Week of November 11, 2024 | Iran Unfiltered is a digest monitoring Iranian politics & society by the National Iranian American Council
On November 13, Kianoosh Sanjari, a outstanding Iranian activist, journalist, and former political prisoner, took his personal life in an act of protest. Hours earlier than his loss of life, Sanjari tweeted: “7 PM, Hafiz Bridge, Charsou.” The cryptic message was adopted by a wave of concern and, finally, affirmation of his passing from shut mates, together with fellow activist Abdollah Momeni, who posted: “Unfortunately, Kianoosh is gone. I arrived at Hafiz Bridge.”
Sanjari’s protest centered on the continued detention of political prisoners in Iran. In a press release on the platform X (previously Twitter), he declared his intent to finish his life if outstanding detainees Fatemeh Sepehri, Nasrin Shakarami, Toomaj Salehi, and Arsham Rezaei—weren’t freed by the night of November 13. He described his deliberate motion as a stand towards what he referred to as “the dictatorship of Khamenei and his companions.”
Born in September 1982, Kianoosh Sanjari grew to become politically lively as a teen. At simply 17, he was arrested in the course of the 1999 Tehran University dormitory protests and spent months in solitary confinement. Over the course of his life, he was arrested 9 instances, serving a complete of two years in jail, together with 9 months in solitary confinement. He described solitary confinement as “probably the most torturous type of psychological abuse” in an interview with Amnesty International Norway.
Sanjari’s activism prolonged past Iran’s borders. After a interval of exile within the United States, the place he labored for Voice of America, he returned to Iran in 2016. His return led to his fast arrest and an 11-year sentence (5 years necessary, six suspended), in addition to a two-year journey ban..
Reports point out that Sanjari had attended a psychotherapy session earlier that day, the place he denied any intention of suicide. Yet, hours later, he ended his life.
Sanjari’s activism got here at an ideal private value. A 12 months earlier than his loss of life in 2023, he had marketed his social media account on the market, citing monetary difficulties stemming from political persecution and unemployment. His X account, with 91,000 followers, chronicled his hardships, together with photos of him working in guide labor.
Throughout his life, Sanjari was accused of “propaganda towards the Islamic Republic,” expenses he persistently denied. He maintained that these accusations stemmed from his social media posts and public criticisms of the federal government.
As of Monday, November 11, Iran has applied nationwide energy outages based mostly on a predetermined schedule. Each area will expertise two hours of energy cuts each day, between 9 AM and 5 PM.
Last week, the Vice President and authorities spokesperson introduced the beginning of those scheduled outages following the choice to halt mazut consumption at three energy crops. President Massoud Pezeshkian had ordered the cessation of mazut burning at energy crops in Arak, Karaj, and Isfahan, citing public well being considerations. Pezeshkian acknowledged: “We can not permit lives to be misplaced simply to take care of electrical energy provide.”
On November 7, Mohammad Jafar Qaempanah, the President’s Executive Deputy, confirmed the halt of mazut burning as a consequence of its vital contribution to air air pollution and well being points in areas close to the three crops. He reported that roughly 16 million tons of mazut have been being burned, exacerbating air pollution and respiratory diseases.
Iran’s power sector has been grappling with an escalating imbalance in gasoline, gasoline, and electrical energy provide. On November 8, Erfan Afzali, Secretary-General of the Oil Industry Federation, informed ILNA News Agency that these imbalances, whereas seasonal for gasoline and electrical energy, are worsening yearly.
Afzali criticized the federal government for its lack of pressing and efficient measures, regardless of recognizing the shortages. He pointed to suggestions from tutorial analysis facilities, industrial organizations, and the Chamber of Commerce, together with enhancing the effectivity of thermal energy crops, increasing renewable power infrastructure, and optimizing manufacturing and consumption practices.
