Latest news with #US-Iran
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran frees teen held for reciting Kurdish poetry, father still detained
Also in Iran Iran expands crackdown on alleged spies, collaborators with Israel, US Trump says scheduled new nuclear talks with Iran Pezeshkian accuses Israel of assasination attempt, 'destroying' US-Iran diplomacy Iran arrests 900 since start of Israel war: watchdog A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian intelligence forces have released 14-year-old Kezhal Salehi three days after she was detained for reciting Kurdish poetry, a watchdog said on Thursday. Her father remains in custody. 'Kezhal Salehi, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl from the village of Naveh in Bojnurd, North Khorasan Province, was temporarily released after three days in detention,' stated the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization. The girl's father, Araz Salehi, remains in detention. He was arrested on Tuesday. 'Security forces raided her parents' home in an attempt to arrest her. When they failed to locate her, they detained her father instead. A few hours later, Kezhal was arrested at a separate location,' Hengaw said. Kezhal was arrested after reciting Kurdish poems in praise of Kurdistan at several cultural events. Her performances drew widespread support and went viral on social media among the Kurdish population in Iran. According to information received by Hengaw, on the evening of Tuesday, July 15, 2025, forces from the Intelligence Department in Bojnurd, North Khorasan province, raided the home of 14-year-old Kazhal Salehi with the intention of arresting her. Hengaw has learned that Kazhal… — Hengaw Organization for Human Rights (@Hengaw_English) July 15, 2025 Intelligence forces confiscated all mobile phones and electronic devices during a search of the family's home and ordered all family members to report for interrogation, according to Hengaw. Iran's constitution recognizes Persian as the official language but allows for the use of 'regional and tribal languages' in the press and mass media, and for teaching the literature of those languages in schools. Kurdish teachers and activists have long campaigned for the implementation of this right, but many continue to be arrested for their efforts to promote and teach the Kurdish language. Since Israel's attack on Iran last month and their 12-day war, Iranian authorities have arrested more than 318 Kurds, in addition to many others across the country, according to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
Rudaw Net
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iran expands crackdown on alleged spies, collaborators with Israel, US
Also in Iran Trump says scheduled new nuclear talks with Iran Pezeshkian accuses Israel of assasination attempt, 'destroying' US-Iran diplomacy Iran arrests 900 since start of Israel war: watchdog Surge in Iran's deportation of Afghans sparks 'scapegoating' fears after Israel conflict A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's judiciary chief on Monday ordered expedited handling of espionage cases involving alleged collaboration with Israel and the United States, following a legislative move by Iran's parliament to expand the definition of espionage and increase penalties - up to and including execution. Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, head of Iran's judiciary, directed authorities to resolve cases 'linked to the aggressive Zionist regime' with maximum speed, precision, and legal rigor. 'Part of the deterrence in this matter lies in the speed of action,' Ejei said, according to the judiciary-run Mizan news agency. Iran's chief justice further urged officials and state media to foster national unity, warning that 'the enemy seriously pursues psychological warfare against the Iranian people' and accusing Israel of spreading disinformation through 'rumor-mongers, liars, and satanic individuals' in order to fracture societal cohesion. Ejei's remarks came one day after Iran's parliament passed amendments to its espionage laws, dramatically expanding the definition of hostile acts and stipulating capital punishment for a broad array of offenses involving cooperation with countries defined as enemies - including Israel and the United States. According to the state-run IRNA news agency, the revised law punishes 'any operational action' against Iran's security or national interests - including espionage or intelligence work for Israel, the US, or affiliated groups - with 'execution and property confiscation.' It further notes that "any security, military, economic, financial, technological action, or any direct or indirect assistance that leads to the strengthening, consolidation, or legitimization of the Zionist regime shall be punishable by execution and confiscation of property' as well. Additionally, revised bill broadens death penalty criteria to include "manufacturing... or using firearms, cold weapons, or unconventional weapons" and "any cyber warfare" carried out "to cooperate with the Zionist regime or hostile governments or groups." The amendments tighten control over information sharing, stating that "sending films, images, or information to hostile media or foreign networks... if contrary to national security" will result in fifth-degree discretionary imprisonment - typically involves a prison term of 2 to 5 years - and permanent dismissal from public service. Furthermore, unauthorized satellite internet tools, such as Starlink, are now explicitly banned. The legislative and judicial crackdown comes weeks after tensions between Israel and Iran escalated on June 13, when Israeli airstrikes in Iran killed senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel. The conflict widened on June 22 when the United States struck three key Iranian nuclear sites. Tehran retaliated by launching a missile strike on a US base in Qatar. A ceasefire, brokered by Washington, took effect on June 24 and appears to be holding. Importantly, between June 13 and July 5, amid the Israel-Iran conflict, Iranian authorities arrested at least 900 people for alleged espionage and propaganda, according to the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization. Authorities have also carried out multiple executions of individuals accused of spying for Israel and released video confessions from several of them. However, human rights groups question the legitimacy of these confessions, citing Iran's long-documented use of coercion, psychological abuse, and torture to extract admissions.
