforts in numerous fronts.

Rouhani should use his second term “to begin a process of dismantling Iran’s network of terrorism, dismantling its financing of the terrorist network, dismantling of the manning and the logistics and everything that they provide to these destabilizing forces that exist in this region,” Tillerson underscored, adding “if Rouhani wanted to change Iran’s relationship with the rest of the world those are the things he could do.”

Iran is known to support a conglomerate of proxy entities and its “Shiite Crescent” is a clear indication of the mullahs’ long running desire to establish their own influence across the entire Middle East. Former Iranian regime leader Ruhollah Khomeini was the flag-bearer of “Quds (Jerusalem) Through Karbala”.

On other hand, as Iran’s relationship with al-Qaeda has been documented every now and then in various reports, there is a high probability of Tehran facilitating all terrorists across the region, being Shiite or Sunni. One question in this regard is why hasn’t ISIS ever threatened Iran’s interests?

Changes at home?

During the short campaign trail Rouhani resorted to extraordinary remarks that raised eyebrows across Iran’s political spectrum. While Rouhani initially scolded the Revolutionary Guards at an election rally, after his so-called “re-election” – despite a very low voter turnout – he quickly resorted to remarks of actually praising the notorious IRGC once again.

“We are proud of our armed forces, the Revolutionary Guards, the Basij and the security forces, we consider their strength as a guarantee for peace and stability in the region, the security and the well-being of our people,” he said in televised remarks.

And there is also no light at the end of Iran’s human rights violations tunnel, as the mullahs know very well their need to continue a nationwide crackdown campaign to maintain a lid on Iran’s powder keg society. The Shah of Iran ended his use of torture and execution at the demand of the Carter administration, and his rule was overthrown only a few years later. This is a lesson the mullahs have not forgotten.

Final thoughts

Rouhani, and the entire regime for that matter, will very soon start to comprehend the stark contrast between the last four years, and the rocky road ahead. Trump’s visit to Riyadh was a sign of the Arab World coming out of Obama’s Dark Ages and most probably uniting in their positions vis-à-vis Tehran.

As explained in a recent New York Times piece by Arabia Foundation Executive Director Ali Shihabi, the Trump visit has affirmed “the depth and importance of the strategic relationship and to further strengthen that alliance” with the Arab world.

Rest assured Tehran has received the new message. Rouhani, and the post of the presidency in Iran, are nothing but a marionette with strings controlled by the Supreme Leader. There are no moderates in Iran, but the mullahs are pragmatists always seeking their interests.

 

Iran Focus – May 5, 2017

In 2012, Iranian diplomat Hamid Mohammadi said there were many Iranian-Canadians “working in influential government positions” and called on others to “occupy high-level and key positions.” Now, in Canada, Iran is making an effort to expand its presence, with an aim to use America’s neighbour as a “forward operating base” for influence operations against the American government.

Hassan Abbasi, a leader in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was seen boasting about a “guerilla movement of Iranian agents living and working in the United States,” in a recent video. He said that Iran, is leading a clandestine army of potential martyrs within the US.

An article was published by The Gatestone Institute written by Tom Quiggin, a court qualified expert on terrorism and practical intelligence, who is based in Canada. He writes:

▪ Iran’s aim is to use American’s northern neighbour, Canada, as a “forward operating base” for influence operations against the American government.

▪ The Trudeau government has shown both a past and present affinity for dictatorial governments. Trudeau himself said he admires the government of the Peoples Republic of China and their “basic dictatorship.” He publicly mourned the passing of Cuban President Fidel Castro. The statement made no note of the 60-plus years of dictatorship, and Cuba’s brutal suppression of human rights.

▪ among its teachings, the Ontario Jaffari Mosque’s school suggested that boys should play sports so they can be “physically be ready for jihad whenever the time comes for it.” Girls, on the other hand, were told that they should “stick to hobbies that prepare them to become wives and mothers.

Iranians on both sides of the border are concerned about infiltratione of North America.

