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US Republican Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Sanction Iranian Terrorist Proxies

By
Mostafa Aslani
-
US Republican Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Sanction Iranian Terrorist Proxies
US Republican Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Sanction Iranian Terrorist Proxies

A coalition of 60 Republican House lawmakers has filed legislation that would impose sanctions on 11 Iranian terrorist proxy groups operating across the Middle East. The bill, obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, was filed on Monday by Rep. Greg Steube (R., Fla.) and his GOP colleagues.

Targeting Iranian Proxies

The legislation targets several of the most dangerous Iranian allies, requiring the Biden administration to formally classify them as designated terror organizations. Currently, Iranian-controlled groups operating in Iraq, Yemen, and Syria are not formally classified as foreign terrorist organizations, allowing them to carry out Tehran’s agenda while moving money and weapons across the region.

Combating Terrorism

“Iran has long utilized proxy forces to execute their terror agenda throughout the region. Iranian proxy forces have American blood on their hands dating back decades,” Steube said. The bill aims to combat this threat, with the Republican Study Committee (RSC), Congress’s largest GOP caucus, already indicating its support.

Enforcing Sanctions

As part of the bill, Secretary of State Antony Blinken would have to apply sanctions on Iran’s terror proxies, including those that aid the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in attacking American outposts. The State Department would also have to report to Congress on its efforts to enforce these sanctions and alert lawmakers if it detects any additional Iranian proxy groups that meet the requirements for a terror designation.

Bipartisan Consideration

The legislation is likely to attract interest from Senate Republicans and could be considered by the upper chamber as lawmakers from both parties consider their response to Tehran’s recent strike on Israel. “As we have seen with the unprecedented attacks on Israel this weekend, there’s no real difference between Iran and its puppet militias,” said Rep. Kevin Hern (R., Okla.), the RSC’s chairman.

Baluch People Deprived of Wealth in Iran

By
Mostafa Aslani
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Baluch People Deprived of Wealth in Iran
Baluch People Deprived of Wealth in Iran

The Iranian regime is keeping the Baluch people of the country in poverty and deprivation. A report from a local Telegram channel in Sistan and Baluchistan province reveals this bitter truth.

The report states: “The Kahnuj titanium mine is a symbol of the wealth hidden in Kerman, from which the poor people are gaining nothing.”

According to local media, “The Kahnuj titanium mine is one of the largest titanium mines in the world, with proven reserves of 150 million tons.”

However, this news has not been officially published by the regime’s state-run media. Many profit-generating stories are often suppressed by this regime.

Untapped Potential of Kahnuj Titanium Mine

The Kahnuj titanium mine and factory, with 150 million tons of proven reserves, will resume operations in the next two months after a 25-year hiatus.

The project administration has announced 94% progress. They stated that once operational, the mine will produce 70,000 tons of slag and 50,000 tons of pigment.

This titanium mine, located in the Baloch areas of Rudbar Zamin (south of Kerman), has immense potential for economic prosperity and job creation in the deprived region.

The ore reserves are estimated at 42 million tons, with 2.2 million tons of ilmenite. Experts estimate the total alluvial and ore reserves at 600 million tons.

Locals Demand Control of Local Resources

Many residents of Kahnuj protest against the mines not being handed over to them. The deprived and oppressed people argue that the mines in this region and Sistan and Baluchistan province should be operated by the local population to create jobs, rather than being given to non-indigenous companies.

This issue has led to public dissatisfaction, and the locals demand the right to exploit and create employment from these mines.

Untapped Economic Potential of Southern Kerman

In recent years, attention has been paid to southern Kerman, but the depth of deprivation is such that solving these problems requires years of effort and investment.

Economic experts believe that southern Kerman province is a unique treasure trove of various economic potentials that have remained untapped.

If the mines in these areas are activated and local forces are empowered, the future of southern Kerman can be much brighter than most parts of the country.

The extensive copper, chrome, magnesium, and chromite mines in the region can become an important economic foundation, not only for Kerman province but for the entire country.

The Kahnuj titanium mine is undoubtedly one of Iran’s most significant mineral reserves. Titanium products are highly valuable in global markets, with prices reaching up to $25,000 per unit in some cases.

