Iran: Opposition Leader Pays Tribute to the Victims of 1988 Massacre on Its 30th Anniversary

victims of 1988 massacre on its 30th anniversary

Iran Focus

London, 2 August – Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), paid tribute to the tens of thousands of political prisoners that lost their lives during the 1988 massacre.

During the summer of 1988, on the orders of the Supreme Leader at that time – Ruhollah Khomeini – a special commission was set up to execute members of opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI).

The members of the special commission, often referred to as the “death committee”, ordered the execution of all the opposition members they came up against. The prisoners were “tried” and the death commission decided their fate. If there was any link to the PMOI, no matter how far removed, the prisoner would be executed.

Trump: Talks With Iran Will Begin Soon

trump-rouhani

Iran Focus

London, 2 August – Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that diplomatic talks with the leaders of Iran were imminent, but the Iranian Regime has dismissed and criticised the idea, with one lawmaker calling the proposed negotiations a “humiliation”.

Trump, who has previously said that he would meet the Iranian leaders at “any time” with no preconditions, told a rally in Tampa, Florida, that he had a feeling that the talks would occur “pretty soon”, but that even if they didn’t, that was still okay.

Trump then addressed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which he withdrew from in May, due to concerns that Iran had been cheating on the deal and that it did not address all of Iran’s malign behaviour.

Iran Economic Failure Will Likely Spark More Civil Unrest

Iran economic failure will likely spark more civil unrest

Iran Focus

London, 2 August – The Iranian currency fell to a record low on Monday, just one week before the US begins re-imposing sanctions on Iran , which has sparked fears of prolonged economic turbulence and increased civil unrest.

As the market closed on Monday night, Iran’s rial was trading at 122,000 to the US dollar, which constitutes a rapid drop from Saturday when it was trading at 98,000. Many Iranians are already seeing their savings dwindle due to the failing economy and are rushing to buy hard currencies (US dollar/British pound) or gold, which are better able to retain value.

America’s Hostage Crisis With Iran at a Standstill

Donald Trump And John Bolton

Iran Focus

London, 2 August – While campaigning for the American presidency, Donald Trump made a bold pledge on Iran’s prisoner taking, “This doesn’t happen if I’m president!”

Still, over a year into his presidency, Iran holds at least five U.S. citizens and permanent residents’ prisoner, including one taken during Trump’s tenure.

Although the White House declined to comment, the State Department claimed that the United States works “tirelessly” to free Americans held in Iran.

Iranian Rial Hits an All-Time Low

Iranian Rial Hits an All-Time Low

Iran Focus

London, 1 August – Iran’s official rial currency hit a record low of over 100,000 rials to the dollar on Sunday, the latest in a series of economic pitfalls for the country, which is now suffering from an extensive economic crisis and the imminent threat of returning US sanctions.

Housing Prices in Tehran Increase by 50%

Housing Prices in Tehran Increase by 50%

Iran Focus

London, 1 August – Housing costs in Tehran have increased by more than 50% in the past year, according to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI).

In its latest report on the housing market of Iran’s capital city, CBI reported that compared with the same period from last year, residential real estate prices have risen by 54.4% and the price per square meter is currently 69.7 million rials (roughly $1,600).

UN Panel Finds Missiles Made in Iran in Houthi Hands

UN Panel Finds Missiles Made in Iran in Houthi Hands

Iran Focus

London, 31 July – A UN panel of experts has found that Yemen’s Houthi rebels are still being armed with ballistic missiles and drones that have similar characteristics to Iranian-made weapons.

In a report to the Security Council, the panel said that it “continues to believe” that Iranian short-range ballistic missiles and other weaponry have been transferred to Yemen after the arms embargo was imposed in 2015.

Iran Rial Hits an All-Time Low

Iran rial hits an all-time low

Iran Focus

London, 31 July – The Iranian rial hit a record low on Sunday, trading at over 100,000 rials to the US dollar as the country braces itself for the first batch of economic sanctions from the US on August 7.

According to Iran’s unofficial market – this actually refers to the global exchange market following Iran’s decision to artificially fix the exchange rate following the last fall in the rial – the value of the rial dropped from 97,500 rials to the US dollar to 112,000 overnight this weekend.

These figures are gathered from foreign exchange website Bonbast.com, but other websites had the rial valued at between 108,500 and 116,000 rials per US dollar.

Iranian People Continue Their Water Shortage Protest

Iranian people continue their water shortage protest

Iran Focus

London, 31 July – Every day, Iranian farmers drove their tractors to the entrance of Varzaneh town, stopping their vehicles next to the canal that once watered their crops, but has been dry for years, and protests against the government’s mismanagement of the water shortages.

One farmer, Mostafa Benvidi, chanted: “We are the people. Help the people. At night they go to bed hungry!”

Many demonstrators hold up signs with the names of officials that they blame for the crisis during their protest.

Tensions Over Oil Exports Soar Between Iran and US

Tensions over oil exports soar between Iran and US

Iran Focus

London, 31 July – Tensions are soaring between the US and Iran following Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal and following recent Iranian threats against destroying oil imports, the US is now looking at military options to keep vital sea transport routes in the Middle East open.

Iranian officials have made many verbal threats against the safety of global oil trade in the Persian Gulf in recent days, while the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked Saudi oil tankers.

According to CNN, this attack on the Saudi Arabian oil tankers on Wednesday is a cause of worry among many.