Iran

Why Khamenei is unlikely to pick his son to succeed him as Iran’s supreme leader

Amid the ongoing circus over efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, two rumors have started to gain traction inside and outside Iran: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is on his deathbed and preparations are being made for his son, Mojtaba, to succeed him. Speculation over Khamenei’s ill health …

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Iran’s hijab protests show the regime is unreformable

The latest round of mass protests in Iran erupted over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman. She died on Sept. 16 at the hands of the so-called morality police for allegedly violating Iran’s rules on mandatory veiling in public. Amini’s tragic death is yet another reminder of how …

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Has Israel Avoided Killing Three Iranian Officials?

The opposition-run channel Iran International reported that Israeli airstrikes targeting Damascus last Saturday had aimed at the so-called Unit 2250 — a private Iranian logistics institution responsible for coordinating equipment transfers— which is managed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Israeli airstrikes hit warehouses, parking lots, and even the unit’s head …

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Iran: Regime Facing Major Challenge From Intense ‘Hijab’ Protests – Analysis

The scenes coming from Iran are striking. Women removing their head scarves and waving them defiantly in public while some are burning their veils and throwing them into bonfires to the cheers of men. Others are chopping off their hair in public to the chants of “Death to the dictator.” …

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Israeli army chief discusses Lebanon, Iran with French counterparts

The visit of IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi to Paris offered Jerusalem the possibility to discuss the security situation in Lebanon, and how France can play a constructive role against the Hezbollah threat. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi concluded his visit to Europe today. Kochavi …

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Hamas normalizes ties with Syria under Iranian mediation

Hamas officially announced the resumption of relations with the Syrian government after a decadelong hiatus caused by the 2011 Syrian uprising, raising questions about the gains Hamas might achieve and why Iran sought to mediate the reconciliation. In a statement Sept. 15, Hamas officially announced the resumption of diplomatic relations …

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Iran’s morality police hit with US sanctions as nationwide protests rage

The sanctions come less than a week after Mahsa Amini’s death in custody of the morality police. The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Iran’s so-called morality police following the death in custody of a 22-year-old Iranian woman detained for violating the country’s hijab rules. The Treasury Department accused …

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Iran cracks down on protesters after death of woman arrested over hijab

Mahsa Amini’s death ignited a wave of protests against the government. Iranian security forces opened fire on Saturday on a crowd of protesters mourning the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini following her arrest by the “guidance patrol,” a police unit in charge of enforcing mandatory hijab rules. According to Hengaw, …

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Are Iranian products banned into Syrian opposition-held areas?

The Syrian Islamic Council close to the Syrian opposition issued a fatwa prohibiting the entry of Iranian goods into opposition areas, claiming Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is allowing the spread of the goods in its areas in northwest Syria. The Syrian Islamic Council issued Aug. 30 a fatwa on trading in …

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