![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/06\/news.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Flood hits Iran hard; mismanagement, corruption, deaths<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Mismanagement is seen as the other cause of considerable damages. After the flood in Golestan, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri ousted the governor of this flood-stricken province for his absence during the catastrophe. The governor of Golestan province, Manaf Hashemi, was vacationing abroad when flood broke out in his province. US sanctions 25 individuals, entities affiliated with IRGC<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Just a few days earlier, US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had added 14 individuals and 17 entities related to Islamic Republic\u2019s defense ministry to list of sanction against Iran. According to Department of Treasury, those sanctions targeted individuals and organizations related to SPND, Iran\u2019s Organization for Defense Innovation and Researches. Dirty money in Iran\u2019s politics<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Khamenei\u2019s annual speech; psychological reaction to personal insecurity<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Iran angry at renewal of UN Special Rapporteur for Iran<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n These human rights groups urged in their statement that in 2018 at least 5 people lost their lives in Iranian regime\u2019s prisons, and Iranian officials didn\u2019t conduct any transparent investigation in any of the cases. New report on human rights violations in Iran<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Merge President and Supreme Leader into one, says politician<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Flood hits Iran hard; mismanagement, corruption, deaths The flood hitting many provinces of Iran in recent days has left many dead and inflicted considerable damages to the country. Many Iranians see this as a result of mismanagement of the government and widespread corruption. The exact number of fatalities is not clear yet. According to the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":6281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iran-in-a-week"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6395"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6403,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6395\/revisions\/6403"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/F1EC8274-A241-4584-A775-587CE6108E90_cx0_cy5_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg\")
\nThe flood hitting many provinces of Iran in recent days has left many dead and inflicted considerable damages to the country. Many Iranians see this as a result of mismanagement of the government and widespread corruption.
\nThe exact number of fatalities is not clear yet. According to the Legal Medicine Organization of Iran, 39 individuals have lost their lives so far, and the number of casualties is still growing.
\nA number of environmentalists believe that recent floods are due to mismanagement and wrong policies such as \u201cdeforestation\u201d and reduction of grasslands, as well as irresponsible exploitation of mines and nature.
\nIn case of flood in Golestan province, northern Iran, experts hold that one of the main causes was deforestation in the area. Since the beginning of the revolution, all the benefits of Golestan\u2019s forests have been pocketed by Seyyed Kazem Nour-Mofidi, representative of velayat-e faqih and Golestan\u2019s Friday prayer leader. He has established 20 companies managed by his children to exploit the forests in this area. In past 4 decades, 2 million hectares of forests of the country have been destroyed, which has resulted in having such floods.<\/p>\n
\nVP Jahangiri, during his visit to Golestan, said it was \u201ctotally unacceptable\u201d to him that a manager with a great deal of responsibilities was absent during such critical times.
\n Radio Farda<\/a>
\n BBC Persian<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/45895089-2612-48BB-9B74-810B45953762_cx0_cy10_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg\")
\nThe United States added a number of individuals and companies in Iran, Turkey, and UAE to the list of sanctions for transferring billions of dollars and euros to IRGC. According to the statement of US Treasury Department, these sanctions target 25 individuals and entities including front companies in the abovementioned countries that have ties with IRGC and Iran\u2019s Defense Ministry.
\nThe list of sanctions includes names of a few banks and economic institutes, such as Ansar Banks, Atlas Exchange, and Iranian Atlas Company.
\nSteven Mnuchin, US Secretary of Treasury said in this regard: \u2018We have targeted an extensive network of front companies and individuals in Iran, Turkey, and UAE to disrupt Iran\u2019s plan in illegally transferring billions of dollars.\u2019
\nMnuchin added that IRGC and Iran\u2019s Defense Ministry are still seeking to evade sanctions to help Iranian regime in financing terrorism and destabilize the Middle East.<\/p>\n
\nSPND plays a key role in Islamic Republic\u2019s efforts to achieve nuclear weapons. US Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin said that US administration would take decisive measures against all those in relation with SPND that backs Iran\u2019s defense sector.
\nIn response to sanctions, Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted: \u2018US is the single biggest source of instability in Middle East\u2019.