While acknowledging the challenges sanctions pose on the Iranian power sector, Afzali emphasised the necessity for “constructive and mutually useful engagement with the worldwide group.” He highlighted the potential for collaboration with BRICS international locations reminiscent of Russia, India, China, and South Africa to mitigate the affect of sanctions.
On November 10, the federal government formally introduced the beginning of scheduled energy outages, attributing the choice to gasoline shortages at energy crops and the necessity to cut back mazut-related air air pollution.
Qaempanah reiterated that the choice adopted technical evaluations and aimed to “stop air pollution attributable to mazut burning.” However, critics argue that the outages mirror a deeper disaster in electrical energy manufacturing. Some counsel that the federal government is utilizing environmental considerations as a pretext to masks systemic power manufacturing points.
Experts have lengthy blamed sanctions, mismanagement, and flawed authorities insurance policies for Iran’s persistent power crises. Questions persist about how a rustic with huge pure gasoline reserves faces recurring shortages and why efforts give attention to bypassing sanctions reasonably than resolving them.
Iran’s present power challenges spotlight the necessity for long-term options, together with elevated effectivity, funding in renewable power, and improved governance. As energy outages disrupt each day life, the nation faces mounting strain to handle its power imbalance whereas safeguarding public well being and environmental integrity.
Babak Paknia, a outstanding protection lawyer, introduced on Wednesday that Tehran’s Criminal Court has issued loss of life sentences for six defendants within the case of Arman Ali-Vardi’s killing, generally known as the “Ekbatan Case.” In a submit on the social media platform X, Paknia wrote: “In the Ekbatan case, the thirteenth department of the Tehran Criminal Court sentenced Milad Armoon, Alireza Kafaee, Amir Mohammad Khosh-Eghbal, Navid Najaran, Hossein Nemati, and Alireza Barmarz Pournak to execution (Qisas).” Reza Shafakhah, one other lawyer representing one of many defendants, confirmed the information.
Paknia emphasised that the decision is preliminary and topic to enchantment. The case dates again to November 2022 throughout nationwide protests sparked by the loss of life of Mahsa Amini whereas in custody of the morality police. Arman Ali-Vardi, a Basij paramilitary member, was reportedly assaulted on November 4, 2022, in Tehran’s Ekbatan residential advanced amid the protests. He succumbed to his accidents in a hospital on November 6.
According to Paknia, the choice was made by the court docket’s presiding consultants, with the court docket’s chief decide reportedly dissenting and issuing a minority opinion towards the ruling. Despite this, the bulk determination prevailed, ensuing within the loss of life sentences.
The six defendants have endured a tumultuous authorized journey. Some of them— Armoon, Najaran, Mehdi Imani, and Hosseini—have been in detention since their arrests within the fall of 2022. The different defendants, Kafaee, Khosh-Eghbal, Nemati, and Barmarz Pournak, have been initially launched on bail however have been rearrested on November 4, 2023.
The Ekbatan residential advanced in western Tehran grew to become a focus of anti-government demonstrations in the course of the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” motion. Nightly gatherings and chants echoed by means of the realm as protests towards the federal government’s crackdown continued.
The loss of life sentences handed down on this case have sparked contemporary considerations concerning the judicial course of in Iran. Critics argue that the defendants haven’t acquired honest trials and that the verdicts are a part of a broader effort to suppress dissent.
This growth comes as human rights organizations proceed to name for accountability and transparency in Iran’s judicial system, particularly relating to circumstances associated to the suppression of nationwide protests. The six defendants now face a vital second, with appeals prone to be their final hope for justice.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, November 13, for a two-day go to, holding key conferences with senior Iranian officers. On Thursday morning, November 14, he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and later with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
Grossi’s go to comes at a vital time, with heightened worldwide considerations over Iran’s nuclear actions. During a press convention earlier within the day, Grossi burdened the necessity for diplomatic options, saying, “Nuclear amenities ought to by no means be focused militarily. There are quite a few worldwide legal guidelines that shield them, and these should be revered.” He reiterated his dedication to discovering options whereas acknowledging the tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
In his assembly with Grossi, President Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s dedication to the peaceable use of nuclear expertise, citing a spiritual decree by Iran’s Supreme Leader banning nuclear weapons. He acknowledged, “We are able to cooperate with the IAEA to handle ambiguities and considerations about our peaceable nuclear actions.”
Grossi, whereas acknowledging Iran’s latest advances in nuclear expertise, together with functions in drugs and agriculture, famous that additional cooperation would depend upon progress in resolving safeguards points.
Grossi’s go to follows a confidential IAEA report in September, which revealed that Iran continued enriching uranium near weapons-grade ranges and had ample materials to doubtlessly produce 4 nuclear bombs if enrichment ranges have been additional elevated. These findings have drawn sharp criticism from European powers, together with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which accused Iran of violating its commitments underneath the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA).
In a joint assertion to the IAEA Board of Governors, the three European nations expressed concern over Iran’s increasing nuclear actions, calling for full cooperation with IAEA inspectors and a halt to high-level enrichment.
The JCPOA, signed in 2015, successfully collapsed after the United States withdrew from the settlement in 2018 underneath President Donald Trump. While President Joe Biden’s administration had expressed curiosity in renegotiating the deal, efforts to revive talks between Tehran and Washington have to date yielded no substantial progress.
In an interview earlier than his Tehran go to, Grossi warned that the worldwide group’s endurance with Iran was carrying skinny. Speaking on the COP29 local weather summit in Baku, he acknowledged, “The world scenario is turning into more and more tense, and the area for maneuvering on the nuclear difficulty is shrinking. Iran should discover diplomatic pathways to achieve a decision.”
This sentiment was echoed by Araghchi, who acknowledged the gravity of the scenario, saying, “We hope these talks will cut back tensions and pave the best way for significant negotiations earlier than the scenario deteriorates additional.”
Grossi’s go to additionally included plans to examine Iran’s nuclear amenities in Fordow and Natanz. His final journey to Tehran occurred in the course of the earlier Iranian administration in May 2022, the place he sought to reinforce cooperation and handle unresolved points relating to Iran’s nuclear program.
The ongoing discussions underscore the precarious state of Iran’s nuclear relations with the worldwide group. Notably, Axios reported on November 15 that Israel had struck a website on the Parchin army advanced in Iran that was reportedly used for analysis associated to the event of nuclear weapons in its October 26 assault. While Iran had downplayed the strike, such claims – if correct – might enhance Iran’s eagerness to retaliate militarily or by increasing its nuclear program. With diplomatic avenues narrowing and regional tensions escalating, the approaching months might be vital in figuring out whether or not Iran and the IAEA can chart a path towards de-escalation and renewed cooperation.
Meanwhile, European powers are reportedly pushing for a brand new decision towards Iran on the IAEA Board of Governors. According to a report by Reuters, diplomats stated the decision would demand extra detailed reporting on Iran’s nuclear actions, notably in regards to the discovery of uranium particles at undeclared websites. The decision, anticipated to be mentioned subsequent week, goals to extend strain on Tehran for its lack of cooperation with the IAEA.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasised the necessity for a strategic method in the direction of managing relations with the United States throughout a gathering with former Iranian international ministers on Tuesday, November 12. Referring to the latest election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, Pezeshkian acknowledged: “Whether we prefer it or not, we are going to inevitably face the U.S. on regional and worldwide fronts. It is best to handle this engagement ourselves.”
The president additionally famous that Iran’s international coverage would proceed to align with the overarching methods and ideas of the Islamic Republic. He highlighted efforts made by his administration to resolve some international coverage points since taking workplace, saying: “Our relations with neighboring international locations are at present favorable, and agreements have been reached in latest conferences and discussions.”
Pezeshkian reiterated his authorities’s openness to increasing relations with all nations, together with European international locations, and confirmed ongoing negotiations with European states. However, he accused Israel of trying to disrupt these efforts, referring to what he described as its “latest mischievous actions to complicate issues.”
