Iran Focus
London, 15 Mar – Iran has launched a disinformation campaign about the members of the Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), who are living in Albania.
Iran is using its agents in the Ministry of Intelligence and Albanian embassy, who are reportedly working on cultural activities, to spread fake news about the MEK and the Iranian resistance as a whole.
Iran Focus
London, 14 Mar – Speaking ahead of his recent trip to Oman to discuss the efforts made by the United States to block Iran’s arming of Houthi rebels in Yemen, US defense secretary Jim Mattis emphasised that Iran is a major threat.
In an interview with National Public Radio, Mattis said that Sultan Qaboos of Oman is a “strategic leader” that understands how the violent extremists in the region, including the Islamic State and al-Qaida, are benefitting from the chaos and disarray in Yemen. He believes that the Sultan will be able to assist in the United States’ attempts to block the extremists in Yemen, especially those fighting in the eastern side of the country, because of the risk that conflict could spill across the border.
Iran Focus
London, 14 Mar – The Interior Minister of Iran, Mr. Abdul Reza Rahmani Fazli, spoke about the recent protests that took place in the country.
At the end of last year, millions of people took to the streets to voice their discontent with regards to the economic situation in the country. The protests turned into anti-government demonstrations and there were thousands of people arrested and scores killed by the suppressive forces.
Iran Focus
London, 14 Mar – The Iranian National Fire Festival, known as Chaharshanbeh Suri in Persian began on Tuesday, March 13th. Reports of political activities throughout the country that have been organized by the network of the Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), are widespread.
MEK supporters inside Iran called on the people, especially the youth, to demonstrate their objections to Government during the celebration of the Persian year. Leaflets and flyers in support of this call were distributed in cities a few weeks ago.
Iran Focus
London, 13 Mar – The Tehran Stock Exchange was set to close the current fiscal year at the end of the month with a gain of approximately 25% in local index terms. In February, there was a record plunge in the commercial currency market which is used as an alternative to popular investment. The rate plummeted to 50,000 rial per $1 USD and officials were obliged to shut down scores of dealers.
In an attempt to divert remaining liquidity, the monetary authority issued high-interest bonds. Its own activity was criticised in the banking world for its lack of consistency with regards to intervention that resulted in months of difficulties in accessing foreign exchange.
Iran Focus
London, 13 Mar – The fire festival of Chaharshanbe Suri is a celebration that takes place every year just before Iranian New Year, or Nowruz. Its origins are pre-Islamic and it is a tradition that Iranian government has tried to stop the people from celebrating.
Iranian people jump over fires which symbolises purification. The tradition is to prepare the people for the new year.
Activists in Iran have chosen to hold anti-government demonstrations on the same day.
Iran Focus
London, 13 Mar – Iran is on bad terms with many of the nations across the Middle East. One could say that the situation is worsening as more and more leaders are being increasingly outspoken about Iran’s belligerence.
As the Iran threat increases, more and more leaders are agreeing on a number of issues and this is making the Iranian regime uneasy.
Ties between Iraq and Saudi Arabia are getting tighter and Iran is worried. The relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been tense for decades. The regional rivals are on opposing sides of most of the conflicts in the region and each one is outspoken about the other.
Iran Focus
London, 12 Mar – A coalition of Iran-backed Shiite militias officially became part of the Iraqi military on Thursday, which places the US in a difficult position as it tries to prevent Iran from expanding its influence over Iraq.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued the ruling to induct the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi) into the Iraqi military and give them ranks and salaries, proportionate to other branches of the armed forces, just one day after receiving Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri for an official visit.
Iran Focus
London, 12 Mar – Iran is a threat to its neighbours in the region as its meddling continues. It is also a threat to the West and the international community as a whole. However, it is very infrequently mentioned in the international press.
Of course, the nuclear threat coming from North Korea is receiving extensive news coverage, as it should. But we should not let this minimise the threat coming from Iran – especially with regards to its ballistic missile program.
Iran’s ballistic missile program has gone unchecked for far too long and many governments and leaders would like it addressed. United States President Donald Trump has said that it is something that should have been addressed during the negotiations of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. It wasn’t and Iran’s threat is growing rather than decreasing.
Iran Focus
London, 12 Mar – Experts believe that Iran is working on a new cyber-attack as there is an increasing amount of activity happening. Iranian hackers are becoming more and more experienced with regards to surveillance operations.
Only last month, the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said that Iran was the most dangerous nation when it comes to the threat of a cyber-attack. He said: “The most dangerous nation behind cyberattacks? Iran. Iran is the only country that has attacked us repeatedly and tried to attack us repeatedly. In fact, they tried to do it on a virtually weekly basis.”
