Eye on Iran: Iran Cracks Down on Activists in Runup to Election

For continuing coverage follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook group.    Top Stories Guardian: "Iran has launched a public crackdown on dissent before next month's presidential election, executing two men charged with espionage and waging war against God, arresting a group of activists and summoning campaigners for questioning. Political prisoners in some of the country's most notorious jails have had their parole or visiting rights withdrawn and some transferred to solitary confinement. Human rights campaigners in Iran, speaking on condition of anonymity, say state repression has intensified in the runup to the polls on 14 June amid authorities' concern of a repeat of the anti-government protests that followed the 2009 election, which was described as a sedition led by the country's foreign enemies. The crackdown comes as the Guardian launches an online database that catalogues the extent of repression by the Iranian authorities. The research shows there are 2,600 prisoners of conscience in the country, among them hundreds of activists, scores of students, dozens of women's rights campaigners, lawyers, artists, former politicians and many members of the country's religious and ethnic minorities." http://t.uani.com/16LPx0i AP: "Iranian news websites have boosted speculation that election overseers have barred two prominent but divisive figures from next month's presidential ballot. The hardline website Tasnimnews.com says the Guardian Council has rejected former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, a close confidant of outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The semiofficial Mehr news agency carried the same report. The reports are not official. The announcement on the list for the June 14 election is expected later Tuesday or Wednesday. Tasnimnews.com says eight candidates have been approved to run, most of them hardliners loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei." http://t.uani.com/13EFcNf Fox News: "The U.S. is trying to stop the gold rush to Iran in a bid to undermine the Islamic Republic's plummeting currency, but critics say the move is more likely to hurt ordinary citizens than the rogue regime's leadership. A top Treasury Department official told lawmakers that, starting July 1, the U.S. plans to crack down on all transfers of gold to the Iranian government or its citizens. The move appears aimed largely at banks and gold brokers in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Companies operating from within those nations have shipped large amounts of gold to Iran as Tehran attempts to stabilize its currency, the rial, amid increasing international economic isolation. 'We have been very clear with the governments of Turkey and the UAE and elsewhere, as well as the private sector that is involved in the gold trade, that as of July 1 all must stop, not just the trade to the government,' Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen told members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee last week." http://t.uani.com/118orOv     Sanctions Reuters: "India has slashed Iranian oil imports by almost a fifth since December, the sharpest cut among Asian buyers, in a move that should increase its chances of winning a new U.S. waiver next month on sanctions targeting oil trade with Iran. Sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe to force a halt to a controversial nuclear programme that Tehran says is for peaceful purposes saw Iran's oil exports more than halve last year, costing it $5 billion a month in lost revenue. The sanctions have forced refiners in India, Iran's second-largest oil buyer, to reduce imports because national insurer the General Insurance Corp. of India has said that cover and losses on processing the crude would not be payable by European reinsurers." http://t.uani.com/10ih2Yf WSJ: "The U.S. Treasury Department's top anti-terrorism official is traveling to the Middle East this week to discuss sanctions against Syria and Iran. David Cohen, under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, is scheduled to meet with officials in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the Treasury said Monday. The talks will focus on implementing international sanctions against Iran and Syria, as well as combating the financial operations of Al Qaeda and Taliban affiliates in the region, the Treasury said." http://t.uani.com/10ifPjp Commerce Reuters: "Iran's government is negotiating a tax of up to 40 percent on iron ore exports to take advantage of a surge in sales to China, aiming to replace revenue from oil and other sources eroded by sanctions. Iran's iron ore exports to top steel producer China jumped 48 percent in the first quarter from a year ago to a level that would generate annual revenue of about $3 billion at current prices. The government is now talking with local miners about an export tax, trading and industry sources said. 'A few iron ore cargoes were earlier banned from leaving the port as the government is looking to impose a 40 percent export duty based on free-on-board prices,' said a trader in Shanghai, who imports Iranian iron ore." http://t.uani.com/10iSTE5 June 14 Elections WashPost: "Relief for Iran's ailing economy will be the top priority of Iranians on June 14, when they vote to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president. Foreign policy, however, will take on extra significance in the election, as Iran struggles to undo the economic and diplomatic isolation of the past four years. Facing staggering unemployment and a high inflation rate, few of the candidates have offered more than a vague recipe for how they intend to revive the slumping economy. But nearly all have touted their abilities to right Iran's course and help mend its problems with the international community. They do not, however, agree on how to do it. While many of the most well-known candidates are not well-versed in economic policy, most boast extensive foreign policy experience. In this election, the two are inextricably linked, because many of Iran's economic issues are a result of the international sanctions that severely limit the country's ability to export and receive payment for its oil." http://t.uani.com/14sWLmq Bloomberg: "Iran's political leaders face the choice of blocking Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's late bid for the presidency, or allowing him to run and wrecking a carefully crafted field of loyalists. The ex-president, who kept his plans to himself until minutes before registration closed, has stolen the limelight from the more consensual candidates favored by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to analysts. Rafsanjani brings 'a new dynamic that will make the public more engaged in the election, and this is what was missing,' said Mahjoob Zweiri, a professor of Middle East politics at Qatar University. If his candidacy is approved, 'it will mobilize people to participate, whether for or against him.'" http://t.uani.com/165cUT3 Bloomberg: "Iran has tightened security in the capital, Tehran, since late yesterday with less than two days to go before officials announce the shortlist of candidates allowed to run in next month's presidential election. Police including anti-riot units have been deployed to several main squares in Tehran. About 100 were stationed in the northwestern Sanhat and Sahadat Abad squares into the night. Today, as many as 40 gathered around the central Vanak square, armed with batons. Iranian will vote on June 14 for a replacement to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is not eligible to run for a third term. The Guardian Council, which vets presidential candidates, is set to submit its approved shortlist to the Interior Ministry today, and the ministry is scheduled to announce that by May 23." http://t.uani.com/18f3eTk Reuters: "Iranians are struggling with slower Internet speeds and limited access ahead of an unpredictable presidential election that has put hardline Islamist authorities on alert for possible unrest. Experts and web users say they believe the Internet obstacles are related to the June 14 presidential vote, the first since 2009 polls in which accusations of fraud - denied by the government - kindled months of protests organised in part via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Iranian officials denied any connection between the Internet disruptions and the upcoming vote. But, after the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad four years ago, they are wary of the possibility of further unrest this time around." http://t.uani.com/14N4Z8r Foreign Affairs Reuters: "Saudi Arabia has detained 10 more people in a spying case it announced in March that it said was linked to Iran, state television reported on Tuesday. 'Initial investigation carried out by the authorities led to the detention of 10 others for involvement in spying activities,' state television news channel al-Ekhbariya reported, citing the Interior Ministry. It said the new group includes eight Saudis, a Lebanese and a Turk. In March Turki said Saudi security forces had arrested 18 people, including 16 Saudis, an Iranian and a Lebanese. In his statement, Turki said the Lebanese man held in March had now been released." http://t.uani.com/12Sw4G3 Eye on Iran is a periodic news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eye on Iran is not intended as a comprehensive media clips summary but rather a selection of media elements with discreet analysis in a PDA friendly format. For more information please email Press@UnitedAgainstNuclearIran.com United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons.