Let's talk Iran - Feb 28, 2021
Iran: Characteristics of Protests in Sistan and Baluchistan
The recent uprising in Sistan and Baluchistan has several characteristics:
These protests showed the Iranian society’s explosive state and how a spark could trigger protests.
Protests rapidly spread across the province.
The uprising received wide social support from the Iranian people, with small businesses going on strike in solidarity with the uprising.
The uprising also showed that despite its hollow power exhibition, the regime’s local oppressive forces are not able to control the situation. Thus, the regime has to send forces from other cities, showing the regime’s force mobilization crisis in facing a nationwide uprising.
In a nutshell, the ongoing protests in Sistan and Baluchistan foretell an inevitable uprising in Iran which will succeed to end the mullahs’ 42 years of oppression. LINK
A look into Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan protests and the underlying reasons
Iran's regime shut down or disrupted internet connections on Wednesday night to quell the Sistan & Baluchestan protests. Sporadic clashes/protest continued & spread to several other cities, including in the provincial capital, Zahedan. LINK
Iran: Ongoing protests over the killing of Baluch fuel traders
Protests that began in Sistan and Baluchestan on Monday continued for the sixth consecutive day on Saturday. The protests began after the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) opened fire and killed fuel porters in the town of Saravan, near the Iran-Pakistan border. IRGC forces in the Saravan border area opened fire on a group of Baluch fuel porters, killing and injuring several people. Images and videos posted on social media showed dense presence of IRGC forces along with heavy artillery and tanks. LINK
APPEASEMENT WITH IRAN
European Lawmakers Call On EU Officials To Boycott Europe-Iran Business Forum
22 members of the European Parliament are calling on senior EU officials, including EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, not to participate in the Europe-#Iran Business Forum in early March. The business forum is an online event planned to take place virtually from 1 to 3 March. The MEPs wrote in their letter that EU officials should not take part in the forum as they believe that participation of senior officials would be highly inappropriate because of the continued flagrant human rights violations in Iran. LINK
Europe-Iran Business Forum To Start At Lower Diplomatic Level
The name of Josep Borrell, EU’s foreign policy chief no longer appears on the first-day agenda of the conference. It also seems Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will not be speaking at the event. LINK
EU-Iran business forum collapsing amid withdrawals from Europeans
The EU-Iran Business Forum slated to start on Monday is again marred by outrage over promoting commerce with a regime in Tehran that has carried out violations of the nuclear deal and widespread repression of Iranians, including a regime shooting spree of protestors in the Sistan and Baluchestan province. LINK
NUCLEAR / TERRORISM
Iran Rejects Offer of Direct U.S. Nuclear Talks, Senior Diplomats Say
Iran rejects a European Union & U.S. offer to hold direct nuclear talks in the coming weeks, according to two senior western diplomats. The regime is digging in deep and further into isolation. This recent move by Tehran could trigger new escalation of tensions with Washington and Europe. LINK
Israeli-owned ship docked in Dubai after mysterious blast
It remains unclear what caused the blast, but the incident comes amid sharply rising tension between the U.S. and Iran over its unraveling 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has sought to pressure President Joe Biden’s administration to grant the sanctions relief it received under the accord with world powers that former President Donald Trump abandoned. LINK