Quiggin writes, “Iran has been forced to recalibrate its efforts during the past decade due to the shifting views of Canadian and American governments. The Obama Administration (2009-2017) gave virtual free rein to Iranian agents of influence. They were supported by a variety of Administration insiders such as Valerie Jarrett. When the Iranian Navy seized ten US Navy sailors and photographed them in humiliating positions, Vice President Joseph Biden described this as “just standard nautical practice”. Predictably, Iran forced a US Navy female sailor to wear a hijab, possibly as a way of showing male dominance over an American female.”

Canada previously allowed Faisal Larijani to build infrastructure and support, including the Center for Iranian Studies, located in Toronto at 290 Sheppard Ave. W., which was incorporated in January 2008.

Governmental support for Iran dropped when Prime Minister Harper (2006-2015) was elected, ending with the shuttering of the Iranian Embassy in 2012. The newly enacted “Justice for the Victims of Terrorism Act” was used as the leverage to remove them, according to Quiggin, who adds, “The current situation has now reversed itself. The newly elected Trump Administration appears to be taking a much harder stand against Iran while Canadian Prime Minster Trudeau is committed to outreach to Iran and a possible re-opening of the Canadian and Iranian Embassies.”

Quiggin goes on to say, “Iran remains listed as one of three global state sponsors of terrorism, along with Syria and Sudan, according to the US State Department. Canada also lists the Qods Force as a terrorism entity and states that it “is the clandestine branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for extraterritorial operations, and for exporting the Iranian Revolution through activities such as facilitating terrorist operations.”

Iran’s human rights record is dismal. Human Rights Watch called the situation in Iran “dire.” Iranian women are discriminated against on such issues as marriage, divorce, and child custody. Women have been jailed for speaking out publicly in favor of equal rights for women.

Quiggin writes, “According to Canada’s former Foreign Minister Stephan Dion (2015-2016), official talks with Iran on re-establishing diplomatic ties have already begun. This is not a surprise; Prime Minister Trudeau campaigned on the issue of doing just that. Some Canadian sanctions against Iran have already been lifted, as of February 2016. Canada also downgraded its warning against all travel to Iran — despite ongoing arrests and the torture of a variety of Canadians and others.”

He adds, “In 2014, while a Member of Parliament, Justin Trudeau gave an interview to the Montreal-based newspaper Sada al-Mashrek. This paper is openly known to be Khomeinist in nature and supports Iran (as well as Hezbollah). That Trudeau would speak to such a paper in the year before an election suggests he was already reaching out to Iranian regime support in Canada. During this interview, Trudeau also told the paper that he would have a special immigration program that was more open to ‘Muslims and Arabs’.”

Appointed in 2017, Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland has views that seem slightly different. She has not indicated that she will or will not pursue the re-opening of the Canadian embassy in Iran or that of Iran in Canada. In March of 2017, a spokesperson for Freeland said, “We maintain our firm commitment to the human rights of Iranians. We continue to oppose Iran’s support for terrorist organizations, its threats toward Israel, and its ballistic missile program.” She also stated, “With these amendments to Canadian sanctions against Iran, Canadian companies will now be able to position themselves for new trade opportunities, but we will also maintain rigorous controls on any exports that raise serious proliferation concerns.”

“Liberal Member of Parliament Majid Jowhari hosted a delegation of three members of Iran’s parliament in his home. The delegation included MPs Alim Yarmohammadi, Yonathan Betkolia and Mehrdad Lahooti and Ali Bahraini, who is listed as secretary of a development committee. While Joseph Pickerill, a spokesperson for then Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion, said that the delegation was not an official visit, such a highly unusual meeting raised eyebrows,” writes Quiggin.

The Iran Canada Business Council and Export Quebec recently hosted a meeting on business opportunities in Iran after the lifting of sanctions. Invited to participate in this March 28, 2017 Montreal meeting (by Skype) was Iran’s Deputy Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade, Medhi Karbasian. Medhi Karbasian is also the Chairman of MIDRO (Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization), and Quiggin says all of these businesses appear to have commercial ties to the IRGC. Karbasian, he say has “a longstanding direct involvement in government companies.”

Quiggin continues, ”His resume reads like a sanctions list — at one point he was board member of UN-sanctioned IRISL; a board member of US- and EU-sanctioned NITC; chairs the US-sanctioned Parsian Bank; and, most importantly perhaps, vice-chairman on Kharazmi’s board as representative of Sepehr Energy Co., a recently formed private energy company controlled by Bank Saderat.” He claims that all offices of Bank Saderat worldwide are considered to be IRGC-designated affiliates.

One of the leading proponents of the Iranian/Khomeinist ideology in Canada is Imam Rizvi, of the Jaffari Mosque in Thornhill, Ontario. He speaks to support the government of Iran and at a 2012 Carleton University conference, he stated, “Khomeini had proved that Islam is not just a religion of prayers and personal laws that only deals with matters of divorce and inheritance, rather it is a complete code of life that can govern all aspects of society — spiritual, material, as well as personal, social, economic and political aspects.”

The conference was titled “The Contemporary Awakening and Imam Khomeini’s Thoughts.”It was run to celebrate the anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini. Quiggin says that Imam Rizvi also believes and advocates that sex with 9-year-old girls is acceptable, as long as it occurs within munqati’ (temporary) or da’im (permanent) marriage. In his book, “Marriage and Morals in Islam”, he says that girls/women can be entered into temporary marriages, and Quiggin writes,“apparently from the age of nine and upwards.” and he adds that in the eyes of many, ‘temporary marriage’ or muta is another word for prostitution.” He states that these muta marriages may be occurring now at the Jaffari Mosque.

“One of three schools run by the mysteriously well-funded Jaffari Mosque was also shut down during a 2012 hate crimes investigation. The teaching materials used by the mosque were from Iran (the Al Balagh Foundation) and from the Mostazafan Foundation of New York, which is identified as an arm of the Iranian government. Among its teachings, the mosque’s school suggested that boys should play sports so they can be ‘physically be ready for jihad whenever the time comes for it.’ Girls, on the other hand, were told that they should ‘stick to hobbies that prepare them to become wives and mothers’,” writes Quiggin.

Regarding the treatment of each other’s citizens, Canada and Iran have a history. Quiggin writes that, “Iran beat, raped and tortured to death in 2003 Canadian citizen and freelance photographer Zahra Kazemi. Her ‘crime’ was being a woman and having taken picture of a demonstration in 2003 in Tehran. Currently, Iran is holding Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, an Iranian-Canadian. He is a member of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants and a former adviser to Iran’s Central Bank. He was, by all accounts directly involved in the $1.7 billion cash-for-hostages deal. He was indicted on spying charges in early March 2017.”

Canada holds Mahmoud Reza Khavari Ban. It’s believed that he helped orchestrate a $2.6 billion fraud through several Iranian banks. Bank Melli, one of the banks involved, is believed to be an IRGC/Quds Force front, according to Quiggin.

Khavari had been a citizen of Canada since 2005 but returned to Iran shortly after getting his citizenship, and there the fraud in Iran apparently began in 2007, raising the question of why Khavari sought Canadian citizenship. Khavari returned to Canada in 2011 after details of the fraud began to emerge, writes Quiggin, who questions his treatment by the government of Canada, and suggests that he must have struck some sort of deal with the government.

Not long after his arrival, the Iranian embassy in Canada closed in 2012. However, no concrete links seem to exist between the two events. Iran still has an Interpol “Red Notice” on Khavari and still wants his extradition as of October 2016.

Quiggin wonders how Prime Minister Trudeau would handle this case in the event of the reopening of Iran’s Embassy in Ottawa. “It would appear to be a major stumbling block to re-establishing normal relations. For Canada to allow extradition, Iran would have to waive the death penalty that is currently hanging over the head of Mr. Khavari. Iran has executed several other senior executives who were involved in the fraud, so this seems unlikely,” he writes.

