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The Iranian Regime and the New Political Challenge
Foreign Policy Research Institute E-Notes A Catalyst for Ideas Distributed via Email and Posted at www.fpri.org June 2011 ~MIDDLE EAST MEDIA MONITOR~ AN ENEMY FROM WITHIN: THE IRANIAN REGIME AND THE NEW POLITICAL CHALLENGE By Raz Zimmt Middle East Media Monitor is an FPRI E-Note series, designed to review once a month a current topic from the perspective of the foreign language press in such countries as Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Turkey. These articles will focus on providing FPRI’s readership with an inside view on how some of the most important countries in the Middle East are covering issues of importance to the American foreign policy community. Raz Zimmt is a Ph.D. candidate in the Graduate School of Historical Studies and a research fellow at the Center for Iranian Studies at Tel Aviv University. He is the editor of the weekly “Spotlight on Iran,” published by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, www.terrorism-info.org.il/site/home/default.asp . On May 11, 2011 hardliner cleric, Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, held a meeting with members of the conservative Islamic Coalition Party. Mesbah-Yazdi warned his audience against the strengthening of deviant religious thought in Iranian society. He claimed that it jeopardizes the concept of “the Guardianship of the Islamic jurist” ( Velayat-e Faqih ), upon which the Iranian regime has been based since the Islamic Revolution (1979). “If this current continues and one day we will see another Seyyed Ali Mohammad Bab 1...we should not be surprised.” 2 A few days later, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Sa’idi, the Friday prayer leader in Qom, warned the “deviant currents” to stop their conspiracies or the people will annihilate them, as they did to [Abolhassan] Banisadr, 3 “the hypocrites” [a reference to Iranian opposition organization, the Mojahedin-e Khalq ] and “the leaders of the sedition” [a reference to the reformist opposition]. -
U.S. and Iranian Strategic Competition April 26 2012
a report of the csis burke chair in strategy U.S. and Iranian Strategic Competition: The Sanctions game: Energy, Arms Control, and Regime Change Authors Anthony H. Cordesman Bradley Bosserman Sam Khazai April 2012 The Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy has prepared this book as part of a project supported by the Smith Richardson Foundation. Iran V: Sanctions Competition AHC April 26, 2012 ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report analyzes US and Iranian strategic competition in four key areas—sanctions, energy, arms control, and regime change. It shows that shifts in the nature and intensity of sanctions on Iran have radically changed this aspect of US and Iranian competition since the Fall of 2011. This escalation has been spurred by Iran’s ongoing missile deployments and nuclear programs, as reported in sources like the November 2011 IAEA report highlighting the probable military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program. It has also been spurred by incidents like an Iranian assassination plot against the Saudi Ambassador to the US, an Iranian-government-sponsored mob attack on the British Embassy in Tehran on November 30, 2011, and Iranian threats to “close” the Gulf to oil exports. A New Round of Sanctions Iran’s steady progress towards the capability to build nuclear weapons has led to a new round of sanctions from the US and its allies. Washington has sought to further isolate Iran economically through new US sanctions on the Iranian Central Bank and Iranian companies involved in its nuclear industry, including the petrochemical and oil industry. Iran’s primary source of revenue—crude oil exports—is further threatened by a unanimous decision by the European Union on January 23rd to impose a full embargo on the import of Iranian oil and petrochemicals. -
U.S. and Iranian Strategic Competition
Iran V: Sanctions Competition January 4, 2013 0 U.S. AND IRANIAN STRATEGIC COMPETITION Sanctions, Energy, Arms Control, and Regime Change Anthony H. Cordesman, Bryan Gold, Sam Khazai, and Bradley Bosserman April 19, 2013 Anthony H. Cordesman Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy [email protected] Note: This report is will be updated. Please provide comments and suggestions to [email protected] Iran V: Sanctions Competition April, 19 2013 I Executive Summary This report analyzes four key aspects of US and Iranian strategic competition - sanctions, energy, arms control, and regime change. Its primary focus is on the ways in which the sanctions applied to Iran have changed US and Iranian competition since the fall of 2011. This escalation has been spurred by the creation of a series of far stronger US unilateral sanctions and the EU‘s imposition of equally strong sanctions – both of which affect Iran‘s ability to export, its financial system and its overall economy. It has been spurred by Iran‘s ongoing missile deployments and nuclear program, as reported in sources like the November 2011 IAEA report that highlights the probable military dimensions of Iran‘s nuclear program. And, by Iranian rhetoric, by Iranian threats to ―close‖ the Gulf to oil traffic; increased support of the Quds Force and pro-Shiite governments and non-state actors; and by incidents like the Iranian-sponsored assassination plot against the Saudi Ambassador to the US, an Iranian government instigated mob attack on the British Embassy in Tehran on November 30, 2011, and the Iranian-linked attacks against Israeli diplomats. -
Iran March 2009
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT IRAN 17 MARCH 2009 UK Border Agency COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION SERVICE IRAN 17 MARCH 2009 Contents Preface Latest News EVENTS IN IRAN, FROM 2 FEBRUARY 2009 TO 16 MARCH 2009 REPORTS ON IRAN PUBLISHED OR ACCESSED BETWEEN 2 FEBRUARY 2009 TO 16 MARCH 2009 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY ......................................................................................... 1.01 Maps .............................................................................................. 1.03 Iran............................................................................................. 1.03 Tehran ....................................................................................... 1.04 2. ECONOMY ............................................................................................ 2.01 Sanctions ...................................................................................... 2.13 3. HISTORY ............................................................................................... 3.01 Calendar ........................................................................................ 3.02 Pre 1979......................................................................................... 3.03 1979 to 1999 .................................................................................. 3.05 2000 to date................................................................................... 3.16 Student unrest ............................................................................. -
Fduimun 2012
FJCC-Iran Cabinet First Update fduimun 2012 fduimun | BE THE CHANGE. FJCC-iran Cabinet FUTUREfduimun JOINT First Update 2012 CRISIS CABINETS IRAN CABINET SPECIALSYSTEM fduimun BE THE CHANGE. 2012 fduimun | BE THE CHANGE. FJCC-Iran Cabinet First Update fduimun 2012 WHAT’S INSIDE A. Licensing B. Welcome Letter from the Director C. Welcome Letter from the Cabinet D. Joint Crisis Cabinets: What, why and how E. The Story: Iranian Nuclear Crisis F. Iranian Nuclear Developments G. Diplomatic Concerns H. National Security and Military I. Extended Readings J. Role Application K. Assignments L. Cabinet: Rules and Procedure M. Bibliography fduimun | BE THE CHANGE. FJCC-iran Cabinet fduimun First Update 2012 A Licensing FDUIMUN takes intellectual property protection very seriously. Before you continue read- ing, please review FDUIMUN’s licensing agreement and copyright notice below. I License This conference update, either in PDF or in print, was created for Fudan University In- ternational Model United Nations 2012 and the editorial contents herein remain the intellectual property of FDUIMUN. Delegates and their advisers may reproduce them, in whole or in part, in limited quantities for conference preparation use only but may not mass distribute the materials, electronically or otherwise for any purpose whatsoever. This permission does not apply to any third-party copyrights contained herein. These ma- terials and any copies made of them may not be resold, and the copyright notices must be retained as they appear here. II Disclaimer 1. Certain links are provided in this update that may lead to Web sites maintained by third parties over which we have no control. -
Orsam-Gnlk-Ortadou-Blten-07-05-2013.Pdf
MIDDLE EAST DAILY BULLETIN 6 May 2013 NO: 1595 1. IRAQ ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Othman urges the central government to speed up implementing legitimate demands of the demonstrators ......................................................................................................................................3 MP warns of internal fighting in the protests governorates ........................................................3 Maliki's coalition candidate in Basra split ....................................................................................4 Marjaa Yacoubi talks about satanic projects for Iraq ...................................................................5 JFO: Press freedom is the worst in Iraq ........................................................................................6 Iraq to buy 18 more Lockheed F-16 fighters ................................................................................7 Kurdistan reveals Barzani - Maliki seven-point agreement ..........................................................8 Iraq unity will thwart enemy plots: Iran FM .................................................................................9 Iraqi troops kill 14 militants, arrest 10 others in Mosul ............................................................ 11 Iraqi PM's coalition leads in local vote ...................................................................................... 11 2. -
Iran Case File (May 2019)
