Iran’s Impasse and the “Sanctions Black Hole”

The current plan for sanctions against Iran leaves the regime between a proverbial rock and hard place, since its choices are comply or die.

“Section 5 of this bill is related to new sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). This new bill is dubbed the ‘sanctions black hole’ considering the fact that based on Executive Order 13224, any individual providing services to an identified organization in this Executive Order, that individual or his/her entity will be placed on the US sanctions list or the SDN… with the adoption and implementation of this bill, we can forecast that a few thousand individuals will be placed in the SDN sanctions list…,” according to IRGC-affiliated semi-official Fars news agency.Iran is engulfed in domestic crises and escalating popular dissent. Any measure even slightly provoking Iran’s already powder keg society and sending people into the streets is considered a red line.

During the past few months, supporters of the Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) have increased their activities in cities across the country. They are seen putting up images of Maryam Rajavi, President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the mother coalition of the PMOI/MEK, in public places and writing slogans on walls expressing their support for Rajavi’s 10-point plan.

Iranian opposition (PMOI/MEK) supporters are also busy spreading the word about the upcoming NCRI convention in Paris scheduled for July 1st. Millions of Iranians are awaiting this year’s event.

In Discussing Middle East Policy, US Should Acknowledge the Goal of Regime Change

In Discussing Middle East Policy, US Should Acknowledge the Goal of Regime Change

The election of Donald Trump last year set the stage for major changes in U.S. foreign policy and particularly American policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran. It was clear on the campaign trail that Trump’s views on Iran could hardly be more different than those of his predecessor, Barack Obama. Almost six months into his first term the administration is now well positioned to lay the foundation for a lasting Middle East legacy by boldly embracing the goal of regime change in Tehran.This sentiment will be on display in Paris on July 1 when the leading coalition of Iranian opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), holds its annual Iran Freedom rally. Previously, such events have attracted upwards of 100,000 people, including hundreds of political dignitaries and foreign policy experts from the U.S., Europe, and throughout the world. The event will also be broadcast to millions of residents of the Islamic Republic who maintain household satellite dishes in defiance of the regime’s strict censorship laws.

Iran: Flogging 20 People in Qazvin Under the Excuse of Breaking Fasting

Iran: Flogging 20 People in Qazvin Under the Excuse of Breaking Fasting

Arrests under the excuse of breaking fasting continues in various cities of the country. According to state-run media the number of arrestees in Fars province and in the cities of Qazvin and Urmia amounted to 730. This includes the arrest of 590 people in Fars province under the excuse of breaking fasting and breaking norms, detention of 90 people in Qazvin, and the arrest of 50 in Urimia.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, reiterated in the "Interfaith Solidarity Against Extremism" conference on June 3rd, " The spirit of Islam abhors all forms of compulsion, coercion and forcible prohibition, ranging from imposing the compulsory veil to the forced observance of fasting and prayers by flogging and terror, to preventing the construction of Sunni mosques, and especially to imposing the rule of a government under the name of God and Islam.