Khamenei rejects talks, Iraq gas waiver canceled—and more
The Iranist for the week of March 14, 2025
NOTE: This is a condensed newsletter due to travel. I’ll be taking two weeks off in observance of the Nowruz holiday in Iran. نوروز پیروز/Happy Nowruz! 🪻
THE هفت/SEVEN THINGS TO KNOW THIS WEEK:
۱/1 Khamenei rejects talks before Trump’s letter delivered
On March 11, in reference to talks, President Masoud Pezeshkian said:
“It is unacceptable for us that they (the US) give orders and make threats. I won’t even negotiate with you. Do whatever the hell you want.” (Reuters)
On March 12, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected nuclear talks with the United States (Reuters). Khamenei said:
“When we know they won’t honor it [referring to a deal], what’s the point of negotiating?”
The comments were made just as Emirati Presidential Advisor Anwar Gargash delivered US President Donald Trump’s letter to Tehran on March 13 (BBC). Interestingly, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claims that Tehran is in indirect talks with the United States through the E3 (Britain, France, and Germany) (IranWire).
۲/2 Russia, China, and Iran call for removal of US sanctions
Earlier this week, the three countries kicked off their annual joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman (CNN).
۳/3 Protester commits suicide after security forces encircle him
۴/4 Iraq power waiver ends, but Iran still supplies gas
۵/5 Ex-IRGC commander admits to role in killing dissidents abroad
۶/6 Christian converts deported to Panama released
۷/7 Masih Alinejad’s hitman: 'I was there to try to kill the journalist'
OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:
Human Rights
۰ Court sentences Christian converts to prison (IranWire)
۰ Iran arrests 4 female Kurdish activists after Women’s Day events (VOA)
۰ Political activist Mohsen Ghashghaei-Zadeh sentenced to two years in prison (HRANA)
۰ Prisoners continue anti-death penalty hunger strikes (IranWire)
۰ Authorities are killing prisoners by denying lifesaving medical care (CHRI)
۰ Artists condemn flogging of singer Mehdi Yarrahi (IranWire)
۰ Iran increasingly electronically surveils women looking for headscarf violations, UN report warns (AP)
۰ 15 blind date participants face legal action (IranWire)
Domestic Issues
۰ Vote buying allegations rock Iranian Football Federation election (IranWire)
۰ Iran unveils air taxi service while one-third of population lives in poverty (IranWire)
۰ Red rainwater flows down Iranian mountain (CNN)
۰ Livelihood protests continue across Iran (VOA Persian)
۰ Climber Elnaz Rekabi leaves homeland (VOA)
Foreign Policy + Security
۰ Iranian Olympic official claims support for Rekabi following her departure (IranWire)
۰ After Khamenei rejects talks, White House says Iran can be dealt with militarily or with a deal (Reuters)
۰ Iran says it is open to talks about concerns about militarization of its nuclear program (AP)
۰ Ontario man attempting to enter US arrested for making a false statement (Justice.gov)
۰ Gila Gamliel’s dual mission: Regime change in Iran and a new future for Gaza (Jerusalem Post)
۰ Turkey detains 5 in alleged Iran spy ring as Syria tensions brew (Al-Monitor)
Iran Deal + Sanctions
۰ Iran summons UK, France, Germany over UN closed-door meeting (Reuters)
۰ UN Security Council to meet over Iran’s growing stockpile of near-bomb-grade uranium (Reuters)
۰ Despite tough talk, economic woes may force Iran to bargain with Trump (Reuters)
۰ Treasury sanctions Swedish Gang and leader serving Iranian regime (Treasury.gov)
۰ Trump administration prepared to enforce Iran oil sanctions (Bloomberg)
۰ Iran warns it is about to target Americans engaged in ‘terror, sabotage’ with sanctions, legal measures (PressTV)
۰ Sanctions are tangling, not stopping, China’s Iran oil trade (Bloomberg)
Economy + Trade
۰ Iran bets big on gold as it weathers Trump turmoil (Al Jazeera)
۰ Iran’s coupons and taxes: Giving with one hand, taking with the other (Al Jazeera)
۰ Fate of pistachio production in Iran holds lessons for the world (Nature)
Diaspora
۰ Her grandpa brewed beer in his cellar in Iran. Last month she canned 30,000 brews that taste like home (The Guardian)