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Advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Calls Iran’s Regional Behavior an Internal Issue

Iran Focus

London, 07 Apr – Iran’s Adviser for International Affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, has rejected a discussion of ballistic missiles and Tehran’s regional role with the West, calling it “an Iranian internal affair.” Velayati added, “There is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran never seeks anyone’s permission in its defensive sector.”

After a meeting with Faisal Mekdad, the Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister, Velayti defended Iran’s policy in the region, saying Tehran continues its support and active presence in the region, indicating that it will support allies.

Khamenei Warned in Open Letter From the Coun-Try’s Most Conservative Factions

Iran Focus

London, 07 Apr – An open letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was sent by a group of 300 of Iran’s most conservative figures and Basij officials. It outlined their concerns about Iran’s internal conditions, and criticized the country’s policy regarding the nuclear deal and efforts toward regional dominance.

Although they have always supported the regime’s supreme leader, they warned him about their worry for the future of the country, as seen in the the gap between the people and the authority, and stressed that the internal problems include all bodies of the authority.

It’s Time to Impose Sanctions on Iran’s Khamenei

Iran Focus

London, 06 Apr – Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the richest autocrat Iran has ever had and yet he preaches about how his starving citizens need to be less greedy. Political scientist Dr. Majid Rafizadeh believes it’s time to impose sanctions on the Khamenei himself.

Khamenei is worth at least $95 billion, making him likely the richest man in the world. Some reports even state that members of Khamenei’s family hold billions of dollars in foreign banks. Most of this money was gained after he became Supreme Leader in 1989, through a series of shadowy deals, no oversight, and, of course, some dipping into the public purse.

Saudi-Iran Proxy War Sparks Fear Over OPEC Deal

Iran Focus

London, 06 Apr – Rising tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia in proxy conflicts across the Middle East are rekindling doubts over the success of the OPEC+ oil production deal and could lead to the collapse of the deal altogether in June.

Earlier this year, commodity analysts warned that high oil prices are even making some of the deal’s signatories nervous, including Iran. Last month, Iran’s Energy Minister Bijan Zanganeh said that Iran was concerned that if their oil was being sold for more than $70 US per barrel, that this would encourage increased oil production in other countries.

Slain Maltese Reporter Story That Exposed Iran Sanctions Busting

Iran Focus

London, 05 Apr – In October of last year, a car bomb claimed the life of Maltese investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia. One of the 47 libel suits against her was quietly dropped at a county court in the US the next day.

Proceedings were filed against Caruana Galizia earlier last year by Maltese private bank, Pilatus Bank and its owner, Iran-born Seyed Ali Sadr Hasheminejad, known as Ali Sadr. It came after a series of stories published on Caruana Galizia’s website claiming that Pilatus had laundered funds from allegedly corrupt schemes on behalf of offshore companies and individuals. They included Keith Schembri, chief of staff to the Maltese prime minister, Joseph Muscat.

Iranian Regime Calls for Ban of Messaging App Telegram

Iran Focus

London, 05 Apr – Officials in Iran are trying to ban the popular messaging application “Telegram”. It is a widely used chat application that has more than 20 million users in the country.

It was reported that the secretary of the Iranian High Council of Cyberspace (HCC) Hassan Firouzabadi has given his support for a full ban of the application. He said that the application’s recent Initial Coin Offering (ICO) has the potential to endanger the Iranian national currency.

Iran Seeks to Discredit Legitimate Yemeni Government With Rumours of Secret Prisons

Iran Focus

London, 05 Apr – The Governor of Hadramout in Yemen has denied allegations of secret prisons in his province and said that Iran and Qatar are making these claims for political reasons.

Major General Faraj Salmeen al-Bahsani said that human rights groups who visited the region had seen the prisons and commended the government on the conditions inside, which means that the prisons can’t be secret.

While on an official visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Iran and Qatar are promoting these allegations. We have very advanced facilities … and the groups hailed the services they offer.”

Iran, Russia, and Turkey Met to Discuss Peace in Syria, but Something’s Very Wrong Here

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Iran Focus

London, 05 Apr – Iran, Russia, and Turkey sat down for a meeting about Syria’s future on April 4, but the US wasn’t there, despite its role supporting the rebels in the Syrian Civil War.

This creates a massive problem, because Iran, Russia, and Turkey, have very different interests in Syria and experts say that this looks more like a PR exercise than a serious effort to bring about peace.

Iran, for instance, is a long time supporter of Syrian Dictator Bashar al-Assad and has a vested interest in seeing him remain in power. They have two main reasons for this; thinking that quelling the Syrian people’s uprising will dampen the Iranian people’s desire for regime change and believing that they will be able to turn Syria into another Iranian vassal state in the Middle East.

How One MEK Rally Scared the Mullahs So Much That They Banned All Political Rallies

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By Jubin Katiraie

The mullahs’ regime became increasingly like a dictatorship following the rigged elections of 1980, when the mullahs stole power from the Iranian people and their democratic resistance forces the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

In June, five months after the election, the mullahs closed down the universities under the auspices of a “cultural revolution”, but in reality, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wanted to suppress a group that was more likely to rebel against the mullahs.

France, the UK, and Germany Can Accept Trump’s Conditions, or Kill the Iran Nuclear Deal

Iran Focus

London, 04 Apr – With the appointment of John Bolton as White House National Security Adviser — the ascension of a “hawk” — the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and world powers appears likely to end. Europe may determine whether the deal survives if US President Trump is prepared to accept a real fix, and if negotiations offer one.

Trump laid out three conditions that the Europeans must meet if the U.S. is to remain in the nuclear deal last January. If the Europeans do not agree to these demands by May 12th, he will impose powerful economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic. These demands include: