Maryam Rajavi to Italy: Support the Iranian Resistance, Not the Regime

Iran Focus

London, 19 Oct – The President-her of the Iranian Resistance Forces has made a statement for the Italian Senate arguing that support for the Resistance is key in the fight for global peace and security.

Maryam Rajavi, who leads the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) which serves as a government-in-exile, expressed her gratitude that the Italian government had underscored the need to confront the Iranian Regime.

She said: “You have pinpointed an issue on which the world’s peace and security, the Middle East’s liberation from war, terrorism and instability, and the Iranian people’s freedom, all depend.”

UN Implores Iran Not to Execute Another Child

Iran Focus

London, 19 Oct – The United Nations implored the Iranian Regime to halt today’s execution of a juvenile offender who was sentenced to death at the age of 16.

Several human rights experts released a joint statement, from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which read: “The Iranian authorities must immediately halt the execution of this juvenile offender and annul the death sentence against him in compliance with their international obligations… International standards unequivocally forbid imposing the death sentence on anyone under 18 years of age.”

Trump Supporting the Iranian People Will Be Big Blow to the Regime

Jubin Katiraie

Last week, United States President Donald Trump refused to re-certify Iran as compliant to the 2015 nuclear deal. Congress is now in the 60-day debate period during which it must decide if the crippling economic sanctions that were in place before the deal was signed are to be reimposed.

This is now the chance for Trump to really define the US foreign policy towards Iran. He has vowed to ensure that the Iranian regime does not continue on its destructive path.

One way that Trump can really make a difference is by supporting the people of Iran. They have struggled for years under the torturous regime and are desperate for freedom.

The Iranian People’s National Interests May Be Aligned With Those of the US

Iran Focus

London, 19 Oct – This week the US foreign policy team unveiled its new policy on Iran and measures to address the nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA. On October 13th, President Trump laid out the major points of this new policy, which include the decertification of the JCPOA, and designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pursuant to the global terrorism Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, in his 20-minute speech that marks a major policy change.

After Trump’s speech, the EU expressed its concern over the US abandoning the JCPOA. However, Israel and Saudi Arabia welcomed the new policy toward Tehran.

The People of Iran Are the Key to Democracy

Iran Focus

London, 18 Oct – There are four things in Iran that impact heavily on US foreign policy: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his personal terror squads (the Revolutionary Guards and its Quds Force unit), the Iranian Government led by so-called moderate Hassan Rouhani, and the Iranian people themselves whose views and values are incredibly different to that of their oppressive rulers.

The first, second, and third elements are hard to untangle.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is only answerable to Khamenei, controls much of the Iranian economy (often through illicit means), while the Quds Force (designated as a terrorist supporter by the US and Canada) seeks to destabilise the Middle East through proxy terror cells.

Trump Needs to Confront the Iranian Regime Over Their Attacks on US Allies Who Are Battling ISIS

0

Iran Focus

London, 18 Oct – Mere days after Donald Trump decertify Iranian compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, citing their destabilising influence in the Middle East as one of many reasons, Iran attacked US allies who were fighting ISIS in Iraq.

The Kurdish Peshmerga, who have been retaking land in northern Iraq from ISIS since 2015 when the Iraqi force retreated, were suddenly attacked by Iran-backed Iraqi forces in oil-rich Kirkuk.

The land remains disputed because the Kurdish people recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of independence and the Iraqi government does not want to allow this.

Kurdish Forces Accuse Iran of Helping Iraq to Take Over Their Territory

0

Iran Focus

London, 18 Oct – The Kurdistan Regional Government have accused the Iranian Regime of helping the Iraqi government gain control of disputed territories in northern Iraq, including the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

The Iraqi government forces marched into the Kurdish-controlled territories earlier this week, following weeks of threats after the Kurdish referendum. The Kurdish forces (Peshmerga) withdrew to save the lives of their people and the city and oil field were captured by Iraq in just a few hours.

Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, the commander of Peshmerga forces in Kirkuk, said, in a statement on Monday: “Iranians were leading the battle on Kirkuk and our forces had to withdraw to protect the lives of Peshmerga. The decision [to withdraw] was not a mistake.”

Trump: Iran Changes Its Tune Follow Decertification


Iran Focus

London, 17 Oct – Donald Trump believes that the Iranian Regime may be changing its tone, just days after he decertified their compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, but stressed that this shift may not be genuine because they are skilled negotiators.

He said: “They negotiated a phenomenal deal for themselves but a horrible deal for the United States, and we’re going to see what happens.”

On October 16, just days after decertifying them, Trump said: “This nation has been taken advantage of for many, many years—for many decades, frankly—and I’m tired of watching it.”

Europe Follows Trump’s Lead on Iran

Iran Focus

London, 17 Oct – Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, the former general manager of Al Arabiya news channel, and former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat, wrote an op-ed for Arab News explaining that since Trump’s decision to decertify Iran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, Europe has become more critical of Iran.

He wrote: “To tell you the truth, the change in tone has taken us by surprise. Since US President Donald Trump announced his decision to decertify the nuclear agreement last weekend, the UK and Germany have become more assertive in criticizing Iran. While remaining committed to the nuclear deal, they are clear about Iran’s regional meddling; they say the international community needs to continue to come together to push back against Iran’s destabilizing regional activity, and to explore ways of addressing concerns about Iran’s ballistic missile program. In other words, they are supporting Trump’s project against the Iranian regime in the Middle East.”

Why Trump Had to Decertify the Iran Deal

Iran Focus

London, 17 Oct – Investor Business Daily published an op-ed explaining why Trump’s decision to decertify the Iran deal was a “clever” move.

They wrote that Trump’s decertification puts the onus on Congress to decide in the next 60 days whether or not to impose sanctions on Iran, leave the deal altogether, or write a new, more effective deal to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons- giving Congress the choice that they didn’t have in 2015.

The decision yet to be made by Congress is what Trump calls “phase two”.