Not an April Fools joke. But the U.S. is not invited. “E.U. to chair meeting of world powers and Iran on U.S. rejoining nuclear deal,” Karen DeYoung, Washington Post, April 1, 2021.
Again, no April Fools joke. See the sections/provisions in this article (not the least is submitting treaties to the Parliament for approval). See “Iran-China Pact Violates Constitution,” Center for Human Rights in Iran, April 1, 2021.
“Iran has historically supported any militancy against pro-Western regimes, regardless of their religious or political orientation.” In Morocco, that country twice in a decade “broke relations with Iran—the first time, in 2009, officially over an Iranian clerical official’s statement that Bahrain, the tiny Gulf kingdom, really belonged to Iran. In 2018, barely a year after Tehran had reopened its embassy, Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, publicly accused Iran of dispatching senior Hezbollah operatives and supplying weapons and training to the Polisario Front, a group Morocco is fighting over sovereignty in the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. Algeria, Morocco’s neighbor, backs Polisario. Beyond these spats, Morocco has accused Iran of efforts to spread its revolutionary brand of Shi’ism among Morocco’s predominantly Sunni population, something Iran has certainly done zealously across Western Africa and among Moroccan immigrants in northern Europe. There is little evidence these attempts have won significant backing in Morocco, but not for want of trying.” See “Iran’s Mischief in Morocco Is a Problem,” Emanuele Ottolenghi, National Interest, April 1, 2021.
“Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi has made unusually direct comments criticizing the Hezbollah movement, accusing it of harming Lebanon by dragging it into regional conflicts.” Al-Rahi is really addressing the Supreme Leader and Iran. Hope he has good security. See “Lebanese cleric steps up criticism of Hezbollah,” Najia Houssari, Arab News, April 1, 2021.
“Recently, officials announced more than 90 percent of working families are below the poverty line. However, Iranian workers suffer from systematic discrimination, meaning the minimum monthly wage approved by the Parliament (Majlis) is 26.55 million rials [$106.20] while the poverty line has reached 100-130 million rials [$400-520]. In fact, it is forecasted that the current growing rate of prices, especially in foodstuff prices, has led the majority of Iran’s society to poor nutrition. Given the $400 poverty line and workers’ $106 monthly wage, Iranians have no solution except shrinking their food baskets, which may spark social protests in the upcoming months due to expanding public distrust and hatred against the government.” See “Iranians Consume Red Meat Less Than Anywhere,” Sia Rajabi, Iran Focus, April 1, 2021.
This is according to a survey reported in Iranian media (Fars). “More than 50,000 in Iran demand end to military conscription,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, April 1, 2021.
“Iran adds advanced machines enriching underground at Natanz: IAEA,” Francois Murphy, Reuters, April 1, 2021.
“The clause that could scupper the Iran nuclear accord,” James Dorsey, JNS, April 1, 2021.
“If Iran ‘can kill Navid Afkari who’s so beloved, they would kill anybody’,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 1, 2021.
“Pro-Iran militias divert billions of dues from Iraqi customs,” Arab Weekly, April 1, 2021.