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Stories
NYT: "The United States rebuked
Iran on Friday over a series of 'provocative and destabilizing'
ballistic missile tests this week and all but accused the Iranians of
having violated a United Nations Security Council resolution that calls
on them to refrain from such acts. The American ambassador to the
United Nations, Samantha Power, said in a statement that the United
States had scheduled a Security Council meeting for Monday to address
what she called 'these dangerous launches.' Ms. Power's statement
elevated the tension between the United States and Iran over the
missile issue, which threatens to undercut the improved atmosphere in
the two months since the landmark Iranian nuclear agreement went into
effect... Security Council Resolution 2231, which formally abrogated
all of the Council's nuclear-related sanctions against Iran once the
agreement took effect, also included language meant to prevent Iran
from launching missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons... 'The
United States is deeply concerned about Iran's recent ballistic missile
launches, which are provocative and destabilizing,' Ms. Power said in
her statement. She also criticized Iranian military leaders who were
quoted in Iranian news media as saying that the missile testswere meant
to be a direct threat to Israel. 'We condemn such threats against
another U.N. member state and one of our closest allies,' she said. The
missile launches, she said, 'underscore the need to work with partners
around the world to slow and degrade Iran's missile program.'" http://t.uani.com/1LmmlTF
AFP: "French Foreign Minister
Jean-Marc Ayrault on Sunday warned Iran of possible European sanctions
over its recent ballistic missile launches. 'If necessary, sanctions
will be taken,' Ayrault said after a meeting with US Secretary of State
John Kerry and several European counterparts. Kerry described the
launches -- which the US has asked to be discussed at a UN Security
Council meeting on Monday -- as a breach of UN resolutions. 'They are
longer than the distance allowed for ballistic missiles. And because of
that they represent a potential danger to the countries in the region
and beyond,' Kerry said. 'If Iran chooses to violate that they will
invite additional sanctions.'" http://t.uani.com/1RZNdYQ
The
Hill: "Iran's
ballistic missile tests are reigniting the debate over sanctions and
putting new pressure on the Obama administration. Republicans, and many
Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, are calling for a strong
response, after Iran test-fired ballistic missiles twice last week, in
defiance of international law. They were the first tests since an
international nuclear deal with Iran took effect earlier this year.
Lawmakers are particularly incensed over the second day of testing,
when Iran reportedly fired missiles with the words 'Israel must be
wiped off the face of the earth' written in Hebrew -- an explicit
threat to a close U.S. ally. Republicans say the test is a blatant
violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls
upon Iran not to conduct any launches of ballistic missiles designed to
be capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. Iran has denied that the
tests did so. GOP lawmakers seized upon the tests as evidence Iran
could not be trusted to uphold the nuclear deal, which lifted heavy
sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits to its nuclear program, and
blasted the Obama administration as naive... Several Democrats,
particularly those who did not support the nuclear deal, are also
calling for a tougher response. 'The Administration should act swiftly
to raise these concerns at the United Nations and take action to hold
all parties involved responsible for their actions, including, if
necessary, through unilateral action,' said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.),
the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who
opposed the deal... Critics are skeptical the administration will take
action against Iran, out of concern it could break the Iran deal... The
administration, though, is pushing back against that idea, insisting
the U.S. and allies will redouble their efforts to limit Iran's
ballistic missile program. 'Let me vigorously push back on the notion
that we're somehow going to give Iran a free pass on ballistic missile
tests just because we have a [nuclear deal] in place,' Toner said.
'There is more that we can do to enforce sanctions that are in place.
There are also a set of restrictions about what kind of equipment and
materials can be shipped to Iran. And there's more that we can do to
work with our partners to interdict those kinds of shipments that may
include some of those illicit products,' he said." http://t.uani.com/21rfwlv
Nuclear
& Ballistic Missile Program
AP: "Iran's foreign minister on
Monday defended the nation's right to use ballistic missiles following
a test last week, but offered no explanation for anti-Israeli messages
reportedly written on them. Speaking in Wellington, New Zealand,
Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran has always reserved the right to defend
itself. 'Anybody who is crazy enough to attack us, we will attack back
using conventional weapons,' he said. 'We hope that these conventional
weapons will never be used because we do believe that in a war, everybody
loses.' Zarif was responding to questions following an address to the
New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. He'd earlier met with
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to talk about trade, and on Tuesday
will travel to Australia... Iran's Fars news agency reported that the
missiles had the phrase 'Israel must be wiped out' written on them.