IRAN CASE FILE May 2020 RASANAH International Institute for Iranian Studies, Al-Takhassusi St. Sahafah, Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. P.O. Box: 12275 | Zip code: 11473 Contact us [email protected] +966112166696 The Executive Summary ........................................................................ 4 Internal Affairs .................................................................................... 7 The Ideological File ......................................................................................8 I- Officially Reopening Mosques and Shrines ....................................................... 8 II- Resuming Religious Seminary Lessons ........................................................... 9 III- Pressures on Iraq .........................................................................................10 The Political File ........................................................................................ 12 I- The Makeup of the New Parliament: Conservative Domination and Reformist Decline ............................................... 12 II- The Conservatives Contest Among Themselves for the Speakership ............... 13 III- Ghalibaf’s Criticism of the Government Forebodes a Possible Standoff Between Rouhani and the Parliament .................................. 14 The Economic File ...................................................................................... 16 I- The Economic Developments Between Iran and Venezuela .............................16 II- The Iranian Objectives and Messages of -
Iran: a Revolutionary Republic in Transition
Iran: a revolutionary republic in transition in republic a revolutionary Iran: This Chaillot Paper examines recent domestic developments in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The volume presents an in-depth assessment of the far- reaching changes that the Iranian state and Iranian society have undergone since the 1979 revolution, with a particular focus on the social and political turmoil of the past five years. IRAN: It is clear that in many ways the Islamic Republic is in the throes of a transition A REVOLUTIONARY REPUBLIC where many of its fundamental tenets are being called into question. Profound and ongoing internal transformations in Iranian society already affect the country’s foreign policy posture, as some of its domestic and external issues IN TRANSITION converge and will most likely continue to do so. Pertinent examples are the nuclear issue and the socio-political upheaval in neighbouring Arab countries. Edited by Rouzbeh Parsi Edited by Rouzbeh Parsi, the volume features contributions from five authors who are all specialists in various aspects of Iranian politics and society. Each Edited by Rouzbeh Parsi by RouzbehEdited Parsi Chaillot Papers | February 2012 author explores some of the most crucial variables of the Iranian body politic. Their focus on distinct dimensions of Iranian society and culture casts light on the changes afoot in contemporary Iran and how the political elite controlling the state respond to these challenges. ISBN 978-92-9198-198-4 published by phone: + 33 (0) 1 56 89 19 30 ISSN 1017-7566 the European Union fax: + 33 (0) 1 56 89 19 31 QN-AA-12-128-EN-C Institute for Security Studies e-mail: [email protected] doi:10.2815/27423 100, avenue de Suffren www.iss.europa.eu PAPER CHAILLOT 75015 Paris - France 128 128 CHAILLOT PAPERS BOOKS In January 2002 the Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) became an 127 120 2010 QUELLE DÉFENSE EUROPÉENNE autonomous Paris-based agency of the European Union. -
The Middle East Institute Viewpoints Iran's March 14, 2008 Majlis Elections
The Middle East Institute Viewpoints No. 5 March 2008 Viewpoints are a moderated dialogue between experts expressing opposing or differing opinions on a topic of contemporary relevance Iran’s March 14, 2008 Majlis Elections Speaking of the need for an opposition party, Kemal Ataturk once said: “I do not want to be recorded in history as the man who bequeathed a tyranny.” These words could also be uttered by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah ‘Ali Khamene’i. Yet, the legacy that ‘Ali Khamene’i will leave behind can perhaps best be described as a promenade of contradictory truths. Such contradictions are emblematic of the 8th round of Iranian parliamentary (Majlis) elections that are now upon us. It is true that the Iranian state employs a prodigious style of electoral engineering to regiment outcomes. But it is also true that the circulation of elites happens mainly at the bottom of the Iranian political pyramid. Therefore, it is important to follow closely the process of elite maneuvering and circulation at the level of parliamentarians. The two essays presented in this edition of Viewpoints capture the above salient points. Dr. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, a reformist member of the 6th Majlis, maintains that the hardnosed vetting (i.e., disqualification) of the candidates and other typical electoral irregularities/vio- Mehrzad Boroujerdi lations have made the entire process superfluous. She suggests that to keep these trends in check there is need for oversight of the electoral process by the international community. On the other side, Dr. Farideh Farhi, a keen observer of Iranian politics, emphasizes the robust competition among various political groups and points out the significance of their cleavages and corresponding electoral strategies. -