Disturbing Executions in Iran Demand Global Condemnation

By
Mostafa Aslani
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Disturbing Executions in Iran Demand Global Condemnation
Disturbing Executions in Iran Demand Global Condemnation

Iran’s regime has carried out a horrifying wave of executions in recent days, including the brutal killing of a young woman who was just 16 years old at the time of her arrest. These heinous acts demand immediate global condemnation and action to halt the unjust executions.

Executions of Minors and Innocents

On April 11th, the regime’s henchmen executed 19-year-old Marjan Hajizadeh and her husband Esmail Hassaniani in Zanjan Central Prison. Marjan was only 16 when initially arrested, making her execution a grave violation of international laws prohibiting the death penalty for minors. Their executions cruelly coincided with Eid al-Fitr celebrations.

In a separate tragic incident on April 13th, 20-year-old Mehrdad Abdollahzadeh from Sardasht was killed by regime officials while working as a kolbari (cross-border porter) near the Beitush border heights. He fell to his death after being shot at by the criminal authorities.

Recent Wave of Executions

Over the past two weeks, the Iranian regime has executed at least six other prisoners across various prisons:

  • April 14: Arsalan Hashemi in Hamedan Central Prison
  • April 13: Abuzar Salem in Isfahan Central Prison
  • April 7: Alireza Marzban in Shiraz Central Prison
  • April 5: Hassan Ali Mirza Nia in Khorramabad Central Prison
  • March 25: Abbas Aghaei in Tabriz Central Prison

Additionally, five prisoners in Qezelhessar Prison in Karaj were recently transferred to solitary confinement, likely facing imminent execution.

Global Action Needed

The Iranian Resistance strongly condemns these brutal executions and calls on the United Nations, relevant human rights organizations, the European Union, and member countries to take immediate action. Concrete steps must be taken to save the lives of prisoners on death row and establish an international investigation into the dire human rights situation in Iranian prisons.

The world cannot stand idly by as the Iranian regime perpetrates such egregious violations of human rights and human dignity. Global pressure and accountability measures are urgently needed to halt these disturbing atrocities.

Dire Consequences of Appeasement: Why the World Must Change Course on Iran

By
Pejman Amiri
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if the international community remains passive, we will witness further devastation and atrocities at the hands of the Iranian regime.
if the international community remains passive, we will witness further devastation and atrocities at the hands of the Iranian regime.

Perhaps throughout centuries past, there has been no conflict where adversaries coordinated their attacks with such precision in timing and method. What implications does such a strategy, employed by the attacking force or government, carry?

What does such an approach reveal about the attacking side? Does it signify political and strategic acumen or desperation and deadlock?

More than two weeks after Israel’s strike on the Iranian regime’s consulate in Syria, viewed as a significant blow to the regime’s warmongering machinery, the desperate regime attempted to boost the morale of its constituents with a flurry of activity.

This culminated in a missile assault on Israel, involving at least 331 missiles and drones. In doing so, the regime compounded its series of errors since October 7th. This attack underscored the escalating weaknesses within the regime’s military infrastructure.

Undoubtedly, the repercussions of this blunder, along with past warmongering and support of terrorism, will recoil upon the regime itself. The regime’s folly in launching drones and missiles serves as a harbinger of the return of warmongering repercussions to its doorstep.

From the onset of this conflict, it became evident that contrary to claims by the regime’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and other officials of non-involvement, the impetus for war, aimed at quelling uprisings and revolutions in Iran, emanates from the ruling mullahs.

This attack yielded no military gains for the regime. Instead, it exacerbated its isolation and garnered international condemnation, ultimately holding the regime accountable for its warmongering and terrorist backing.

Social media and virtual platforms have become arenas for exposing the regime’s atrocities, echoing the collective desire to overthrow it. Even state-controlled media outlets have begun scrutinizing their leaders.

The repetition of Khamenei’s misguided policies marks a pivotal step toward the regime’s collapse and overthrow. At such junctures, dictators become ensnared in a cascade of folly, forfeiting the ability to envision the future or devise strategies.

The acceleration of this decline often coincides with the clamor of revolution, rendering it impossible for the regime to rectify its mistakes or regain the trust and support of the populace. Over the past decade, it has become apparent that the Iranian people are resolute in their quest for another revolution.

Two recent manifestations of Khamenei’s folly are the retention of the notorious Kazem Seddiqi, a thief and forger, as the Friday prayers leader of Tehran, which even met with resistance from the regime’s supporters.

