{"id":7080,"date":"2019-11-07T16:52:55","date_gmt":"2019-11-07T13:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?p=7080"},"modified":"2019-11-07T16:52:57","modified_gmt":"2019-11-07T13:52:57","slug":"iran-takes-further-steps-in-breaching-the-nuclear-deal-the-us-puts-sanctions-on-khameneis-son","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/monitoring-and-translation\/iran-in-a-week\/iran-takes-further-steps-in-breaching-the-nuclear-deal-the-us-puts-sanctions-on-khameneis-son\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran takes Further Steps in Breaching the Nuclear Deal; the US Puts Sanctions on Khamenei\u2019s Son"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\nAlamolhoda\u2019s costly remarks<\/strong><\/span>
\nAfter the release of video footage revealing the remarks made by Mashhad\u2019s Friday prayer imam about Iran\u2019s direct influence in Iraq and Lebanon, his words have been taken as direct evidence of Iran\u2019s interference in these countries. The editorial of Iran daily focuses on the huge costs of the remarks made, in particular, by someone who is not in charge of Iran\u2019s foreign policy.
\nWhen observers look at Iran\u2019s political domain from outside, they are surprised that anyone can express his opinion concerning all issues \u2013 even on issues that are not within his powers. This point gains importance particularly in sensitive cases such as Iran\u2019s foreign policy, where a misspoken word can create controversy and even end in a crisis with other countries.
\nWe mustn\u2019t forget that delivering speeches, without deliberation, about sensitive issues like foreign relations can be very costly. That is why officials from other countries generally deliver their speeches from written texts just to make sure they won\u2019t make any mistake. Contrary to that, Iranian officials usually talk about all issues spontaneously \u2013 in most cases without preparation, prior thinking, and deliberation!
\nThe situation gets worse when such speeches are delivered directly to the people in a live TV program, just as it is the case when we see that Friday prayer imams disregard all political rules and regulations and talk about all issues related to foreign policy.
\nIn the domain of foreign policy, it must be made clear, apart from the supreme leader and the foreign minister, who else is allowed to comment regarding Iran\u2019s foreign relations.
\nIf the remarks of Alamolhoda regarding Iran\u2019s influence in Iraq and Lebanon were repeated by other Friday prayer imams, then we could say that such remarks were coordinated and the imams were told to make them. But when we see that these remarks were only made by Alamolhoda, we have to conclude that these are his personal remarks.
\nNow the question is: who is to be held accountable for such costly remarks, particularly when Arab countries strongly reacted against them, calling them evidence of Iran\u2019s interference in the region?
\nIran<\/a><\/p>\n

Zarif\u2019s controversial remarks<\/span><\/strong>
\nFollowing Iran\u2019s lawmakers questioning the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarf, the editorial of Arman Melli questions their motives in this regard.
\nDuring the past three months, Zarif has gone to the parliament eight times to answer questions. Posing questions to the executive branch is a lawmaker\u2019s right and duty. Lawmakers can ask questions to members of the executive branch, as well as oversee their affairs and behavior. They can even go as far as impeaching officials, if necessary.
\nAs for the particular case of Zarif, however, we must have two points in mind. First, determining the establishment\u2019s strategic policies in foreign relations, according to the constitution of the Islamic Republic, is within the powers of the supreme leader. In this regard, the executive branch has no role but to execute Iran\u2019s foreign policy.
\nAs Zarif made it clear in the parliament, Iran\u2019s foreign minister is just in charge of following up on the Islamic Republic\u2019s foreign policies and implementing them.
\nFor example, Zarif was criticized for Iran\u2019s step-by-step reduction of its nuclear commitments. It must be noted that this issue was decided by the Supreme National Security Council and endorsed by the supreme leader. So it seems that by criticizing the foreign minister on this issue Iranian lawmakers want to play a similar role to lawmakers in developed, democratic countries by challenging the minister.
\nSecond, as we get closer to the time of elections in Iran, some officials and lawmakers present themselves as critics of the executive branch to gain votes. Some of the questions raised by Iran\u2019s lawmakers are in this vein: by raising such questions, they intend to look like critics of the status quo.
