Iran Digest Week of July 22 - July 29
/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 associate Samuel Howell. Please note that the news and views expressed in the articles below do not necessarily reflect those of AIC.
US-Iran Relations
Iranian tanker to retrieve oil cargo confiscated by U.S. this week
An Iranian-flagged tanker anchored off the Greek port of Piraeus is expected this week to retrieve part of its cargo of oil confiscated by the United States and sail back to Iran following a Greek court ruling, government sources said on Wednesday.
The case has strained relations between Athens and Tehran amid growing tensions between Iran and the United States.
The removal of oil from the Lana, formerly Pegas, prompted Iranian forces to seize two Greek tankers in the Middle East Gulf which have not yet been released.
(Reuters)
Nuclear Accord
Iran will keep IAEA cameras turned off until nuclear deal is restored
Iran will keep the U.N. nuclear watchdog's cameras turned off until a 2015 nuclear deal is restored, the head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization said on Monday, state media reported.
Nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami also said Iran would not agree to address alleged unexplained uranium traces as demanded by the IAEA, adding that the 2015 nuclear deal had cleared Iran of so-called PMD (possible military dimensions) allegations.
In June, the 35-nation Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) overwhelmingly passed a resolution criticising Iran for failing to explain uranium traces found at three undeclared sites.
(Reuters)
Economy
Iran to start accepting Russian Mir payment cards soon -official
Iran will soon start accepting payments made with Russia's Mir bank cards, a top official was quoted by Russia's RIA news agency as saying, making it the latest country to adopt the Russian-made alternative to Visa (V.N) and Mastercard (MA.N).
"I think this payment system will be activated in Iran soon," RIA quoted Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Medhi Safari as saying on Wednesday.
Moscow has acted to forge close ties with Tehran since it sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 as the Kremlin, decried as a pariah in the West, attempts to build new economic and diplomatic partnerships elsewhere.
(Reuters)
Iran's treasury sees 580% rise in March-July oil and condensates income -minister
Iran's income from oil and condensates exports is 580% higher in the first four months of the Iranian year (March 21 to July 21) compared with the same period a year ago, the Iranian economy minister said on Tuesday.
The positive report, however, coincides with Iran's inflation surpassing 50%, prices of goods tripling, hikes in energy and housing costs, and protests over economic hardship spreading across the country.
"Due to the increase in oil exports and our new budget's currency conversion rate, we saw a 580% increase in the treasury's income from the export of oil and condensate in the first four months of this year," Economy Minister Ehsan Khandouzi told a news conference.
(Reuters)
Environment
Flash floods have killed at least 21 people in southern Iran
Flash floods in Iran's drought-stricken southern Fars province have killed at least 21 people, state television said Saturday.
Heavy rains swelled the Roudbal river by the city of Estahban, according to the city's governor Yousef Karegar.
Karegar said rescue teams had saved 55 people who were trapped by the flash flooding, but at least six people were still missing.
Flooding hit more than 10 villages in the province, he added.
(NPR)
Women of Iran
Two Mothers Detained In Iran Ahead Of Hijab Protests Released
Two Iranian mothers whose sons were killed during protests in November 2019 have been released from detention after they were arrested two weeks ago ahead of a demonstration over the country's mandatory hijab law.
Mahboobeh Ramezani and Rahimeh Yousefzad, the mothers of Pejman Gholipur and Navid Behboodi, were released on July 25.
The two were among several people -- all of whom were family members of victims of the November 2019 protests -- arrested by security agents on July 11, one day before a planned protest against the mandatory hijab law that requires women to wear head scarves when in public.
(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Inside Iran
Iran says suspected Israel cell members planning attack arrested
Iran says its intelligence forces have arrested suspected members of an Israeli cell hours before they were allegedly planning to carry out a major “terrorist” bombing operation in the central Iranian city of Isfahan.
Iran’s intelligence ministry, in a short statement on Saturday night, said it has arrested an unspecified number of individuals operating under orders from Mossad, the Israeli spy agency, without divulging their nationalities.
“Members of the network employed cutting edge operational and communications equipment and powerful explosives, and wanted to conduct an unprecedented sabotage and terrorist operation in some pre-determined sensitive areas and targets,” the statement said.
Iran: IRGC To Launch New Satellite Carrier
The commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) unveiled plans to send a new homegrown satellite carrier into space in the current Iranian year.
Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Sunday, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh highlighted the IRGC’s advances in the drone and satellite industries.
Referring to the Noor (light) satellite which has been placed into an orbit 500 kilometers above the Earth, the commander said the IRGC Aerospace Force is going to achieve another success as it will launch ‘Qaem’ new satellite carrier into space in the current Iranian year (ends in March 2023).
Regional Politics
Pakistan sees no restriction to deepen ties with Iran: ambassador
Rahim Hayat Qureshi, the Pakistani Ambassador to Iran, on Monday called for a deepening of ties between Islamabad and Tehran at a meeting with the head of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
He emphasized that expanding Pakistan-Iran collaboration in many domains has no restrictions or bounds.
According to Qureshi, Pakistan and Iran are prepared to expand their current levels of media and cultural collaboration.
“Since the coming to power of President Ebrahim Raisi’s government, the relations between Tehran and Islamabad have witnessed an upward trend,” he stated, praising the concern and goodwill of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei towards the Pakistani nation.
Analysis
Analysis: Increased Israel-Iran confrontations risk war
By: Thomas O Falk
The tension between Iran and Israel continues to grow, and with the nuclear deal between Tehran and the West looking increasingly unlikely to be restored, further escalation might be a possibility.
Events last month in Turkey highlight the seriousness of the situation.
Five Iranians, who were reportedly tasked with assassinating a former Israeli diplomat and other Israeli citizens in Turkey, were arrested by a Turkish special unit in Istanbul, although Iran denied any involvement.
And last week, Iran arrested what it said was a Mossad cell suspected of attempting to carry out attacks on sensitive sites in the country.