Al-Ahram Weekly
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Iran's uncertain place in the Middle East order - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
For the US and Israel, transforming Iran's regional posture is a critical step towards consolidating a new Middle East order, but it is one fraught by complexities, writes Manal Lotfy There is a sense of cautious optimism surrounding the prospect of renewed dialogue between Iran and the United States, with preparations quietly underway for talks expected to take place next week. These would mark the first formal engagement between the two countries since the conclusion of the recent 12-day war between Iran and Israel, a conflict that also saw US airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities. Subtle yet deliberate signals from both Tehran and Washington suggest that indirect contacts are already in progress, reportedly facilitated by Oman. Diplomatic sources indicate that efforts are focused on arranging a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff next week. US President Donald Trump hinted at this possibility during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. Earlier that same day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed Tehran's willingness to engage in talks with Washington but emphasised that trust has been deeply eroded by the recent US and Israeli attacks. In an interview with conservative political commentator and Trump ally Tucker Carlson, Pezeshkian urged Trump not to be drawn into war by Israel, warning that the region's future hinges on US decisions. He accused Israel of sabotaging previous talks by launching strikes in mid-June that triggered a 12-day air war and killed top Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. Pezeshkian also claimed that Israel had attempted to assassinate him during its military strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, Trump praised the US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities as a 'tremendous success,' asserting that they had permanently set back Tehran's nuclear ambitions. 'That strike marked the beginning of the end,' he said in front of Netanyahu, adding that the US remains open to dialogue as Iran has 'requested a meeting' to negotiate. He emphasised that Tehran's posture has shifted significantly after the strikes. 'They're in a very different position now than they were two weeks ago,' he said. While the exact agenda for the talks remains unspecified, the central issues are expected to be Iran's nuclear programme, its missile development, and its regional activities. Nevertheless, the broader regional context will play a crucial role in shaping the US-Iran dialogue. Trump linked Iran's recalibration to a wider de-escalation across the Middle East, noting that respect for US and Israeli capabilities, has grown. 'Sometimes you need the rough time in order to get results,' he observed. Netanyahu, echoing the sentiment, stressed that security guarantees for Israel remain non-negotiable in any future peace framework. The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has undergone a profound transformation since Hamas' 7 October 2023 military operations against Israel. From the collapse of former president Bashar Al-Assad's regime in Syria and the emergence of a government inclined towards normalisation with Israel, to the blows dealt to Hizbullah in Lebanon, the region's balance of power appears to be shifting. With additional strikes on Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure, the 'axis of resistance' has come under immense pressure. Yet one formidable obstacle remains on the board – Iran. Iran is not merely a regional power. It is the ideological and logistical nucleus of the resistance front opposing the US and Israeli vision for the region. Through its deep influence in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza, Tehran has for decades woven a web of strategic alliances and ideological commitments that have frustrated US efforts to establish a regional order, one that fully integrates Israel regardless of the future of the Palestinians or a just resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. From the US and Israeli perspective, transforming Iran's regional posture is now the final critical step towards consolidating a new Middle East order. But this is no small task. The path forward is fraught with strategic, political, and historical complexities. The Trump administration, like its predecessors, understands that a full-scale military campaign against Iran would be a Pandora's Box. While targeted strikes such as the recent US-Israeli operation against Iranian nuclear sites send a clear message of deterrence, they fall short of dismantling the broader strategic architecture Iran has constructed. Any direct military campaign risks spiralling into a regional war that could destabilise global energy markets, embolden hardliners in Tehran, and potentially push Iran to accelerate its nuclear programme. Washington is also constrained by domestic politics. The American public, still scarred by the legacy of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has little appetite for another open-ended conflict in the Middle East. Israeli leaders, though more aggressive rhetorically, understand the risks of a full confrontation. Their population, vulnerable to missile attacks from the Houthis in Yemen and Iran, may not tolerate a war of attrition with no guaranteed outcome. Thus, the military track remains one of coercive diplomacy, not conquest. The goal is to degrade Iran's capabilities and coerce it into negotiations. The true endgame is diplomatic: to reshape Iran's behaviour and compel it to disengage from its revolutionary ideology. It is within this strategic framework that new rounds of talks between Iran and the US are being considered, potentially in the coming few days. The timing is significant. Iran, reeling from economic sanctions, internal discontent, and now military strikes, faces mounting pressure both domestically and internationally. The Iranians, particularly