Iran

Iran Update, June 4, 2024

A senior Hamas official responded negatively on June 4 to the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip. Hamas appears unlikely to accept a proposal that does not meet the maximalist demands that Hamas has maintained since December 2023. Hamas Political Bureau member Osama Hamdan said Hamas cannot agree …

Read More »

Iran’s allies in Iraq are firing at Israel. Could that trigger a wider war?

Iran-backed Shi’ite armed groups in Iraq have ramped up rocket and missile attacks on Israel in recent weeks, raising concerns in Washington and among some Iranian allies of potential Israeli retaliation and regional escalation should they draw blood. Though the attacks, often from hundreds of miles (kms) away, are not …

Read More »

In rare clash with Iran, China reaffirms solidarity with UAE over disputed islands

Iran seized control of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs several decades ago, though the United Arab Emirates has long claimed sovereignty over the islands, a claim backed by Gulf states and Russia. China reiterated on Monday its support for the United Arab Emirates regarding its dispute with …

Read More »

How Raisi’s death will test the unity of Iran’s hardliners

Analysis: Upcoming elections and the succession race for Supreme Leader could deepen infighting among Iran’s conservative political camp. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, 63, died in a helicopter crash in the north-western province of East Azerbaijan province on 19 May, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and six others. To demonstrate …

Read More »

Iran Update, June 03, 2024

Hardliners overwhelmingly dominate the candidate pool for the upcoming Iranian presidential election. The registration period for the election ended on June 3, and 80 individuals registered to compete in the election.[i] The Guardian Council—a regime body responsible for supervising elections and approving candidates—will vet candidates between June 4 and 10, …

Read More »

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei And Regime Mouthpiece ‘Kayhan’ On The Student Protests In The U.S. And Europe: ‘This Is What We Call Exporting The Islamic Revolution!’

Senior Iranian regime officials, along with regime mouthpieces, are referring to the recent pro-Palestinian student protests at university campuses across the U.S. and Europe as “exporting [Iran’s Islamic] revolution” to the West, which has been a key policy goal of Iran’s Islamic regime since its founding. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali …

Read More »

Jalili to Larijani: Key names emerge in Iran’s presidential elections

Another hard-liner and a Reformist recently declared their candidacies, and others may soon announce theirs in the election to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi. A number of potential candidates have emerged in Iran’s upcoming presidential elections, possibly setting up a crowded field with the important vote weeks away to …

Read More »

Iran’s ex-President Ahmadinejad to run in presidential election

Iran’s former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday registered to be a possible candidate for the upcoming presidential election following Raisi’s death. Iran’s hard-line former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registered on Sunday as a possible candidate for the presidential election, seeking to regain the country’s top political position after a helicopter crash …

Read More »

Iran Update, June 2, 2024

Information Cutoff: 2:00 pm ET The Iran Update provides insights into Iranian and Iranian-sponsored activities abroad that undermine regional stability and threaten US forces and interests. It also covers events and trends that affect the stability and decision-making of the Iranian regime. The Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American …

Read More »

Iran Update, June 1, 2024

Key Takeaways: Gaza Strip: The IDF Air Force has killed three Hamas officials in the central Gaza Strip over the past week. Israeli forces continued clearing operations in Rafah.West Bank: Israeli forces engaged Palestinian fighters in five locations in the West Bank.Southern Lebanon and Golan Heights: Lebanese Hezbollah conducted nine …

Read More »