We must not overlook the significance of Friday prayers as a pillar of the regime’s security, politics, society, religion, warmongering, repression, and demagoguery. Additionally, the dispatch of repressive and corrupt police units to suppress and intimidate women under the pretext of enforcing the regime’s draconian dress code rules underscores the regime’s profound political and social impasse, particularly following the 2022 uprising and the abysmal failure of the last March elections.

Now, more than ever, the international community, especially world powers, must not repeat past mistakes in dealing with this regime.

A retrospective examination, particularly since 2001, illustrates the dire consequences of appeasement policies pursued by world powers vis-à-vis this regime, impacting the daily lives of Middle Eastern populations.

A glaring example that emboldened the regime and its proxies in the Middle East to persist and expand their destructive endeavors was the feeble and even humiliating response of the international community and world powers to Bashar Assad’s Ghouta chemical attack, undoubtedly sanctioned by the regime in Tehran (Syria crisis: ‘chemical weapons use a big mistake, Hizbollah told Iran’). This event catalyzed a chain of catastrophes in the region.

The conclusion is clear: if the international community remains passive, we will witness further devastation and atrocities at the hands of the Iranian regime.

Tragic Suicides Highlight Plight of Iranian Medical Staff

By
Mahmoud Hakam
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Tragic Suicides Highlight Plight of Iranian Medical Staff
Tragic Suicides Highlight Plight of Iranian Medical Staff

Over the past week, another Iranian nurse tragically ended his life; he was 32 years old and from Kermanshah. In the first week of April, a cardiologist also committed suicide.

These two heartbreaking incidents have further exacerbated the alarming issue of suicides among medical personnel. Work-related stress and mental pressures on healthcare staff are considered the primary reasons behind these tragic acts.

Precarious Employment Conditions

Despite a severe shortage of nurses in hospitals, they are often offered only 89-day short-term work contracts. This type of contract deprives nurses of many rights and subsequent claims in case of unemployment, leading to their being referred to as ‘seasonal workers.’

Calls for Action Unheeded

Despite warnings from the Scientific Association of Psychiatrists of Iran to the Ministry of Health about the serious mental condition of medical staff, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising number of suicides, no specific action has been taken to rectify and improve the situation.

News about the migration or suicides of healthcare workers has become a priority in media reports. The exact number of nurse suicides is not officially known, but the figures are alarming.

Recent Tragic Cases

On April 9, the suicide of Sasan, a 32-year-old nurse at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Kermanshah, made headlines.

He worked in the poisoning department, which ironically deals with suicide cases, and died in the same department. Reports indicate that after his contract was not renewed, he ended his life due to mental distress.

In August of the previous year, a male nurse committed suicide by ingesting aluminum phosphide tablets at the same hospital, and two days later, a female nurse died in another hospital in Kermanshah.

Alarming Statistics and Calls for Change

Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, Secretary General of the Nursing House, described the number of deaths of young nurses in the current Iranian year as high, but did not provide specific statistics.

He believes that the atmosphere is oppressive for nurses, and all officials are responsible for creating such an environment.

Fariborz Dartaj, the head of the Educational Psychology Association of Iran, described the situation of nurses as particularly stressful due to the nature of their job.

Citing research conducted in 2021 among nurses in Malayer city, he stated: “15.38 percent of nurses had moderate to severe depression, and 46.47% had moderate to severe anxiety. 27.56% had suicidal thoughts, and 9.94% were ready to commit suicide.”

Since the publication of these alarming results, no report has been published about correcting and improving the situation of nurses.

Staffing Shortages and Overwork

According to the World Bank, there are only two active nurses in Iran for every thousand people, based on data from the World Health Organization and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) global health workforce statistics, with the latest information about Iran dating back to 2018.

The working hours of nurses are supposed to be 44 hours per week or 175 hours per month, but due to staffing shortages in most centers, nurses often have to work 300 to 400 hours.

The overtime pay for these nurses in public hospitals is calculated at a mere 20,000 tomans (approximately $0.50) per hour.

Iranian nurses are protesting about the lack of manpower, job insecurity, and low salaries that disrupt the balance of their lives.

Exodus of Nurses and Inaction

Last November, the general secretary of the nursing house announced, “Patients are dying because of the lack of nurses. More than three thousand nurses migrate from the country every year, but the Ministry of Health does not even add this number to the medical staff.”

