Iran: Further Obama Lies Exposed

Iran: Further Obama lies exposed

Iran Focus

London, 12 Jun – When former United States President Barack Obama was in office, Iran made the most of what have become known as the “golden years of Obama”. This is because Iran profited from the silence that came from the Obama administration with regards to its belligerence. It knew that Obama was desperate to leave the Iran nuclear deal as his legacy and he would do everything in his power to get it signed.

However, it was not until much later that the public became aware of just how desperate Obama was to leave his legacy because his lies have slowly started to become uncovered.

US Tour of World to Stop Investment in Iran

Iran-magnified

Iran Focus

London, 8 Jun – American officials are currently travelling around the world to encourage other countries to stop their trade with Iran, following the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal last month, according to sources.

The officials from the US State and Treasury Departments, including Andrew Peek, deputy assistant secretary of state with responsibility for Iran and Iraq, have been in Japan and Eastern Europe to urge them to stop doing business with the mullahs in Tehran, as well as asking the European Investment Bank not to invest in firms that do business in Iran.

Italian Human Rights Group Calls for Immediate Release of Iranian Protesters

Italian human rights group calls for immediate release of Iranian protesters

Iran Focus

London, 8 Jun – Human rights groups from Iran and Italy have joined together to demand the immediate release of Iranian protesters that have been arrested during the nationwide anti-government uprising.

Italian human rights group, EveryOne, has released a statement in partnership with Iran Human Rights Monitor to call on the Iranian Government to release the protesters and for the United Nations to hold the mullahs responsible for their crackdown on human rights.

Iran: Pompeo’s Response to Iran’s Renewed Nuclear Threats

Iran: Pompeo’s response to Iran’s renewed nuclear threats

Iran Focus

London, 8 Jun – It was reported that after weeks of silence from the Iran following Trump’s announcement of withdrawal from the nuclear deal, the Iranian Mullahs’ Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, ordered the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to take the necessary steps to “implement a major increase in the country’s enrichment of uranium”.

However, he has left experts and analysts wondering about his intentions. The Supreme Leader specifically called on the country’s nuclear agency to “make the necessary arrangements to reach 190,000 SWU in the framework provided by the JCPOA”.

Gulf States Must Band Together and Pressure Europe Over Iran

Gulf states must band together and pressure Europe over Iran

Iran Focus

London, 7 Jun – The Gulf States must put pressure on Europe to make the politicians understand that by preserving the nuclear deal with Iran, for whatever benefits they think this will bring, will result in huge losses from the other countries in the region.

Europe – mainly France and Germany – has been trying to save the 2015 nuclear deal ever since Donald Trump withdrew the US from it in May, but in reality they are actually trying to save their numerous trade deals with the country.

Germany’s exports to Iran were worth 2.97 billion Euros in 2017, up from around 2 billion in 2015, while France’s exports tripled to 1.7 billion Euros in the same period. That’s a lot of money to lose, but it’s also dirty money.

Iran and Russia Clash in Syria

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Iran and Russia clash in Syria

Iran Focus

London, 7 Jun – Iran-backed forces and Russian troops clashed near the Lebanese border in Syria this week, according to two non-Syrian officials in the pro-Bashar Assad alliance, after Russia deployed troops in an area that the Iranian forces, including Hezbollah, had objected to.

This conflict was resolved on Tuesday, after soldiers from the Syrian army took over the three positions near the town of Qusair that Russia had deployed to, according to one of the officials – a military commander who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity. Hezbollah fighters are still stationed in the area.

Iran Judiciary Allows Just 20 Lawyers to Defend Political Dissidents

Iran Judiciary allows just 20 lawyers to defend political dissidents

Iran Focus

London, 7 Jun – The Iranian judiciary will only allow 20 lawyers to represent people charged with crimes relating to national or international security, political and media during the investigative stage of a case, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Earlier this week, the state-run Tasnim News Agency published the names of the 20 lawyers allowed to defend against these charges.

This is less than 0.1% of the 20,000+ lawyers that are registered with the bar association in Tehran, but sadly it’s not strange that Iran is implementing these restrictions.

Congress Puts Focus on Iran-Backed Hezbollah

Congress puts focus on Iran-backed Hezbollah

Iran Focus

London, 6 Jun – The US Congress has increased its focus on the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the control it has over the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), following Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and Hezbollah’s strong results in the Lebanese parliamentary elections.

During a hearing, held by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa on May 22, much of the conversation was focused on Hezbollah, a group that is named on the US State Department’s list of terrorist organisations, and its close relationship to Iran.

Iran Announces Plans to Produce Centrifuges

Iran announces plans to produce centrifuges

Iran Focus

London, 6 Jun – It has been announced that the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran – Ali Akbar Salehi – is putting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on notice that the country will probably start producing centrifuges that will be used for uranium enrichment.

He said that this would not be a violation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Agreement as it is formally known, because it allows Iran to make the parts that are needed for uranium enrichment. He stressed that it would only be a violation of the deal if Iran were to actually use the centrifuges.

Iran Faces an Impasse Amid Further Internal Disputes

Iran faces an impasse amid further internal disputes

Iran Focus

London, 5 Jun – The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established almost 30 years ago. The FATF’s aim is to set standards for curbing money laundering and terrorist financing and other threats that could affect the international financial system. It is also tasked with promoting legal, operational and regulatory measures in these aims.

The FATF was the topic of a heated discussion in the parliament of Iran last week. On 27th May, there were loud debates among several members.