Iran's cyber warfare against its people must not stand

New cyber revelations from the People’s Mujahedeen of Iran (MEK), the Iranian opposition movement, about the scope of mass surveillance by the Iranian regime are significant. Why? They show the desperation of the Iranian regime in confronting the uprising that began nationwide last December and has continued to this day.  

Anti-government protesters  chanted slogans indicative of a revolution: “Death to the dictator,” “Death to (Supreme Leader) Khamenei”, “Death to (Hassan) Rouhani,” “Don’t be afraid, we are all together,” “Forget about Syria, think about us,” “Not Gaza, nor Lebanon, my life for Iran,” and “Reformer, Hardline, the Game Is Now Over.”

IRAN RESISTANCE GROUP MEK CALLS ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT PROTESTERS

By INU Staff

INU - The Iranian Regime is involved in “warmongering and belligerence” in order to fuel crises in the Middle East, according to Iran’s organised democratic forces, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

The Iranian Regime’s regional aggression has also been criticised by the Iranian people during their ongoing nationwide anti-regime protests, and the MEK are advising that the international community back the protesters’ calls for regime change in order to avoid Iran starting another war in the Middle East.

MEK representative Shahin Gobadi said: “The regime’s warmongering and belligerence is a major source of concern and tension in the region that can lead to a major war. But it can be averted. Years of policy of appeasement by Western governments emboldened the Iranian regime. The overthrow of the Iranian regime and establishment of peace and democracy in Iran would have a lasting impact in establishment of peace and tranquillity in the region.”

The area is on the edge of all-out war, as tension rise between Iran and its neighbours over Iran’s support for terrorism and proxy militias.

Indeed, Iran has tens of thousands of fighters in Syria, where they have spent $100 billion propping up the Assad Regime since 2011, is in direct conflict with Saudi Arabia over Iran-backed terrorist groups in Lebanon and Yemen, and is at odds with Israel after the downing of an Israeli fighter jet.

Gobadi said: “Export of terrorism and Islamic extremism, including warmongering and meddling in the region, has been a strategic pillar of survival of the regime and a cover for its domestic repression. Syria has been the lynchpin of this policy.”

Protests

The popular people’s protest has featured slogans such as “no to Syria” and “think about us” as the Iranian people call on the mullahs to end their foreign wars and return the money to the public purse.

The protests, which began over a draft budget that slashed subsidies for the poor in favour of additional military spending, have spread to 142 cities and morphed into a protest against everything wrong with the Regime.

The protesters, recognising that the Iranian Regime isn’t listening to their cries, have gone so far as to call for the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, an offence punishable by death in Iran.

So far, at least 50 protesters have been killed in the streets, 8,000 arrested, and 12 have died under torture.

The Iranian Regime, desperate to portray itself as stable and popular, has organised pro-regime demonstrations to retaliate against the people’s protest and in honour of the 39th anniversary of the Iranian Regime, in which paid actors will burn the US flag.

This is nothing new. Iran has been doing this for years in order to make it seem as if the Iranian people are in favour of the Regime and deter the international community from acting. Still, revolution is in the air.

Gobadi made this call for the West to support to the protesters ahead of a meeting in Paris on Friday, in which representatives from 11 European countries will back the protesters.
Gobadi said: “The wall of fear has been cracked, and nothing including arrests, killings and torture can prevent the advancement of the protests to overthrow the regime. The regime’s own officials repeatedly talk about super challenges facing their regime and precarious prospects that loom on the horizon. After 39 years of rule, the clerical regime has never closer than being overthrown by the people than today.”

Iran: Political Prisoner’s Complaint Letter Against Five Prison Authorities To UN Human Rights Rapporteur

In a letter to the United Nations human rights rapporteur on January 31, the political prisoner Arash Sadeghi, who is on hunger strike, warned about the situation of Atena Daemi and Golkorki Iraee, while accusing five authorities of the Iranian regime’s Prisons Organization.

Excerpts of Arash Sadeghi’s letter:

Honourable Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Ms. Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on Situation of Human Rights in Iran

As you are aware, more than a year has passed since my wife was arrested, and during this period I have repeatedly written various letters in this regard.

Last year, following 72 days of hunger strike, I terminated my strike after the judiciary’s promise to release my wife and re-examine her case.

Due to the same hunger strike, I encountered many health problems including kidneys and digestive system problems as well as heart disease, arrhythmia, shrinkage of kidney, stomach ulcer, ulcerative colitis at the beginning and end of the colon, due to which I have to take more than 15 medications, including Mezalazine, Sulfasalazine, Warfarin, Propranolol 40, and…

A few months after the strike ended, with the pressure of the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Office, re-examination of my wife case and retrial was rejected by the Supreme Court.

