“For Iran’s youth, legacy of 2022 clashes shapes presidential race,” Thomson Reuters, 6-24-24.
700 Quds in Bolivia? Wouldn’t surprise us. “Venezuela and Iran: Strategic Geopolitical Alliance,” Dialogo Americas, 6-24-24.
Will Iran compromise? Or does Bahrain have to provide all the concessions? “Bahrain and Iran agree to start talks on resuming political relations,” Arab News, 6-24-24.
Despite Iran’s and Islam’s declared freedom of religion for Christians, reality is different, especially for converts. “Christian converts sentenced to total of 25 years in jail by Iranian judiciary – report,” JPost, 6-24-24.
“Iran sanctions take centre stage in presidential campaign,” AFP, 6-24-24.
“Netanyahu: Iran is working on all front to destroy Israel,” JPost, 6-24-24.
“Why Does Iran Hold So Many Elections?,” FDD, 6-24-24. By the Guardian Council “handpicking candidates, the regime stifles competition.” And for the Regime, “elections are almost risk-free …. Moreover, as the 2009 presidential election showed, the regime can both rig results and quash any resulting dissent.” … “Tehran cultivates this illusion of democracy in an attempt to convince the international community that it upholds a semblance of democratic norms.” … “The election façade also helps protect Khamenei by enabling him to eschew direct responsibility for hardships and failings, allowing him instead to scapegoat elected officials. Though Khamenei holds absolute power, micromanaging every issue would expose him to risk. Elections enable Khamenei to maintain maximum power with minimum accountability.” Quote of the Day—”In a world full of uncertainty, one thing is certain: a new president will herald no substantive political change for Iran.”
“Iran: Non-proliferation Briefing,” Security Council Report, 6-24-24.
“Iran’s Shia-only elections expose age-old intolerance,” The Hill, 6-24-24. “According to a top Sunni cleric, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, no Sunni has ever been made a minister. Today, Iran doesn’t have any Sunni governors or even ambassadors.” And certainly no presidential contenders.
“Iran Says to Maintain Naval Presence on High Seas to ‘Secure Shipping’,” Hellenic Shipping News, 6-24-24. Iran’s inaccurate rendering of its reason to go to sea is shown in “a recent incident highlighted a contradiction in Iran’s stated mission of aiding ships in distress. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on June 16 that the Iranian frigate IRIN Jamaran ignored distress calls from the Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned bulk cargo carrier M/V Verbena after it was hit by two separate missile attacks by the Houthis. “The Iranian frigate IRIN Jamaran was eight nautical miles from M/V Verbena and did not respond to the distress call.””
We await confirmation. “Qatar has banned the US from using its military base against Iran,” MEMO, 6-24-24.
Obviously an ominous sign for the Kingdom of Jordan. “Iran-affiliated cell reportedly found storing explosives in Jordan’s capital,” FDD’s Long War Journal, 6-24-24.
“Iran presidential candidates stress China, Russia ties ahead of vote,” Nikkei Asia, 6-24-24.
“Iran announces agreement with Bahrain to release frozen assets,” AA, 6-24-24. Bahrain agrees to unfreeze funds. It is not known, if anything, what Iran has offered. Poor reporting.