Azizam 🩷, water shortage protests—and more

The Iranist for the week of April 4, 2025

Apr 04, 2025

۱/1 Iran wants indirect talks—Witkoff says ‘Great’

In mid-March, US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Tehran via an Emirati intermediary. While the exact contents were unclear, Emirati academic Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a former aide of Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Zayed, claimed the contents of the letter allegedly said Iran must dismantle its nuclear program, stop uranium enrichment, stop sending weapons to the Houthis, stop financially supporting Hezbollah, dismantle the Shia militias in Iraq, and that Iran has two months to meet these demands or face military action (X).

Weeks later, on March 28, Tehran responded to the letter delivered via Oman (Reuters). On March 30, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, “We responded to the US president’s letter via Oman and rejected the option of direct talks, but we are open to indirect negotiations.” (AP) He added that while Tehran wasn’t against negotiations, Washington must make up for its past “misconduct” and “must prove that they can build trust.” (AP/Al Jazeera).

On the same day, President Trump told NBC News’ Meet the Press, “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing. But there’s a chance that if they don’t make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago.” The comments prompted the Iranian foreign ministry to summon the Swiss ambassador to Tehran, which represents US interests in Iran since 1979 (Iran International).

Trump’s comments were met with a backlash from various Iranian officials (The Guardian). On March 31, responding to the US president’s remarks, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “We consider it unlikely that such harm would come from outside. However, if any malicious act does occur, it will certainly be met with a firm and decisive response.”

Just days prior, at an al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) rally that marks the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf said, “If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump. Their bases and those of their allies will not be safe.” (Reuters) While Ali Larijani, the former speaker of parliament and close advisor to Khamenei, said on April 4, “We are not moving towards (nuclear) weapons, but if you do something wrong in the Iranian nuclear issue, you will force Iran to move towards that because it has to defend itself.” (France24)

Meanwhile, the US is carrying out a massive buildup of its forces in the Middle East as it continues airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen (Wall Street Journal). This includes F-35 combat jets, B-2 bombers, two additional Patriot air defense batteries, a THAAD ballistic missile defense system, Predator drones, and two US Navy aircraft carriers (Al-Monitor/RFE/RL).

MAKE IRAN ‘GREAT’ AGAIN On April 1, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X:

“POTUS (President of the United States) may not like the 2015 nuclear deal. But it contains one vital commitment by Iran which remains in place, and which even the US—being out of the deal—has benefited from: ‘Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons...’ Diplomatic engagement worked in the past and can still work. BUT, it should be clear to all that there is—by definition—no such thing as a ‘military option’ let alone a ‘military solution’…”

The following day, Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff responded to the post with “Great” and then promptly deleted the reply (X).

Screenshot of now deleted post by Steve Witkoff (X)

It’s unclear why the post was removed. However, the White House National Security Council (NSC) and the State Department appear to have different ideas on what should happen to Iran’s nuclear program. For instance, NSC advisor Michael Waltz is for “full dismantlement” à la Libya, while Witkoff is for a “verification program,” like the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

A US official denied that the post was written by Witkoff (X). But as journalist Laura Rozen pointed out:

“[I]t struck others that Witkoff had probably written the tweet, then he or other administration officials had thought better of it, possibly worried it might draw unwanted attention, including from those opposed to the attempted outreach.” (Diplomatic)

On April 2, Axios reported that the US is considering indirect nuclear talks. According to the report:

“The US official said the Trump administration thinks direct talks would have a higher chance of success, but isn’t ruling out the format the Iranians proposed and doesn’t object to the Omanis serving as mediators between the countries, as the Gulf state has in the past.”

On August 4, the Wall Street Journal reported that the US wants direct nuclear talks with the goal of dismantling the nuclear program in its entirety.

۲/2 Farmers protest water shortages in central Iran

In recent weeks, several videos of dried-up dams near Tehran have gone viral on Persian language social media (France24). Meanwhile, the Tehran Province Water Company will implement 12-hour water cuts for “excessive water users.” (IranWire). The cuts will impact 5 percent of the capital’s residents, primarily those living in affluent districts.

۳/3 FFMI allowed broad investigations into violations and crimes committed by Islamic Republic

۴/4 Police disperse weeks-long pro-hijab protest outside parliament

Writer and historian Arash Azizi makes a good point:

“That the Iranian authorities would decide to crack down on pro-hijab rallies shows how careful they are not to further inflame society.” (The National)

Meanwhile, anti-Hijab protester Farzaneh Mohammadi Parsa remains in Evin prison without trial for more than 90 days (IranWire).

OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:

Human Rights

۰ Iran executes 58 prisoners in March (IranWire)

۰ Iran executes woman and man in Isfahan prison (IranWire)

۰ Two prisoners executed in Tabriz prison (HRANA)

۰ On the first day of Iranian New Year, several citizens arrested at historical sites (HRANA)

۰ Woman denied medical treatment in prison (IranWire)

۰ Imprisonment of Christians jumps six-fold as persecution intensifies (CHRI)

Domestic Issues

۰ Nearly 800 die in road accidents in two weeks (IranWire)

Foreign Policy + Security

۰ US House panel backs tougher Iran measures, but divisions persist (RFE/RL)

۰ France plans to take Iran to international court over citizen detentions (Reuters)

۰ Iranian journalist trades microphone for rifle to defend Ukraine (RFE/RL)

۰ King Abdullah receives call from Iran president (The Jordan Times)

۰ Saudi crown prince, Iranian president discuss regional developments (Arab News)

۰Iraq rejects threats against Iran, signals support for regional stability (AA)

۰ IRGC seize two foreign tankers allegedly carrying smuggled diesel fuel (Reuters)

۰ Iran developing Chabahar space center for heavier liquid-fuel rockets (Iran International)

Iran Deal + Sanctions

۰ Russian, Chinese foreign ministers discuss Iran’s nuclear program, Russia says (Reuters)

۰ Israeli foreign minister says not ruling out diplomacy to stop Iran nuclear weapon (Reuters)

۰ Russia condemns ‘ultimatums’ after Trump threatens to bomb Iran (Reuters)

۰ Military confrontation seems inevitable if no new Iran nuclear deal, France says (Reuters)

۰ US issues Iran-related sanctions against China, UAE-based entities (Reuters)

Diaspora

۰ Iranian author shortlisted for women’s prize for fiction (IranWire)

۰ A former Iranian refugee makes her mark as a global pop star (WLRN)