Zarif said he hadn't yet returned to Iran to check out those reports.
When pressed about the issue, he said it was Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama who were acting
aggressively. 'I ask you to go ask Netanyahu why is he threatening to
use force against Iran every day. Go ask Obama why he is threatening to
use force against Iran every day,' Zarif said. 'Why are they saying all
options are on the table?'" http://t.uani.com/22dWXqy
WSJ: "European Union foreign
ministers will weigh a response to Iran's recent ballistic missile
tests on Monday as the Obama administration considers what steps it
should take. Iran last week carried out a barrage of tests following
vows by officials to press ahead with its missile program despite U.S.
pressure to curtail it... Until now, the EU had avoided any punitive
action against Iran amid a push to rebuild economic and political ties
with Tehran. Earlier this year, former French Foreign Minister Laurent
Fabius said the bloc should weigh a sanctions response because of the
tests but the idea quickly faded. However, several foreign ministers
said Monday that following last week's tests, the bloc was now
considering some action. 'I think we have to react,' said Slovak
Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak. 'We have to have an assessment of the
test and then we should have a discussion about how to react to this.'
U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the bloc's foreign ministers
will discuss the issue Monday and that he expects EU foreign policy
chief Federica Mogherini to address the issue later in the day. 'We
need to make sure that our approach is balanced so that while we
exploit the opportunities that come from an opening with Iran...we also
have to be clear that Iran continues to carry out unacceptable
behavior: missile testings, aggressive behavior and sponsorship of
terrorism around the Gulf,' he said. It isn't clear if a final decision
will be made on Monday. One senior EU official said that while the
issue would definitely be broached Monday there was so far 'no response
foreseen' to the tests. It often takes the 28-nation bloc some weeks to
agree on joint action. Foreign ministers were already due to discuss
how to advance ties with Tehran on Monday in the aftermath of the
mid-January implementation of last year's nuclear deal. Ms. Mogherini
confirmed she is due to visit Iran on April 16 at the head of a
delegation of senior EU officials." http://t.uani.com/1RJqjSV
U.S.-Iran
Relations
AP: "A cyberattack on a small dam
in the suburbs outside of New York City was a 'shot across the bow' of
the United States and should be met with tougher sanctions against
Iran, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Friday. In 2013, hackers accessed
the control system at the Bowman Avenue Dam, a small flood-control
structure in Rye Brook, about 20 miles north of New York City. The
intrusion prompted a federal investigation. 'Now it looks clear that
the Iranians did it,' Schumer said during an appearance on Long Island.
'What were they doing? They were sending a shot across our bow. They
were saying that we can damage, seriously damage, our critical
infrastructure and put the lives and property of people at risk.' ...
Schumer said the alleged hacking should be a warning to improve
cyber-security. 'Hackers can come in, as these Iranian hackers did, and
hurt our critical infrastructure,' he said. 'What if they open the
sluice gates of a dam with a whole lot of people behind it? What if
they shut off the power for a large part of the area?'" http://t.uani.com/22fMWFU
The
Hill: "Sen.
Steve Daines (R-Mont.) on Thursday bashed President Obama for taking
years to blame Iran for a 2013 cyberattack against a New York dam. 'It
is downright shameful that it has taken President Obama three years to
denounce Iran for a malicious cybersecurity attack on our country while
at the same time sitting at a negotiating table with them,' Daines said
in a statement. CNN reported Thursday afternoon that the Obama
administration is planning to publicly name Iran in the hack, while the
Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing an indictment against the
alleged hackers. The incident was first revealed in December, when
details were leaked to the media. Investigators said the hackers didn't
take control of the system but were probing its defenses. The digital
intrusion came to light just months after the U.S. and other world
powers finalized a deal with Iran to roll back economic sanctions on
the country in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear program...
Daines tied the nuclear deal to the delay in accusing Iran of carrying
out the cyberattack. 'This failure is undoubtedly linked to President
Obama's clouded judgment in ushering through his misguided deal with
Iran, which has only endangered our national security,' he said." http://t.uani.com/1Lma2Xi
AP: "U.S. companies are welcome
to invest in Iran's oil and gas industry, the Iranian oil minister said
on Sunday. State-run Press TV quoted Bijan Namdar Zangeneh as saying
that 'in general, we have no problem with the presence of American
companies in Iran.' He said it is the U.S. government that is 'creating
restrictions for these companies,' without elaborating. Zangeneh also
confirmed that Iran's state-run oil company has held talks with General
Electric. 'Of course, my deputy conducted these negotiations and when I
inquired about them, it was said that the talks were positive,' he
said. GE said in a statement responding to questions about the talks
that it is considering possibly doing business in Iran. 'In line with
the easing of sanctions, we have begun looking at potential business
opportunities in Iran, while fully complying with the rules laid out by
the U.S. government,' the company said. The TV report said Zangeneh
also asked Siemens executives to invest in Iran's oil and gas industry.
