TOP STORIES
US Held Secret Talks With Iran Over Red Sea Attacks | Financial Times
The US has held secret talks with Iran this year in a bid to convince Tehran to use its influence over Yemen’s Houthi movement to end attacks on ships in the Red Sea, according to US and Iranian officials. The indirect negotiations, during which Washington also raised concerns about Iran’s expanding nuclear programme, took place in Oman in January and were the first between the foes in 10 months, the officials said. The US delegation was led by the White House’s Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and its Iran envoy Abram Paley. Iranian deputy foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani, who is also Tehran’s top nuclear negotiator, represented the Islamic republic. Omani officials shuttled between the Iranian and American representatives so they did not speak directly, the officials said. The talks underline how the Biden administration is using diplomatic channels with its foe, alongside military deterrents, in a bid to de-escalate a wave of regional hostilities involving Iranian-backed militant groups that was triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.
The Biden administration on Wednesday reapproved a sanctions waiver that unlocks upwards of $10 billion in frozen funds for the Iranian government, according to a copy of the notice submitted to Congress late Wednesday and reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon. The sanctions waiver—which has drawn fierce GOP opposition on Capitol Hill—allows Iraq to transfer electricity payments to Iran via third-party countries. The sanctions waiver was last approved by the Biden administration in November and set to expire this month, putting the White House in a tight position as a mounting chorus of GOP lawmakers express concern about sanctions being bypassed. The authority granted in the latest waivers allows Iraq to convert dinars into Euros and transfer payments into Iranian banks accounts in Oman.
US Urges Panama To Remove Flag From Rogue Iranian Ships | Voice Of America
A U.S. special envoy on Wednesday urged Panama to stop Iranian ships from flying its flag, which allows Tehran to evade sanctions imposed by Washington. The small Central American nation is the world leader in offering flags of convenience, which allow shipping companies to register their vessels in countries to which they have no link — for a fee and freedom from oversight. "Iran and actors related to Iran are trying to evade sanctions here in Panama. They're trying to abuse Panama's flag registry," said Abram Paley, U.S. deputy special envoy for Iran. Paley was visiting the country "to ensure Panama's shipping registry and jurisdiction is not abused by entities attempting to evade our sanctions on Iran." According to the Panama Maritime Authority, the country has registered 8,540 ships, or 16 percent of the global fleet. Washington suspects that Iran uses some of them to transport oil or its derivatives, so that it can bypass sanctions.
NUCLEAR DEAL & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
A week after remarks by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Western powers on the need for “transparent and full” cooperation by Tehran regarding its accelerating nuclear program, Iran sent a letter of protest against what it called “accusations” and “unreliable” information coming from Israel. It has been more than a year since the 35-nation Board of Governors of the IAEA issued a resolution ordering Iran to cooperate with the agency’s years-long investigation into nuclear activities in undisclosed locations. Iran did not fully comply with the agreement to reinstall IAEA cameras in some sites, and in September it denied access to a number of the agency’s senior inspectors. Last week, Western powers refrained from issuing a resolution to condemn Tehran, under the impact of geopolitical developments taking place in the region and the approaching US elections next November, Western diplomats announced. However, the United States last week threatened future action against Iran at the UN agency if Tehran continues to “obstruct” the agency’s work by refusing to cooperate with it and not providing answers regarding activities at undeclared sites.
IAEA's Grossi Discussed Iran's Nuclear Program With Putin – TASS | Jerusalem Post
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi said he had discussed Iran's nuclear program with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on Thursday.
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Iran's Inflation Taking Bite Out Of Traditional Persian New Year Meals | Radio Free Europe
Iranians, already hit hard by declining living standards, are seeing steep price increases for essential goods as the Persian New Year, Norouz, approaches. The New Year, which follows the start of the holy month of Ramadan and heralds the start of spring on March 20, is traditionally a time of celebration. But the surge in prices, according to local media, has forced many to prioritize essential food items over other purchases of new clothes for the New Year celebrations at a time already marred by economic hardship. The Tehran-based Etemad newspaper highlighted the impact of these price hikes on Ramadan, noting that the cost of consumer goods for iftar meals has multiplied compared to the previous year as Iranians continue to endure an annual inflation rate that for the past five years has been above 40 percent while purchasing power has been decimated. The cost of preparing the traditional haft-sin table, a central part of Norouz celebrations, has also skyrocketed, retailers said.
Iran Defense Minister Boasts Of Increasing Arms Exports | Iran International
Iran has increased arms exports four to five times in the past two years, Minister of Defense Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani was quoted as saying by media in Tehran on Wednesday. “Certainly, in the future, these exports will increase even more, considering the innovations being made and the new armaments we are pursuing and unveiling,” Ashtiani was quoted as saying by ILNA news website. A UN Security Council embargo on Iran’s conventional arms trade expired in October 2020, when the United States failed to garner support to extend the restrictions, amid the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran. European allies were not supportive of the administration’s Iran policies, while Russia and China were firmly siding with their ally. Having been under various Western and UN sanctions for 45 years, the Islamic Republic has developed a domestic arms industry, which has achieved relatively low-tech successes, particularly in the realm of missiles and drones.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Khamenei's Failing Hand: Abortion Rates Defy Iran’s Population Policy | Iran International
A notable paradox in population dynamics has emerged recently in Iran. On one front, the government aims to increase the population by two-fold – and as soon as possible. To achieve this, it has severely restricted abortion and contraception, and simultaneously promotes pregnancy and childbearing. But, year after year, individuals are instead opting to have fewer children, standing in opposition to the government's ambitious population policy. In essence, Iranians have effectively countered Khamenei's population policy – and defeated its goals. One of the ways Khamenei’s policy has been thwarted is by Iranian women opting for abortion. Estimating the precise number of abortions in Iran proves challenging. Nonetheless, a senior health expert with the Expediency Council suggests that both legal and illegal abortions total approximately 1.3 million annually, with intentional abortions accounting for around 530,000 cases. Other authorities offer estimates ranging from 250,000 to 650,000 cases per year.
