Iran Focus
London, 10 July – The clerical government in Iran is known for its suppression of the people. Freedom is something that the Iranians have been denied for decades and it affects them in many different areas of life. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to dress as one likes, etc. are just a few examples.
Recent reports from Iran indicate that a young woman – Maedeh Hojabri – has been arrested because of the content on her Instagram page. She was filmed dancing to music.
Iran Focus
London, 10 July – The brother of an Iranian Kurdish activist on death row has reported that prison authorities the dissident that he would be executed or killed behind bars.
Amjad Hossein Panahi tweeted on Thursday, July 5, that his brother Ramin had been told by the security guards “You are not going to leave this block, and will either be executed, or killed in the prison”.
Iran Focus
London, 7 July – The US military’s Central Command announced on Thursday that the US Navy will protect commerce and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) threatened to blockade foreign oil shipments in retaliation for US sanctions.
Central Command Spokesman Navy Captain Bill Urban said: “The US and its partners provide, and promote security and stability in the region. Together, we stand ready to ensure the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce wherever international law allows.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened on Tuesday, while at a meeting in Vienna, to blockade oil shipments from the Gulf countries, after Donald Trump made additional efforts to persuade China, Japan, and India, among others, to ditch Iranian oil to avoid upcoming US sanctions.
Iran Focus
London, 7 July – U.S. Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf were consistently harassed until the Trump administration took over, a Navy spokesman said.
Over a 20-month period starting in January 2016, the Iranians averaged 2.5 “unsafe and/or unprofessional interactions” monthly, according to 5th Fleet spokesman Lt. Chloe Morgan.
At around that same time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) detained a pair U.S. Navy riverine command boats belonging to Coastal Riverine Squadron 3 near Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf.
Iran Focus
London, 6 July – Last Friday, the purified-water shortage in southwestern Iran saw the staging of one of the largest water-related protests in Iran this year. Residents of the Khuzestan provincial cities of Khorramshahr, Abadan, and Ahvaz say their water supplies have been polluted for days despite pledges by Iranian authorities to quickly resolve the problem.
Iran Focus
London, 6 July – According to a statement from the State Department, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo will “travel to Abu Dhabi from July 9-10, where he will meet with UAE leaders to discuss ways to further strengthen the US-UAE partnership and advance our common security and economic priorities.”
Expected discussion will include the US pressure campaign on Iran, its role in Yemen, and Persian Gulf security. UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation met Pompeo in Washington last month, but this is the secretary’s first trip to Abu Dhabi as Secretary of State.
Iran Focus
London, 6 July – Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Newt Gingrich has demanded that European countries cut their shameful business ties with the Iranian mullahs and help the US to overthrow the Regime, during a speech at the Free Iran rally in Paris this weekend.
Donald Trump ended US business dealings with Iran back in May, when he pulled out of the fatally flawed 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed strict sanctions of the mullahs as part of an effort to bring political change to Iran.
Since then, he has warned China and India against continuing to buy Iranian oil lest they come under sanctions themselves.
Iran Focus
London, 5 July – EU lawmakers approved on Wednesday plans for the European Investment Bank (EIB) to do business in Iran, despite attempts by some politicians to block the approval, which further enshrines Europe’s attempts to keep the 2015 nuclear deal alive, following US withdrawal in May.
The EIB – the EU’s not-for-profit long-term investment arm – is key to the bloc’s attempts to maintain trading links with Iran despite US sanctions. This decision does not oblige the EIB to work with Iran, but it is expected that the EIB will work with Iran from August.
Iran Focus
London, 5 July – International money laundering monitoring agency, the Financial Action Task Force, has avoided a decision to return Iran to its blacklist for failing to take enough action to combat money laundering.
FAFT said: “Iran’s action plan has expired with a majority of the action items remaining incomplete.”
Iran’s continued reluctance to deal with financial crimes undermines the future of the 2015 nuclear deal, between Iran and five world powers.
Iran Focus
London, 5 July – Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) gave the keynote speech at today’s Free Iran convention in Paris.
Mrs. Rajavi’s arrival was greeted by thunderous applause, and she walked the length of the arena to greet members of the Iranian opposition before beginning her speech, in which she spoke of the future of the resistance movement and its inevitable success.