\nKeeping these two points in mind, we realize that the questioning of executive officials by lawmakers is not primarily motivated by them wanting to fulfill their responsibility. As a matter of fact, some lawmakers have hidden political motives to do so.
\nArman Melli<\/a><\/p>\n

Shanghai\u2019s doors are closed to Iran<\/span><\/strong>
\nThe editorial of Jahan Sanat deals with why it is important for Iran to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) so it can enjoy both the economic and security benefits of full membership.
\nIranian officials cannot deny the fact that the SCO has closed its doors to Iran. On one hand, Iran urgently needs to cooperate with each and every member of the SCO. On the other hand, member countries of this organization have repeatedly rejected Tehran\u2019s demands for changing its status from observer to a full member.
\nPerhaps, if it were not for this urgent need, Tehran could have a better \u2013 or even more drastic \u2013 reaction to this lack of cooperation by SCO\u2019s member countries.
\nIn their official position, Iranian authorities argue that they are interested in becoming a full member of the SCO, with an observer status being enough to meet Tehran\u2019s requirements and demands. The claim, of course, might be true, as Iran has good economic relations with some of the SCO\u2019s member countries.
\nIt might seem that the status of being an observer is enough for Iran, and changing Iran\u2019s status wouldn\u2019t serve the country\u2019s interests. Based on such an argument, Iranian officials have emphasized that there is no need to make a change in Iran\u2019s status.
\nBut the issue is somehow more complicated. SCO\u2019s treaty has two remits: economy and security. So, even if there is full economic cooperation, it is fulfilling only one of this treaty\u2019s remits. If so, Iran will not enjoy this treaty\u2019s security and defense cooperation. More importantly, member countries are not willing to have full security relations with the Islamic Republic.
\nIran doesn\u2019t seem to be happy with the current situation. Tehran has always insisted on becoming a full member of the SCO, which shows the importance of changing the status of Iran\u2019s membership in this organization from observer to full member.
\nJahan Sanat<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nIran takes further steps in breaching the JCPOA;<\/strong><\/span>
\nMacron calls it \u201cdeeply concerning\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nPresident Hassan Rouhani announced that Iran would start the fourth stage of reducing its commitments in the JCPOA on November 6. Rouhani said: \u201cI will order the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to start injecting gas [to centrifuges] at Fordow [nuclear facility].\u201d
\nRouhani also pointed out that Iran would continue \u201cbehind-the-scene\u201d negotiations with other countries. He noted if the right solution is found out \u2013 that is, if the sanctions are lifted, and Iran can sell its oil easily and use its existing money in banks \u2013 then Iran will return to the previous conditions.
\nIran\u2019s president also said that the new activity would be monitored by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). \u201cThe fourth step is reversible like the other three,\u201d asserted Rouhani, \u201cIf they return to their commitments, we\u2019ll return to ours too.\u201d
\nIran has 1044 centrifuges at Fordow nuclear facility which were not supposed to be used for enriching uranium after the implementation of the JCPOA.
\nAfter Rouhani\u2019s announcement, France, Britain, Russia, and the European Union expressed concerns regarding this decision.
\nFrench President Emmanuel Macron pointed out to Iran\u2019s measure of injecting uranium gas at Fordow enrichment facilities, saying it is the first time Iran openly takes a step that shows its intention to pull out of the JCPOA. He said Iran\u2019s fourth step in reducing commitments in the nuclear deal is \u2018deeply concerning\u2019, calling it a \u201cdeep change\u201d in Iran\u2019s position.
\nIn the meantime, the Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi announced that a chain of 30 IR6 centrifuges has been launched in Natanz nuclear facility.
\nSalehi added that the number of centrifuges Iran has installed during these two months is about 15 new generation centrifuges, calling it \u201ca huge achievement.\u201d He said currently Iran\u2019s uranium enrichment capacity has reached 8,660 SWU.
