An expert panel met with the U.S. Senate to discuss Iran’s upcoming ‘elections’ and the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Middle East. Various officials within the U.S. have been debating the wisdom of designating the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. Current legislation in from of Congress would impose harsher sanctions on the IRGC, but would not go so far as to designate it a terrorist organization.
In his sole 100 day report, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declared the cabinet of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his predecessor, as the most in debt cabinet with more than $57bn in liabilities. Now, after around four years, the debt owed by Rouhani’s cabinet has reached more $200bn, leaving it as the inheritance for the next president. This was only one example of the atrocious economic situation in Iran during Rouhani’s tenure.
Marking the 11th anniversary of various nuclear achievements, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday displayed two new achievements by Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. A number of ambassadors and other representatives of foreign countries were present at the event.
“Nuclear technology is a necessity for us, and that is exactly why [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei] constantly highlights on continuing to develope this technology,” he said according to an ISNA wire.
News from inside Iran: Based on a previous statement calling for such a rally, families of death row prisoners from all across Iran rallied outside the parliament on Sunday demanding the termination of all executions. 500 protesters were reported taking part in this gathering and 90% of those participating were women with their children.
Security forces and plainclothes agents, present at the scene prior to the rally, began insulting and resorting to violent measures aimed at dispersing the crowd. They also arrested a number of the protesters. Some of the agents were seen carrying weapons and there is no exact information on the number and identity of those arrested.
The White House these days continues to discuss designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a major sponsor of terrorism. The U.S. Congress has been weighing a number of different bills proposed for this purpose. In response, Iran and its lobbies have been distorting the truth in the media by claiming such a move will lead to a backlash from Iran. The truth is quite the opposite, and the Middle East will actually begin enjoying peace and stability, as the IRGC blacklisting will shorten the mullahs’ reach outside its borders.
The 12th presidential election in Iran will be held on May 19th. These polls are taking place at a time when the regime in Tehran, and especially Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, are facing three distinct crises.
a) Khamenei, suffering from prostate cancer, sees his days as numbered and must designate a successor. From March 2015 he has held various sessions with senior regime and Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) officials for this very purpose. Khamenei insists that his successor be clarified prior to his death.
The Washington Post, March 29, 2017.At Monday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Iran there was, given the political environment, rare and welcomed unanimity. Ranking member Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) remarked that although he voted against the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran, he doesn’t think it would be wise to withdraw. He continued:
