We’ll ask the question again, in a different context. In what other country does this happen? Of a culling of candidates? 80 applied, 6 were chosen as acceptable. “Iran Approves Parliament Head, Five Others As Presidential Candidates,” RFE/RL Radio Farda, 6-9-24. The candidates approved by the Guardian Council (by the Supreme Leader) for the June 28 election are Parliament leader Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Reformist lawmaker Masud Pezeshkian, nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani (he will come in second I think), Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, a Conservative deputy to former Pres. Raisi, and hard-line interior and justice minister Mostafa Purmohammadi. My money is on Qalibaf because he is former IRGC. BTW Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ali Larijani were struck.
Iran, whose foreign policy relies on hostage taking, lost this one. “IDF rescues 4 Israeli hostages from Gaza: Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov,” I24, 6-8-24. Note also that Hamas was holding the hostages in civilian housing, inside a refugee camp, both violations of the laws of war. But, after all, this is a terrorist/proxy organization.
“IRGC Operatives Enter European Ports with Concealed Identity,” Iran International, 6-7-24.
“Middle East’s Biggest Space Center Under Construction In Iran,” Eurasia Review, 6-7-24.
Good idea? Probably part of SA thought. “Bahrain sent message through Russia to normalise ties with Iran: Official,” Al Jazeera, 6-7-24.
One of the very few articles that has (finally) had the courage and list the 17 countries that Hamas/Iran on Oct. 7 took hostages from. They are Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom, and United States. Note, amazingly, that the CNN article and maybe the joint statement itself say nothing about Israel’s hostages. Note, also, that there is no listing in the press of country hostages that Iran is currently holding inside Iran, nor are regularly media stories about hostages worldwide that are held. They are forgotten by the world press. See “US and 16 other countries whose citizens were taken hostage urge Hamas and Israel to ‘close this deal’,” CNN, 6-6-24.
Where else in the world would you find this? “Iranian Intelligence Warns: Presidential Candidates Under Surveillance,” Iran International, 6-6-24.
“Europeans detail Iran’s nuclear violations in diplomatic gambit,” Reuters, 6-6-24. “Three European powers have written to the U.N. Security Council detailing Iran’s violations of its 2015 nuclear deal, a step diplomats said on Thursday aimed to pressure Tehran to resolve the issue diplomatically and to avoid reimposing U.N. sanctions. The British, French and German letter did not explicitly threaten to “snap back” United Nations sanctions but it noted that U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrined the nuclear deal and provided that power, expires on Oct. 18, 2025. In its own letter, Iran rejected the European stance, noting then-U.S. President Donald Trump reneged on the nuclear deal in 2018 and re-imposed U.S. economic sanctions on Iran, arguing they were within their rights to expand their nuclear work. The effort by Britain, France and Germany, known informally as the E3, to ramp up pressure was also visible this week at the International Atomic Energy Agency, where they successfully pushed a resolution critical of Iran despite U.S. reservations. The E3 letter, which was dated June 3, referred to a report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog last month that cited Iran’s nuclear advances violating the 2015 deal, including by expanding its stockpile and production rates of high enriched uranium.”
“Yemen’s Houthi rebels unveil solid-fuel ‘Palestine’ missile that resembles Iranian hypersonic,” AP, 6-6-24.
Will there be a war to the north? How far will Iran go? Is the proxy Hezbollah willing? “Explainer: Is the Hezbollah-Israel conflict about to spiral?,” Reuters, 6-5-24.
“UN nuclear agency’s board votes to censure Iran,” Politico, 6-5-24. “Iran was rebuked for failing to cooperate with the watchdog. … The censure followed a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency a week ago that said Iran has further increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, the latest in Tehran’s attempts to steadily exert pressure on the international community. … Twenty members voted for the resolution, while Russia and China opposed it, 12 abstained and one did not vote, according to diplomats. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the outcome of the closed-doors vote. The resolution was put forward by France, Germany and Britain. … Censure resolutions by the IAEA board are not legally binding but send a strong political and diplomatic message.”