In the summer of 2023, the head of the nursing system organization stated: “With 20 to 30 thousand unemployed nurses in the country, we are facing a shortage of more than 100 thousand nurses.”

The tragic suicides, alarming statistics, and desperate calls for action highlight the dire need for immediate and comprehensive measures to address the plight of medical staff, particularly nurses, in Iran.

Iranian Workers Protest Low Wage Increase

By
Pejman Amiri
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Iranian Workers Protest Low Wage Increase
Iranian Workers Protest Low Wage Increase

A labor activist, quoted by Iran’s state-run news agency ILNA, criticized the dire conditions faced by the country’s workers. “The situation is grim,” they said. “Workers and their representatives are deeply dissatisfied with the Labor Minister’s performance and demand his impeachment.”

“Not only have worker problems not been addressed, but decisions made in the past two years have actually worsened their situation,” they continued. “Mr. Minister! Workers can no longer afford basic necessities, and the proposed 35% wage increase will only make things worse.”

Saeed Fatahi, head of the East Azarbaijan Workers’ Trade Unions, spoke to ILNA about his opposition to the 2024 wage resolution. “The Iranian Rial has collapsed, with the exchange rate exceeding 60 million tomans per US dollar. Despite promises to control inflation, employer and government representatives have only offered a meager 35% minimum wage increase,” he explained. “They completely disregarded even the official inflation rate announced by the central bank in February.”

“These representatives didn’t even agree to a raise based on last year’s inflation. How can workers survive with the current inflation and sudden price hikes?” Fatahi questioned. “Workers’ wages lose value every year. This year, we see another suppression of their income. By ignoring Article 41 of the Labor Law, inflation, and currency devaluation, we’re witnessing a further decline in purchasing power.”

“We keep hearing promises that this price bubble will burst, but nobody explains when the currency will stabilize,” Fatahi continued. “This, coupled with the minimal wage increase, has only amplified worker anxieties about the new year.”

He concluded by directly addressing the Minister: “Do you still claim worker wages cause inflation? Mr. Minister! Workers can barely survive, and a 35% raise will only worsen their situation.”

Dissatisfaction and Demands for Change

Currently, Iranian workers are deeply dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the livelihood crisis. Protests have even demanded the Labor Minister’s removal. However, some believe such actions won’t solve the underlying problems. The Minister, they argue, has not only failed to address existing issues but has actively worsened worker conditions through unfavorable policies.

Fatahi elaborated, “With this ongoing situation, workers may soon be unable to afford their children’s education. Their salaries fall far below the poverty line. Yet, the income tax exemption limit remains a meager 12 million tomans. This forces workers earning below the poverty line to pay taxes.”

Unequal Taxation and Corruption

Workers are burdened with taxes, while many wealthy regime officials and individuals involved in large-scale corruption cases enjoy tax exemptions. In essence, workers’ paychecks are taxed even before they receive them.

Vulnerability Under Oppression

Iranian workers, already one of the most disadvantaged groups under the current regime, face an increasingly precarious existence.

Lack of Medical Resources in Iran’s Health System

By
Mahmoud Hakam
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Lack of Medical Resources in Iran's Health System
Lack of Medical Resources in Iran's Health System

The lack of equipment, specialized doctors, and improper distribution of medical and specialist facilities continue to plague Iran’s health system.

Despite adding about 50,000 hospital beds in the last decade, the number of beds per thousand people is less than 2.

While the global average is 3.1 hospital beds per thousand people, this number is much higher in high-income countries like Japan and South Korea, with 10 beds per thousand people.

Insufficient Hospital Bed Capacity

According to government reports, between 2013 and 2020, around 56,000 hospital beds were added to the country’s treatment capacity.

However, this was not enough to overcome the shortcomings, and hospitals are still witnessing an influx of patients from cities to provincial centers.

Most hospitals in major provincial centers like Tehran and Mashhad are overwhelmed, with families waiting outside to find a bed for their loved ones.

Lack of Equipment and Specialists

Part of this challenge is related to the lack of equipment and specialists in city hospitals. Surprisingly, some reports indicate the opening of new hospitals unable to provide services due to a lack of facilities.

Ali Jafarian, the former president of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, stated, “Check how active the hospitals opened in the last two years are. For the first time in history, Tehran University of Medical Sciences announced that every nurse who applied would be hired directly, but even that resulted in very little hiring of nurses.

