Iran Digest Week of August 13 - August 20
/AIC’s Iran digest project covers the latest developments and news stories published in Iranian and international media outlets. This weekly digest is compiled by Communications Associate Elizabeth Kos. Please note that the news and views expressed in the articles below do not necessarily reflect those of AIC.
US-Iran Relations
Iran’s Raisi Calls US ‘Defeat’ in Afghanistan Opportunity for Peace
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday that the United States’ “defeat” in Afghanistan could make way for peace as the war-torn country reels from the Taliban’s lightning advance.
"The military defeat and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan should offer an opportunity to restore life, security and lasting peace in that country," Raisi’s office quoted him as telling outgoing Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a call Monday.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the rule of the will of the oppressed people of Afghanistan has always been a source of security and stability,” Raisi told Zarif. "Iran is committed to its neighborly relations with Afghanistan by closely monitoring developments in the country,” the ultraconservative cleric said.
US Announces New Sanctions, Targeting Omani ‘Broker’
The United States imposed sanctions on an Omani businessman and companies linked to him over allegations of involvement in an oil-smuggling network that supports Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC-QF).
The sanctions targeted Mahmood Rashid Amur Al Habsi, described by the US Department of the Treasury as a “foreign broker” and accused of partnering with senior Quds Force officials to “facilitate shipments of Iranian oil to foreign customers, including buyers in East Asia”.
“The IRGC-QF is using revenues from its Iranian petroleum sales to fund its malign activities at the expense of the Iranian people,” Andrea M Gacki, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the Treasury, said in a statement.
US to Release Religious Iranian Decorative Tiles to Virginia Mosque
The US Treasury Department has released 750 pounds of Iranian religious tiles that were destined for a mosque in northern Virginia, after confiscating the artwork in June and claiming the gift violated sanctions imposed on Tehran.
"The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has reviewed and approved a license application by a Manassas, Va., mosque to lawfully import a shipment of Quranic tiles from Iran," a US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told Middle East Eye in an email on Wednesday.
"We welcome this decision as a reaffirmation of our nation's respect for religious freedom and diversity. Americans of all religious backgrounds should have access to the symbols of their faith, whatever the origin of those symbols," said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR's national deputy director.
Nuclear Accord
Europeans Express ‘Grave Concern’ Over IAEA Report on Iran
The foreign ministries of Germany, France and Britain on Thursday expressed “grave concern” over the latest report by the UN’s nuclear watchdog that said Iran continues to produce uranium metal, which can be used in the production of a nuclear bomb.
The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna confirmed earlier this week that Iran has produced uranium metal enriched up to 20% for the first time, and has significantly increased its production capacity of uranium enriched up to 60%.
Germany, France and Britain — the western European members of the JCPOA — called the moves by Iran “serious violations” of its commitment under the JCPOA. They said that “both are key steps in the development of a nuclear weapon and Iran has no credible civilian need for either measure.”
Biden and Israel’s Bennett to Meet at White House Next Week to Discuss Iran
US President Joe Biden will host Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett at the White House next week, with the stalled Iran nuclear talks being a main topic of discussion.
Bennett said at a news conference on Wednesday that the meeting "will focus on Iran", but the White House also promoted "an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss efforts to advance peace, security, and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians".
The White House added that the visit, scheduled for 26 August, will "strengthen the enduring partnership between the United States and Israel, reflect the deep ties between our governments and our people, and underscore the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security".
COVID-19
Iran Will Impose 6-Day ‘General Lockdown’ Over Coronavirus
Iran says it will impose a six-day-long “general lockdown” in cities across the country after being hit by what it describes as its fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, state media reported Saturday.
The lockdown includes all bazaars, markets and public offices, as well as movie theaters, gyms and restaurants in all Iranian cities.
The lockdown will begin on Monday and will last through Saturday. outside the West.
The national coronavirus taskforce, which issued the decision, also ordered a travel ban between all Iranian cities from Sunday to Friday.
Inside Iran
Mysterious Hacker Group Suspected in July Cyberattack on Iranian Trains
When a cyberattack on Iran’s railroad system last month caused widespread chaos with hundreds of trains delayed or canceled, fingers naturally pointed at Israel, which has been locked in a long-running shadow war with Tehran.
But a new investigation by an Israeli-American cybersecurity company, Check Point Software Technologies, concluded that a mysterious group opposed to the Iranian government was most likely behind the hack. That is in contrast to many previous cyberattacks, which were attributed to state entities. The group is known as Indra, named after the god of war in Hindu mythology.
The company’s report, which was reviewed by The New York Times, said the attack was a cautionary tale: An opposition group without the budget, personnel or abilities of a government could still inflict a good deal of damage.
Regional Politics
Hezbollah Says Iranian Fuel Oil Ship to Sail to Lebanon in Hours
A shipment of Iranian fuel oil will be setting sail for Lebanon, organised by the Lebanese group Hezbollah which has warned its US and Israeli adversaries the ship will be considered Lebanese soil as soon as it sails.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday that further ships would follow to help the Lebanese people who are enduring crippling fuel shortages as a result of the country’s two-year-long financial meltdown.
“We don’t want to get into a challenge with anyone, we don’t want to get into a problem with anyone. We want to help our people,” Nasrallah said. “I say to the Americans and the Israelis that the boat that will sail within hours from Iran is Lebanese territory.”
Iran Asks Taliban to Ensure Safety of Diplomats in Herat
Iran's Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the Taliban to ensure the safety of its diplomats and staff at its consulate in the western Afghan city of Herat, which the Taliban has said it has captured.
"Considering (the) Taliban's dominance over the city of Herat, we draw their serious attention to ensuring the complete safety and health of diplomats and diplomatic facilities," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Twitter.
"The administration of Herat has been taken over by the forces of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban). The consul general, diplomats and staff ... are inside the building. I am in regular contact with them," Mousavi, director-general for West Asia at the foreign ministry, tweeted earlier.
(Reuters)
Analysis
Why Iran Will Welcome the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan
By: Shelly Kittleson
When the Taliban took Afghanistan’s key Islam Qala border crossing with Iran on July 9, locals reported that Iranian officials on the other side welcomed them. When on Aug. 6 it seemed the capital of Nimroz province in western Afghanistan was about to fall and many of those afraid of the Taliban rushed toward the border to escape, Iranian officials instead reportedly refused entry to most of those fleeing.
A major reason for Iranian support for the Taliban is Iran’s need for the water that flows into the country from across the border.
Mike Martin, a former British Army officer fluent in Pashto who has worked extensively in Helmand and written a book on the area titled An Intimate War, told Foreign Policy: “Iran has developed links over many years to multiple militant groups inside Helmand Province, with its allegiance changing depending on who has the upper hand in the province.”
