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US Urges Germany to Counter Iran Threat to Shipping

US urges Germany to counter Iran threat to shipping

By Pooya Stone

The US has increased diplomatic pressure on Germany to join efforts to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian threats after Iran seized a British oil tanker earlier this month.

US embassy spokeswoman Tamara Sternberg-Greller said in a statement: “We’ve formally asked Germany to join France and the UK to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and combat Iranian aggression. Members of the German government have been clear that freedom of navigation should be protected… Our question is, protected by whom?”

Details About the Role of Iran’s IRGC and Its Navy in Attacks

Details about the role of Iran’s IRGC and its navy in attacks

By Jubin Katiraie

Recently, an internal source in Iran disclosed a series of details about a mastermind, plotter, and operator of recent attacks against oil tankers in Gulf of Oman. Details explain that the IRGC’s forces shifted missiles widely in southern Iranian coasts to target foreign interests for lift the spirits of IRGC, after its blacklisting by the U.S.

Former British Naval Officer Criticises UK Response to Iran Tanker Crisis

Rear-Admiral Chris Parry

By Pooya Stone

A former Royal Navy officer has criticised former Prime Minister Theresa May for an “appalling” response to the Iran tanker standoff, saying that it failed to convince the EU or the US to support the UK in retaliatory action.

Rear-Admiral Chris Parry also laid into former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, saying that his “muddled thinking” of assuming the EU would support his plan without consulting the countries first, meant that the UK lost the support of Iran’s biggest enemy, the US.

Github Blocks Iran Devs to Comply With US Sanctions

GitHub restricts developer accounts based in Iran, Crimea, and other countries under US sanctions

By Jubin Katiraie

GitHub, the world’s largest host of source code, has abruptly blocked access to the private code repositories and paid accounts of developers or companies in Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Crimea, and Syria to comply with US trade sanctions, but this has caused an outcry from developers who unexpectedly lost their work.

Retired Iranian Teachers Protest for Better Pay

Retired Iranian teachers protest for better pay

By Pooya Stone

Hundreds of retired Iranian teachers gathered outside the Islamic Republic’s Majles (parliament) and offices of Plan and Budget Organization (PBO) in Tehran on Sunday, July 28, to protest their treatment and demand that their pensions be adjusted because of the current economic crisis.

The angry pensioners chanted: “Teachers Die, But Will Never Accept Abjection!” and “We Will Not Step Back, Until Receiving Our Bonuses!”

Thousands of Iranians Gather in London to Call for Firm Policy on Iran

Over 3,000 Iranians marched in London on Saturday to call on the UK to place a number of Iranian entities on the terror watch list, as tensions rise between the two nations over tanker seizures.

By Jubin Katiraie

Over 3,000 Iranians marched in London on Saturday to call on the UK to place a number of Iranian entities on the terror watch list, as tensions rise between the two nations over tanker seizures.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) organised the protest to urge Britain to impose sanctions against the Iranian regime, as well as list the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS), and the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s office as terrorist entities.

UK Rules out Iran Tanker Swap

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab

By Pooya Stone

The UK rejected the idea of a tanker swap with Iran on Monday, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab saying it’s not a “quid pro quo” situation.

He refused to release the Iranian oil tanker captured by British forces near Gibraltar, which was suspected of violating EU sanctions on Syria, in exchange for Iran releasing the British-flagged Stena Impero ship it seized in the Gulf and accused, without evidence, of breaking maritime law by turning off its navigation and hitting an Iranian fishing vessel.

Iran: Political Prisoner Starts Hunger Strike

Political prisoner Peiman Mirzazadeh

By Jubin Katiraie

Political prisoner Peiman Mirzazadeh has begun a hunger strike in protest against the very poor treatment he has been subjected to.

Peiman Mirzazadeh was arrested in 2017 by security agents. He was charged with “spreading propaganda against the state” because he was heard singing songs that voice support for a dissident group. Mirzazadeh was not allowed to consult a lawyer and was eventually sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

Iran Admits to Enriching 24 Tons of Uranium

A technician works at Iran's Uranium Conversion Facility just outside the city of Isfahan

By Pooya Stone

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) has said that Iran has enriched 24 tons of uranium since signing the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, despite previously claiming that it has limited its stock of enriched uranium to 300 kilograms.

Iran’s Oil Exports to China Down 60%

Iranian oil exports to China in June were down 60% from June 2018, according to China’s customs authorities, with only a daily average of 208,205 barrels of Iranian oil coming into China.

By Pooya Stone

Iranian oil exports to China in June were down 60% from June 2018, according to China’s customs authorities, with only a daily average of 208,205 barrels of Iranian oil coming into China.

A heavy decline began in May when the US removed sanctions waivers on Iranian oil, but even then China was still importing 254 thousand barrels per day (bpd), which is 46,000 extra bpd than in June.