Report Twenty-Sixth Session of the Comcec
OIC/COMCEC/26-10/REP COMCEC Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Conference REPORT TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE COMCEC İstanbul, 5-8 October 2010 COMCEC Coordination Office Ankara, October 2010 1 Address: COMCEC Coordination Office State Planning Organization Necatibey Cad. 108 Ankara-TURKEY Phone : 90-312-294 55 10 Fax : 90-312-294 55 77 Website: http://www.comcec.org e-mail : comcec @ dpt.gov.tr 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS P A R T O N E Page RESOLUTIONS OF THE OIC FORMING THE BASIS AND GUIDING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL COOPERATION OF THE OIC I. Resolution adopted at the Third Islamic Summit Conference Establishing the Standing Committees of the OIC chaired by Heads of State ............................................ 9 II. Final Communique of the Fourth Islamic Summit Conference Entrusting the Chairmanship of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation to the President of the Republic of Turkey ............................. 11 III. Resolution No. 1/11-E (IS) on the Activities of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) .................................................... 13 P A R T T W O LIST OF BASIC DOCUMENTS AND REPORT OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL COOPERATION I. List of Basic Documents Considered and/or Presented at the Twenty-sixth Session of the COMCEC ......................... 23 II. Report of the Twenty-sixth Session of the COMCEC......... 29 3 Page A N N E X E S 1. List of Participants of the Twenty-sixth Session of the COMCEC...................................................................................... 43 2. -
Countries at the Crossroads Countries at the Crossroads 2012: Iran
Countries at the Crossroads Countries at the Crossroads 2012: Iran Introduction The Islamic Republic of Iran was created following the 1979 revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini that replaced the Pahlavi monarchy. Khomeini promised millions of Iranians freedom and justice, but 33 years later, both remain elusive. The Iranian people continue to live under an increasingly repressive and intolerant regime while having no say in their future. The political system in the Islamic Republic is predicated on unelected institutions and undemocratic concepts. Foremost among these is Khomeini’s principle of velayat faqih, or “rule of the supreme jurist.” According to this idea, in the absence of the Hidden Imam—the 12th historical leader of the Shiites, who they believe will return to save the world—absolute religious and political authority rests in the hands of a senior cleric, the supreme leader. The president and the parliament are at least nominally elected. The system has failed to avoid tensions between the supreme leader and the president, even though ultimate power rests in the hands of the former, currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the unelected institutions under his control. These include the Guardian Council, which must approve all election candidates and legislation; the judiciary, which has functioned as a tool for silencing critics of the regime; the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), tasked with safeguarding the principles of the revolution; and the Basij militia, a paramilitary volunteer force that operates under the IRGC’s command. Khamenei, his institutions, and his allies have effectively blocked political reforms and efforts to introduce civil liberties. -
Islamic Coalition Party Jami'at-E Mo'talefeh-Ye Islami - JMI
Islamic Coalition Party Jami'at-e Mo'talefeh-ye Islami - JMI The Islamic Coalition Party (Jami‘at-e Mo’talefeh-ye Islami - JMI ) was founded in the early 1960s with the unification of three traditional religious associations representing the interests of the “bazaar.” The bazaar is not only a workplace but also a mercantile traditional lifestyle. Mo’talefeh's members were followers of Ayatollah Khomeini invested in building up Khomeini's claims to the marja'iyya (i.e. to be considered a source of emulation for Shiite followers - the highest religious authority). Mo’talefeh was also the first group that took taqlid as a basis for political (as opposed to religious). The group was very active in the uprising of 1963 when Khomeini opposed the modernization policies of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It mobilized the traditional segments of society in opposition to the Shah. Mo’talefeh was also involved in armed attacks. For instance, Mohammad Bokharai, a member of the party, assassinated Hasan Ali Mansur, the Iranian prime minister in 1964. When Khomeini was in exile, Mo’talefeh made copies of his statements and tapes and disseminated them throughout Iran. Many of the members of Mo’talefeh were sentenced to jail between 1962 and 1977. During the revolution, they were active in organizing strikes and marches. After the victory of the 1979 revolution, Mo’talefeh stopped its activities as an independent political group, and at the order of Ayatollah Khomeini merged into the Islamic Republican Party of Iran (IRP). However, with the dissolution of the IRP in 1987, Mo’talefeh was reorganized as an independent association.