The Trudeau government has shown both a past and present affinity for dictatorial governments, according to Quiggin. He adds, “Trudeau himself says he admires the Government of the Peoples Republic of China and their ‘basic dictatorship’. He publicly mourned the passing of Cuban President Fidel Castro in an official government statement describing him as ‘larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century’. He also stated that the Cuban people had a deep and lasting affection for ‘el Comandante’. The statement made no note of the 60-plus years of dictatorship, Cuba’s brutal suppression of human rights nor its systemic persecution of gays.”

Trudeau’s political advisor is his brother, Alexandre “Sacha” Trudeau. “The New Great Game,” a documentary was co-produced by Sacha Trudeau and the Iranian state-owned PressTV. It stated that Iran’s nuclear program is for “defensive” purposes only, serving as an effective “deterrent” against Israeli “aggression” and belligerence. An earlier documentary by Sacha Trudeau, ”The Fence”, profiled Zakaria Zubeidi, then leader of the terrorist group Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Quiggin says it portrayed Zubeidi as a Robin Hood-like “leader of the resistance.”

It appears likely that Iran will increase its influence activities in Canada, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, writes Quiggin, “and based on his time in office to date, a dangerous development for the USA as it moves to confront Iran.”

 

May 4, 2017

Squaring off with Iran, Syria and North Korea, the Trump administration has indicated that the years of appeasement with dictators have ended, according to a new op-ed carried by the Washington Examiner.

Tehran is beginning to understand these policy changes from the United States, and it follows that Trump should also target Iran’s human rights violations.

Amir Basiri writes in ‘Washington Examiner’ on 2 May 2017, “While Iran does pose a major military threat, through supporting what has been described by Trump as ‘radical Islamist terrorism’, Tehran’s ongoing human rights abuses should finally receive the long overdue attention they deserve.”

“In fact,” Basiri continues, “U.S. interests can be advanced through a robust challenging of Iran’s domestic dissent crackdown. U.S. strategy seeking to confront Iran would receive a correct boost through combating Tehran’s authoritarian dogma.”

“What needs comprehension in the West is that the mullahs fear U.S. military power far less than its ability to launch a ‘cultural war.’ While Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has mistakenly invested on a theory of military threats rallying the Iranian population around the flag, a cultural onslaught, however, would weaken the willpower of his already dwindling base.”

Basiri’s article goes on to say, “To this end, at a time when Iran’s human rights abuses have intensified enormously from the early days of the 1979 revolution, the regime has pressed the gas pedal on such measures when deemed necessary, when the very doctrine of its Islamist rule faces an escalating threat. For example, through the past four years, while President Hassan Rouhani claimed to lead a so-called ‘reformist’ or ‘moderate’ approach, he has simultaneously sent more than 3,000 people to the gallows.”

“Following the signing of the Iran nuclear deal, Tehran launched a major crackdown campaign resulting in waves of arrests, reminding many of the days following the 2009 uprising. The regime was quite aware to make it crystal clear for all parties that the nuclear pact would not render any widespread engagement between Iran and the West, most specifically Washington. This year has also witnessed a very similar surge in human rights violations, reflecting a disturbing trend. Some 200 people have already been executed. Tehran has also escalated the apprehension of civil rights activists, ethnic and religious minorities, journalists and social media users. With the May 19 presidential election just around the corner, and memories of the 2009 uprising very clear in the mullahs’ minds, the regime seeks to prevent any mentality of these so-called polls resulting in anything even remotely resembling fundamental change in the regime’s character,” Basiri writes. He adds, “The Trump administration can utilize the opportunity of Tehran’s utter fear of cultural infiltration, being the force behind its domestic repression. Iran must understand Trump’s overall strategy of confronting its Middle East belligerence, including its involvement in Syria, and nuclear/ballistic missile ambitions also increase the cost of human rights violations. Through such an approach, Washington can weaken Tehran’s thirst to challenge U.S. interests across the board.”