Agent: Iranian Director Farhadi Cleared Of Plagiarism | Voice Of America
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has been cleared of charges of plagiarism over his film "A Hero" brought by one of his students, the agency representing him said on Wednesday. The film about a prisoner in the Iranian city of Shiraz won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021. It was the subject of a copyright infringement claim issued the following year by one of his former students, Azadeh Masihzadeh, who alleged it was based on her documentary "All Winners All Losers." "The verdict in the case of alleged copyright infringement in the film 'A Hero' has been delivered and the work has been completely cleared of these accusations," the agency said in a statement. "Seven experts" appointed by the Iranian courts "unanimously rejected all the plaintiff's claims", said the statement, which was quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
Exclusive: Iran's Ex-Foreign Minister Zarif Criticizes Hardliners And Election Process | Iran Wire
In an exclusive audio file obtained by IranWire, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former foreign minister of the Islamic Republic, reveals what he thinks of the hardliners who have "taken over" Iran in the past few years. Zarif says two former top officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) orchestrated the March 1 elections, and the two main hardliner candidates are "corrupt and liars." Zarif also criticizes the reformists and accuses them of extremism and driving Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei towards the hardliners. He says Hossein Taib, the former head of the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC, and Mohammad Ali Jafari, the former Commander-in-Chief, were "on top of everything" during the recent elections. The US State Department designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) in April 2019.
CONGRESS & IRAN
US Senator Cruz: Iran's Treatment Of Jailed Iranian German Dissident 'Barbaric | Voice Of America
U.S. Republican Senator Ted Cruz has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of an Iranian German dissident sentenced to death in Iran and called his treatment by authorities there “audacious and barbaric.” Cruz spoke with VOA’s Persian Service about the case of Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian German dual citizen and opposition figure accused of masterminding a deadly 2008 bombing of a mosque in Shiraz. His family strongly denies the charges. Cruz said the Biden administration should cancel any engagement with Tehran, and “the international community should demand that Ayatollah immediately release Sharmahd unconditionally." Earlier this year U.S. and Iranian officials concluded a deal in which five Americans who had been imprisoned in Iran were freed in exchange for five Iranians accused of violating U.S. sanctions, and the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue. Speaking to VOA, Cruz criticized the administration for sending “billions of dollars in ramson to Iran.”
GOP Senator Seeks Olympic Ban On Iran | The Hill
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bar Iran from this summer’s Paris Olympics on Wednesday, citing human rights allegations against the country. Blackburn said Iran’s “evil regime” should not be allowed to compete on the world stage. Iran “systematically victimizes its own citizens, particularly women and girls. Violence permeates every aspect of life for Iranian women,” she wrote in a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach. “Athletes are not immune from persecution in Iran. In fact, Iran has only one female Olympic medalist, Kimia Alizadeh,” she continued. “This disparity is not due to a lack of talent. Rather, it is a direct result of the oppression and abuse female athletes in Iran face — the very oppression and abuse that forced Alizadeh to later defect.” The IOC has barred countries from the games before, most recently banning Russia and Belarus from the Paris Olympics in October because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia was previously barred from competition due to an athlete doping scandal.
RUSSIA, SYRIA, ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON & IRAN
Has Iran Given Up On Energy Deals With Russia? | Amwaj Media
The story: The Iranian government has signed a 20B USD accord with four local companies to forge ahead with a key project at the world’s largest gas field. The aim is to enhance the pumping pressure to enable greater extraction from the offshore South Pars field, which is shared with Qatar. The accord has raised eyebrows since enhancing pressure in the gas field is a key component of a 2022 memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Russia’s Gazprom. The coverage: The Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC), a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), signed the agreement with local firms on Mar 10.
CHINA & IRAN
Chinese Entry Into Iranian Construction Market Raises Concerns | Iran International
The head of Iran's parliamentary construction commission has announced that Chinese companies are set to enter the Iranian housing market starting from April, raising fears of a resulting financial crisis. The deal to bring in Chinese companies comes as the Iranian government seeks to gain access to Chinese technologies, but despite potential benefits, concerns arise regarding the substantial debt Chinese construction companies carry, totaling over $390 billion as reported by The New York Times in 2023. The possibility of bankruptcy post-project launch could lead to heavy legal complications for Iran but amid global sanctions, the desire for foreign investment outweighs the potential risks. According to Mohammad-Reza Rezaei Kouchi, “Chinese investment in Iran's construction industry will grant them a share in building projects and unit sales.” However, he added that the cooperation model solely involves investment, with Chinese funds entering the market and no plans for utilizing Chinese labor.
MISCELLANEOUS
Iran's Supreme Leader Returns To Instagram Despite Platform Ban | Iran International
The office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced Tuesday the launch of his new Instagram page following the closure of his previous account on the platform. The office of Khamenei said they “officially expressed their protest to Meta company, and the company has so far refrained from responding to the action." Last month, Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, removed Ali Khamenei's accounts from Instagram and Facebook citing repeated violations of their “Dangerous Organizations & Individuals policy.”