Iranwire – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, has adopted two distinct approaches toward nationwide protests over the past six months. On October 3, just over two weeks after the demonstrations began, he blamed US and Israeli spy agencies and policymakers for the wave of anger. He claimed the protesters had been deceived by the enemy …

Iranwire – The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran says violations committed by the Islamic Republic in recent months as part of a broader crackdown on anti-government protests may amount to crimes against humanity. Addressing the Geneva-based Human Rights Council on March 20, Javaid Rehman said that the scale and gravity of the crimes “points …

gatestoneinstitute.org – Today, China is victorious by sponsoring the historic agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, while the US has a new president who comes to destroy agreements reached by his predecessor, and even brags about it during his election campaign and his presidency.” — Saeed Al-Mryti, Saudi political activist, Twitter, March 14, 2023. “[N]o matter how hard analysts try …

VOA – U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday the United States stands with the “brave women and all the citizens of Iran” who are inspiring the world with their conviction and courage as they fight for their “human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Speaking at a White House event celebrating Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, Biden said the United States and …

Al-Monitor — Secretary of State Antony Blinken used the unveiling of the State Department’s annual report on global human rights to spotlight the Iranian regime’s six-month-long crackdown on protesters.  Iran has been convulsed by anti-government protests since 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died in the custody of Iran’s morality police in September following her arrest for an alleged dress code …

Al-Monitor – Iran and Iraq signed a security agreement on Sunday. The deal follows Iran’s cross-border attacks on Kurdish groups in Iraq and demonstrates the Islamic Republic’s continued sway over its neighbor.  Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani visited Baghdad on Sunday, where he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Shamkhani and Iraq’s national security adviser, Qassim …

Al-Arabia – Britain on Monday sanctioned senior officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including those who it said were responsible for managing the group’s financial investments. The sanctions – an asset freeze and UK travel ban – were imposed on five members on the Board of Directors of the IRGC Co-operative Foundation and two senior IRGC commanders operating …

Iranwire – As IranWire has reported, hundreds of Iranians have sustained severe eye injuries after being hit by pellets, tear gas cannisters, paintball bullets or other projectiles used by security forces amid a bloody crackdown on mainly peaceful demonstrations. Doctors say that, as of now, at least 580 protesters have lost one or both eyes in Tehran and in Kurdistan alone. …

Iranwire – Agitated elements within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) tried to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s residence with artillery at least once since the start of Iran’s recent protests, as frustration grows within the armed forces over the situation, IranWire can reveal. And during a January 3 meeting with the Supreme Leader, commanders within the Revolutionary Guards …

VOA – The family of Mahsa Amini, whose death sparked months of protests in Iran, says the leadership of Iran must be held accountable for crimes against humanity and that they want their case heard in an international court. Erfaz Mortezaei, Amini’s cousin, told Britain’s ITV News in an interview broadcast Sunday that Amini’s parents have been threatened, being told …