Iran Focus: Tehran, Jan. 04 – A member of Iran’s Majlis (parliament) today admitted to the systematic use of excess force by security forces against citizens. Fakhroldin Heydari, a Majlis deputy from the town of Baneh (northwest Iran) revealed that two individuals in his constituency were shot and killed by “aggressive security forces” in the past month alone and a number of others were badly wounded.

Iran Focus: Cairo, Jan. 04 – Iraq’s Defence Minister Hazem Shaalan rejected the idea of direct dialogue with Iran yesterday, saying that Iran had no interest in dialogue and only sought to destabilise Iraq. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu Al-Gaith, Shaalan also hinted that Iraq should postpone its January 30th general election if Sunni groups who have threatened to boycott the election were willing to participate in one set for a later date.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jan. 04 – Students from the University of Tabriz (northwestern Iran) have continued their protest on campus following the dean’s decision to suspend two student union spokespersons.
The demonstration by a large number of students started Monday morning.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Jan. 04 – The head of Iran’s Office to Combat Smuggled Goods estimated that nearly $6 billion of
all foreign imports come from the black-market every year and hinted at widespread government corruption as the cause.

Iran Focus Analysis: Tehran, Jan. 03 – Candidates set to stand in Iran’s June 17th presidential elections are seen by many Iran experts as right-wing extremists loyal to hardline Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Several of them, including former heads of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), have announced their candidacy for president.