Social and Political

Iranwire – As the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody nears, military convoys have been seen heading toward cities in Iran’s Kurdistan province, raising questions about the government’s intentions.  Saqqez, Mahsa’s hometown, has become a garrison for counter-insurgency forces such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the paramilitary Basij force, creating an atmosphere of tension.  …

Iranwire – Over the last few months, there have been widespread efforts by the Iranian government to preempt and disarm the anticipated protests coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the brutal murder of Mahsa Jina Amini for “bad hijab.”  Newspapers run stories about the security services arresting prominent journalists, activists, and artists, intimidating their families and pressuring their employers. Troops …

(HRW) – Iranian authorities have ramped up their repression on civil society as the one-year anniversary of the death in custody of Mahsa Jina Amini that resulted nationwide protests nears, Human Rights Watch said today. All delegations of UN member states meeting Iranian counterparts during the annual UN General Assembly leaders’ week in New York should raise the plight of activists and put it …

VOA – Britain, France and Germany announced Thursday they will keep their sanctions on Iran related to the Mideast country’s atomic program and development of ballistic missiles. The measures were to expire in October under a timetable spelled out in the now defunct nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. In a joint statement, the three European allies known as …

Al-Monitor – Iranians are marking the one-year anniversary of the death in custody of Mahsa Amini and the ensuing anti-regime protests amid a menacing atmosphere, as continued crackdown by Iranian authorities on any sign of dissent. Iranian authorities have responded with a harsh crackdown to the peaceful protests that erupted last September in response to Amini’s death, killing more than 500 people …

Al-Monitor — One year ago, Iran was shaken by the tragic death of a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini, an event that set off a chain of mass protests across the nation. Her demise in the custody of Iran’s morality police for allegedly not observing the strict hijab laws marked a shift in the country’s political landscape. These protests, initially aimed at challenging these …

iranintl – Ekbatan, in western Tehran, known for its resilience during last year’s protests, is facing increased security measures to prevent fresh unrest on the anniversary. Security forces and their plainclothes agents made their initial appearance in Ekbatan last week. They have already established checkpoints within the extensive middle-class apartment complex and have stationed special forces on motorcycles at various …

iranintl – Amid simmering tensions between Yerevan and Baku, a new report has shed light on how Iran is making the best use of ties with Armenia to act against Israel.  Israel’s Alma, an institute focused on threats to Israel, released a report Wednesday elaborating on how Armenia functions as a transit point in the Islamic Republic’s air corridor route to Syria …

RFL/RE – The United States and three European allies have threatened Iran with another resolution at the UN nuclear watchdog’s board demanding action on issues such as explaining uranium traces found at undeclared sites, but left open whether or when they might follow through. The warning delivered by Britain, France, and Germany — the so-called E3 — and the United …

RFL/RE – The White House on September 13 defended a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap deal that has drawn criticism from Republicans, saying Iran gets no U.S. sanctions relief from the deal. The United States on September 11 waived sanctions to allow the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, a step needed to carry out a …