۱/1 Trump mentions Iran during RNC speech
On July 18, former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, discussed Iran in his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
In it, Trump said:
“I will end every single international crisis that the current administration has created, including… the war caused by the attack on Israel, which would never have happened if I was president. Iran was broke. Iran had no money. Now Iran has $250 billion. They made it all over the last two and a half years. They were broke.
I watched the other day on a show called ‘Deface the Nation,’ has anyone seen it? And they had a congressman who was a Democrat say, Well, whether you like him or not, Iran was broke dealing with Trump. I told China and other countries, ‘If you buy from Iran, we will not let you do any business in this country, and we will put tariffs on every product you do send in of 100 percent or more.’ And they said to me, Well, I think that’s about it. They weren’t going to buy any oil. And they were ready to make a deal. Iran was going to make a deal with us.
And then we had that horrible, horrible result that we’ll never let happen again. The election result. We’re never going to let that happen again. They used Covid to cheat. We’re never going to let it happen again. And they took off all the sanctions, and they did everything possible for Iran and now Iran is very close to having a nuclear weapon, which would have never happened.” (New York Times)
IRAN REACTS TO BIDEN PULL OUT Iran reacted to US President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the November election and endorsement of Kamala Harris.
On July 22, Iranian foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said:
“Political figures in the US government are not important. The thing is the US government has always taken a hostile approach and a hostile policy on Iran over the past years, and what can change the atmosphere of relations is the change of the hostile behavior of the United States toward the Iranian nation.” (Al-Monitor)
And in case you’re wondering, here are Harris’ thoughts on Iran.
۲/2 Prominent Islamic center in Germany shutdown over regime ties
On July 24, Germany banned the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) and its national sub-organizations for being a “direct representative” of the Islamic Republic that promoted its ideology—including supporting and promoting the Resistance Axis, specifically Hezbollah in Lebanon—and “aggressive antisemitism” amongst its followers (AP/bund.de). The distinctive blue-tiled Imam Ali Mosque in Hamburg, the IZH’s most well-known facility, and its properties in other cities—including Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich—were raided for operating in a “highly conspiratorial manner.” (bund.de)
The IZH, which was founded in the 1960s, has been under investigation by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency for months. In November 2023, German authorities raided fifty-five properties linked to IZH and found “extensive evidence” that “confirmed suspicions sufficiently.” (bund.de)
German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said:
“Today, we banned the [IZH], which promotes an Islamist-extremist, totalitarian ideology in Germany. This Islamist ideology is opposed to human dignity. women’s rights, an independent judiciary and our democratic government. The [IZH] and its sub-organizations also support the terrorists of Hezbollah and spread aggressive antisemitism… With this ban, we have put a stop to the activities of these Islamist extremists… I want to make it very clear: We are not taking action against a religion. We are drawing a clear distinction between the Islamist extremists that we are cracking down on and the many Muslims who belong to our country and live according to their faith. This ban absolutely does not apply to the peaceful practice of the Shiite religion.” (bund.de)
On the same day, the Iranian foreign ministry summoned Germany’s ambassador to Tehran over the ban (Reuters).
۳/3 Crackdown on women continues: Kurdish activist sentenced to death, anti-hijab activist summoned to serve sentence
Read about Pakhshan Azizi, Kurdish activist
Read about Sepideh Rashnu, anti-hijab activist
۴/4 US secretary of state says Iran’s breakout time “is now probably one or two weeks”
۵/5 Iranians at the Olympics
The Paris 2024 Olympics begins on July 26 and ends on August 11. The Islamic Republic of Iran will be represented by forty athletes, including twenty-nine men and eleven women in thirteen sports (PressTV). Taekwondo, weightlifting, and wrestling are expected to be where the Iranian team will perform best and win medals. Iran bagged seven medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games but has won a total of seventy-six medals in eighteen Olympic Games.
Iranians aren’t impressed by their Olympic team’s uniform. Here’s a sneak peak:
Iran-based journalist Azadeh Mokhdari sarcastically commented on X:
“With all this creativity in the design and execution of the official attire for the Iranian delegation at the Olympics opening ceremony, really, well done! I mean, you just put an #Olympics logo on black and white clothing and that’s it. How much budget did you receive for this?”
