Sanctions are not keeping aid from reaching Iranian earthquake victims

Sanctions dont hurt the people, the regimes negligence does

- The devastating earthquake that struck the western regions of Iran last week has triggered a nationwide crisis, leaving hundreds dead and thousands wounded.
But while the victims are still reeling in aftermath of the disaster, apologists of the Tehran regime abroad, who have no regard for their plight, are trying to take advantage of the situation to further their political ends. No more than a couple of days following the earthquake, Trita Parsi, the president of National Iranian American Council (NIAC), a well-known lobby for the Iranian regime, took to the media to claim U.S. sanctions are hindering donations and humanitarian aid from reaching the affected people.
'President Trump has not shown any human side that would extend itself to a country and the people like Iran,' Parsi said in an interview with Al Jazeera. 'If sanctions are really hindering emergency aid after an earthquake, I think that really shows the problematic aspect of the sanctions.”
What’s missing in Parsi’s arguments, which he has repeated in similar interviews with other outlets, is how the Iranian regime has already made a debacle of the disaster relief and is preventing aid that already exists in the country from reaching the victims.
According to reports by state-run media, the disaster has left more than 500 people dead and 8,000 wounded. One Iranian member of parliament from the Kermanshah, the province that was hit hardest by the earthquake, estimated the casualties to be well above 1,000. The Iranian regime’s response, not nearly as efficient as its speed and efficacy in cracking down on social protests, leaves a lot to desire. The same MP said that only 10 percent of the struck regions have received minimal help.
Since the signing of the nuclear accord in 2015, the Iranian regime has received an infusion of cash and economic incentives. But none of it has trickled down to the Iranian people, and it has been mostly spent on fueling the regime’s intervention in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Therefore, when disasters such as last week’s earthquake strike, the people are left on their own.
Images and video obtained from the affected regions show victims of the quake left to spend the night in the freezing cold without tents and blankets. In a video posted on Facebook, a father whose 16-year-old son was crushed under the rubble of their home accuses the government of sending aid to neighboring Arab countries but neglecting the needs of its own people. Social media networks are filled with similar videos and posts that express outrage at the regime for abandoning the people in times of need.
The Revolutionary Guards, the notorious military body that takes orders from Iran’s supreme leader, were dispatched to the struck areas ostensibly to help in relief efforts. But their effective mission was to prevent protests against the regime’s poor handling of the situation.
According to reports obtained by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, people from around Iran have rushed to help the victims. But government forces are preventing the arrival of public aid to affectd areas, and are taking possession of individual donations and goods under the excuse that it should be distributed through state-controlled institutions.
Meanwhile, according to NCRI , state security forces and those same institutions have stolen a considerable amount of these donations. “If the regime did not steal people's aid and did not obstruct their distribution, the earthquake problem would be solved,” a statement by the NCRI reads.
On the second day after the earthquake, the regime officially declared the rescue operation had ended, declared the situation as normal, and advised people to return to their homes and avoid gatherings and congestions. Meanwhile, the Iranian people continue to search the ruins of their homes for the missing, sometimes with nothing more than their bare hands.
Of course, none of this matters to Parsi and his ilk, whose sole purpose is to justify the crimes of the Iranian regime. In this regard, they are shamelessly trying to use the people’s suffering as an excuse to push for the lifting of pressure from a regime whose only role was exacerbating an already bad situation.

Amir Basiri (@amir_bas) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog. He is an Iranian human rights activist.

Sanctions are not keeping aid from reaching Iranian earthquake victims

Sanctions dont hurt the people, the regimes negligence does

Domestic unrest is Iran regime’s worst nightmare

Protesters in Tehran demand justice against regime-affiliated institutions

Rising protests, demonstrations and the regime's executions point to

 regime's worst nightmare

UK Blasting News, 19 November 2017 - Reports are piling up about the Iranian regime's destructive meddling in the region. Lebanon's prime minister has resigned, citing growing Iranian influence through Hezbollah. Bahrain said #iran terrorism was behind an explosion at a major oil pipeline on Friday. And US officials say that a ballistic missile fired by pro-Iran militias in Yemen toward the Saudi capital bore 'Iranian markings.' So dangerous were the regime's regional adventures that France suggested on Monday that new sanctions could be imposed on Iran over its ballistic missile program.

