Iran Focus
London, 12 Jan – Back in 2009, when the Iranian people protested the rigged election in the streets of Tehran, the US did nothing. As a result, many protesters were imprisoned and killed.
Now, the Iranian people have taken to the streets again- albeit it all across the country this time- and it is time for the US (and the world) to act, but what should they do?
Iran Focus
London, 12 Jan – Many of the foreign ministers in Western Europe are concerned that Donald Trump will pull the US out of the 2015 Nuclear Deal today and hurt the people who will overthrow the Iranian Regime.
This is strange for three reasons.
1. There is not a lot of evidence that the nuclear deal is good for the people of Iran who are currently protesting widespread corruption that has bankrupted their economy in spite of sanctions relief and the unfreezing of billions in foreign assets.
Iran Focus
London, 12 Jan – On Wednesday, just ahead of a meeting between several European leaders and Iranian leaders in Brussels, people took to the streets to protest. The meeting, to be held the next day is with regards to the Iran nuclear deal.
Representing Iran was foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The meeting comes just a day before the United States President Donald Trump was due to make a decision about reimposing oil sanctions that were lifted as one of the terms of the nuclear deal.
by Jubin Katiraie
After years of living under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi’s oppressive regime, the Iranian people saw the 1979 Iranian Revolution as a moment of positivity and change for the better. However, it did not work out to be anywhere near as positive as they hoped.
Supreme Leader Khomeini purged the Iranian army of anyone he deemed incompatible with the new regime and he soon came to the decision that the force needed to be highly disciplined and one that would strengthen his position.
As a result, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij Mobilisation Resistance Force were born. Hugely loyal to the Supreme Leader, both forces started to oppress the people of Iran. And they still do.
Iran Focus
London, 11 Jan – Donald Trump is now expected to extend sanctions relief for the Iranian Regime that was granted as part of the 2015 nuclear pact, despite speculation that he would reimpose sanctions and effectively pull out of the deal.
Officials for the Trump Administration spoke to the Associated Press under the condition of anonymity and explained that US lawmakers had struck a compromise and amended legislation relating to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran Focus
London, 11 Jan – Today in Brussels, a delegation of EU foreign ministers and the EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini met with their counterpart in the Iranian Regime, Javad Zarif, to discuss the future of the 2015 nuclear deal.
This meeting, which was called over the Regime’s fears that Donald Trump would soon pull the US out of the seven-nation agreement, coincided with the beginning of the third week of widespread anti-regime protests in Iran that have been met with severe human rights abuses by the ruling mullahs in clear violation of international human rights accords.
Iran Focus
London, 11 Jan – The European Union has been condemned for inviting the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for talks in Brussels, while widespread anti-regime protests are still ongoing in Iran.
The EU and Iranian foreign ministers, along with EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, have said that today’s talks are focused on preserving the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US may pull out of later today.
Critics have lambasted the meeting because of recent human rights abuses by the Regime- both in response to the current protests and as one of the many reasons for the protests.
Iran Focus
London, 10 Jan – On the thirteenth day of the uprising, Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei acknowledged the continuation of the uprising. His tone seemed to underscore the fact that the Iranian Resistance and the PMOI/MEK are the alternative to his regime.
Iran Focus
London, 10 Jan – The US House of Representatives overwhelming voted in favour of a resolution, on Tuesday, supporting the Iranian people’s right to freedom of expression in the widespread protests and condemning the Regime’s violent crackdown.
The 415-2 vote comes after almost two weeks on anti-regime protests in which at least 50 people have been killed and 3,700 imprisoned and potentially facing the death penalty.
Republican Representative Ed Royce, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said: “With the passage of this resolution, we state that America stands with the Iranian people.”
Iran Focus
London, 10 Jan – The US Defense Secretary James Mattis has stated that the White House does not have any issues with the Iranian people, only with the Regime.
He also stated that the people of Iran clearly also have issues with the Regime, citing the widespread protests that broke out in the final days of 2017 as proof.
He said: “I think it’s very important that we stand up and say that we understand the Iranian people. Our beef, if we have one, is not with the Iranian people. It is specifically the same regime that the Iranian people, clearly, are fed up with as well.”
