Iran

Iran Update, July 4, 2024

Recent Iranian polls show that moderate Masoud Pezeshkian is leading over ultraconservative hardliner Saeed Jalili in the Iranian presidential race.[i] The runoff election will occur on July 5. The Iranian Students Polling Agency (ISPA) published a poll on July 4 showing that Pezeshkian has a 5.6 percent lead over Jalili.[ii] …

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Spotlight on Iran

Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri spoke with foreign ministers in the region andaround the world aiming to bring an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. He warned against thepossibility of an Israeli offensive initiative against Hezbollah, which would lead to an expansionof the war. Meanwhile, Iran is …

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Iran Update, July 2, 2024

Iranian reformist presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian appears to be gaining momentum ahead of the runoff presidential elections on July 2. Several recent polls demonstrate that Pezeshkian is maintaining his lead over hardline candidate Saeed Jalili.[i] Pezeshkian received 10.4 million votes and Jalili received around 9.5 million during the first round …

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Iran Update, June 30, 2024

Key Takeaways: Gaza Strip: Israeli forces continued re-clearing Shujaiya in Gaza City. Hamas combat units began reconstituting there after Israeli forces withdrew in April 2024.West Bank: Israeli forces conducted a drone strike killing a senior PIJ official in Tulkarm. The official was responsible for recent militia activity targeting civilian and …

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US Warns Israeli Offensive In Lebanon Could Bring Wider War, Draw In Iran

U.S. and European officials are warning of the possibility of the war in Gaza expanding, with the prospect of an Israeli offensive in Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters Monday in Luxembourg that the risk of the war spilling over …

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Tracing Tehran’s Regional Strategic Policy Post October 7 Attack – Analysis

While addressing the Islamic governments on October 3 2023, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned leaders against normalising their relations with Israel, equating all initiatives to betting on a losing horse. Meagre days after his address to the Islamic governments, Hamas fighters infiltrated Israeli territories, culminating in an ongoing …

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Two ultraconservative candidates exit Iran presidential race

Two ultraconservative candidates have pulled out of Iran’s Friday presidential vote, leaving four contenders including one reformist still in the race. Tehran’s ultraconservative mayor, Alireza Zakani, announced his withdrawal in a post on social media platform X on Thursday, after earlier denying he was ending his campaign. Zakani’s withdrawal came …

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Iran Update, June 24, 2024

Hamas is rebuilding its weapons production capacity in the Gaza Strip as part of a larger effort to reconstitute its military forces. An Israeli military correspondent reported on June 24 that Hamas is establishing small weapons manufacturing sites across the Gaza Strip in order to replenish its stockpiles of military …

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Spotlight on Iran

Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri-Kani visited Qatar and met with the Qatari prime minister and the head of Hamas’ political bureau. Bagheri stressed Iran’s support for Hamas and called for expanding the “resistance” to the legal, political, and diplomatic spheres. Against the backdrop of Israel’s threats to initiate an …

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Iranian Proxies in Iraq, Yemen Launch New Attacks on Israeli Targets

Latest Developments Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Iraq and Yemen launched fresh attacks on Israeli targets on June 25 and 26 as the prospect of a regional escalation continues to intensify. The Iranian-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting the southern Israeli port city of Eilat …

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