The U.S. responded to Pezeshkian’s remarks with skepticism. Vedant Patel, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, acknowledged on Thursday, November 14, “What we wish from Iran is actual behavioral change and sensible actions, not simply rhetoric or symbolic gestures.”
While the Biden administration’s spokesperson was dismissive, the New York Times reported the incoming Trump administration might have already got taken a primary step to provoke dialogue. Businessman and Trump donor Elon Musk reportedly met with Iranian diplomats, together with Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, to discover “defuse tensions.” At the time of publication, neither Musk nor the Trump marketing campaign has denied the backchannel negotiations. The New York Times, citing an Iranian official, indicated that Amb. Iravani informed Mr. Musk “he ought to acquire sanctions exemptions from the Treasury and convey a few of his companies to Tehran.”
In a associated growth, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed U.S. allegations that Iran was concerned in a plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The U.S. Department of Justice lately indicted an Afghan nationwide, Farhad Shakari, together with two alleged associates, for reportedly partaking in plotting to assassinate Trump on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Reporting that Iran had engaged in threats towards Trump and different U.S. officers stems from Iran’s response to the U.S. assassination Qassem Soleimani in 2020, which led to vows of revenge.
Separate reporting from the Wall Street Journal signifies that Iran assured U.S. officers in writing final month that it was not engaged in any plots towards Donald Trump. On the marketing campaign path, Trump had famous that Biden wanted to threaten to blow Iranian cities to “smithereens” if any plots got here to fruition and did him hurt.
Araghchi additionally addressed ongoing tensions with the U.S., acknowledging basic disagreements that will not be resolvable. However, he emphasised the significance of managing these disputes to cut back their prices and mitigate tensions.
As Iran faces rising worldwide scrutiny over its nuclear program, Pezeshkian and his administration look like navigating a fragile steadiness—looking for dialogue and cooperation whereas making ready for heightened strain from the U.S. and its allies.
In a controversial transfer, hardline factions in Iran have introduced the institution of a “De-Veiling Clinic,” an initiative framed as a “scientific and psychological” method to implement necessary hijab. The mission, spearheaded by the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters, was first reported by the Women’s Seminary News Agency. The clinic, set to open in Tehran, targets “youngsters, younger adults, and ladies looking for social and Islamic id,” in keeping with Mehri Talebi-Darstani, head of the Women’s and Family Division in Tehran.
While what the “clinic” will do continues to be considerably unknown, the announcement has been broadly criticized, with many accusing its proponents of equating resistance to necessary hijab with psychological sickness or dependancy. Critics argue that the clinic represents a continuation of oppressive insurance policies towards girls following the suppression of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests final 12 months.
Senior officers in President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration have strongly distanced themselves from the clinic, emphasizing that it’s not a government-sanctioned program. Zahra Behrouz-Azar, Deputy Minister for Women and Family Affairs, informed reporters on November 13, “Mandatory hijab is a private and household matter. This sort of initiative has not been authorised by the federal government.” She additional criticized the clinic as being “opposite to the values of dignity and respect for girls.”
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani expressed related sentiments, stating that the administration had no prior information of the clinic’s institution. “This just isn’t aligned with our authorities’s insurance policies or ideas,” she stated, reinforcing the Pezeshkian administration’s stance towards hardline measures.
The clinic’s creation comes amid a collection of measures championed by conservative factions, together with morality police patrols and necessary “ethics courses” for people deemed non-compliant with hijab legal guidelines. Human rights advocates have condemned such measures as coercive and in violation of girls’s freedoms. Social media customers have expressed alarm at what they see because the “pathologization” of unveiling, warning of potential psychological manipulation disguised as remedy.
Talebi-Darstani has defended the clinic, claiming it was created in response to “frequent requests from households and ladies.” However, critics argue that this rhetoric masks an agenda of social management underneath the guise of psychological assist.
