Iran pays $3 million to hackers, executions on the rise—and more
The Iranist for the week of September 6, 2024
۱/1 Raisi helicopter crash blamed on weather, final report says
۲/2 400+ executions since the beginning of this year
۳/3 Russia getting under Tehran’s skin over the Caucasus
On September 2, Iran criticized Russia for attempting to alter the internationally recognized borders in the Caucasus (Al-Monitor). The Iranian foreign ministry conveyed the message during what was described as a “meeting” rather than a “summoning” of the Russian ambassador to Tehran, Alexey Dedov. Two weeks prior, Russian President Vladimir Putin was in Azerbaijan, where he reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to Baku’s interest in accessing the contentious Zangezur corridor that connects Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan enclave and Turkey. Iran is concerned the proposed transport corridor would cut its direct access to Armenia, causing risks to its interests.
On September 5, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X:
“Regional peace, security and stability is not merely a preference, but a pillar of our national security. Any threat from North, South, East, or West to territorial integrity of our neighbors or redrawing of boundaries is totally unacceptable and a red line for Iran.”
Echoing this sentiment, Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of the Expediency Council, which resolves issues between parliament and the Guardian Council, said:
“The behavior of Russian statesman was not acceptable and in clear contradiction with their declaration of friendship with Iran, These ambiguities should be resolved.” (The Guardian)
It’s worth noting that despite Tehran arming Russia with drones in its Ukraine war, Iran congratulated Ukraine on its Independence Day, which some analysts interpreted as a response to Moscow’s policy shift (Iran International). This wouldn’t be the first time Iran bumped heads with Moscow. In December 2023, Russia supported negotiations between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over three disputed islands in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting its envoy in Tehran to be summoned. The two allies also have a twenty-year strategic agreement that has yet to be solidified.
Meanwhile, European officials claim Iran will deliver ballistic missiles to Russia “imminently.” (Bloomberg) If it happens, the E3—Britain, France, and Germany—and the European Union won’t take this lightly.
۴/4 Iran pays $3 million to hackers to stop release of bank account data
۵/5 Punctuation mark lands editor 12 years in prison
On August 31, an Iranian editor and online activist was sentenced to twelve years in prison (NPR). Hosseyn Shanbehzaadeh, 39, known for his criticism of the Islamic Republic, had responded with a period to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei regarding the Iranian national volleyball team. The response went viral, garnering more likes and views than the supreme leader’s original post. A period was missing from Khamenei’s post, and presumably, Shanehzaadeh was correcting the grammar. The editor’s X account was quickly shut down, presumably to protect his personal information.
According to his lawyer, Shanehzaadeh has been sentenced to five years in prison for “pro-Israel propaganda activity,” four years for “insulting Islamic sanctities," two years for “spreading falsehoods” on social media, and one year for “anti-regime propaganda activity.” (Iran International) The charges will be appealed.
In an audio recording from Evin Prison, Shanbehzadeh said:
“I am an innocent prisoner. My phone privileges have been revoked. I cannot call my mother without an intermediary.” (Iran International)
Shanbehzaadeh has previously served a prison sentence for criticizing the clerical establishment on social media.
۶/6 Report says Iran’s missile program not as accurate as first thought
۷/7 TEDxTalk on Iranian Gen Z and the push for change
Just in time for the Women, Life, Freedom uprising’s second anniversary this month!
OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:
Human rights
۰ Two prisoners executed in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz (HRANA)
۰ Security forces kill growing numbers of Kurdish and Baluchi border couriers (CHRI)
۰ Political prisoner faces fresh 7 years prison sentence (IranWire)
۰ Iran arrests three in Kurdish towns ahead of Mahsa Amini’s death anniversary (IranWire)
۰ Iran arrests teen brother of slain 2022 protester (IranWire)
۰ Supreme Court backs death penalty for Guard volunteer over 2022 protest killing, lawyer says (AP)
۰ Prominent political prisoner faces new charges (IranWire)
۰ ‘Shameless’: Imprisoned Nobel Laureate slams custodial death (IranWire)
۰ Labor Day: A tribute to the unyielding spirit of Iran’s workers (CHRI)
۰ UN to Iran: Stop “racial discrimination” (IranWire)
Domestic issues
۰ President calls for investigation into case of death in custody (Reuters)
۰ Forces shoot dead two Baluch brothers (IranWire)
۰ Tehran University music professor shot dead (IranWire)
Foreign policy + security
۰ Iran emerges as a top disinformation threat in US presidential race (New York Times)
۰ ‘Iranians for Trump’ to mobilize community for 2024 US elections (Iran International)
۰ US calls on Big Tech to help evade online censors in Russia, Iran (Reuters)
۰ A century ago, a mob brutally attacked an American diplomat in Persia. His death shaped US-Iran relations for decades (Smithsonian Magazine)
۰ Iran summons Australian ambassador over ‘offensive’ LGBTQ+ social media post (The Guardian)
۰ Iran membership in SCO, BRICS should enter operational phase (Mehr News Agency)
۰ Iran denies allegations of IRGC officer training Russian soldiers (Iran Front Page)
۰ Bahrain, Iran edge closer to normalization despite setbacks (Amwaj.media)
۰ Pezeshkian set to visit Iraq in first trip as Iran’s president (Amwaj.media)
۰ Inside Iran’s move to subdue Kurdish foes in Iraq (Amwaj.media)
۰ Will Iran’s new reformist president overhaul South Caucasus policy? (Amwaj.media)
۰ Khamenei’s preacher travels to Thailand on propaganda mission (Iran International)
Iran Deal + sanctions
۰ Sanctions complicate Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project (VOA)
۰ ‘Dark’ tanker crash exposes dangers of China’s thirst for cheap oil (Washington Post)
۰ UK sanctions secret IRGC Quds Force unit arming Iran’s proxies (Iran International)
۰ Iran summons UK’s charge d’affaires in Tehran over recent sanctions (Jerusalem Post)
۰ Grassley releases new details of Iran-backed assassination plots against Trump, Biden and others (Fox News)
Economy
۰ Iran’s president says his country needs more than $100 billion in foreign investment (AP)
Arts + culture
۰ Icon Googoosh leads her granddaughter Mya Ghorbani through a retrospective of her best looks (Vogue)
Diaspora
۰ Two men charged with murdering music manager in Glendale (Fox LA)