IRANIANS UNDER OTHER FLAGS The Refugee Olympic Team consists of thirty-seven athletes representing eleven different countries of origin, including fourteen from Iran (IranWire). Over the years, dozens of Iranian athletes have fled the country, citing various obstacles such as discrimination,
political interference, and mandatory hijab (South China Morning Post). It’s worth noting that several Iranians are also competing under other flags, such as taekwondo athlete Kimia Alizadeh, who now represents Bulgaria. She was the first Iranian woman to win a medal since 1948.
Ironically, but not surprisingly, Iran has been calling for Israel to be banned from the Olympic Games over the Gaza war (Iran International).
۶/6 Bibi goes to Washington
On July 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the US Congress. In his speech, the prime minister called anti-Israel protesters in the United States “ Iran’s useful idiots” while noting that they are promoted and funded by Tehran (CNN).
Netanyahu also said:
“Iran is virtually behind all the terrorism, all the turmoil, all the chaos, all the killing… in the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel, and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life.” (Times of Israel)
The Israeli PM also pitched a new alliance in the Middle East, the Abraham Alliance, to combat Tehran. Netanyahu said the alliance would be “a natural extension of the groundbreaking Abraham Accords.” (Times of Israel)
۷/7 After eight years, Iran and Sudan exchanged ambassadors
OTHER اخبار/NEWS THAT MADE HEADLINES:
Human rights
۰ Iran executes eight in 48 hours, mostly for drug offenses (IranWire)
۰ Kurdish activist sentenced to death (Iran International)
۰ Sharifeh Mohammadi, sentenced to death on dubious rebellion charges (IranWire)
۰ Political prisoner attempts suicide in Tehran prison (IranWire)
۰ Jailed Kurdish activist critical after suicide attempt (IranWire)
۰ Border forces shoot young kolbar, causing leg injury (IranWire)
۰ Prisoner-led anti-execution campaign grows across prisons (IranWire)
۰ UN says Iran’s “atrocity crimes” must be investigated (CHRI)
۰ Femicide rates up by 60% in two years, report says (Iran International)
۰ Women activists face ‘severe sentences’ as new president vows easing of restrictions (Al-Monitor)
Domestic issues
۰ Experts in Iran cautiously discuss new president’s foreign policy (Iran International)
۰ Iran's new president criticized for ‘informal’ dress code (Iran International)
۰ Inside story: The two men who made a president out of Pezeshkian (Amwaj.media)
۰ Ahmadinejad escaped assassination attempt (Iran International)
۰ Armed attack in Sistan and Baluchistan province kills police officer (Al-Monitor)
۰ Amid poverty, families exploit children for material gain online (Iran International)
۰ The hidden world of sex and prostitution in Iran (Iran International)
۰Eye color surgery booms in Iran (IranWire)
۰ Former prison chief drowns while fishing (IranWire)
۰ Violence spirals with Afghan community in Tehran following death of Iranian (Iran International)
۰ Ghettoes, clashes, and Afghanophobia: Post-Taliban refugees in Iran (France24)
Foreign policy + security
۰ Iran applauds Houthis for Israel attack, yet keeps distance to avoid blame (Al-Monitor)
۰ Amid curious GPS disruption, IRGC media warn Israel against Yemen strikes (Amwaj.media)
۰ Iran and Armenia sign secret $500-million arms deal (Iran International)
۰ Where are Iran-Afghanistan ties headed under Pezeshkian? (Al-Monitor)
Iran deal + sanctions
۰ Khamenei hedges on nuclear talks as Iran debates affirmative action (Amwaj.media)
۰ Zarif reiterates Khamenei's stance on Iran's nuclear law (Iran International)
۰ US criticized over inaction on Iran’s Mahsa Act sanctions (Iran International)
۰ Alabama man pleads guilty to violating Iran sanctions (Justice.gov)
۰ Iranian national extradited to United States for alleged scheme to illicitly ship sophisticated electronics to Iran (justice.gov)
۰ US renews sanctions waiver for Iraq to purchase Iranian electricity (Al-Monitor)
۰ Polish state company denies its parts were used in Iranian drones (Reuters)
۰ Tehran turns to disgraced tycoon amid economic woes (Iran International)
Economy
۰ Iranian economist says Pezeshkian cannot improve economy amid sanctions (Iran International)
Diaspora
۰ Iranian reportedly commits suicide after killing wife in Canada (Iran International)