The clinic has highlighted rising tensions between hardline factions and the Pezeshkian administration. While hardliners have linked the initiative to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s directives on combating unveiling, authorities officers have pushed again, calling for a extra inclusive and respectful method to societal points.
Observers notice that the clinic displays a broader ideological divide inside Iran. While hardliners view unveiling as a “spiritual and political transgression” requiring strict intervention, reformist components within the authorities advocate for addressing societal pressures by means of schooling and family-based approaches.
The initiative has confronted widespread home and worldwide criticism. The authorized advocacy group Dadban described the clinic as “institutionalized psychological abuse,” drawing parallels to historic circumstances of pressured therapy for dissenting views. Activists have referred to as on the federal government to prioritize systemic reforms over restrictive insurance policies.
Social media customers have mocked the clinic, questioning why related initiatives aren’t being launched to handle points like corruption and nepotism amongst officers. Others have warned that insurance policies just like the “De-Veiling Clinic” danger exacerbating societal divisions and undermining girls’s rights.
President Pezeshkian’s administration has persistently voiced its opposition to hardline insurance policies, emphasizing the necessity for unity and respect for particular person freedoms. The Deputy Minister for Women and Family Affairs referred to as for “efficient and dignified” approaches to societal points, aligning with the administration’s broader reformist agenda.
As the contentious Hijab and Chastity Bill was despatched by the parliament to the President for doable approval, this newest controversy underscores the ideological rift between hardliners and the Pezeshkian authorities. The administration’s rejection of the “De-Veiling Clinic” is seen as one more instance of its ongoing conflict with conservative factions over the long run path of Iranian society.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, broadly considered the de facto ruler of the dominion, made a powerful enchantment to the worldwide group on Monday, urging efforts to forestall Israel from attacking Iran. The remarks got here throughout a pivotal speech at a summit of Islamic leaders, signaling a notable shift in regional dynamics.
The Saudi Press Agency’s Persian service quoted the Crown Prince as saying:
“Saudi Arabia (…) calls on the worldwide group to satisfy its tasks in sustaining worldwide safety and peace, halting Israel’s aggressions towards the peoples of Palestine and Lebanon, and compelling the occupying regime to respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran and chorus from attacking its territory.”
Amid these efforts, Israel performed airstrikes on two residential buildings in western Damascus, killing at the very least 15 individuals, in keeping with Syria’s state information company. One of the focused buildings was positioned within the Mazzeh neighborhood, house to safety establishments, embassies, and United Nations places of work, whereas the opposite was in Qudsaya, west of the Syrian capital.
Reuters reported that Israel confirmed the strikes, stating they focused “army targets,” together with an Islamic Jihad command heart. A senior Islamic Jihad official in Syria, chatting with the Associated Press on situation of anonymity, revealed that the assault on Mazzeh hit one among their places of work, killing a number of members. Israel has accused Islamic Jihad of taking part alongside Hamas within the October 7, 2023, assaults on Israeli territory.
Saudi Arabia has traditionally maintained an in depth alliance with the United States, adhering to Washington’s strategic pursuits within the Middle East. However, Riyadh and Tehran’s rivalry has been a defining characteristic of the area, predating the institution of the Islamic Republic.
In the wake of latest geopolitical shifts, notably since October 7, the Middle East has seen a flurry of diplomatic initiatives and positioning. Iran has made overtures to Jordan and Egypt, leveraging its regional affect to isolate Israel throughout army confrontations. Observers counsel Saudi Arabia might now be recalibrating its function inside the area’s shifting energy steadiness.
The timing of the Crown Prince’s speech coincides with these intensifying conflicts. In a local weather of unprecedented anger throughout the Muslim world over Israel’s actions, the impartial stance of leaders in international locations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE dangers alienating their populations and eroding their political legitimacy. Mohammed bin Salman’s remarks counsel he’s positioning Saudi Arabia as an impartial actor, distancing himself from a pro-Israel or U.S.-aligned narrative.