“Currently, in one of the mega-hospitals opened in Tehran, there is a department that has residents and attendants, but no nurses, and the department has been closed. We have an operating room and medical staff, but there are no nurses, a situation that exists in many hospitals in the country, and it is not possible to provide services.”

Declining Hospital Bed Ratio

According to the World Health Organization, the number of hospital beds in Iran in 2000 was 5.1 per thousand people. By 2006, this figure reached 7.1, but in the next two years, it decreased to 3.1.

And according to the deputy minister of health in September 2016, this per capita was 1.5 beds per thousand people. It means that the country’s per capita hospital bed situation has experienced difficult conditions and no progress from 2000 to 2016.

Current Hospital Bed Ratio

At the same time, while the regime claims to have added hospital beds until the end of 2020, the current Deputy Minister of Health, Saeed Karimi, stated, “We now have about 160,000 hospital beds, and we have a population of 85 million. If we divide these two numbers, it will be 1.88 or 1.89 per 1,000 people.”

Shortage of Hospital Beds

Different numbers have been raised about the lack of hospital beds and the number of worn-out beds. However, various news reports and quotes suggest a shortage of 60,000 to 100,000 hospital beds.

Additionally, as the Deputy Health Minister told ILNA last year, “We have 155,000 worn-out hospital beds in the country.”

Brain Drain and Medical Crisis

All these deficiencies and embarrassing statistics are compounded by Iran’s catastrophic brain drain and the exodus of nurses and doctors from the country, definitely adding to the country’s medical crisis.

According to the regime’s media in the healthcare field, the country is losing its dignified position in the region and the world.

Comparison with Other Countries

A review of the situation in other countries confirms that Iran’s position is not dignified. According to the Ministry of Health, there are about 3 beds per thousand people in the countries of the region. This figure is 5 in Europe and 10 beds per 1,000 people in countries like South Korea and Japan.

Future Plans and Concerns

The regime’s Ministry of Health believes that by the end of the 7th Development Plan (March 2029), this per capita should be increased from the current figure of 1.88 to 2.5 beds per thousand people. However, this is definitely insignificant and will not compensate for the deficiencies.

Standing Against the Iranian Regime’s Targeted Attacks on Women

By
Pejman Amiri
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Standing Against the Iranian Regime's Targeted Attacks on Women
Standing Against the Iranian Regime's Targeted Attacks on Women

As anticipated, following the conclusion of the elections in Iran, mandated by the regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, a fresh wave of repression against women has commenced. During his Eid al-Fitr address on Wednesday, April 10, Khamenei sternly cautioned government agents against any leniency in upholding religious norms, issuing a clear directive: “The officials, the populace, and the leaders of the Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil headquarters must fulfill their duties in this regard.”

From these directives, it becomes evident that women are the primary targets in this new phase of repression.

Just one day after Khamenei’s proclamation, Ahmadreza Radan, commander of the regime’s police force, issued a menacing statement threatening Iranian women. Radan stated, “Starting Saturday, April 13, individuals caught removing their hijabs will be identified using advanced technology. Offenders removing hijab in public venues will initially receive warnings and subsequently be brought before the courts. Vehicles where women remove their hijab will receive an initial warning, with impoundment on the second offense. Businesses whose employees violate hijab regulations will receive a warning followed by closure.”

Following Radan’s announcement, the East and West Police Commands of Tehran province declared that “the hijab and modesty enforcement plan will be rigorously implemented in all thoroughfares and public spaces starting Saturday, April 13.” Police commands across various provinces, including Bushehr, Kermanshah, and Semnan, issued similar threats to the populace, particularly targeting women, through official announcements.

It is essential to recognize that according to both human rights laws and religious doctrines, the choice of wearing the hijab is a deeply personal matter. No individual or authority possesses the right to impose specific attire on women. The decision to cover oneself is a fundamental individual right, and any attempt by religious authorities to enforce such dress codes upon women constitutes a blatant violation of human rights.

Henceforth, as this new wave of repression commences, it is imperative for all Iranians to stand in solidarity against Khamenei’s oppressive edicts. Standing with women against the regime’s oppressive measures is both a civic responsibility and a testament to commitment to justice and equality.

The protests in 2021 underscored the pivotal role of women as the forefront of uprising and protest movements. The regime’s concerted efforts to suppress them are a cornerstone of its wider strategy aimed at stifling the resistance of the Iranian people.

