Category: Iran

Overview. Drone and air attacks by Israel signal an escalation – albeit still within bounds – against Iranian defence and critical economic infrastructure. Iranian action against Israeli-owned shipping underlines its disruptive capacity too. Calibrated conciliatory action by the Supreme Leader further bled the protest movement of more momentum this month, while the IAEA reported a…

Overview. The regime has responded to on-going protests (now in their fifth month) with more lethal force in the outlying provinces and with a series of death sentences and executions of young people accused of being involved in protest activity. This seems to have cooled all but the most fervent demonstrators’ enthusiasms for now.…… Read…

Overview. Deadly protests continue into a fourth month but have yet to lead to concessions by the regime or produce alternative political leaders. Iran feels further international isolation as China and Iran’s regional rivals cosy up to one another and Iran is kicked out of a UN Commission for its response to protesters’ calls for…

Overview. Nationwide protests continued beyond the 40-day mark resulting in the predictably violent crackdown, but also in obvious decision-making paralysis at the top of the regime on how to respond. The protests’ broad social, economic, and geographical bases mark this series of unrest as distinct from the last two bouts of serious political violence.…… Read…

Overview. Internet and phone services were cut by the government in an effort to contain violent national protests that left dozens dead. The trigger was the death of a young woman following a period of police custody after an arrest for not wearing her headscarf correctly. This latest period of unrest chips away further at…

Overview. The EU presented the US and Iranian sides with Josep Borrell’s final proposal for a renewed JCPOA. Both sides have submitted comments and we await next steps. It seems likely that we’re not there yet. JCPOA. Iran received a US response to the EU-proposed ‘final’ text on 24th August following Iran submitting initial comments…