Growing domestic unrest

Iran depends on its regional meddling as a show of force, intimidating neighbors and warning global leaders to back off.

But events at home tell a very different story. Growing domestic unrest has plagued the regime and reveals to the international community the biggest chink in Iran’s armor.

That chink was on display on October 29th, as the regime launched a massive crackdown to prevent a planned gathering marking International Cyrus Day, in memory of the ancient Persian emperor known to be the author of the world's first human rights charter. His choice by the people was not accidental, and Tehran officials got the message. Reports indicate the government deployed more than 6,000 Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Basij and Intelligence Ministry agents to prevent the gathering from getting out of control.

Further #Domestic unrest surfaced in the growing number of protests by ordinary investors who discovered their life savings in state-run institutions had been plundered.

The Iranian regime has usurped billions from ordinary people’s investments to fuel its wars across the region. After 38 years, this has left the Iranian people in dire straits. Rampant corruption and pervasive mismanagement add to the problem, leaving little hope for any improvement in economic or social conditions.

Poverty and executions

“The middle-class in Iran has been all but extinguished,” a report by Iran Human Rights Monitor indicates, adding that a majority of Iran’s 80-million populace currently lives in poverty. City walls are filled with hand-scrawled advertisements by people willing to sell various body parts, such as kidneys for $2,000, to survive.

Protests are mushrooming in cities across the country, responded to by the regime with arrests and other harsh measures. The per capita rate of executions in Iran is the world’s highest. Self-described “moderate” president Hassan Rouhani is known to have carried out over 3,100 executions during his tenure. Tehran’s human rights violations include issuing long prison terms for dissent, torture, public hangings and even mass executions.

Yet, political prisoners are bravely challenging this system.

The theocracy is also widely known for its practice of repressing ethnic and religious minorities, involving persecution, discrimination, and cultural and economic marginalization.

Iran cannot but resort to such measures, knowing it lacks all social support. When Rouhani’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that all Iranians are supporters of the murderous Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (after Washington imposed sanctions on the IRGC), thousands of Iranian citizens reacted angrily in social media, rejecting Zarif's abhorrent claim.

End of policy of engagement

Developments across the globe in the past year or so have given Iranians hope that the times are changing. For eight years, the ruling regime fed off the engagement policy adopted by the Obama administration, which turned a blind eye to the domestic crackdowns and foreign meddling. To their dismay, President Obama turned his back on Iran’s people during the 2009 uprisings, in contrast to the expressions of support and solidarity they have received from the current administration under #president Trump. This is a welcome change.

On three different opportunities, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has voiced the Iranian people’s desire for freedom.“There are strong feelings and values inside of Iran that we want to promote in terms of one day the Iranian people being able to retake control of their government,” he said during his recent trip to India.

In the United Nations General Assembly and in his October 13th Iran policy speech, President Trump sent a message of unity, describing Iran’s population as the primary victims of the regime’s atrocities. “We stand in total solidarity with the Iranian regime’s longest-suffering victims: its own people. The citizens of Iran have paid a heavy price for the violence and extremism of their leaders. The Iranian people long to -- and they just are longing, to reclaim their country’s proud history, its culture, its civilization, its cooperation with its neighbors,” the President said.

That longing is being expressed on a daily basis, as the Iranian people give voice to their discontent and anger in protests, demonstrations, and messages of dissent on banned social media platforms. It is time for the international community to stand up and stand with them. That is the regime's worst nightmare.

Ali Safavi is a member of Iran's Parliament in Exile, National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). A sociologist by career, Safavi studied and taught at UCLA, California State University Los Angeles and the University of Michigan from 1972 until 1981. An activist during the anti-Shah student movement in the 1970s in the US, Safavi has been involved in Iranian affairs since then and has lectured and written extensively on issues related to Iran, Iraq, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and the Middle East.