“Parallel to such policy overhauls, the U.S. should stand alongside the Iranian people and their organized resistance, represented for decades by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the umbrella group of different organizations and individuals led by Maryam Rajavi, advocating regime change and peaceful transition to democracy,” Basiri praises the Iranian Resistance.

He concludes by saying, “Increasing sanctions on Iranian regime elements involved in human rights violations is another aspect that would complete the canvas of Trump’s policy vis a vis Iran. Such measures would also send messages to the international community regarding the dangers in seeking short-term economic interests at the cost of the Iranian people’s long and ongoing misery. The Trump administration should take the adequate steps forward to fulfill U.S. interests in Iran and the world over.”

By Zahraa Alkhalisi   @CNNMoney
April 20, 2017

America is turning up the heat on Iran.

A day after ordering a review into whether lifting sanctions on Iran was good for U.S. national security, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused the Islamic republic of “alarming and ongoing provocations” and said it “has the potential to travel the same path as North Korea” if unchecked.

Under a deal signed in 2015, Western powers agreed to lift some economic sanctions in return for Iran agreeing to rein in its nuclear program.

Analysts say the Trump administration is now dropping hints that it will reimpose sanctions unless Tehran stops what the U.S. says is destabilizing behavior in the Middle East.

“Tillerson may be suggesting that the U.S. can leverage renewal of nuclear related sanctions easing under the nuclear deal for a change in Iranian regional behavior,” said Ellie Geranmayeh, policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Related: Chinese firm fined $1.2 billion for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran

So who loses out if Trump does decide to abandon the nuclear deal?

Iran’s economy

Iran has the fourth largest crude reserves in the world and also claims nearly one-fifth of the planet’s natural gas.

Oil is a vital part of the economy. The country has ramped up production since sanctions were eased to about 3.8 million barrels a day. That’s about a million barrels a day more than in 2015.

Iran’s big return to global markets complicated attempts by OPEC producers and others to reduce a supply glut that had sent prices crashing.

Tehran insisted on keeping its production near four million barrels a day, in line with the amount it was pumping before sanctions were imposed. It got its wish and was given an exemption from OPEC’s agreement to cut output.

Related: Why ExxonMobil would want to get back into Russia

Airplane makers

The biggest deals signed with foreign companies so far have been for airplanes to modernize Iran’s creaking fleet.

Boeing (BA) signed an $8 billion deal to sell 80 jets to Iran Air after the sanctions were lifted.

Earlier this month, it also signed an agreement to sell 30 737 MAX airplanes worth $3 billion to Aseman Airlines, another Iranian carrier.

European rival Airbus (EADSY) wants a share of the action too. It has agreed to sell 100 jets to Iran for about $10 billion. But even that deal could be in jeopardy if Trump decides to get tough with Tehran since the jets include parts made in America and Airbus would need U.S. approval.

“While it is still too early to definitively state the Trump administration’s position on [Iran], the early returns do not look promising. It has no discernible plans to pursue American trade and investment with Iran, or make it easier for other countries to do so,” said Reza Marashi, research director at the National Iranian American Council.

Oil companies and GE

Other foreign companies have also been eyeing Iran’s huge potential.

France’s Total has signed a $2 billion agreement to help Iran develop its giant South Pars gas field, together with Chinese state oil company CNPC.

General Electric (GE) said last year that it has “begun looking at potential business opportunities in Iran, while fully complying with the rules laid out by the U.S. government.”

The next big test for the nuclear deal is likely to come in June, when sanctions waivers signed by President Obama will be due for renewal. It’s the first time Trump will have to sign them.

“If the Trump administration does reissue the waivers, I think that is a significant turning point in which confidence in the deal will begin to grow,” said Trita Parsi, author of Losing An Enemy – Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy.

Iran Focus
April 14, 2017

Ray Takeyh, an Iranian-American Middle East scholar, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and former United States Department of State official, gave his opinions and assessment of the stability of Iran before the Subcommittee on National Security of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government. He also advised what the US can do to weaken the regime and to counter its influence in the region.