Notably, the Biden administration has engaged in intensive efforts to increase the Abraham Accords and forge a normalization deal between the Saudi kingdom and Israel. Much of the rationale for the transfer has been to solidify an Israel-Sunni bloc towards Iran. However, the Crown Prince’s latest remarks seem to construct on the rapprochement with Iran and reinforce Iranian safety considerations.
Relations between Riyadh and Tehran have proven indicators of continued enchancment. On November 10, Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff, Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, visited Tehran to satisfy with Iranian officers, together with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces. Discussions reportedly centered on enhancing protection diplomacy and fostering bilateral cooperation. Iranian state media additionally highlighted previous engagements, together with a telephone name final 12 months between Major General Bagheri and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discover regional safety and protection collaboration.
The Crown Prince’s speech and up to date diplomatic strikes counsel Saudi Arabia is looking for to redefine its place within the area. Whether this indicators a long-term pivot or a tactical response to present tensions stays to be seen. However, Riyadh’s rising engagement with Tehran and vocal criticism of Israel mark a notable departure from its historically pro-Western posture. Meanwhile, escalating violence in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine continues to attract the area nearer to the brink of a broader battle.
Dr. Masoud Davoudi, a famend heart specialist and professor at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, was fatally shot on the night of Monday, November 11, whereas sitting in his automotive. The assailant, recognized because the brother of one among Dr. Davoudi’s former sufferers, allegedly held him liable for his brother’s loss of life three years in the past.
The incident traces again to 2020, when the affected person suffered a deadly coronary heart assault regardless of emergency efforts, together with these led by Dr. Davoudi, at Sajad Hospital in Yasuj. The affected person’s household accused the medical workforce of negligence and filed a lawsuit. However, after thorough investigation, the court docket cleared Dr. Davoudi of any wrongdoing. Despite the decision, colleagues and household of the 51-year-old physician declare the sufferer continued to obtain threats from the affected person’s brother.
Iran’s Health Minister, Dr. Mohammadreza Zafarghandi, expressed condolences and outrage over the homicide on the social media platform X (previously Twitter). “The well being and medical employees are the spine of our nation’s well being system,” he wrote. “The tragic lack of Dr. Masoud Davoudi, an esteemed heart specialist, has grieved the medical group and outraged the general public. We will pursue this grievous incident as a precedence.” He additionally thanked the judiciary and regulation enforcement in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province for the swift arrest of the suspect.
Dr. Davoudi’s funeral befell on November 13 in Yasuj, drawing 1000’s of mourners, together with medical professionals, native residents, and his grieving household. His spouse and brother, talking on the ceremony, expressed gratitude for the group’s assist and highlighted Dr. Davoudi’s love for the individuals of Yasuj.
During the funeral, Mohammad Raeeszadeh, President of Iran’s Medical Council, condemned the violence, stating, “This tragedy doesn’t mirror the compassionate spirit of the Lor individuals. No affected person ought to be uncared for as we navigate this loss.” He additionally criticized the rising hostility towards medical professionals, blaming media rhetoric for fostering an setting of mistrust.
Raeeszadeh immediately addressed those that have publicly criticized docs in recent times, accusing them of contributing to a poisonous setting. “Those who wield platforms irresponsibly bear some accountability for this tragedy,” he acknowledged. “The belief between the medical group and the general public should be protected.”
The killing of Dr. Davoudi has reignited debates on social media concerning the security of healthcare professionals, gun management, and the dealing with of medical negligence circumstances. While some referred to as for stricter gun laws, others burdened the necessity for honest and clear mechanisms to handle malpractice allegations with out endangering docs’ lives.
The incident has highlighted broader considerations concerning the safety of medical professionals and the pressures they face of their roles. As the medical group and public mourn the lack of Dr. Davoudi, there’s a rising name for reforms to forestall such tragedies sooner or later. Whether these calls for will result in significant adjustments stays to be seen.
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