Iran Focus

Washington, 25 Jul – The US government and its Western allies should adopt a new policy on Iran, blocking its “pathways” to a nuclear bomb and its meddling in the Middle East and recognising the Iranian people’s “desire to topple the religious fascism in Iran and to establish democracy and a popular rule”, Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi told a Congressional briefing in the US House of Representatives on Friday.

A bi-partisan panel of Congressmen, former officials and foreign policy experts addressed the briefing entitled: “Halting Iran’s Nuclear Bomb Quest, Rights Abuses and Regional Meddling – Challenges & Options”. Rajavi addressed the conference via video message.

Jeddah, 22 Jul – US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said after talks in Saudi Arabia that Iran’s “potential for aggression” was a shared concern as he moved to bolster defence ties with Riyadh following a nuclear agreement with its arch-foe, Reuters reported.

The conservative, mainly Sunni Muslim kingdom is engaged in a contest for power with Shi’ite Iran stretching across the region. It fears the nuclear deal will free Tehran from international pressure and sanctions, giving it more room to back allies in conflicts from Syria to Yemen.

London, 22 Jul – While the world’s attention has been fixed on the weak nuclear agreement signed in Vienna last week, a humanitarian crisis is brewing for thousands of Iranian refugees in Iraq, former Scottish Euro-Parliamentarian Struan Stevenson wrote on Wednesday in Euractiv.com.

Struan Stevenson was a Conservative MEP for Scotland in the European Parliament from 1999 until 2014. During this time, he was president of the Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq. He is now president of the European Iraqi Freedom Association (EIFA).

Iran Focus

Tehran, 18 Jul – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday a nuclear deal reached this week with world powers would not affect Iran’s relationship with the United States or its policies in the Middle East.

Khamenei, who has the last word on high matters of state and had given his blessing to the nuclear talks, moved to dampen any speculation it would lead to a broader rapprochement with the US.