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As Congress Considers Bill Referencing 1988 Massacre, Iran Conceals Mass Graves

Edward Carney
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As Congress Considers Bill Referencing 1988 Massacre, Iran Conceals Mass Graves

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By Edward Carney

Last week, the US House of Representatives held debate over a bill that would impose new sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran for its longstanding record of human rights violations and hostage-taking. The bill was introduced by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and quickly acquired 46 co-sponsors, including both Democrats and Republicans.

Notably, as Iran Human Rights Monitor pointed out on Friday, the addition of an amendment by Ted Poe, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, made Resolution 4744 the first potentially binding congressional resolution to include language referring to the massacre of Iranian political prisoners in 1988.

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Iran: Drought and Sandstorms Crisis

Staff Writer
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Iran: Drought and Sandstorms Crisis

Iran- Drought and Sandstorms Crisis

Iran Focus

London, 1 May – In parts of Iran, especially in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan, sand and dust storms are growing in intensity and frequency.

Residents are being forced to move to cities where the weather conditions are bearable, says Javad Kazem Nasab Albaji, an MP from the Khuzestan capital, Ahvaz. State-run Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA), cites Albaji as blaming “dust particle centers” for the outward migration from his province.

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Iran: Economy Issues Caused by Poor Leadership

Staff Writer
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Iran: Economy Issues Caused by Poor Leadership

Iran Focus

London, 30 Apr – Iran is currently going through a major economic crisis that is affecting the lives of the Iranian people and the country’s trade. The problems are devastating for many and to make matters worse, the problems have been caused by the corrupt leadership that has been in place for decades.

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Using Iran’s Dire Economy to Negotiate Modified Nuclear Deal

Staff Writer
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Using Iran’s Dire Economy to Negotiate Modified Nuclear Deal

Iran Focus

London, 27 Apr – The deteriorating economic situation in Iran is a factor that potentially gives the United States leverage in the negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal.

In the past several weeks, the rial, Iran’s currency, has lost 25 per cent of its value against the dollar. Tehran set an official exchange rate of 42,000 rials to the dollar —a move that is not likely to succeed, as market prices of the rial are 60,000 to the dollar.

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Iran’s Economic Crisis Threatens to Fuel More Domestic Unrest

Staff Writer
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Iran’s Economic Crisis Threatens to Fuel More Domestic Unrest

Iran Focus

London, 27 Apr – A number of reports this week have suggested that the economic crisis in the Islamic Republic of Iran is very much ongoing, in spite of the government’s effort to restrict foreign currency exchanges and otherwise interrupt the collapse in the value of the rial.

Earlier this month, the Iranian national currency fell to an exchange rate of more than 60,000 rials to the dollar, representing about half the value it had maintained last September. The government subsequently set an artificial rate of 42,000 rials to the dollar and banned currency traders from altering it. But EA Worldview reported on Tuesday that such stopgap measures had failed, with a number of exchanges opting to close down instead of adhering to the artificial rate.

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Iran: Foreign Minister Visits United States Amid Uncertainty of Nuclear Deal

Jubin Katiraie
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Iran: Foreign Minister Visits United States Amid Uncertainty of Nuclear Deal

By Jubin Katiraie

The future of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is hanging in the balance. Following meetings between United States President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, Iran is feeling the pressure.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also planned a visit to coincide with that of the Europeans. He is apparently attending the United Nations peace conference with other officials from around the world, but it is clear that he is there with regards to the nuclear deal.

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Graduates in Iran to Expect High Unemployment

Staff Writer
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Graduates in Iran to Expect High Unemployment

Iran Focus

London, 26 Apr – The economic situation in Iran is in a dire state and more than a third of those that are not in employment in the country are university graduates. According to the government’s Planning and Management Organization (PMO), a staggering 42 per cent of the unemployed have a university degree.

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Iraq Elections: Now Is the Time to Limit Iran’s Influence

Staff Writer
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Iraq Elections: Now Is the Time to Limit Iran’s Influence

Iran Focus

London, 26 Apr – Since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, Iran has been present in the country with an influence that is ever-increasing. The elections that are due to take place next month will be the perfect opportunity for Iraq to limit Iran’s influence.

On May12th, the parliamentary and local elections will take place and the government of Iraq has been taking measures to move towards reconciliation with its neighbours.

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Future of the Iran Nuclear Deal

Staff Writer
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Future of the Iran Nuclear Deal

Iran Focus

London, 25 Apr – The 2015 Iran nuclear deal was made with the Islamic Republic, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, France and Russia – the five permanent members of the United Nations Security. Germany and the European Union were also involved.

The deal was seen as the main foreign policy achievement of former president Barack Obama but it has been highly controversial – both at the time of negotiations and now.

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Aging and Overuse Affects Iran’s Power Infrastructure

Staff Writer
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Aging and Overuse Affects Iran’s Power Infrastructure

Iran Focus

London, 24 Apr – During last fiscal year, which ended on March 20th, the statistics of Energy Ministry’s annual report indicates that Iran has increased minimal power generation capacity by 3% to around 78.9 GW, denoting that the power generation — the actual capacity — is below 68.5 GW. This shows the debilitation and fatigue of the country’s aging power plants.

Iran has fulfilled only about half of last year’s power generation growth plan, especially for its renewable power projects. To avoid summertime’s power outages, when the electricity demand soars, Iran needs at least 5 percent growth annually.

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