Rising Food Prices in Iran

By
Jazeh Miller
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Rising Food Prices in Iran
Rising Food Prices in Iran

Reza Kangari, head of the Bankers’ Union of Tehran province, states that since the end of the Nowruz holiday, the price of all kinds of food items in Iran has increased by an average of 30%, with the price of beans rising by 50% in particular.

Due to the increase in the dollar’s value over the last month and the possibility of continued currency price hikes due to political and military tensions, the cost of all consumer goods in Tehran’s market has become nearly 20% more expensive within just 72 hours.

According to Kangari, “Every year, as we move forward, a number of costs automatically increase and affect production. In the last two weeks, we’ve had a 30% increase in food item prices, which is due to rising labor costs, insurance, taxes, etc. A number of companies have applied this 30% increase.

“The existing inflation is unfair, and everyone charges whatever price they want. For example, we’ve seen a 50% increase in the price of beans, where there is a currency issue, and importers did not distribute properly.”

He added, “Iranian rice has also increased in price recently because they have placed a series of restrictions on importing foreign rice. If you want to import, you must buy one kilo of Iranian rice for every two kilos of imports. For instance, rice worth 40,000 tomans has reached 60,000 tomans, and the wholesale price of Hashemi rice is now around 120,000 tomans.”

Inflation Impacting Iranian Provinces

The Iran Statistics Center’s report from March also showed that the monthly inflation rate for food items increased in 30 provinces of Iran.

This is despite the fact that in the current situation, with increasing political and military tensions between the regime and Israel, it seems that from Saturday onwards and the end of the Eid al-Fitr holiday in Iran, we are likely to see an increase in the price of various currencies and then other consumer items and vital goods.

Trade Deficit and Currency Devaluation

Hossein Selahvarzi, a businessman living in Iran and the former head of the Chamber of Commerce, announced on the X social network that the trade balance deficit in 2023 reached more than $16 billion, which means that Ebrahim Raisi’s government broke a record after 13 years, previously held by Ahmadinejad’s government in 2013.

However, none of the regime’s officials, since last Tuesday when Iran’s national currency began to decline again, have reacted to this situation.

It seems that currently, they do not have a plan or ability to deal with the successive political and military crises, which are further weakening Iran’s already fragile economy.

Meanwhile, Yaser Jebraili, the head of the Center for Strategic Evaluation and Monitoring of the Expediency Council, revealed that government officials also believe the dollar price in Iran will soon reach 100,000 tomans.

He said, “What is cause for concern is that Raisi’s government does not intend to change course and officially talks about 100,000 tomans per dollar.”

Increasing Poverty in Iranian Society

Due to the non-increase in salaries of Iranian workers and employees in accordance with the official inflation rate and the increasing price of all consumer goods in Iran, it indicates that poverty will become more widespread among Iranian society in 2024.

Argentinian Court Declares Iran a “Terrorist State” for 1992 and 1994 Attacks

By
Mostafa Aslani
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Argentinian Court Declares Iran a
Argentinian Court Declares Iran a "Terrorist State" for 1992 and 1994 Attacks

Decades-Old Attacks Blamed on Iran and Hezbollah

Over three decades after deadly attacks in Buenos Aires targeted Israel’s embassy and a Jewish center, an Argentine court has placed the blame on Iran and declared it a “terrorist state,” according to local media reports.

The ruling states that Iran had ordered the 1992 attack on Israel’s embassy, which left 29 dead, as well as the 1994 attack on the Argentina Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish center, the deadliest in Argentina’s history, leaving 85 dead and 300 injured.

The court also implicated the Iran-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah in carrying out the AMIA attack, calling it a “crime against humanity.”

“Hezbollah carried out an operation that responded to a political, ideological and revolutionary design under the mandate of a government, of a State,” said Carlos Mahiques, one of the three judges who issued the decision, referencing Iran.

Decades of Investigations and Accusations

The 1994 AMIA attack has never been claimed or solved, but Argentina and Israel have long suspected Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah group carried it out at Iran’s request.

Prosecutors have charged top Iranian officials with ordering the attack, but Tehran has denied any involvement.

The judges ruled that then-president Ali Akbar Hashemi Bahramaie Rafsanjani as well as other Iranian officials and Hezbollah members were responsible for the AMIA attack.

The decision was welcomed by the president of the Delegation of Israelite Associations of Argentine (DAIA), Jorge Knoblovits, who said it “enables the victims to go to the International Criminal Court.”

