Latest news with #IranWire
Gulf Insider
5 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Trump Tells Mideast Nations To Join Abraham Accords
President Donald Trump on Thursday once again issued a call for Middle East countries to join his Abraham Accords, on the basis that this will ensure peace now that Iran's 'nuclear arsenal' had been 'obliterated'. 'Now that the nuclear arsenal being 'created' by Iran has been totally OBLITERATED, it is very important to me that all Middle Eastern Countries join the Abraham Accords,' Trump wrote in a social media post. So far, the four Muslim-majority countries of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco, with Sudan have signed on – normalizing relations with Israel – which was the result of efforts during Trump's first term. Washington has long pushed for Saudi Arabia to join, and there's been talk of post-Assad Syria joining too – but all of this has been deeply complicated by the Gaza war. As for whether Iran's nuclear program has in fact been 'obliterated' – this remains very much an open question, after much speculation that the bulk of the Islamic Republic's enriched uranium had already been moved well before US strikes hit three nuclear facilities at the end of the 12-day war launched by Israel in June. Fresh Thursday statements from Iran's chief negotiator suggest Tehran is slamming the door on jump-starting nuclear talks with the United States: Senior Iranian official Abbas Araghchi issued a stark message regarding the future of nuclear negotiations with Washington, telling the media that Tehran had no intention of returning to talks with the U.S. under pressure. 'Whether dialogue and negotiations take place in the near or distant future depends on what our national interests require,' Araghchi said, according to the U.K.-based outlet IranWire. Araghchi said Iran was imposing 'new conditions' for its relationship with the IAEA, which must now obtain approval from the Supreme National Security Council, an entity closely tied to the supreme leader and the military-security establishment, Iranian media reported. There are obvious reasons why Iranian leaders would see such renewed dialogue as futile and condemned to failure. It had already been engaging in several rounds of talks with US negotiators at the very moment it was attacked by Israel, which President Trump reportedly greenlighted. Yet so far the Trump-backed ceasefire which brought the June war to an end has held. Despite a spate of deaths among nuclear scientists and top military officials, Iranian officials have indicated the country's nuclear program has only been set back by months – and that it has plenty more nuclear scientists to rely on. 'Buildings can be rebuilt. Machines can be replaced, because the technology is there. We have plenty of scientists and technicians who used to work in our facilities,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explained in a recent interview with the Financial Times . Iran has long maintained its program is only for peace nuclear energy purposes. Also read: Toyota Q1 Net Profit Plunges 37% After Trump Tariff Hit
France 24
24-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
How Iran is using the war with Israel to ramp up repression by arresting ‘spies'
The day after Israel launched its 'Rising Lion' operation launching a first wave of missiles at Iran, 16 people were arrested by Tehran's regime for 'spreading rumours' on social media, opposition media Iran Wire reported. Since then, such announcements have become a daily occurrence. At least 223 people have been arrested since the start of the conflict between Israel and Iran according media reports collated by The NGO Iran Rights Watch. It expects the real figure is significantly higher. Norwegian NGO the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights puts the total number of arrests at 530, with detentions occurring in 27 of Iran's 30 provinces. The Revolutionary Guards said Tuesday that a European who entered Iran as a tourist was accused of spying on "sensitive and military" sites and arrested in the country's southern Hormozgan province. Throughout Iran, observers have reported a massive deployment of security services – namely members of the Basij paramilitary volunteer branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – carrying out arrests, often for vague reasons such as causing fires or acting suspiciously in proximity to military bases. The common denominator among the accused is the claim that they have links to Mossad, the Israeli intelligence organisation responsible for covert activity overseas. As the Iranian regime pursues 'spies' it claims have helped Israel with renewed vigour, those who have been arrested face swift and harsh sentencing. Since Israeli strikes began, Iran has executed three prisoners on spying charges. On Monday Mohammad Amin Mahdavi-Shayesteh, who had been in prison since 2023, was hung at dawn for "intelligence cooperation' with Israel, Iran Wire reported. Two other prisoners, Majid Mosayebi and Ismail Fakri, were executed on similar accusations the previous week. The head of Iran's judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, on Saturday called for cases of 'collaborators' with Israel to be expedited so they could face sentencing 'as soon as possible'. 