Al-Monitor – As he was officially endorsed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran Aug. 3, Iran’s new President Ebrahim Raisi pledged to get the country’s sanctions-stricken economy back on track and restore waning public trust. Under Iran’s constitution, elected presidents begin their tenure only after being officially mandated by the supreme leader. Raisi, an ultraconservative former judiciary chief, was elected following a contentious race back in June, after the ruling hard-liners removed potential centrist challengers from his path to victory.  Expressing his utmost loyalty to the …

Al-Monitor – The Pentagon has not ruled out playing a role in the “collective response” promised by the Biden administration to a drone attack on an Israeli-owned shipping vessel last week in the Gulf of Oman. The attack, which US, UK and Israeli officials have blamed on Iran, killed two people: the ship’s Romanian captain and a British crew member. “A coordinated response …

Al-Arabia – Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that Israel was capable of acting alone against Iran, after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken predicted a “collective” response to an attack last week on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman. “We are working to rally the world, but at the same time we also know to act alone,” Bennett …

RFL/RE – Qatar has condemned a deadly attack on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman that the West has blamed on Iran.The Qatari Foreign Ministry also called for resorting to international law to ensure that such attacks would not be repeated.The ministry said in a statement that Qatar totally rejects “actions that would disrupt the safety and security …

Iranwire – At an endorsement ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday morning, Ebrahim Raisi became the 13th president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The one-time chief justice, lifelong regime loyalist and hanging judge began his inaugural address by regretting he could not kiss the Supreme Leader’s hand due to coronavirus restrictions. Raisi won the June 18 presidential election with a majority of 62 …

Iranwire – In recent weeks cities across Khuzestan have witnessed near-nightly protests over the province’s deadly water crisis. Participants have called for better governance, accountability and a stop to damaging projects diverting water from the major rivers of Karun and Dez to other parts of Iran. During this time, hundreds have also been arrested, with many taken away to unknown locations. On …

Iranwire – In a week’s time, the trial of former Iranian prison official Hamid Nouri will formally open in Stockholm, Sweden. The landmark court case will be the first time anyone has been prosecuted over the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran. In-person hearings are due to begin in Stockholm District Court on Tuesday, August 10 and continue until April 2022. …

Iranwire – In a bygone era, anyone sending a letter or petition to the rulers of Iran would enclose a gift to increase their chances of a favorable response. The message itself would feature the humble addendum: “Just to have something worthwhile in this petition, hereby a token is offered.” A week after the eruption of demonstrations in Khuzestan, triggered by a …

VOA – Ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi is to be inaugurated Tuesday as the new president of Iran, a country facing economic and health crises as well as tensions with the West. He replaces moderate president Hassan Rouhani, whose landmark achievement was the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. From the outset, Raisi will have to tackle the nuclear …

Iran-HRM – Monthly Report July 2021, Iran Human Rights Monitor Introduction July saw Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejeii taking office as head of the Iranian Judiciary Branch. Khamenei issued an edict appointing Ejeii as head of the Judiciary, which is the apparatus in charge of executions and crimes in Iran. In his decree, Khamenei noted Ejeii’s “priceless experience and brilliant record” which …