Ongoing Investigations and Prosecutions

Former Argentine president Carlos Menem, who was in office at the time of both attacks, was tried for covering up the AMIA bombing, but ultimately acquitted.

However, his former intelligence chief Hugo Anzorreguy was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for his role in obstructing the probe.

Several other defendants, including the former judge who led the investigation into the attack, Juan Jose Galeano, have also faced corruption and obstruction of justice charges related to the case.

Iran’s Drone Program Targeted by US Export Blacklist

By
Mostafa Aslani
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Iran's Drone Program Targeted by US Export Blacklist
Iran's Drone Program Targeted by US Export Blacklist

The US Commerce Department added several entities to its Entity List, restricting their ability to import US goods and technology. Suspicions have arisen that these entities are offering technical assistance to the Iranian regime’s drone program. Among them are:

  • Shenzhen Jiasibo Technology Co. (China): This company is accused of being part of a network procuring drone components for an Iranian aircraft company. These components are believed to be used in Iran’s Shahed-series drones, which have been involved in attacks on oil tankers and used by Russia in Ukraine.
  • Two UAE-based entities (Khalaj Trading LLC and Mahdi Khalaj Amirhosseini): These are suspected of violating US sanctions on Iran by attempting to export US goods to Iran.

The US action highlights concerns about Iran’s drone program and its use by other actors. The restrictions aim to limit Iran’s ability to develop and acquire drone technology. Previously, the EU and US have imposed the following sanctions on Iran’s drone program:

EU Sanctions

In July 2023, the EU established a new framework for restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This new regime prohibits the export from the European Union to Iran of components used in the construction and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It also provides for travel restrictions and asset freeze measures that could be imposed against persons responsible for, supporting or involved in Iran’s UAV program. 

On December 11, 2023, the EU Council imposed sanctions against 6 persons and 5 entities involved in Iran’s development and production of UAVs used in Russia’s war against Ukraine. This was the first set of listings under the new EU framework targeting Iran’s military support to Russia.

US Sanctions

On February 2, 2024, the United States sanctioned a network that supplied materials and technology for Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs. The Treasury Department designated four front companies based in Hong Kong and one based in Iran that were operating as covert procurement entities for Iran’s military organizations, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 

The US sanctions aimed to disrupt the illicit procurement networks supplying Iran’s drone and missile programs, which have been used to target US personnel and assets in the region, as well as contribute to Russia’s war against Ukraine

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Urges U.S. to Deny Entry to Iran’s Foreign Minister Amidst Human Rights Concerns

By
Mostafa Aslani
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United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Urges U.S. to Deny Entry to Iran’s Foreign Minister Amidst Human Rights Concerns
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Urges U.S. to Deny Entry to Iran’s Foreign Minister Amidst Human Rights Concerns
On April 10, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace called on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deny a visa for Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, a senior member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and his delegation ahead of their anticipated visit to New York next week.
Amir-Abdollahian is expected to attend a United Nations meeting on the Israel-Hamas conflict on April 18, 2024. However, recent revelations of his involvement in planning the October 7 attack on Israel and the IRGC’s training of Hamas terrorists have raised concerns.
April 18 also marks the 41st anniversary of the Iran-backed Hezbollah bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983, which killed 63 people, including 52 Lebanese and American Embassy employees, and injured 120.
It was a precursor to another Hezbollah bombing that same year, claiming 241 American lives. Given the IRGC’s role in fostering Hezbollah terrorism in the 1980s, Amir-Abdollahian’s presence would disrespect the victims of the attack and their families.
In a letter to Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Wallace highlighted Amir-Abdollahian’s threatening and inflammatory remarks during his previous visits to the United States.
He argued that granting visas to Iranian officials with ties to the regime’s terrorism and oppression contradicts U.S. principles and values.
Amnesty International recently revealed that Iran’s regime executed 853 people in 2023, the highest number recorded since 2015.
Wallace criticized the U.S. State Department’s “overly generous policy” of granting visas to Iranian officials complicit in human rights abuses.
UANI’s call to impose visa restrictions aligns with recent demands from both Democratic and Republican Members of Congress.
As a symbol of respect for the victims of IRGC and Hezbollah terrorism, Ambassador Wallace urged Secretary Blinken to rescind Amir-Abdollahian’s visa and deny him entry to the U.S.
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