\nUS Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said with regard to new sanctions against Iran\u2019s military industry and those related to Iran\u2019s nuclear program that the maximum pressure campaign against Iranian regime would continue. He stressed that to \u2018deprive Iranian regime of capability to develop weapons of mass destruction and its unlawful behaviors, we will be tough.\u2019
\n Radio Farda<\/a>
\n Kayhan London<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/Iran-Briefing-57-1024x1024.jpg\")
\nDangerous trend of money laundering throughout the world damages the national economy, while issues including drug trafficking, smuggling goods, arms deals, and terrorism prepare the ground for dirty money to enter the economy. By money laundering, we mean all measures during which illegal incomes become legal and unprosecutable.
\nMoney laundering is a long, complicated, and continuous process that usually takes place on a large-scale and can go beyond the geographical-political boundaries of a country. There are three kinds of dirty money: black money obtained through smuggling goods and drug trafficking; blood money, obtained through anti-humanitarian and treasonous measures; grey money that is obtained through underground channels.
\nAccording to official statistics, there is at least 81 thousand billion tomans of dirty money in Iranian economy. This money is the result of organized activities of military and religious institutes and organizations that act in Iran\u2019s economy with no transparency. According to Abdulreza Rahmani Fazli, Interior Minister in Rouhani\u2019s government, this money has entered the political cycle, making fight against corruption difficult and almost impossible.
\nIn addition to money obtained through smuggling goods, a part of money that is obtained through drug trafficking, too, enters Iran\u2019s politics. According to Rahmani Fazli, a part of this money enters Iran\u2019s politics and election as donation to candidates\u2019 election campaigns.
\n Iran Briefing<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/4567.jpg\")
\nThe Supreme Leader\u2019s speech on Iranian New Year\u2019s Day (March 21) in city of Mashhad can be called one of his angriest speeches in past decades with regard to foreign policy.
\nAli Khamenei described American authorities as \u2018first-degree idiots\u2019; said western diplomats have \u2018savage natures\u2019; considered Europeans as \u2018traitorous\u2019, \u2018mean\u2019 and \u2018evil\u2019 who are backstabbers; and called Saudi government the \u2018worst government\u2019.
\nHe also asked Iranian people to pay the price of sanctions, describing them as an opportunity. He added that Iran\u2019s missile program cannot be used as a leverage against the country and it is non-negotiable \u2013 all these to show his own resolve for lack of flexibility and resistance.
\nAs for domestic issues, Khamenei called the new Iranian year that of \u2018prosperity in production\u2019, which as usual underlined the so-called \u2018resistance economy\u2019 with emphasis on \u2018domestic production\u2019.
\nIt is foreseeable that Khamenei\u2019s call for \u2018prosperity in production\u2019 will result in nothing but some plans which will be submitted to Iranian government by IRGC and its affiliated entities in the field of agriculture, husbandry, and in industries. However, in actuality and from the viewpoint of Iran\u2019s private sector, one of the most important issues in Iran\u2019s economy has been the bankruptcy of manufacturing units and factories. Just before the new year, it was officially announced that 100,000 Iranian workers were fired, 8 out of 10 manufacturing units were going through crisis, and rate of employment in mining and industry sector had reached to minus 36%.
\nThe question is: despite statistics and warnings of economic analysts regarding domestic production in Iran, why does Ali Khamenei would still insist on such slogans?
\nFrom one perspective, Ali Khamenei\u2019s continuous persistence on domestic economy is a multi-purpose propaganda: the Supreme Leader can pretend that his main concern is not power struggle, but people\u2019s livelihood, while putting the pressure on Iranian government as the executive branch.
\nAs a matter of fact, Iranian Supreme Leader doesn\u2019t have any practical solution for resolving the issues; yet, he has a very clear personal propaganda plan in this regard. It is not important for him to what extent his solutions are probable and practical; what he cares about is presenting a wise, authoritative, compassionate image of himself \u2013 nothing but a selfish desire on his behalf.
\nFrom this perspective, Khamenei\u2019s insistence on repetitious, useless slogans must be seen \u2013 not a \u2018political program\u2019 or an \u2018economic concern\u2019 \u2013 but as a psychological reaction.