And in recent days, while filing a new case for her and one of our friends, Atena Daemi, after they were summoned to the security ward 2A of Evin prison (under the control of IRGC’s intelligence), they were taken to the Qarchak prison (in Varamin), after beating and mayhem. This prison, however, is dedicated to ordinary and dangerous prisoners.

In spite of the disagreement of my friends and cellmates, and despite my inappropriate physical condition which everyone has witnessed during this period, in response to mistreatments and the beating and transfer of my wife Golrokh Ebrahimi and our friend Atena Daemi, I have started my hunger strike on Saturday (January 27).

For this reason, I declare that in the event of any incident for me or ladies Golrokh Ebrahimi and Atena Daemi, direct responsibility lies with the Judiciary and IRGC intelligence, as well as Asghar Jahangir (Chief head of the Prisons Organization), Mustafa Mohebbi (Director General of the Prisons Organization of Tehran Province) ), Chahar Mahali (head of the Evin Prison), Youssef Mardi (head of Evin prison’s security) and Abbas Khani (head of the Evin prison’s infirmary), the actions of the last three of whom, with fabricating new cases and beating, led to the transfer of Golrokh and Atena.

This transfer has undoubtedly been coordinated by the Prisons Organization and the Director General of the Prisons of Tehran Province.

I appeal to all international organizations and tribunals against these individuals and I ask you and all human rights lawyers and all awakened consciences to investigate this complaint while continuing to address the situation of Golrokh and Atena.

Many thanks,

Regime Change Is Coming In Iran

As the ultimatum begins in regards to demands made by U.S. President Donald Trump to make a final decision on the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), we are a witnessing a wave of tensions and grave concerns inside the Iranian regime.

The parallel nature of this ultimatum with the nationwide uprising aiming to overthrow the Iranian regime, beginning on December 28 and continuing to this day, is bound to place Tehran before a major impasse.

In contrast to previous encounters when Tehran considered such challenges as bluffs, this time around Iranian regime officials are revealing their fears and taking these threats “very seriously.”

President Trump also upped the ante in his stand-off with Iran, vowing US support for street protests against Tehran’s clerical regime.

“America stands with the people of Iran in their courageous struggle for freedom,” he declared.

The question is what solutions lay before Tehran? Can the regime surpass this crisis? How will the international community support the nations of Iran and the entire region in realizing true and lasting peace?

“Breaths will be held for 120 days and it appears this is the game plan U.S. Donald Trump has traced for Iran and the [JCPOA],” according to the state-run E’temad daily.

Tehran has a history of resorting to exporting crises, terrorist threats and meddling in its neighbors’ internal affairs. Through such measures, this regime was able to redirect focus away from the JCPOA.

Considering the latest protests, however, eliminating any domestic and international legitimacy this regime may have enjoyed and significantly threatening its very existence, Tehran no longer possesses its prior capabilities.

In such circumstances, any adventurous and crisis-developing projects will backfire and further plunge Tehran into its current quagmire. The Iran-backed Houthis launching a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh, for example, came at a very high price for Tehran. The international community, especially the U.S. and Europe, are now allying to halt Iran’s missile ambitions and meddling across the region.

Iranian officials are desperately searching to expand their economic ties with European and East Asian countries to gain support for their dictatorship’s very survival.

All the while, as explained by Iranian officials, such major economic deals aimed at purchasing goods and increasing imports, will deepen the recession crisis and destroy what is left of domestic production. Unemployment will skyrocket, inviting even more jobless protesters into the streets to fuel the current uprising. On the other hand, due to Trump’s ultimatum, no company is willing to risk long-term economic contracts selling anything other than consumable goods.

Reactions from Iranian regime officials in the scenario of Washington exiting the JCPOA further detail Iran’s stalemate. Those close to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei advocate relying on domestic capabilities and an “internally-dependent economy.”

Figures close to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani are encouraging improving relations with Europe and distancing the Green Continent from the U.S. However, Iran’s own political instability and the deeply structured U.S.-Europe economic relations leave such a scenario highly unlikely.

In the meantime, there are reports of closed-door negotiations with Iran over its ballistic missile program and the Middle East meddling. Of course, these negotiations were announced prior to Washington’s ultimatum.

It appears that the Europeans are increasing pressures on Iran following Trump’s warning.

“The German, French and British foreign ministers — together with Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign policy chief — agreed with Iran to hold an ‘intensive and very serious dialogue’ on Tehran’s missile program and regional influence,” according to the Financial Times (citing the German Foreign Ministry).

“France’s foreign minister said on Sunday he would visit Iran on March 5 to discuss its ballistic missile program and the nuclear deal agreed with world powers in 2015, as tensions between the two countries rise,” according to Reuters.