in urban centres, are exhausted by the economic suffocation of the sanctions and the endless cycle of confrontation. While hardliners dominate many political structures, the reformist movement remains ideologically committed to dialogue and normalisation with the West, believing Iran can preserve its sovereignty while ending its isolation. Crucially, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holds the final say. Historically sceptical of US intentions, his stance on engagement is shaped by both ideological conviction and strategic calculation. While Khamenei authorised the 2015 nuclear deal with the West (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – JCPOA), he remained deeply wary of US promises, seemingly validated by the Trump administration's withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. The recent US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, even if calculated to avoid full escalation, has only deepened this mistrust. Despite criticism from some hardline factions over Pezeshkian's swift declaration of openness to dialogue, Iranian diplomatic sources told Al-Ahram Weekly that he had secured prior approval from Khamenei before making his remarks to Carlson. Pezeshkian, they affirmed, is acting well within the bounds set by the Supreme Leader. 'While the divisions between reformists and conservatives in Iran are often overstated, a deeper consensus prevails – distrust of the US runs deep across the political spectrum, yet the path to negotiations is ultimately seen as unavoidable,' an Iranian reformist source close to the Pezeshkian government told the Weekly. He contended that the divergences among Iran's ruling elite do not stem from fundamental ideological rifts but reflect differing strategic assessments of what best serves Iran's national interests. 'Some within the regime may argue that accommodation with the West is not surrender, but survival. Others insist that any compromise is risky. This internal debate is healthy.' he added. Pezeshkian's reformist allies also argue that diplomacy is pragmatic, given Iran's deepening economic crisis and the rapid, radical transformations reshaping the Middle East. While the president has cautiously framed talks to secure sanctions relief without surrendering core interests, the US and Israel may impose conditions too difficult for Tehran to accept. For Iran to engage seriously in de-escalation talks with Washington, its demands would be significant and wide-ranging. The most immediate priority would be sanctions relief. No Iranian government, whether reformist or hardline, could justify concessions to its public without tangible economic benefits. Beyond economics, Tehran would insist on recognition of its regional influence, seeking formal acknowledgement of its strategic interests in Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon, potentially through guarantees for its allied factions. Iran would also require robust security assurances to prevent future regime-change efforts or military strikes, possibly through UN-backed agreements or regional security frameworks. Central to any negotiations would be Iran's nuclear programme. Tehran would likely push for the restoration or modification of the JCPOA, demanding recognition of its right to peaceful nuclear energy under strict international oversight. Without these concessions – sanctions relief, regional legitimacy, security guarantees, and nuclear programme recognition – Iran has little incentive to pursue lasting de-escalation. Yet, neither side fully trusts the other to uphold its end of any bargain. This is why any forthcoming negotiations will require not only bold diplomacy but also ironclad verification mechanisms, phased implementation, and possibly third-party guarantees from global powers such as the UN, China, and Russia. Thus, whether Iran becomes the final piece on the Middle Eastern chessboard remains uncertain. The strategic conditions increasingly favour a regional order aligned with the US and Israeli vision. But without Iran's acquiescence or at least strategic recalibration, this order cannot be completed. The next round of US-Iranian talks may well represent the first move in a historic endgame. Whether it leads to checkmate or stalemate will depend on whether the players can find common ground on the security and political arrangements that the US and Israel seek, despite believing, prematurely, that they have already removed most obstacles in their path. * A version of this article appears in print in the 10 July, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Mint
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Donald Trump could be hit with drone in navel at Mar-a-Lago, Iran official issues chilling warning
In a chilling televised address, senior Iranian official Javad Larijani warned that US President Donald Trump could be assassinated while relaxing at his Florida estate. 'Trump has done something that he can no longer sunbathe in Mar-a-Lago,' Larijani said on Iranian state television, according to a report by London-based Iran International. 'As he lies there with his stomach to the sun, a small drone might hit him in the navel. It's very simple.' Larijani, a close advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscoring the high-level nature of the threat. Ongoing tensions The assassination threats mark a new phase in the long-simmering US-Iran conflict, fueled by the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani. Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, a top figure in Shia Islamic jurisprudence, issued a statement previously that has been widely interpreted as a fatwa—a religious edict—against Trump. 'Any regime or individual threatening the leaders of the Islamic Ummah and acting on those threats qualifies as a Muharib,' he wrote, according to the Tehran Times. Under Shia Islamic law, a Muharib is someone who spreads terror or disorder—punishable by death. The declaration came in direct response to Trump's verbal attacks on Ayatollah Khamenei, following a deadly 12-day conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States earlier this year. During a speech in June, Trump made the stunning claim that during the conflict, he had the opportunity to assassinate Supreme Leader Khamenei—but chose not to. 