Iran Dominates Third Committee Discussions on Human Rights

Justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners in Iran

October 26, 2017 - ASMA JAHANGIR, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, said the report she was presenting was her first since assuming the mandate and covered the first six months of 2017.  She expressed concern over the rate of executions, with at least four juvenile offenders executed since the beginning of the year, and 86 more known to be on death row.  Reports of torture were also deeply concerning, as were those of harassment, intimidation and prosecution of human rights defenders.
She continued to receive reports of violations against the freedom of expression, with numerous journalists describing harassment and intimidation by State agents.  There was an emerging pattern of arbitrary deprivation of liberty of dual nationals, she said, noting that her report detailed individual cases.  She noted that “vehement” reactions to social media campaigns protesting mandatory dress codes, among other factors, indicated that much work remained to realize those commitments.  She also voiced concern about the situation of ethnic and religious minorities, as she had received reports of their arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and prosecution.  Her report contained recommendations to reform the judicial system, and she suggested that killings committed in 1998 be addressed.  Her mandate’s ongoing dialogue with Iran required an enabling political environment, at both national and global levels.
The representative of the United States expressed concern over Iran’s denial of a country visit to the Special Rapporteur, condemning Iran for imprisoning peaceful activists and unjustly detaining foreign nationals.
The representative of Saudi Arabia said Iran was suffering from inadequate policies and supporting terrorist practices around the world.  Iran also was denying massacres from 1987 and called on the international community to investigate those incidents. “All problems” in the Middle East stemmed from Iran.
The representative of Papua New Guinea, referring to sources used by the Special Rapporteur in her report, asked about their credibility and the criteria used in selecting them.  He also asked about the reasons for Iran’s lack of response to the Special Rapporteur’s communications and about other approaches being used to engage with Iran.
The representative of the United Kingdom supported calls to freeze use of the death penalty in Iran and expressed concern over the treatment of religious minorities in that country.  She asked what efforts were being taken to implement Iran’s Charter on Citizens’ Rights.
The representative of Ireland, associating himself with the European Union , expressed concern over the alarming rate of executions in Iran and called for a moratorium on the practice.  He also expressed concern over lack of progress in the promotion of women’s rights.
The representative of Norway expressed concern over executions in Iran, particularly those of juveniles, and asked if there were signs of changes regarding the practice.
The representative of Germany, associating himself with the European Union, acknowledged Iran’s efforts to host refugees, but expressed concern over executions and urged the lifting of all death sentences issued to minors.  He asked what engagement the Special Rapporteur was pursuing with Iran.
The representative of Canada, expressing concern over the execution of minors and mistreatment of minority groups, expressed hope Iran would engage with the international community.
The representative of Switzerland, noting violations to human rights in Iran, including corporal punishment, asked how the criminal code concerning minors was being amended.
The representative of the European Union referred to the alarming rate of executions in Iran, requesting information on drug legislation that would not use the death penalty.
Ms. JAHANGIR, responding, said meetings and dialogues with representatives of Iran had paved the way for a mutual understanding of the situation.  She expressed concern about the flaunting of the rule of law, saying Iran should invite her to visit.  In the critical areas of due process and the lack of judicial independence, even a visit by a thematic Special Rapporteur would be able to bring out the concerns she felt.  She had received information from Iranians living inside and outside the country, which was then checked, and if it could not be verified, it was omitted from the report, she said.
Women’s rights were a concern because the Charter for Citizens’ Rights said certain rights ought to be respected, she said.  Thus, the laws and policies discriminating against women must be struck down.  The Charter was comprehensive, and if enforced, could alleviate the miseries people felt from violations of their rights.  As far as the juvenile death penalty was concerned, she cited a case involving two juveniles, due to be executed, and the Government’s positive role in helping the aggrieved families find forgiveness.  She expressed concern about violations of the freedom of expression and acts of intimidation.

Are Iranian people aligned with US national interests?

President Donald Trump

Al Arabiya, 18 October 2017 - Following a week of political roller coaster, doubts and strategic calculations, the US foreign policy team unveiled its new policy on Iran and measures to address the catastrophic nuclear deal, better known as the JCPOA.

During a 20-minute speech on 13 October, President Trump laid out the major points of this new policy, which include the decertification of the JCPOA and designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pursuant to the global terrorism Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.

Aside from decertifying the nuclear deal, the announcement of President Trump marks a major policy change that effectively ends the two-decades long failed policy of appeasement against Iranian regime and its malignant role in four corners of the world.