“Iran, Russia, China issue joint statement on JCPOA,” Mehr, 6-5-24.
“Iran-Backed Hezbollah Raises the Stakes in Its War Against Israel,” Iran International, 6-5-24.
“UN nuclear agency’s board votes to censure Iran for failing to cooperate fully with the watchdog,” AP, 6-5-24.
“Jordanian officials, like their Western allies, say that Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group and pro-Iranian militias who control much of southern Syria are behind a surge in the multi-billion-dollar drugs and weapons trade. Iran and Hezbollah deny the allegations. U.N. experts and U.S. and European officials say the illicit drug trade finances a proliferation of pro-Iranian militias and Syrian pro-government paramilitary forces, after more than a decade of conflict in Syria.” See “Jordan makes biggest drugs bust in years at border with Saudi Arabia,” VOA, 6-5-24.
“Iranian military adviser killed in Syria, reports say, two months after Iran and Israel came close to war,” CNN, 6-4-24. “Abiyar is the first member of the IRGC to be reported killed by Israel since April, when Israel is suspected to have bombed the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus.”
“US Court Finds Iran Guilty of Torturing Veteran Journalist,” Iran International, 6-4-24.
“Simin, a Christian Imprisoned for Leading a Church in Iran,” Missions Box, 6-4-24.
“Questions Begin as Registration of Candidates Ends in Iran,” Iran International, 6-3-24. How many of 80 will the Guardian Council eliminate? It is certainly not democratic.
Very rare story. “Palestinian presidency criticizes Iran’s Khamenei publicly: What we know,” Al Monitor, 6-3-24. Abbas and the Palestinians say Iran exploits them for its own purposes.
Qalibaf. “Iran’s parliament speaker registers presidential bid,” VOA, 6-3-24.
“Iran’s foreign minister confirms Oman-brokered talks ongoing with US,” Times of Israel, 6-3-24.
One subject that Russia and China do not support Iran on, for Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs in the Persian Gulf. “In rare clash with Iran, China reaffirms solidarity with UAE over disputed islands,” Al Monitor, 6-3-24.
The Guardian Council (controlled by the Ayatollah) is all that matters. “Iran’s ex-president Ahmadinejad, disqualified Larijani sign up for election,” Al Jazeera, 6-2-24.
Like Russia, at least China won’t recognize that Iran owns the three islands in the Gulf. “Iran’s foreign ministry summons Chinese ambassador in Tehran over Gulf Islands,” Reuters, 6-2-24.
“200 Days in Evin: British-Iranian Woman Jailed for Protesting,” Iran International, 6-2-24.
Iran has given its blessing to the current deal being discussed. “The current ceasefire plan is a plan to keep Hamas in power. The result will be that Hamas will return to running most of Gaza in a year and the reconstruction effort will obviously empower Hamas as it has in the past, with Hamas partnering with the donors and then each house that is reconstructed will have a Hamas minder who plans the tunnel shaft entrance and where to place launchers in or near it…and so in a few years Hamas will be back to where it was on Oct 6. Not only that, but this plan will also result in Hamas likely exploiting the war to come to power in the West Bank within 10 years. Hezbollah will not be deterred and Israelis will have trouble returning to the north and south. The Houthis and Iran will be emboldened.” See “Israel’s comprehensive proposal for Gaza hostage release revealed – report,” i24, 6-1-24.
“Female Hardliner Politician Registers to Run for Iran’s President,” Iran International,” 6-1-24. “Former female lawmaker Zohreh Elahian has registered to run in Iran’s June 28 snap presidential vote, potentially becoming the first woman ever allowed to stand if approved by the Guardian Council.”
Probably an internally favored candidate. “Senior Khamenei Official Enters Iran’s Presidential Race,” Iran International, 6-1-24. “Vahid Haghanian, a prominent and mysterious figure within the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran, has registered as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Haghanian, known for his elusive background and secretive role within the inner circles of the Iranian regime, has historically been a key player in facilitating the Supreme Leader’s directives across Iran’s military, cultural, economic, and political spheres.”