'I saved him from a very ugly and ignominious death,' Trump said, adding, 'I knew exactly where he was hiding. I told the Israelis to stand down.' Trump has repeatedly taken credit for authorising strikes that allegedly 'obliterated' Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—though intelligence assessments suggest these attacks caused only temporary disruptions. On April 5, 2025, Kayhan, a newspaper closely aligned with Iran's Supreme Leader, published a column openly advocating for Trump's assassination. 'He's way out of line! Any day now, in revenge for the blood of Martyr Soleimani, a few bullets are going to be fired into that empty skull of his and he'll be drinking from the chalice of a cursed death,' the editorial read, according to a Fox News translation. The threat followed Trump's warning to Iran that 'if they don't make a deal, there will be bombing,' and his proposal to reintroduce secondary tariffs. In November 2024, the US Department of Justice revealed that Iranian agent Farhad Shakeri was charged with plotting to assassinate then President-elect Donald Trump. According to DOJ filings, Shakeri was acting on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Two alleged co-conspirators, Eric Loadholt and James Rivera, were also arrested. The trio allegedly worked on US soil to locate and target Iranian dissidents and high-profile Americans. The DOJ disclosed that on October 7, 2024, Shakeri received direct orders from the IRGC to 'devise a plan targeting President-elect Donald Trump.' He later claimed to federal agents that he had no intention of completing the plan within the IRGC's timeline. The US Secret Service has already thwarted two assassination attempts on Trump in less than a year: On July 14, 2024, Trump was shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, suffering a minor injury to his ear. The assailant was killed by Secret Service agents after firing multiple rounds. On September 16, 2024, Trump was the target again, this time while playing golf in Florida. Agents noticed a gunman with an AK-47-style rifle and opened fire. The suspect escaped briefly but was later apprehended. According to Martin County Sheriff William Snyder, the man showed 'no emotion' when stopped by officers.
Rudaw Net
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Trump says scheduled new nuclear talks with Iran
Also in Iran Pezeshkian accuses Israel of assasination attempt, 'destroying' US-Iran diplomacy Iran arrests 900 since start of Israel war: watchdog Surge in Iran's deportation of Afghans sparks 'scapegoating' fears after Israel conflict Iranian president announces order to end cooperation with IAEA A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump said on Monday that a new round of nuclear talks with Iran has been scheduled and that Tehran wants to 'work something out,' with his special envoy confirming that the talks will take place sometime next week. 'We have scheduled Iran talks. They want to talk. They took a big drubbing,' Trump said while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for dinner at the White House, adding that Iran's nuclear sites, particularly the Fordow plant, were 'obliterated.' Washington on June 24 brokered a ceasefire to the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei later declared victory, claiming that Trump had exaggerated the destruction caused by US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The conflict began on June 13 when Israel carried out surprise strikes on Iran's nuclear and military sites, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated, firing missiles and drones at Israel. The US then got directly involved with a military operation that targeted Iran's main nuclear sites, including Fordow, which houses the country's most advanced centrifuges. Israel's attack came two days before Tehran and Washington were set to meet for a sixth round of indirect nuclear talks in Oman, negotiated between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. 'They want to meet, they want to work something out. They are very different now than they were two weeks ago,' Trump said. 'I think they have gained a lot of respect for us. I think they have gained a lot of respect for Israel also.' At the dinner table in the White House, Witkoff said that talks will resume 'in the next week or so.' Trump also said that he would be willing to relieve Iran of crippling sanctions 'at the right time.' 'We have biting sanctions, they are very biting sanctions, and I would love to, at the right time, take those sanctions off, give them a chance at rebuilding, because I'd like to see Iran build itself back up in a peaceful manner and not going around saying 'death to America … death to Israel' as they have been doing,' he said. 'They were the bully of the Middle East, and now they are not the bully anymore,' the US president asserted. On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of attempting to assassinate him and derailing nuclear talks with Washington. 'They did try, yes, and they acted accordingly, but they failed,' he told American conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. 'We were going to have the next round of the talks [on June 15], but suddenly, Israel torpedoed the negotiating table,' Pezeshkian added, accusing Israel of 'destroying diplomacy.' Under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - Iran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions. But the deal began unraveling in 2018 when Washington, under Trump's first term, unilaterally withdrew from the accord and reimposed biting sanctions on the Islamic republic, which in turn began rolling back on its nuclear commitments. Pezeshkian dismissed accusations that Iran seeks nuclear weapons. 'The truth is that we have never been after developing a nuclear bomb. Not in the past, not presently, or in the future.'