\n Radio Farda<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/9E43BE71-4E4F-430B-A80A-11FDAF1F2739_cx0_cy2_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg\")
\nAfter renewal of Javaid Rehman as UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Islamic Republic\u2019s headquarters for human rights strongly objected against the measure, claiming that Iran is the \u2018largest and most advanced democracy in western Asia and world\u2019.
\nIn a statement issued on its website, Islamic Republic\u2019s headquarters for human rights called this measure \u2018unjustified, illegal and outcome of political trickery\u2019. The statement also calls the behaviors of the Special Rapporteurs against the law and a clear evidence as to \u2018evil intentions\u2019 of those who are behind this \u2018scandalous show\u2019.
\nThe rapporteurs are accused of having \u2018political shows in the media\u2019, \u2018gathering allegations without a transparent framework and methodology\u2019, and \u2018collaborating with criminals and terrorist\u2019. Nevertheless, it doesn\u2019t provide any proofs for its accusations.
\nJavaid Rehman recently accused Islamic Republic of intensifying crackdown on human rights activists, lawyers, union activists, and unions. He added that the Iranian establishment has increasingly become less tolerant of any criticisms and oppositions.
\nMore than 42 organizations defending human rights, in a statement, has pointed out to the systematic violation of human rights in Iran, asking UN Human Rights Council to renew the mission of UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran.
\nThese organizations have underscored that \u2018chronic, serious, systematic violation of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights\u2019 have intensified in Iran compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n
\nInternational institutions and organizations defending human rights have recurrently condemned \u2018systematic violation of human rights in Iran\u2019. Last year, UN General Assembly ratified a resolution in protest against violation of human rights in Iran, including arbitrary arrests, torturing prisoners, lack of unfair prosecution, and restricting freedom of speech.
\n Radio Farda<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/gozaresh-sale-97-300x191.jpg\")
\nHuman Rights Activists News Agency has published a report shedding light on human rights violations in Iran in the past year.
\nThe human rights violations committed by the Islamic Republic\u2019s establishment include– but are not limited to– mounting pressure on religious and ethnic minorities, crackdown on peaceful protesters, persecuting rights activists, execution of minors, disparaging women\u2019s rights, putting pressure on dual nationals and environmentalists, continuous torturing of political prisoners and denying them access to medical care.
\nLast year, the Islamic Republic\u2019s establishment put 2,687 Iranian citizens behind bars for their political beliefs– at least 233 of whom were imprisoned for their life styles.
\n708 workers and labor activists, 84 media and cyberspace activists, 39 environmentalists, 241 members of religious minorities, 1,266 members of ethnic minorities and 20 women\u2019s rights activists were among those taken into custody in the past year.
\nIn addition, there were mass roundups and imprisonments of 891 individuals, 400 of whom were Arab citizens protesting against discriminatory policies adopted by the Islamic Republic establishment.
\nIt should also be mentioned that 51 individuals were arrested for being active in modelling, and 6 girls for trying to enter a stadium to watch a soccer game.
\nWhat is more, at least 600 thousand child marriages were registered during this period of time in Iran.
\nOverall, this report cannot completely reflect all cases of human rights violations in Iran, as the government does not allow any independent rights organizations to access necessary sources in this regard.
\n Human Rights Activists News Agency<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/2056AB70-35AA-4402-A000-368A0FF388C3_w1023_r1_s.jpg\")
\nMostafa Tajzadeh, a senior member of Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Organization, has suggested merging the position of the president with that of the Supreme Leader.
\nHe added the leadership position should be based on election and last for two terms at most in the Islamic Republic establishment.
\nTajzadeh\u2019s suggestion came after a member of the Expediency Council, Mohammad Safar Harandi, brought up the idea of change in Iran\u2019s political system from presidential to parliamentary.
\nIn reaction to Safar Harandi, the Parliament\u2019s Deputy Speaker Ali Motahari said removal of presidential position would \u201cdecrease people\u2019s role\u201d in their country\u2019s fate. He pointed out it is not a good time for revising the constitution now due to \u201csanctions and economic pressures.\u201d
\nThe Islamic Republic\u2019s Supreme Leader first posed changing Iran\u2019s political system in 2011. He said if one day it were decided that a parliamentary system worked better in the country, there would be no problem in changing the current mechanism.
\n Radio Farda<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"