Social and Political

VOA – The Pentagon is suggesting that Monday’s rocket attack against U.S. forces in Syria was launched by Iranian-backed militia forces.  “We’re all working under the assumption that they (the rockets) were fired by Iran-backed militias or militia. We don’t have specific attribution,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters Tuesday at the Pentagon.  About 34 rockets were fired on …

Iran-HRM – The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran called for an independent inquiry into the state-ordered executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 and the role played by Ebrahim Raisi as Tehran deputy prosecutor. In an interview with Reuters on Monday, June 29, Javaid Rehman said that over the years his office has gathered testimonies and …

CHRI—The continuation of strikes in Iran’s critical oil and petrochemical facilities—not seen on this scale for more than four decades—and the massive show of support from workers in other sectors, may well be a turning point in the history of Iran’s labor protests. “The Islamic Republic’s response to peaceful public protest has been violent, lethal suppression, and the potential for deadly state …

CHRI – For the past week workers at refineries, petrochemical plants and power stations in Iran have been on a national strike, demanding payment of back wages, pay increases to reflect inflation and improvements in health and safety at the workplace. The depth and breadth of the strike has raised speculation that it has the potential to cripple the country, similar to …

Al-Monitor – Iranian government spokesperson Ali Rabiei said the Islamic Republic has now finalized its decision following six rounds of negotiations in Vienna over the revival of the Iran nuclear deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). “Our positions are absolutely clear to all the parties,” Rabiei declared at a virtual presser on June 29. According to him, Tehran is now …

RFL/RE – U.S. President Joe Biden assured Israel on June 28 that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon, as he met with outgoing Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at the White House.“What I can say to you is that Iran will never get a nuclear weapon on my watch,” Biden said at the start of a meeting in the Oval …

Iranwire – Last week a rickety bus carrying environmental journalists on a tour of West Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran, overturned after an apparent brake fault. Two young female reporters for ISNA and IRNA were killed instantly, and dozens of others were injured. In the aftermath of the tragedy, a video circulated on social media in which Zeinab Rahimi, a reporter for ISNA, spoke in …

Iranwire – A resident of the city of Amol in Mazandaran province has been arrested for calling on Instagram and Twitter for a boycott of the Iranian presidential election. Siavash Emami was arrested by intelligence agents on June 15, 2021 on the orders of the Revolutionary Court of Nur city. According to activists, he was charged with “conspiracy to act against …

WJS – President Biden’s decision to strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria over the weekend was a necessary tactical move. But his strategy of empowering Tehran through nuclear negotiations muddles the deterrence message. The early Monday morning strikes “targeted operational and weapons storage facilities” used by groups like Kataib Hezbollah that are targeting American personnel and facilities in Iraq, …

thedispatch.com – The Guardian’s diplomatic editor put it best. “If Joe Biden thinks Vladimir Putin deserves to be called a killer, his description of Ebrahim Raisi, the 60-year-old president-elect of Iran, is likely to be unprintable.” The selection of Raisi—an ultra-hardline cleric responsible for the mass execution of dissidents—provides a timely reminder as to the nature of the regime in Tehran, the threat it represents, …