'The German company must come to Iran to build equipment and parts
needed in our oil industry and manufacture them here,' he said." http://t.uani.com/22dXeK8
Congressional
Action
Reuters: "The Senate Banking Committee
approved Barack Obama's choice to be the Treasury Department's
undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence by a 14-8 vote
on Thursday, nearly 11 months after the president nominated him. Obama
nominated Adam Szubin in April 2015 for the post, which oversees U.S.
sanctions as well as efforts to cut off money illegally flowing to
nations such as Iran and North Korea and groups including Islamic
State. But his nomination got caught up in partisan fighting over
foreign policy, particularly the international nuclear agreement with
Iran announced in July, between the administration of Obama, a
Democrat, and Republicans who control Congress." http://t.uani.com/24ZWaZ8
Business
Risk
Reuters: "A former employee of the
French embassy in Tehran has been arrested at the airport after
arriving in Iran to visit her critically ill mother, the opposition
website Kalemeh reported on Saturday. Nazak Afshar, 58, who has
French-Iranian citizenship, had previously been arrested in 2009 on
charges of spying and of acting against Iran's national security.
Although she was put on trial at the time, no verdict was issued and
she was freed following the intervention of the French government. She
left the country the same year. Afshar had traveled to Iran to visit
her mother after 'doctors had given up hope of her recovery', the
website said, without giving details of the ailment. The potential
opening up to the West after last year's nuclear deal has alarmed
Iranian hardliners and the arrest of Afshar and the detention of other
people with dual citizenship appear to be part of a crackdown on what
some officials have called Western infiltration. Siamak Namazi, a dual
U.S.-Iranian citizen, was detained by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps in October while visiting family. Baquer Namazi, Siamak's
80-year-old father who is also a dual citizen, was arrested in February
on his arrival in Tehran. An Iranian-British former BBC journalist,
Bahman Daroshafaei, was also detained in February but was released on
bail three weeks later." http://t.uani.com/22fFGdd
Sanctions
Relief
AP: "Russian energy minister says
Gazprom, Russia's state gas monopoly, has put forward proposals for the
development of oil fields in Iran. Alexander Novak spoke at bilateral
trade discussions in Tehran on Monday. He underscored Moscow's desire
to strengthen trade relations with Iran and said the countries were
considering opening a free-trade zone, according to reports from
Russia's Tass news agency." http://t.uani.com/1XqdFML
AP: "Iran's president welcomed his
Vietnamese counterpart on Monday, saying Tehran hopes to boost trade
with the Southeast Asian nation to $2 billion from the current $350
million within five years, state media reported. Hassan Rouhani said he
and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang discussed cooperation against
terrorism as well as unspecified 'problems' in East Asia, according to
state TV... Iran currently exports nearly $250 million worth of oil, agricultural
and fishery products to Vietnam. It imports some $100 million worth of
rubber, cellphones and canning materials." http://t.uani.com/1SMPOrl
Terrorism
AP: "The Arab League on Friday
formally branded Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group a terrorist
organization, a move that raises concerns of deepening divisions among
Arab countries and ramps up the pressure on the Shiite group, which is
fighting on the side of President Bashar Assad in Syria. The decision
came during a foreign ministers' meeting of the Arab League at the
organization's seat in Cairo, the Egyptian state MENA news agency
reported. It came just a day after the league elected veteran Egyptian
diplomat Ahmed Aboul-Gheit as its new chief. The move aligns the
22-member league firmly behind Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led bloc of
six Gulf Arab nations, which made the same formal branding against
Hezbollah on March 2. It also brings the league in line with the United
States, which is closely allied with the Gulf states and has long
considered Hezbollah to be a terrorist organization. The European Union
only lists the military wing of Hezbollah on its terrorist blacklist.