\nIRNA<\/a>
\nYoung Journalists Club<\/a><\/p>\n

The US puts imposed sanctions on 9 individuals close to Ali Khamenei including his son<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\nOn November 4, the anniversary of the takeover of the US Embassy in Iran, the US Department of Treasury put sanctions on an entity and 9 individuals close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Iran\u2019s General Staff of Armed Forces and 9 individuals related to Khamenei who are in charge of advancing fundamental agendas of the Iranian regime have been sanctioned.
\nMojtaba Khamenei (Ali Khamenei\u2019s son), Ebrahim Raisi (Chief of the judiciary), Ali Akbar Velayati (Senior Advisor to Ali Khamenei in international affairs), Gholamali Rashid (Chief of Khatam al Anbiya Headquarters), Mohammad Bagheri (Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces), Hossein Dehghan (former Defense Minister), Mohammad Golpayegani (Head of Khamenei\u2019s office), Gholamali Hadad Adel (Mojtaba Khamenei\u2019s father-in-law), Vahid Haghaniyan (Executive Deputy of Khamenei\u2019s office) are included in the list of US sanctions.
\nIn the statement of the US Department of the Treasury, it mentioned that these sanctions coincide with the 40th anniversary of the takeover of the US Embassy by the Islamic Republic, in which 50 Americans were taken as hostages for 444 days.
\nAccording to Steven Mnuchin, US Secretary of the Treasury, his department has targeted a number of officials appointed by the Islamic Republic\u2019s leader who have had a role in Khamenei\u2019s destabilizing policies and the Iranian regime\u2019s destructive policies including the bombing of the US Navy\u2019s headquarters in 1983 and a Jewish center in Argentina.
\nIranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi reacted to the new US sanctions, condemning such measures and calling them signs of America\u2019s inability in engaging in logical diplomatic solutions.
\nKayhan London<\/a>
\nEuronews<\/a><\/p>\n

Zarif admits to laundering thousands of billions of tomans in Iran<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nIranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says that the Islamic Republic is not involved in money laundering, yet he announced that thousands of billions of tomans are laundered in Iran.
\nHe also mentioned that the so-called pressure groups in Iran that have interests in this regard don\u2019t want Iran to join the international convention for countering terrorism and money laundering. He added that thousands of billions of tomans are laundered by gangs involved in Forex and gold coin smuggling.
\nTwo bills for Iran joining the CFT, as well Iran joining the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention), haven\u2019t been yet ratified by Iran\u2019s Expediency Council, despite requests by the Iranian government.
\nMeanwhile, Gholamreza Ansari, the Deputy to Iran\u2019s foreign minister said in an interview that if Iran doesn\u2019t ratify FATF\u2019s bills before the set deadline, it will be \u201clike a death blow\u201d to Iran\u2019s banking system, which has already been severely damaged because of the US sanctions.
\nAccording to Ansari, FATF is \u201clike having a passport\u201d, meaning that if Iran\u2019s banking system is bent on having any kind of relationship with the world\u2019s banking system, it is only possible through FATF. Ansari added that countries that are even close to Iran have said they will not be able to have any banking transactions with Iran after FATF\u2019s deadline.
\nFATF is an entity overseeing the transference of money, aiming to stop global financial crimes and financing terrorism. It has also asked its member countries to carefully scrutinize financial transactions with Iran and the investment of companies that are active in Iran.
\nRadio Farda<\/a>
\nBBC Persian<\/a><\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s dual policy against demonstrations in Arab countries<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nIran has had a hypocritical policy in the context of the demonstrations that have taken place in the Arab world since 2011. For example, Iran welcomed the demonstrations that took place in Egypt and Bahrain; whereas it has criticized the demonstrations that are ongoing in Lebanon and Iraq; as well as militarily intervening to neutralize protests in Syria.
\nWhen the demonstrations started in Egypt, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei welcomed them by saying: \u201cDemonstrations in Egypt are a kind of Islamic awakening, influenced and inspired by the Islamic Revolution in Iran\u201d.
\nAlso, when the demonstrations broke out in Bahrain, Iran openly meddled by backing the demonstrators, so much so that the Gulf countries accused Iran of backing Shiite groups in order to create insecurity and instability in these countries.
\nWhen demonstrations started in Syria, Iran called them a conspiracy by the western countries to overthrow Assad\u2019s regime. But that was not all. Iran interfered in Syria with all possible political and military means and participated in killing Syrians along with Assad\u2019s Baathist regime. Even some IRGC Quds officials were killed in this war against the Syrian people.
\nLikewise, after demonstrations and protests broke out this year in Lebanon and Iraq, the Islamic Republic\u2019s supreme leader used the same language as in the case of Syria. He said that \u201cthe enemies are planning to create chaos and insecurity in some regional countries. America and western countries\u2019 intelligence services are behind these issues.\u201d
\nThis is how Khamenei seeks to justify Iran\u2019s intervention in these countries. Of course, Iran\u2019s slogans in defense of the poor and resistance have become threadbare and will not deceive anyone.
\nDemonstrations in Arab countries since 2011 created a chance for Iran to interfere in the affairs of its allied countries. Yet at the same time, they exposed the Islamic Republic\u2019s double standard policy.
\nIndependent Persian<\/a><\/p>\n

Iran\u2019s Intelligence Ministry bans cooperation with the British Council<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nIran\u2019s Intelligence Ministry has banned any cooperation with the British Council, warning to prosecute all the \u201coffenders\u201d in this regard. In a statement, Iran\u2019s Intelligence Ministry said the United Kingdom has \u201ca long record in infiltration, networking, and trend-making in different countries\u201d, claiming that the British Council planned to \u201crun a project aiming at cultural networking\u201d in Iran.
\nThe statement also said the \u201cproject\u201d of cultural networking in Iran was in process and included a number of those belonging to the elite as well as those active in educational and cultural fields. According to the statement, however, the intelligence ministry\u2019s agents prevented the implementation of this project.
\nIran\u2019s Judiciary previously accused Aras Amiri, a former British Council employee, of \u201cinfiltration into society through arts and subversive measures\u201d, sentencing her to 10 years of imprisonment in September. Meanwhile, Amiri wrote a letter to the Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi, saying Iran\u2019s security institutions had asked her to cooperate with them but she refused to do so.
\nAras Amiri was an M.A. student at arts philosophy before traveling to Iran. She was also an employee of the British Council, helping with holding cultural events, including art exhibitions and film festivals, between Iran and the U.K.
\nRadio Farda<\/a><\/p>\n

7 football fans arrested after chanting slogans in support of Turkey at a stadium<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Seven football fans who had attended a game between two football teams in the city of Tabriz \u2013 located in East Azerbaijan province \u2013 were arrested after they chanted slogans in support of Turkey. During the game between Tractor Sazi F.C. and Esteghlal F.C., a number of spectators also shouted \u201cdeath to Kurds\u201d to show their support for Turkey.
\nSome other spectators also carried placards which said, \u201ceither Czechoslovakia or Yugoslavia\u201d, referring to the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in January 1993, as well as the breakup of Yugoslavia as a result of bloody domestic wars in the 1990s.
\nFollowing these arrests at the stadium, Iran\u2019s minister of sports and youth announced that a workshop for protecting moral and cultural values will be established. The workshop will consist of representatives from Iran\u2019s Intelligence Ministry, Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, IRIB, Football Federation, Parliament\u2019s Cultural Committee, police, IRGC, and some sports clubs.
\nRadio Farda<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alamolhoda\u2019s costly remarks After the release of video footage revealing the remarks made by Mashhad\u2019s Friday prayer imam about Iran\u2019s direct influence in Iraq and Lebanon, his words have been taken as direct evidence of Iran\u2019s interference in these countries. The editorial of Iran daily focuses on the huge costs of the remarks made, in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":6281,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[386,3347,55,708,63,237],"class_list":["post-7080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iran-in-a-week","tag-khamenei","tag-khameneis-son","tag-nuclear","tag-nuclear-deal","tag-sanctions","tag-us"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7080","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=7080"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7080\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7087,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7080\/revisions\/7087"}],"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=7080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}