Iran Focus
London, 3 Dec – A large portion of society in Iran is living in extreme poverty and in this past year the number of Iranians living in such conditions has doubled. The people are becoming poorer and poorer and an increasing number of people are living under the extreme poverty line with no signs of improvement in the next few years.
Iran Focus
London, 3 Dec – Many in the Middle East and the West have devoted significant attention to Iran’s expansionist policies, which is an important step, but political scientist Dr Majid Rafizadeh argues that more attention needs to be paid to the Regime’s cyber warfare programme, which has a direct and indirect impact on global security.
That’s why we’re going to look at the programme and the threat it poses in detail here.
Iran Focus
London, 1 Dec – The Nile Net Online Website promises Egyptians “true news” from its offices in the heart of Cairo’s Tahrir Square, “to expand the scope of freedom of expression in the Arab world.”
And while Nile Net Online once had more than 115,000 followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, a Facebook map showing its location dropped a pin onto the middle of the street, rather than any building. Regulars at the square, including stall holders and a policeman, have never heard of the website.
Iran Focus
London, 30 Nov – Tehran has come under suspicion over several foiled terrorist plot attempts in France and Denmark. These activities have led to a more assertive shift of policy towards Iran from the European Union foreign ministers.
In fact, on November 12th, EU ministers voiced support for “targeted sanctions” against Tehran after being briefed by France and Denmark about recent Iranian terror plots on their soil. Some 150 MEPs from six major political groups in the European Parliament, who represent 27 different countries, signed a joint statement protesting the “new wave of terrorism” instigated by Iran.
Iran Focus
London, 30 Nov – According to US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell the US government will contemplate sanctions against French and German entities that seek to evade sanctions on Iran’s clerical dictatorship. Grenell said, “The US will consider sanctions on those entities participating in these tactics,” and added that the French and German activities “would not be a smart move.”
Iran Focus
London, 30 Nov – Inflation in Iran has risen nearly 35% in the past year, according to calculations by the Statistical Center of Iran published on November 22.
The SCI report noted that the highest increase in prices was for food and drink, rising 4.3% in the past month and a massive 48% over the past year. Housing and fuel were the smallest percentage increase at just 20%, but they make up almost one-third of expenses for the average household.
Iran Focus
London, 29 Nov – During the most recent Iraqi elections, many in Western government and media hailed the elections of Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Barham Salih as prime minister and president respectively. This looked like a new beginning for the much-beleaguered Iraq and a chance for the Gulf state to finally leave its problems behind.
Iran Focus
London, 29 Nov – The strike at the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane Mill in southeastern Iran is now entering its fourth consecutive week, with workers demanding long-overdue wages, that the mill is re-nationalised, and that the two activists still being held over the strike be released immediately and unconditionally.
Iran Focus
London, 28 Nov – Demanding medical treatment their detained colleague, a human rights activist who has been on a hunger strike for months, a group of Iranian doctors protested outside the country’s parliament.
Images of the doctors holding signs outside the parliament building in support of activist Farhad Meysami began to circulate on Monday. The lawyer who represents Meysami, Mohammad Moghimi, said in a phone interview that the protest began on Monday morning.
Iran Focus
London, 28 Nov – US sanctions on Iran are beginning to take their toll, with oil prices plummeting and falling sales plaguing Iran and, no doubt, keeping the mullahs up at night.
This is largely due to the success of America’s continued energy production, which many observers expected to reach a plateau. This is stopping Iran from reaping the benefit promised during the nuclear deal in the same way that sharp price spiral of oil did in 2016. Even though Iran’s black market sales of Iranian oil are likely to yield little financial profit.
