Supreme Leader Miscalculates Trump Administration’s Moves

ali-khamanei-Supreme-Leader

Iran Focus

London, 20 Jun – Last month, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States was withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the Iran nuclear deal, that was agreed in 2015. Iran was supposed to curb its nuclear program and the crippling economic sanctions that were in place were lifted.

However, Trump was not satisfied that the nuclear threat has been curbed and he listed a number of belligerent acts that Iran is involved with as his justification for exiting the deal.

Iran Continues to Unlawfully Execute Minors

Iran continues to unlawfully execute minors

Iran Focus

London, 19 Jun – Experts from the United Nations, Ms Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Ms Renate Winter, Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, have raised concerns about Iran’s plans to execute a young man who was handed the death sentence at the age of only 15.

The young man in question is Mohammad Kalhori and Iranian authorities have suggested that his execution will take place very soon. He was accused of killing his teacher.

The Singapore Deal Must Include Iran

The Singapore deal must include Iran

Iran Focus

London, 19 Jun – While the eyes of the world were focused on last week’s Singapore Summit, many speculated that it was concerning that Iran was not there. After all, what is the point in securing a denuclearized North Korea, if their nuclear programme is just packed up and shipped off to their rogue-state ally Iran?

It is no secret that Iran and North Korea have been cooperating on ballistic missiles and nuclear technology for the past 20+ years. You can see this in both the actual photos and videos of Iranian nuclear scientists at North Korean missile launches and the eerily similar missiles that they have produced.

Iran Is Main Obstacle Preventing Progress in Syria

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Iran is main obstacle preventing progress in Syria

Iran Focus

London, 19 Jun – Seven years of civil war has taken a toll on Syria. A huge toll. The Russians and Chinese are working towards the country’s reconstruction. Russia is entering a new phase of reconstruction costing around $450,000 billion.

China is in less of a rush to start the process. It knows that it is in a good position to fund the construction process and that it is sure to have a large share. Waiting around to see what happens in Syria seems like its best bet until now.

Iran, on the other hand, is an obstacle to the Russians and the Chinese.

19 Million Dollar Scam in Tehran Sparks Protests

19 Million Dollar Scam in Tehran Sparks Protests

Iran Focus

London, 19 Jun – In the Gisha area, a builder pre-sold several housing units that were under construction to several people simultaneously. After issuing a tracking code, the builder fled with over 80 billion tomans (approximately 19 million USD). On Monday, June 18th, a group of the betrayed home buyers staged a protest against the million-dollar scam of the Gisha housing construction in Tehran, Iran.

Iran Uses Afghan Fighters, Some as Young as 14, for Its War in Syria

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Iran Uses Afghan Fighters, Some as Young as 14, for its War in Syria

Iran Focus

London, 19 Jun – Iran claims that through full use of governmental facilities and comprehensive planning, there are few voluntary Afghan fighters deployed to Syria by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

However, Afghans are the least expensive of the IRGC’s foreign forces. Statistics show that there are an estimated 3 million Afghan citizens living in Iran, and it is reported that there is a Division of some 15,000 to 20,000 troops called Fatimids or Fatemiyoun.

Iran’s Blocking of OPEC Agreement Still Leaves Options for Saudi Arabia

Iran's blocking of OPEC agreement still leaves options for Saudi Arabia

Iran Focus

London, 18 Jun – Many have been saying that Iran is putting Saudi Arabia in a position where it cannot act. However, this is not true. There are a number of possibilities still open to Saudi Arabia even if Iran does go ahead and block an increase in OPEC’s oil production.

Iran is threatening to veto any proposal for more OPEC output and claims that it has the support of Venezuela and Iraq. Both Saudi Arabia and Russia are keen for output to be increased.

OPEC’s representative from Iran – Hossein Kazempour Ardebili – said yesterday that if Russia and Saudi Arabia want the production to increase, it must have unanimity.

Lebanon Stops Stamping Iranian Passports in Controversial Move to Evade US Sanctions

Lebanese Foreign Ministry

Iran Focus

London, 18 Jun – There is huge controversy surrounding the decision by the Lebanese Security General not to stamp the passports of Iranian travellers as they enter the country, instead issuing them landing slips.

While, the Security General has said that these decisions are “entirely within its jurisdiction” and do not mean that any Iranians have entered the country illegally, you have to wonder what the justification was for changing their policy.

After all, this would be a controversial decision to make at any time, but it is especially troubling considering the rising pressures on Iran from the US and the West, since Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal citing Iranian cheating.

Iran’s Problems in Syria Are Growing

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Iran’s problems in Syria are growing

Iran Focus

London, 18 Jun – Iran is facing yet another problem in Syria, this time related to a border dispute between Lebanon and Israel that affects the stationing of Iran-backed Hezbollah militias.

It is no secret that Iran is facing numerous problems in Syria, from air strikes by Western powers to the general anger over the conflict from the Iranian people, but this one could seriously affect Iran’s ability to direct its proxy forces in the country.

The Israel-Lebanon border dispute, which covers occupied Palestine, has become an important topic of discussion once again as the US has proposed that it arrange negotiations between the two countries.

Arab Coalition Take Hodeidah From Iran’s Houthis

Arab Coalition take Hodeidah from Iran’s Houthis

Iran Focus

London, 18 Jun – The US government rejected a request by the UAE to provide support in intelligence, aerial photography, and mine scanning to the Arab Coalition to restore the legitimate government in Yemen, but this might be for the best.

If the Donald Trump administration had approved the support, then the Arab Coalition’s successful fight to liberate Hodeidah from the Iran-backed Houthis might have been undermined by those who oppose Trump. Now, the Arab Coalition has sent 21,000 fighters in and cleared thousands of mines in the surrounding area, even keeping the port open while doing so to receive humanitarian aid.