He noted the similarities between Iran and the Soviet Union during the seventies. At that time, it was believed that the Soviet Union was still going strong, whereas in reality it was on the edge of collapse and it was too late for reform. He said Iran is at the same stage and its political strength is far from what it seems.

Takeyh pointed out that elections are a sham in Iran and the regime’s ideologies are outdated. He highlighted that the 2009 demonstrations led by the Green Movement is proof in itself that the people are fed up with the revolutionary values cherished by the leadership of the country. The uprising put the foundations of the regime on dangerous ground, as admitted by high-ranking officials after the fact.

The protesters ultimately lost the fight because of the lack of support from the United States. However, one thing that changed forever since the 2009 demonstrations is the relationship between Iranian society and its leadership.

President Ronald Reagan ensured that US diplomacy with the Soviet Union included comprehensive policy that exploited the leadership’s weaknesses. The same strategy, Takeyk advised, could be used with Iran. One way of approaching this would be to use the Iranian opposition to establish relations with the people who share the same democratic values as Americans and want the overthrow of the murderous regime. He added that economic sanctions can help reduce the Iranian economy so that it is about to collapse.

Takeyh said that Arab allies should be given more support by the US so that Iran’s proxies can be defeated. This will help the allies protect their own national security against Iranian threats. It will also protect their economic infrastructures. The US also has the power to put pressure on Arab states to cut, or at least reduce, diplomatic and business ties to Iran. If the US was able to reconcile relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, it would send a strong message that they have the common goal of curbing Iran’s influence.

And finally, he advised that the US should ensure President Bashar al-Assad is unseated. This is crucial, he said, for humanitarian as well as strategic reasons. Although he recognises that this is a big task, he said it will “force Iran to sink more resources and men into the Syrian conflict or cut its losses”.

 

April 13, 2017

This Tuesday, the European Union voted to extend sanctions against Iran until April 2018, in response to “serious human rights violations”, according to Reuters.

This move has been welcomed by politicians, organizations and members of the general public who advocate for human rights.

The EU stated that their ban targeted people who were complicit in “torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, or the indiscriminate, excessive and increasing application of the death penalty, including public executions, stoning, hangings or executions of juvenile offenders”, and those “responsible for directing or implementing grave human rights violations in the repression of peaceful demonstrators, journalists, human rights defenders, students or other persons who speak up in defence of their legitimate rights, including freedom of expression”.

Human Rights Issues in Iran

There are any number of human rights issues in Iran at any one time; from the imprisonment of political opponents to the torture of prisoners to the execution of juveniles.

Amnesty International recently released their 2016-17 report on Human Rights in Iran and highlighted these main issues:

  • Freedoms of expression, association and assembly
  • Unfair trials
  • Freedom of religion and belief
  • Women’s rights
  • Discrimination against ethnic minorities
  • Torture and other ill-treatment
  • Cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment
  • Death penalty

In their summary, Amnesty wrote: “The authorities [in Iran] heavily suppressed the rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and religious belief, arresting and imprisoning peaceful critics and others after grossly unfair trials before Revolutionary Courts…Members of religious and ethnic minorities faced discrimination and persecution. Women and girls faced pervasive violence and discrimination.”

They continued: “Torture and other ill-treatment of detainees remained common and widespread, and were committed with impunity. Floggings, amputations and other cruel punishments continued to be applied…The authorities made extensive use of the death penalty, carrying out hundreds of executions, some in public. At least two juvenile offenders were executed.”

The Sanctions

  • Travel Ban: The travel ban, which prevents people who are involved in the Regime from travelling to the EU, has been extended by one year. It affects, among others, senior figures in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (Iran’s terror squad), National Police Force and Basij religious paramilitary group.
  • Asset Freeze: This currently affects 82 Iranian people and one company.
  • Export Ban: There is now a ban on exporting equipment which monitors telecommunications to Iran, for fear that it might be used to repress the Iranian people.
    The EU had previously lifted certain sanctions against the Gulf nation following the 2015 nuclear pact between the US, the UK, France, Germany, China, Russia, and Iran. This reversed a decade of hard-hitting Western economic sanctions, which had nearly forced the Iranian Regime to the breaking point.

