[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Iran and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Iran Page co-editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each roundup to Iran@Jadaliyya.com]
Escalation
Iran's Soleimani Killed While Carrying Message to Resolve Saudi Tensions (4 February)
“Iran's most powerful general Qassem Soleimani was carrying a message about Tehran's desire to resolve tensions with Saudi Arabia when he was killed by an American drone strike last month.”
Iran Shows Missile, Launches Satellite which Fails to Reach Orbit (9 February)
“In the space of a few hours on Sunday, Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile and launched a domestically-built satellite - which failed, however, to reach orbit. The launch of the satellite happened at 7:15pm local time at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran's Semnan province, some 230km (145 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran. State television said, however, that a Simorgh rocket could not put the Zafar 1 communications satellite into orbit due to a low speed.”
Thousands of Iranians Mark Revolution Anniversary Amid Peak Tensions with U.S. (10 February)
“Tens of thousands of Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran and other cities on Tuesday morning to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, against a backdrop of escalating tensions with the United States.”
Senate Rebukes Trump, Votes to Limit Iran War Making Ability (13 February)
“The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Thursday to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran, rebuking him weeks after a strike against an Iranian military commander and Tehran’s retaliation raised fears of broader regional conflict.”
US Warship in Arabian Sea Seizes Suspected Iranian Weapons (13 February)
“A United States Navy warship seized weapons believed to be of Iranian "design and manufacture", including 150 anti-tank guided missiles and three Iranian surface-to-air missiles, the US military said on Thursday. In a statement, the military said the guided-missile cruiser Normandy boarded a dhow, a traditional sailing vessel, in the Arabian Sea on Sunday.”
Trump Administration Outlines Legal Justification for Soleimani Strike (14 February)
“The Democratic-led House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday released the Trump administration’s legal justification for its Jan. 2 drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Echoing arguments administration officials have made in public, the two-page memo cites a president’s constitutional authority to protect national interests from an attack, as well as the 2002 authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) that was passed to authorize the Iraq War.”
Ukraine International Flight 752
Recording Shows Iran Knew Immediately It Had Shot Down Plane: Zelenskiy (3 February)
“A leaked audio recording of an Iranian pilot talking to the control tower in Tehran shows that Iran knew immediately it had shot down a Ukrainian airliner last month, despite denying it for days, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.”
Leaked Recording Shows Iran Knew its Missiles Hit Ukrainian Plane (3 February)
“A leaked recording of an exchange between an Iranian air-traffic controller and an Iranian pilot purports to show that Iranian authorities immediately knew its missiles had downed a Ukrainian plane after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board, despite days of denials.”
Unpaid Bills, Empty Homes: Families of Iran Crash Victims Put Lives Back Together (6 February)
“Grief-stricken relatives of passengers killed aboard an airliner shot down by Iran over Tehran last month are grappling in Canada with the daily challenges of long-distance funeral arrangements, empty homes, cars left in driveways and unpaid bills.”
Families of Victims Seek Justice over Plane Shot Down in Iran (8 February)
“The case - John Doe v Islamic Republic of Iran - was filed on January 24 and seeks $1.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.1bn) in compensation from Tehran. Canadian courts do not typically have jurisdiction over foreign states, but a 2012 law lifted that immunity for countries Canada considers "foreign state sponsors of terrorism". Iran and Syria are on that list.”
Sanctions
Iranian Students with Valid Visas Turned Back at US Borders (4 February)
“…since August, at least 17 Iranian students have had their dream of studying in the US dashed after landing in US airports, valid visas in hand. They were instead sent home and most were given five-year bans on returning to the US, after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers deemed them "inadmissible", a label immigrant rights advocates say is broad and can be used at the customs officers' discretion.”
Iran’s Economy Is Bleak. Its Stock Market Is Soaring. (13 February)
“The run-up in Iranian equities perversely stems from the country’s status as an international pariah. With hardly any outside investment trickling into the country, and with an overall economy that has been rapidly contracting, stocks have been stuck at rock-bottom values. Even after soaring last year, many companies’ stocks still look cheap when compared with their profits.”
Iran Remains on Antiterrorism Blacklist, Continuing Sanctions (21 February)
“The world’s top antiterrorism monitoring group voted on Friday to keep Iran on its blacklist for failing to tackle terrorism financing at home, extending international sanctions at a time when the country had hoped to offset its struggling economy by doing business with Europe. The Financial Action Task Force, a Paris-based monitoring group, had given Iran a February deadline to approve antiterrorism legislation or remain on the blacklist. Although Iran’s parliament passed the legislation, a top clerical body voted it down.”
U.S. Sanctions Hamper Iran’s Battle to Contain Coronavirus (24 February)
“Iran is racing to curb the rapid, deadly spread of the new coronavirus, but these efforts are complicated by tight economic restrictions imposed by the United States and frustrations among an increasingly embattled population.”
Doctors Inside Iran Believe Coronavirus Is More Serious Than Reported, and Getting Worse (27 February)
“With dozens of publicly known cases and multiple deaths, Iran is now the epicenter of the coronavirus in the Middle East. Doctors inside the Islamic Republic say the country is now grappling with an “epidemic,” and the response has been hampered not just by government inaction and disinformation but also economic sanctions.”
Warren Asks Administration for Assurances That Sanctions Aren't Hindering Coronavirus Containment in Iran (28 February)
“Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is seeking assurances from the Trump administration that humanitarian aid to Iran is not being hindered by U.S. sanctions amid the global spread of the coronavirus.”
Parliamentary Elections
Iran Candidates Kick Off Campaigns for Parliamentary Elections (13 February)
“Thousands of Iranian candidates approved to run in parliamentary elections kicked off their campaigns on Thursday ahead of next week's vote, even after authorities barred thousands of others from running, mainly reformists and moderates. The February 21 parliamentary elections come amid high tensions between Tehran and Washington, which is at its peak in 40 years.”
Iran Starts Election Campaign with Thousands Barred from Standing (13 February)
“Iran’s week-long parliamentary election campaign started on Thursday, state TV reported, a vote seen as a popularity test for the clerical establishment at a time when relations with Washington are at their worst since the 1979 Islamic revolution.”
'From Bad to Worse' – Dashed Hopes May Deter Many Iranians from Polls (17 February)
“Confrontation with America, economic hardship and an airline tragedy have battered Iranians’ confidence in their leaders, posing a potential problem for the authorities in a parliamentary election this week.”
Iran Prepares for Vote Seen as Litmus Test for Establishment (19 February)
“Campaigning officially ended on Thursday for Iran’s parliamentary election, a day before a vote seen as a litmus test of the popularity of the clerical establishment.”
Why Iran's Reformists are Likely to Lose Parliamentary Vote (19 February)
“Experts say the dissatisfaction with the reformist and moderates' record means the bloc was unlikely to retain its majority in this year's election. Their rival principlists, who favour rule based on the ideals of Iran's 1979 revolution and conservative Islamic values, are widely expected to regain control of the parliament.”
Disillusionment among Women, Youth Seen Dampening Iran Election Turnout (20 February)
“Middle-aged men have been plastered on campaign posters and online adverts this week ahead of Iran’s parliamentary election, even though women and young people make up the majority of voters.”
Iran Announces Low Poll Turnout, Blames Coronavirus 'Propaganda' (23 November)
“Iran on Sunday announced a 42% turnout in its parliamentary election, the lowest rate since the 1979 Islamic revolution, while its top leader said Tehran’s enemies played up the new coronavirus threat to dissuade people from voting.”
Coronavirus
More Coronavirus Cases in Iran's Qom; Religious Gatherings Seen at Risk (20 February)
“Iranian health officials urged all religious gatherings to be suspended in Qom, news agency ISNA said on Thursday, after two more people tested positive for the coronavirus in the holy city, where two died of it this week.”
Iran Says Coronavirus Has Spread to Several Cities, Reports Two New Deaths (21 February)
“The coronavirus has spread to several Iranian cities, a health ministry official said on Friday, as an outbreak that the authorities say began in the holy city of Qom caused two more deaths.”
Ten New Cases of Coronavirus in Iran, Two Dead: Officials (21 February)
“Authorities in Iran on Saturday announced the detection of at least 10 new cases of coronavirus and two more deaths, deepening a sense of public unease over the handling of the spread of the disease.”
Coronavirus Kills 12 in Iran, 61 Infected: Health Ministry (24 February)
“Twelve people have died and 61 have been infected with the coronavirus in Iran, Tehran’s health ministry said on Monday.”
Iraq Reports First Coronavirus Case in Iranian Student (24 February)
“Iraq’s first coronavirus case, an Iranian theology student, has been detected in the holy city of Najaf, the health ministry said on Monday, leading authorities to briefly close the gates to one of holiest sites for Shi’ite Muslims.”
Iran's Coronavirus Death Toll Rises to 16 as Worries Deepen (24 February)
“Two more people infected with the new coronavirus have died, taking the toll in Iran to 16, officials said on Tuesday, as Iranians worried that authorities could be underestimating the scale of outbreak.”
Legislator from Iran's Qom Alleges Coronavirus Coverup (25 February)
“A legislator from Iran's Qom has accused the government of covering up the full extent of the coronavirus outbreak in the holy city, according to semi-official news agency ILNA. In Monday's report, Ahmad Amirabadi Farahani accused Iran's health ministry of not being transparent about the outbreak, which authorities say has killed 12 people.”
Iran's Deputy Health Minister Tests Positive for Coronavirus (25 February)
“Iran's deputy health minister has tested positive for the new coronavirus amid a major outbreak in the country which has seen 15 people die as a result. Iraj Harirchi coughed occasionally and appeared to be sweating during a news conference in Tehran on Monday with government spokesman Ali Rabiei.”
Rouhani Says No Urban Quarantines Planned as Iran Coronavirus Toll Hits 19 (26 February)
“President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Iran had no plans to quarantine any ‘cities and districts’ in response to the country’s coronavirus outbreak, which the health ministry said had killed 19 people, state TV reported.”
Confusion and Contradiction Reign in Iran’s Coronavirus Reporting (28 February)
“The authorities in Iran, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, reported a 58 percent jump in confirmed infections to 388 on Friday and a 30 percent increase in deaths to 34, and the health minister warned of a “pretty difficult week” ahead. But the authorities denied a BBC Persia report that the deaths totaled at least 210 — a vastly higher figure — based on the news service’s own survey of Iranian hospitals. The conflicting information punctuated the mixed messages and confusion that have been emanating from Iran since it disclosed the first coronavirus deaths a little over a week ago.”
How Iran Became a New Epicenter of the Coronavirus Outbreak (28 February)
“Politics may have played a role in the government’s handling of the health crisis, Alaei, the health-policy expert, told me. The outbreak coincided with two major milestones—the anniversary of Iran’s revolution, on February 11th, and the parliamentary election, on February 21st. ‘The government didn’t want to acknowledge that they had a coronavirus outbreak because they feared it would impact participation in these two events,’ he said. ‘So for weeks there was a huge silence.’ Less than forty-three per cent of Iranian voters turned out for the election, the lowest rate of participation since the 1979 revolution. Both voters and poll workers were photographed wearing masks.”
Trump Expands Iran Travel Ban in the Wake of the First US Coronavirus Death (29 February)
“President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and senior US health officials announced Saturday afternoon that the Trump administration will respond to a global increase in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus by expanding its travel ban on Iran and issuing “do not travel” warnings to areas in Italy and South Korea most affected by viral outbreaks. The announcement comes in the wake of the first US death due to the novel coronavirus in Washington state, where a woman in her 50s, described by the president Saturday as being “medically high-risk,” died from the virus overnight. Under the new travel restrictions, no Iranians or non-Americans who have been to the country in the last 14 days will be allowed to enter the US, Pence said.”
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Suspected of Having Coronavirus (29 February)
“Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman detained in Iran, is suspected to have the coronavirus, her family has said. The Free Nazanin Campaign said that although there were reports of at least one coronavirus-related inmate death inside Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, staff had refused to test her.”
Editorial/Analysis
Political Change in Iran May Begin with its Labor Movement
David Ignatius in The Washington Post: “We’re living in the information age. But when it comes to fundamental change in society, organized industrial workers remain a powerful, bedrock force. And that’s just as true in Iran as in other modern nations. The Iranian labor movement may seem like a remote topic when the news is dominated by the hangover of impeachment and the dawn of America’s presidential primaries, not to mention the danger of global pandemic from coronavirus. But Iran remains the cockpit for destabilizing events in the world — and worker protest may be the X factor there.”
America Held Hostage (11 February)
David Marks in Al Jazeera: “On January 4, a day after the United States assassinated Iranian military General Qassem Soleimani, US President Donald Trump warned that if Iran retaliated, he would hit 52 Iranian sites. The targets represented the 52 Americans held hostage in Iran for 444 days in November 1979. The Iran hostage crisis influences Iranian and US politics to this day. An open re-examination of it could help us understand how respect for US constitutional law has been degraded in the decades since.”
Iran: How Elections Work (20 February) (20 February)
“Iranians will head to the polls on February 21 to elect new members of parliament. It is the 11th parliamentary vote since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979 and the 36th since the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. Elected members will serve for a term of four years. The parliament, known as the Majlis, has 290 members. They are elected every four years and are responsible for passing the country's legislation. Candidates are vetted by the powerful Guardian Council, which acts the country's constitutional watchdog. Of those registered to run, 7,296 were disqualified, including many critics and reformist candidates. Of the 7,148 candidates approved, 666 are women. In 2016, there were more than 250 registered political parties, but allegiances shift during and after elections.”
All You Need to Know about Iran's Parliamentary Election (20 February)
“Nearly 58 million people are eligible to vote on preselected lists of candidates for Iran's 11th 290-seat parliament. Here is what you need to know about the vote:”
The Guardian View on Iran’s Elections: A Closing Door (23 February)
The editorial board of The Guardian writes: “Domestic incompetence and corruption have unquestionably contributed to the hopelessness that so many Iranians feel today. But it is above all the Trump administration’s choices – in walking out of the JCPOA, imposing punishing sanctions and assassinating General Suleimani, arguably the second most powerful man in the country after the supreme leader – which have tightened the grip of hardliners and strengthened the belief that cultivating its nuclear programme and its proxies is a better bet than counting on meetings with western diplomats. A vital opportunity has been squandered, and Iranians are paying the price. Others may do so too.”
Have Iranians Lost Faith in Politics? (24 February)
“Hardliners are set for sweeping gains in Iran's parliamentary elections, but they seem to have less popular support. Voter turnout in Friday's polls was the lowest since the 1979 revolution. That's despite Iran's supreme leader urging people to cast their ballots as a religious duty, to show resistance in the face of US sanctions. Now conservatives are expected to have the upper hand in the parliament. And reformists, who had pushed for greater engagement with the West, have been weakened. Some say many Iranians are unhappy with their government, and felt discouraged from voting. With more than 7,000 potential candidates disqualified, voters' options were limited. So, how will Tehran deal with what seems to be growing public discontent?”
What Does the Iranian Election Tell Us? (25 February)
Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabar in The New York Times: “The conservative victory in the recent parliamentary elections indicates that the Iranian people are disenchanted with electoral politics that deliver nothing. It sets the stage for the ascendance of a hard-line president in the 2021 election if the population’s apathy persists. And the absence of public pressure and elite bargaining will determine the appointment of a possibly even more hawkish supreme leader after Ayatollah Khamenei. Yet after this electoral cycle, Iranian voters may not easily return to the ballot box. Friday’s election could be the beginning of the death of Iran’s limited electoral politics.”
Have US Sanctions Impacted Iran's Ability to Combat the Coronavirus? (26 February)
“Sanam Vakil, the deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, however, told Middle East Eye that it was too soon to confirm if sanctions have affected Iran's coronavirus response. ‘US sanctions have hampered Iran's ability to purchase or access medical equipment or pharmaceuticals in the international market, and that's because there is no financial mechanism to fulfil those transactions,’ said Vakil…’The [government's] response, however, has been lacklustre by the government and unclear if that slowed response is because of political issues around the parliamentary elections or a poor effort at tracking the outbreak. Iran perhaps may not have the same levels of infrastructure, both human or medical, to address the crisis, though without a doubt there is a connection with US sanctions, but not the sole reason.’”