In 1997, in order to satisfy Tehran’s ruling theocracy, the then President Clinton designated Iran’s main opposition group, the PMOI/MEK as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This decision helped regime to spread its hegemony and terrorism around the Middle East and the world under the pretext of “Dialogue between Civilizations”.

“ The regime has consistently prolonged its grip on power by capitalizing on international conflicts, especially disagreements between Western democracies and its allies ”

Hamid Bahrami

Now, the US policy has shifted to cut the regime’s tentacles and protect the US, its allies and their interests in the region. Immediately after President Trump’s speech, the EU expressed its concern over the US abandoning the JCPOA.

On the other hand, Israel and Saudi Arabia welcomed the new policy toward Tehran. The Iranian society and community abroad for their parts looked for the reactions on the announcement, first from the regime itself and second from the main Iranian opposition movement, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

A few hours after President Trump’s speech, the Iranian citizens witnessed the so-called moderate President Hassan Rouhani’s twitchy eyes while he read his statement which was full of deceptive lies and obvious contradictions. 

End of the appeasement era

Although, expressing support for the NCRI is punishable by death in Iran as the regime cracks down on popular dissent, a majority of Iranian social media users shared the statement by NCRI’s President-elect Maryam Rajavi as she welcomed “the end of the appeasement era.”

Indeed, the Iranian people always welcome any increased pressure on the Iranian regime and specifically its brutal paramilitary force, the IRGC, which plays a key role in suppression of civil society. Furthermore, the IRGC is the main force behind the crippling economic corruption, which have sparked thousands of popular anti-regime protests around the country during the last few months.

The designation of IRGC as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) will not only affect the regime’s vital arteries but also break the ubiquitous repression and atmosphere of fear in Iran.

To uproot the cancer that is the IRGC, the US should concentrate its efforts inside Iran. Nearly all of Iran’s financial systems are in IRGC’s hands, which it utilizes to fund and arm terrorist groups, with the full knowledge of the Rouhani government that earlier this year decided to increase its budget.

Hence, all companies and countries that trade with any section of the regime are practically risking to fund and engage with the IRGC. 

Anti-regime protests

Today, there is a significant growth of anti-regime protests across Iran, most of them related to economic and civic demands. Considering that the Iranian people are just weighing opportunities to overthrow the entire regime, it will be helpful if the US highlights human rights issues and recognizes the Iranian Resistance movement, the NCRI.

Following these actions, the IRGC will get stuck in a domestic crisis and consequently expelling it from the region will be less expensive. The theocracy in Tehran will try to bypass sanctions and strengthen its capabilities by exploiting the lack of a coherent Iran strategy between the US and the EU. 

Indeed, the regime has consistently prolonged its grip on power by capitalizing on international conflicts, especially disagreements between Western democracies and its allies.

In this regard, one must ask the EU countries and European leaders why they are so eager to appease a corrupt regime in Tehran that has no future and that only survives by persecuting its own people and spreading terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism.

What is obvious, both the US and the Iranian people’s national interests are aligned and the EU should know that dictators will not last forever.

___________________________

Hamid Bahrami is a former political prisoner from Iran. Living in Glasgow, Scotland, he is a human rights and political activist, and works as a freelance journalist. Bahrami has contributed to Al Arabiya English, American Thinker, Euractive, Newsblaze and Eureporter as his work cover’s Iran’s Middle East actions and domestic social crackdown.

Trump and Macron discuss how to deny Iran all paths to nuclear weapon

They discussed ways to continue working together to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon

Oct. 6, 2017- According to a White House statement US President Donald Trump spoke with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 .

 The statement said ' The two leaders discussed joint counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region of Africa to defeat al-Qa'ida and other terrorist groups.  They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.  They also discussed ways to continue working together to deny Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon.

Iran: protest rally of members of Tehran Telecommunication Corp. TTC

Protest rally of the TTC employees

A group of employees of the telecommunication corporation in Tehran who paid a down payment some 16 years ago to receive an apartment, staged a protest rally on Friday Sept. 29th in front of the company in Tehran to show their anger and say that this long wait has to come to an end.