'If the treacherous actions of these defendants are proven, they will immediately face severe punishment, and there will be no leniency or appeasement in this matter,' he said. Israeli infiltration Iran's suspicions of espionage are not unfounded. Prior to launching 'Rising Lion', Israeli agents infiltrated the upper echelons of Iran's leadership. The massive strikes launched on June 13 that killed several of Iran's military leaders and nuclear scientists were the result of years of intelligence work. As well as smuggling weapons into Iran, Israel also ' identified and tracked the movements of the key scientists and military officials who were assassinated', the New York Times reported, citing security sources. In the months prior to the attack, Israeli agents set up a clandestine military base in Iran where drones were stockpiled, a senior Israeli security source told Israeli media outlet Haaretz. Iranians working for Israel were enlisted to build the base, with 'Iranians opposed to the regime mak[ing] for a ready recruiting pool' for Mossad, a former Israeli intelligence official said to The Atlantic Israel's overseas intelligence service had previously demonstrated its ability to act on Iranian soil with the assassination in Tehran of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, in July 2024. The cumulation of these successful Israeli intelligence operations is a 'certain paranoia among the Iranian authorities,' said Jonathan Piron, a historian specialising in Iran for the Etopia research centre in Brussels. A crackdown Prior to the war with Israel, Iran regularly announced the arrest and execution of suspected agents allegedly working for overseas intelligence services, often Israeli. Now in the midst of conflict, 'the regime plays off this paranoia and is using the current situation to crackdown on anyone it qualifies as an opponent in the name of defending the country', Piron said. As well as arrests in the street, authorities are expanding a crackdown on the internet. Some 206 people have been arrested for suspicious online activity or content published online, according to the NGO, Hrana. Iran's ministry for communications has explained regular internet backouts since the start of the conflict as a measure to block Israeli cyberattacks, but they are also a tool of repression, preventing the population from sharing information. Pion said it is 'impossible to verify' whether the regime's sweeping arrests in the past two weeks are based on 'concrete' suspicions of espionage or not. But NGOs that monitor Iran have been sounding the alarm. Iran Human Rights warned on Thursday of the potential for 'an intensification of repression and executions in the coming days'. 'Official calls for expediated trials and executions of those arrested for alleged collaboration with Israel show how the Iranian authorities weaponize the death penalty to assert control and instil fear among the people of Iran,' Amnesty International 's Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Hussein Baoumi said on June 20. 'The authorities must ensure all those detained are protected from enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment, and afforded fair trials at all times, including during armed conflict,' he added. Iran is the country that carries out the second most executions in the world after China, according to the two NGOs. In 2024, at least 975 people were executed in Iran – a record high since monitoring began in 2008. Fear of resistance Despite talks of Israeli strikes weakening Iran's regime or even destroying it altogether, an internal wave of resistance against Iran's leadership does not seem to be on the horizon, for now. 'Since the start of the strikes, demonstrations against the regime have stopped completely,' Piron said. There have been public statements from high-profile opposition figures such as Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, calling for greater openness from the government, and 'some student movements that are very critical of the government have tried to mobilise protests, but they haven't taken off', he added. 'Iranians are still against the regime but, for the moment, they are focused on security,' Piron said. While resistance is at a low ebb, Iran's leaders are seizing their moment to maintain the status quo. 'There is a certain fear for the regime – that knows it is weakened – of seeing protests emerge at some point,' Piron said. 'Their show of force should nip any protests movements in the bud.'