In Cairo, Saudi Ambassador Ahmed Qattan, told the satellite TV station
Al Arabiya that the vote was not unanimous as Lebanon and Iraq
abstained... The league's decision also reflects deep regional
divisions between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite powerhouse Iran,
Hezbollah's patron." http://t.uani.com/1M2dmqF
Iran-Saudi
Tensions
Reuters: "Saudi Arabia said on Sunday
it would punish anyone who belongs to Lebanon's Iran-backed Shi'ite
Islamist group Hezbollah, sympathises with it, supports it financially
or harbours any of its members. An Interior Ministry statement carried
by the state news agency SPA said that Saudis and expatriates would be
subjected to 'severe penalties' under the kingdom's regulations and
anti-terrorism laws. Foreigners would be deported, it said. The move
comes after Gulf Arab countries declared Hezbollah a terrorist organisation,
raising the possibility of further sanctions against the group, which
wields influence in Lebanon and fights alongside President Bashar
al-Assad's forces in Syria. 'Any citizen or resident who supports,
shows membership in the so-called Hezbollah, sympathises with it or
promotes it, makes donations to it or communicates with it or harbours
anyone belonging to it will be subject to the stiff punishments
provided by the rules and orders, including the terrorism crimes and
its financing,' the statement said." http://t.uani.com/1pj6N8z
Human
Rights
IHR: "IHR's 8th annual report on
the death penalty reveals 2015 to be one of the darkest years in the
Islamic Republic of Iran's history. However, the horrifying death
penalty record has not had an impact on relations between the Islamic
Republic of Iran and the West. The numbers presented in this report are
very close to in line with the numbers presented by the UN Special
Rapporteur on the situation of the human rights in Iran, Dr. Ahmed
Shaheed. On average between two and three people were hanged every
single day in Iran; juvenile offenders, women, political prisoners, and
alleged drug offenders were among them. That's at least 969 executions
in 2015, the highest annual number in more than 25 years. 66% of the
executions were for drug offenses, even though Iranian authorities have
admitted multiple times in the past that the death penalty has not
decreased the volume of drug crimes in Iran... Since the election of
Hassan Rouhani in June 2013, at least 2162 people have been executed in
Iran. A comparison between the two and a half years after Hassan
Rouhani's election and the two and a half years before his election
show an increase of 43% in the number of executions carried out in
Iran." http://t.uani.com/1WkwTDb
Journalism
Is Not a Crime:
"Mehdi Rajabian, an Iranian musician and founder of BargMusic, has
put his musical instrument up for sale in order to pay a $6,600 fine
imposed by Iran's Revolutionary Court. Last month, an Iranian court
sentenced Mehdi Rajabian to three years in prison on charges of
'insulting the sacred' and 'propaganda against the regime' in
connection with the production and promotion of underground music. He
was also ordered to pay a fine of 200 million rials ($6,600). His
brother Hossein Rajabian, an independent filmmaker, and Yousef Emadi, manager
of BargMusic, was given the same sentence. Consequently, Mehdi Rajabian
was left with no other choice than to sell his Setar, a Persian
three-stringed musical instrument, according to a post on his Instagram
page on Thursday March 10. 'I have put my own instrument for sale to be
able to pay the penalty that is part of the sentence that Iranian
authorities have issued for me,' he wrote. 'My instrument is all I
have. So, I put this instrument, which has made me cry and laugh, on
sale. It isn't just an instrument but the broken sword of a defeated
soldier.'" http://t.uani.com/1pprHUf
Opinion
& Analysis
NYPost
Editorial: "Iran
last week marked Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel by shooting
off two missiles, each kindly inscribed with the message, 'Israel must
be wiped off the Earth,' in Hebrew. The best part? Tehran says that
under its nuclear 'understanding' with President Obama, it's no longer
banned from testing of missiles capable of carrying nukes - like those
shot off to 'honor' Biden. Yet the tests still violate UN resolutions -
and there's a strong bipartisan push in Congress to impose new
sanctions on Iran over the launches. Word also broke last week that the
nuke deal actually means the public learns less on Iran's nuke program
from the International Atomic Energy Agency. IAEA chief Yukiya Amano
says the agency can't even publicly report any potential violations by
Iran. The agency's latest report 'provides insufficient details on
important verification and monitoring issues,' notes the IAEA's recent
No. 2. If Iran, for example, isn't lowering its stockpile of enriched
uranium, the public has no way to find out. Don't expect Team Obama to
disclose any violations, either: Keeping the deal alive is vital to the
president's legacy. Which is also why Obama will likely veto any
sanctions over Iran's missile launches: He's committed to keep on
giving." http://t.uani.com/1pjebRn
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Eye on Iran is a periodic news summary from United Against
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