Following the lifting of sanctions, Iran received large delegations of top EU officials and European businesses.

The sanctions mentioned above are not subject to the agreements of the nuclear pact and do not violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA)

March 6, 2017

INS-Once again, Iran has successfully test-fired new missiles during the Islamic Republic’s naval drills.

During a large-scale drill, code-named Velayat 95, in the strategic southern waters, Iran’s navy tested its domestically-manufactured missiles. Just three weeks after the Trump administration put new sanctions on the Islamic Republic in place, Tehran is testing Washington again.

The war games cross an area of about 2,000,000 square kilometers in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, the Bab el-Mandab and northern parts of the Indian Ocean. The naval maneuvers are limited to anti-terrorism and anti-piracy training purposes, according to an Iranian naval commander.  The Iranian navy, its ships, submarines and helicopters, are showcasing their military might, while navy commandos and the strategic Special Operations Brigade practice military skills and defensive capabilities along the country’s southeastern coast.

Trump, who pledged to take a tough stance against Tehran, reacted to the missile tests by saying that Iran was “playing with fire” in the aftermath of the ballistic missile tests less than a month ago. Considering that the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet is based in the region and has a mission to protect shipping lanes. Tehran could literally be “playing with fire” now.

Valuewalk published an article saying, “Last month, the two countries engaged in a little military confrontation near the Strait of Hormuz. In January, the U.S. and Iran fueled high-seas tensions after a U.S. Navy destroyer fired warning shots at four Iranian fast-attack vessels when they came in at high speed,” and added, “Interestingly, the Iranian vessels belonged to the Revolutionary Guards, but they were not scheduled to participate in Iran’s Velayat 95 naval maneuvers.”

Earlier this month, Washington imposed new sanctions on Iran targeting 13 people and 12 companies, alleging that Tehran’s “continued support for terrorism and development of its ballistic missile program poses a threat to the region.”

An elite commander from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard criticized  the new sanctions last week, warning Washington to expect “a slap in the face” if it dares to underestimate Iran’s military capabilities. Tensions between the two countries are at a high level, after the long sought-after deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program in the summer of 2015.

“In an apparent show of its military capabilities, Tehran fired laser-guided anti-submarine Dehlaviyeh missiles as part of the fifth phase of its naval maneuvers on Monday. Iran’s state media later said the test had been successful. According to reports dating back to 2012, Iran mounted the Dehlaviyeh missiles on a Russia-made anti-tank missile,” says Valuewalk, and continues, by saying, “During the Velayat 95 military drills, Iran successfully tested domestically-built Ra’ad boats, which are equipped with SPG-9 73-millimeter caliber guns, and Azarakhsh boats, which are mounted with 122-millimeter caliber rocket launchers. Additionally, the Islamic Republic premiered its telemedicine medical assistance provision system, which allows Tehran to provide remote medical assistance in battlefields.”

The current naval drills are located in waters that are internationally vital, as millions of barrels of oil are transported through the Bab el-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz to Europe and the U.S. every day.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Foreign Minister, told the Munich Security Conference that Iran doesn’t respond well to ‘threats’, nor ‘coercion.’ Zarif said, “We don’t respond well to sanctions, but we respond very well to mutual respect. We respond very well to arrangements to reach mutually acceptable scenarios. Iran is unmoved by threats.”

By including Iran in the infamous Muslim-majority travel ban list, which tried to prevent citizens of seven Muslim countries from entering the U.S., Trump started his presidency with hostility. The list fueled tensions between the two countries.

Trump repeatedly criticized the Iran nuclear deal reached by President Barack Obama in the summer of 2015, during his presidential campaign. He vowed to dismantle the long sought-after nuclear agreement, which halted Iran’s nuclear program, in exchange for lifting international sanctions. However, plans are unclear on how, or if, he plans to do so.

