Iran

Iran’s hard-liners controlled all levers of powers in the Islamic republic during Ebrahim Raisi’s presidency. Despite Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash last month, hard-liners are expected to maintain their dominance as Iranians head to the polls to elect the ultraconservative president’s successor. The powerful Guardians Council on June 9 …

Hamas issued new demands in the ceasefire negotiations with Israel on June 11. Hamas made the demands in response to the latest Israeli ceasefire proposal.[i] The demands include determining timelines for a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. An unspecified senior Biden administration …

The Iranian Guardian Council approved a pool of six candidates that included mostly hardliners for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The six approved candidates include five hardliners and one reformist on June 9 for the upcoming presidential election.[i] The Iranian regime likely approved the sole reformist candidate to feign political …

Israeli War Cabinet minister Benny Gantz resigned from the coalition government on June 9.[1] Gantz said he resigned because of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct of the war in the Gaza Strip, which he believes is ”preventing [Israel] from reaching true victory.”[2] Gantz called for Netanyahu to set an …

Israeli forces rescued four Hamas-held hostages during a complex operation in the central Gaza Strip.[1] Hamas captured the four hostages from the Nova music festival during the October 7 attack.[2] This marks the second successful rescue of living hostages by Israel during the war.[3] Israeli forces engaged Palestinian fighters during …

Iran’s electoral Guardian Council has approved the candidacy of six political figures for the snap elections that follow the death of Ebrahim Raisi, rejecting dozens of other potential candidates. Iran’s Interior Ministry announced Sunday the final list of candidates for the upcoming presidential elections that was approved by the hard-line …

Former Pakistani Minister of Information and Broadcasting Fawad Ahmed Hussain Chaudhry has called on Western countries to end their double standard regarding Pakistan’s cooperation with Iran, particularly on a joint gas pipeline project between the two neighbors. In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Chaudhry argued that Pakistan should not be …

Hamas sent a formal response to the Israeli ceasefire proposal to international mediators on June 11. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad expressed “readiness to positively” engage in a deal, emphasizing Hamas’ primary demand for a permanent ceasefire.[i] Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary General …

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-member board of governors has voted to censure Iran for the first time since November 2022. The United States joined its European partners in censuring Iran at the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog on Wednesday, despite the Biden administration’s concerns that a formal rebuke of Tehran …

Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami threatened to retaliate against Israel for the June 3 airstrike that killed IRGC Quds Force Gen. Saeid Abyar in Aleppo, Syria.[i] Abyar was a member of the IRGC Quds Force and had been stationed in Syria since 2012.[ii] Salami stated …