Without a doubt, the international community should place negotiations over human rights and save the lives of protesters detained during the recent uprising, along with all political prisoners, as a top priority. The shameful neglect of Iran’s human rights violations, aiming to obtain a new agreement with Tehran, should not be repeated.

Although Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman denies any such talks, only two options lay before Tehran.

Either succumb to major setbacks in relation to its ballistic missile program, refrain from meddling across the region and begin respecting human rights, or brace for crippling sanctions.

Considering increasing Iran’s domestic crises, both options will eventually result in regime change.

Shahriar Kia is an Iranian dissident and a political analyst writing about Iran and the Middle East.

What kind of regime sends children to war?

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

Although the US Treasury Department has been instructed by President Donald Trump to impose new sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) because of its support for terrorism, the Iranian regime shows no signs of backing down from its violations of international laws and interventionist policies in the region, particularly in Arab nations. In fact, Tehran is ratcheting up breaches of international law, military adventurism and expansionist policies. 

One linked issue that has received less time in the spotlight is the intersection between the Iranian regime and the involvement of children in armed conflicts. 
There are six grave violations that are identified by the UN Security Council. One of them is recruiting, abusing or exploiting children during conflicts.
One prominent example of Iran’s involvement in such cases is the Syrian conflict. In the last six years of the Syrian conflict, the Islamic Republic has shown that it will resort to any tool in order to maintain Bashar Assad and his forces in power. One of these tools has been the increasing recruitment of foreign children, both in Iran and elsewhere, in order to fight in the front lines of the Syrian battlefields to enable the Syrian and Iranian forces and their militias to suffer fewer casualties and achieve victories.
Two particular Iranian organizations are behind the recruitment; the IRGC and its elite  Quds Force, whose mission is to operate beyond Iran’s borders in order to export the revolutionary principles of the Islamic Republic and safeguard Iran’s geopolitical interest. 
Leaders of the IRGC and Quds Force implement different tactics to recruit children. The Iranian regime normally preys on children and families who are vulnerable for various reasons. 
Some children come from immigrant families. The families are lured to give up their children to fight in conflicts in exchange for a better position in Iran. Other children are refugees who are seduced by promises of legal residency status and permits. It is extremely difficult to obtain a legal residency permit in the Islamic Republic even for those refugees who have been living there for decades. 
In addition, many of these children come from lower socio-economic class. The Iranian regime exploits their poverty and recruits them in exchange for financial incentives. Reports from human rights organizations indicate that currently not only does the Iranian regime recruit children, but Iran-backed militia are also engaged in such activities. 
The UN’s Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflicts states that ending such violations is “the focus of its Special Representative’s work and advocacy.” Nevertheless it does not seem that any concrete and successful actions have been taken to prevent the Iranian regime from abusing children in conflicts.

The IRGC, the Quds Force and Iran-backed militias are breaking international law by recruiting children to fight in Syria.

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

Ironically, Iran is a signatory to the Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which focuses on the involvement of children in armed conflict, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000 and went into force in 2002. The Protocol states that 18 is the minimum age for participation in wars and armed conflict. It clearly states that the protocol is a commitment that states will not recruit children under the age of 18 to send them to the battlefield. States will not conscript soldiers below the age of 18. States should take all possible measures to prevent such recruitment — including legislation to prohibit and criminalize the recruitment of children under 18 and involve them in hostilities. States will demobilize anyone under 18 conscripted or used in hostilities and will provide physical, and psychological recovery services and help their social reintegration. Armed groups distinct from the armed forces of a country should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities anyone under 18.
Human Rights Watch’s latest report raised alarm about the Iranian regime’s role in recruiting Afghan children. Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said: “Iran should immediately end the recruitment of child soldiers and bring back any Afghan children it has sent to fight in Syria. Rather than preying on vulnerable immigrant and refugee children, the Iranian authorities should protect all children and hold those responsible for recruiting Afghan children to account.”
More importantly, since reports by human rights organizations indicate that Iran recruits children as young as 15, Iran is committing another violation of international law which is considered a war crime by the International Criminal Court and is completely prohibited.
The increasing recruitment of children by the Iranian regime to fight in conflicts not only has serious psychological and physical implications for the children and their families, but also inflicts serious damage on the security and stability of the region. It is incumbent on the international community and human rights organizations to follow up on their promises, take immediate action and hold the Iranian leaders responsible for violating international law, abusing human rights and children, and committing a war crime. 
• Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. He is a leading expert on Iran and US foreign policy, a businessman and president of the International American Council. Twitter: @Dr_Rafizadeh

By Zohair Ahmad

In these days, evidence has surfaced that the Iranian regime is using commercial air flights to transport soldiers from Iran to Syria. This is a breach of the nuclear agreement that Iran signed with US officials, an agreement that gave US aircraft producers license to sell aircraft and spear parts to the Iranian regime but was restricted to apply to commercial traffic only.

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