Undoing the deal will likely result in Iran restarting its uranium enrichment actions, moving it closer to developing a nuclear weapon.

A new round of sanctions against Iran may prompt Iranian leaders to walk away from the 2015 nuclear deal themselves, especially since numerous reports suggest that Tehran has violated the it on several occasions since 2015.

Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, warned the U.S. last week to be careful in its assessments of Tehran; otherwise, he said, it could get a “strong slap in the face.” General Pakpour warned, “The enemy should not be mistaken in its assessments, and it will receive a strong slap in the face if it does make such a mistake.” His comments came just days after the Revolutionary Guards reported that they had test-fired “advanced rockets” as part of the nation’s three-day drills. General Pakpour explained that the message of the drills was for “world arrogance” to “not to do anything stupid.” He went on to say, “Everyone could see today what power we have on the ground.”

Threats and warnings from Iran do not seem to have an impression on Washington. Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, urged the White House to impose new sanctions against Iran for its apparent violations of United Nations resolutions and allegedly destabilizing the Middle East. Senator Graham is confident that the 2015 nuclear deal didn’t stop Iran’s efforts build a nuclear weapon. “If they say they haven’t, they’re lying,” he said.

Will the Trump administration’s recent remarks, like “holding Iran to account,” and warning Tehran against “playing with fire,” and the Islamic Republic’s new provocations, result in Washington imposing new sanctions on Tehran? Might the sanctions lead to Iran walking away from the 2015 nuclear deal? Does Trump have another plan of action against Iran?

These are important questions, as these are two countries whose warships come into close proximity in Gulf waters every day. Last month’s incident of warning shots fired by a U.S. Navy destroyer at four Iranian fast-attack vessels is proof of that.

“Tensions between Washington and Tehran could spark a devastating military confrontation between the two nations, and other countries like Israel would likely jump in to engage in war,” Valuewalk concludes.

yahoo

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2017-The United States has underscored the need for a refreshing approach to help change the ambivalent culture permeating the United Nations regarding the violations of human rights around the world. Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) welcomes this development and applauds Ambassador Nikki Haley’s efforts to place human rights at the center of the U.S. mission at the U.N.

As Ambassador Haley pointed out recently, “peace and security cannot be achieved in isolation from human rights.” The long-suffering people of Iran, Syria, and Iraq bear witness that “human rights abuses are not the byproduct of conflict; they are the cause of conflict, or they are the fuel that feeds the conflict.”

Nearly four decades of struggle against the religious dictatorship in Iran has imparted on our community the insight and the drive to promote human rights, equality, and women leadership- as key human assets against perversion of religion, tyranny, and inequality. In Iran, the ruling regime has murdered Neda Agha-Soltan and over 120,000 of the country’s best and brightest.  Today, Iranian rulers execute more per-capita than any other nation.  Yet the people of Iran continue to reject humiliation, misogyny, terrorism, and abuse.  Iranian people’s vibrant democratic resistance against tyranny is hence a viable and vital example of the very values the United States is actively promoting at the U.N. Security Council.

OIAC also applauds congressional leaders who have called attention to mullahs’ atrocities. We highlight the initiative by Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) regarding the 1988 massacre of some 30,000 political prisoners in Iran.  Unfortunately, Iranian officials who committed that manifest case of crime against humanity still serve at the highest levels of the government. A key figure who was admittedly involved in the 1988 massacre, Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, is now Hassan Rouhani’s Justice Minister. The 1988 Massacre is also addressed in UNSG March 2017 report.

We thank Ambassador Haley in her efforts to ensure that the U.N. Security Council explicitly links human rights with security.  OIAC applauds her leadership so that the issue of human rights abuses in Iran and particularly the 1988 massacre of political prisoners would be included in the U.N. Security Council agenda.

SOURCE: Yahoo News
https://www.yahoo.com/news/oiac-applauds-amb-haleys-initiative-human-rights-security-144900856.html