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Tom's Guide
Demand for VPNs in Iran increases by 700% as internet restrictions hit the country
VPN usage in Iran has soared following the country's imposition of internet restrictions. Demand for the best VPNs began to increase on Friday, June 13, as missile strikes from Israel hit the country. IranWire reported that the Communications Ministry approved the "temporary restrictions," and Iran's prosecutor general supposedly threatened social media users with legal action for posting disruptive content. Iran has a long history of internet censorship and VPNs are largely banned in the country. Monitoring by recorded VPN demand peaking at 707% over the baseline, compared to the daily average over the previous 28 days. Usage rose to 425% on June 13, when restrictions were first implemented, and then 530% the next day. It hit 707% on June 15 and then dropped slightly to 623% on June 16. This is the latest available data but restrictions are still ongoing and expects this figure to rise. says it analyzes a country's daily VPN search volume. It compares this to the average daily search volume for the previous days and weeks to identify spikes in demand. A tweet by NetBlocks on June 18 said that Iran was "in the midst of a near-total national internet blackout." This came after partial disruptions throughout the week. ⚠️ Confirmed: Live network data show #Iran is now in the midst of a near-total national internet blackout; the incident follows a series of earlier partial disruptions and comes amid escalating military tensions with Israel after days of back-and-forth missile strikes 📉 18, 2025 Authorities have cited Israel's use of the internet for military purposes as the reason for the shutdown. The actions of Iran's government will continue to impact Iranians at a time when access to the internet, communications, and information is crucial. Many Iranians are now turning to VPNs to access the internet, despite the tools being banned in the country. A Reddit user reported that on the night of June 18, Iran restricted all foreign internet sites. Only government and Iranian sites were reportedly able to be accessed. Simon Migliano, Head of Research at commented on the ongoing restrictions in Iran. "Amid this period of intense turmoil, the Iranian government's choice to tighten internet controls only deepens the hardship its citizens are already facing," he said. "Cutting off access to vital digital lifelines, while people are worried about their homes, their safety, and their families, is not just repressive, it's profoundly inhumane." "It's entirely understandable that we're seeing such a massive surge in demand for VPNs inside Iran, as much as eight times above average." "For Iranians, unrestricted access to information is essential right now." We're seeing such a massive surge in demand for VPNs inside Iran "Whether it's communicating with loved ones, following rapidly-evolving events, or seeking help, tools like messaging apps, international news outlets, and social media are more than just conveniences, they're necessities." "So while the Iranian authorities may well succeed in blocking significant volumes of VPN traffic, they won't be able to block it all." "They may be forced to constantly rotate through multiple VPNs, but the most determined citizens will be able to bypass the restrictions and get online." Internet censorship in Iran isn't a new phenomenon, with the country having a long history of online blocking. Surfshark monitors internet restrictions through its Internet Shutdown Tracker. It has recorded at least 57 cases of past internet disruption in Iran, with an average duration of 284 days. Social media has been disrupted at least 7 times in the past, at an average of 2,307 days – Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, and Telegram are all currently being restricted according to Surfshark's tracker. Despite their ban, and Iran having some of the world's strictest VPN laws, a December 2024 survey found that 80% of Iranians use a VPN. Approximately 49% said they used free VPNs and 30% used a paid VPN service. For effective firewall and censorship bypassing, we'd recommend one of the best Iran VPNs. But not every Iranian will be able to access a paid VPN service. If this is the case, then the best free VPNs will be a lifeline. They don't have as many features as premium services, but they will protect your data with the highest levels of encryption and ensure you can access a free and open internet. Proton VPN Free is one of those VPNs, and Proton VPN is dedicated to fighting internet repression. It has a host of anti-censorship features and users can even access Proton VPN Free without creating an account. Many leading VPNs also offer free emergency VPNs to those in need – such as journalists, activists, or those living under authoritarian governments. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Trump urges all of Tehran to evacuate ‘immediately' in new social media post
According to a translation by IranWire, on-air reporter Sahar Emami said the studio was filling with dust just moments after the blast. (IRIB News via Storyful)
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Saudi government frees Iranian cleric Gholamreza Ghasemian after being arrested for ‘obscene concerts' remarks
Iranian cleric Gholamreza Ghasemian (Image credit: X/InfoSudLiban) Iranian cleric Gholamreza Ghasemian, who was arrested for his controversial 'obscene concerts' remarks, was freed by the Saudi government on Thursday, ISNA reported. Saudi authorities arrested Ghasemian on Monday while he was performing rituals of the hajj in Mecca after a video went viral. In a veiled attack on the Saudi government, Ghasemian, dressed in a white pilgrimage robe, had accused them of turning the Qibla -– the direction Muslims face in prayer -– into "a place for gambling houses, centres of debauchery, and obscene concerts".His comments referred to the social changes made in recent years by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto leader. ISNA confirmed that Gholamreza Ghasemian is currently on his way back to Iran, following efforts by Iranian officials to secure his release. 'Obscene...': Iranian Cleric's Viral Video 'Insult' Rocks Saudi; Tehran Hajj Visas Halted I Details Earlier, reacting to the arrest, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, on Tuesday evening, said on X, "Iran in no uncertain terms condemns any attempt to harm Muslim unity, particularly in the spiritual atmosphere of the hajj." "We are determined to not allow anyone to sabotage relations with our brotherly neighbours, including the progressive path of Iran and Saudi Arabia", Araghchi added. Expressing his personal opinions, Iranian judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir described the cleric's arrest as "unjustified and unlawful". The controversy has strained ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. According to the Iran Wire, Riyadh has now suspended Hajj visas issuance for Iranians. Riyadh's move has affected Iranian pilgrims participating in this year's Hajj.
