Dozens Of Iranian Officials Traveling To Switzerland For Online Conference

Before the Ukraine invasion, Russia sold about half of its 7.85 million barrels a day (bpd) of exported crude and refined oil to Europe, but discussions with the European Union (EU) of a ban on Russian oil – following bans introduced by Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States – had led to speculation that Russia would look for new markets in Asia, where China and India continue to buy Russian crude offered at discount.

According to a recent report in the Wall Street Journal, Iran’s oil exports, going mainly to China, rose to 870,000 bpd in the first three months of 2020, up around 30 percent from an average 668,000 bpd in full-year 2021.

This prompted questions to Owji from reporters as to whether Russia might displace Iran, especially by undercutting on price – to which the minister offered reassurance.

While the Group of Seven (G7) nations, including Japan, have agreed to phase out Russian oil imports, the EU has been unable to follow suit, mainly due to opposition from member states dependent on Russian supplies, such as Hungary. Eurostat figures show Russian earnings from oil exports to Europe at a higher level in 2022 than in 2021.

In a message to the National Population Taskforce on Wednesday, Khamenei appreciated efforts of officials active in the field of population growth as well as the government and lawmakers in parliament.

He warned about “dangers of an aging population” and called for measures to boost birth rates.

“This is a vital policy for the long-term future of our dear country” Khamenei said, claiming that scientific research has proven all the possible harms of this policy can be avoided. He also urged more legal and cultural efforts aimed at increasing the population.

Khamenei’s remarks came as tens of millions of Iranians have sunk into poverty in the last decade because of an inefficient economy, low growth and foreign sanctions. The government raised basic food prices earlier this month, adding to existing inflation.

Parliament has passed legislation to outlaw tubectomy, vasectomy, and the free dispensation of contraceptives other than where pregnancy would threaten a woman's health. The health ministry has advised women over 35 to wait only a year before becoming pregnant again and under-35s to wait six months.

Medical experts have warned that the new legislation would increase sexually transmitted diseases by restricting access to condoms.

The law obliges the government to offer incentives, including a 7.5-fold increase in child-benefit payments to government employees, interest-free loans, and other benefits. While the new law does not include a ban on prenatal screening, doctors have been advised not to encourage it.

Despite serious scandlas around Ghalibaf, some of the lawmakers including Jabbar Kouchaki and deputy speaker Ali Nikzad have already predicted that he is going to win. The other contestants are there only to put up a show that there is a democtratic process.

Semi-official news agency ISNA, also wrote in a commentary on May 12 that although there are three candidates for the election, Ghalibaf is 'the main candidate" for the post of Majles (parliament) Speaker.

Although quite a few lawmakers, including Iran's former nuclear chief Fereidoun Abbasi Davani have said they are willing to nominate themselves as candidates, politicians and the media generally believe there are currently three serious contestants for the election and each one of them represents one of the leading factions in the Majles.

According to Rouydad24 website, The three factions, namely the so-called neo-cons represented by Ghalibaf, the ultraconservative Paydari Party represented by its previous secretary general Morteza Agha Tehrani, and the hardliner conservative Sacrifice Makers group represented by Elias Naderan, come from the same political faction that calls itself Principlist, or revolutionary.

The website, which called the election "a show," was adamant in its commentary on Tuesday May 17 that like the past two years, Ghalibaf is going to win the election, and that other candidates are there only to secure a good share of Majles committees in bargaining with him.

During the past two years Paydari won the lion's share of the committees. There are two dozen committees, but the most important ones are the Budget Committee, the National Security and Foreign Relations Committee and the Article 90, which takes care of complaints and disciplinary measures. Paydari owns all three of them as well as more than a dozen other committees.

Also, nearly all of the members of the Majles presidium are Paydari members. As it has been the case before, Paydari might get involved in a series of meetings with Ghalibaf to win more key positions for supporting his reelection.

The mere fact that Ghalibaf is still standing firm as a major contestant for the post regardless of a recent scandal about his family's luxury shopping in Turkey, may be an indication that he has probably been assured by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei or his son Mojtaba. Lawmakers may receive a message in the last moment to support Ghalibaf against all odds.

During the past two days, there has been another development that reminded everyone of another scandal surrounding Ghalibaf. General Mohammad Ghaemi, the liquidation director of the IRGC-linked Yas holding, has reportedly been arrested for being implicated in a major financial corruption case also involving Ghalibaf. But this is also likely not to stop the incumbent, as rumors have it in Tehran that Ghaemi has been arrested on a complaint made by no one other than Ghalibaf.

The scandals appear to have been overshadowed by anti-government protests in many provinces triggered by rising prices. But things may change during the coming week if Paydari cannot come to terms with Ghalibaf.

According to local police, seven other people were injured in the incident, some of whom are in critical conditions. One of them succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Fars news agency said that following a verbal argument with the employees of the Property and Real Estate Department of the Mostazafan Foundation of Islamic Revolution, the former employee took a gun from his car, and held several of his colleagues at gunpoint before he started a shooting spree on the premises.

According to unconfirmed reports, the hostage taker threw a grenade inside one of the rooms of the office.

No details about the identity or motive of the hostage taker were released, and local police authorities say the incident is under investigation.

Bonyad-e Mostazafan in the Islamic Republic’s second-largest commercial enterprise that is behind the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company. It is reportedly the biggest holding company in the Middle East.

The bonyad is associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps where some of its head officials have come from.

The activists in their statement urged the government of President Ebrahim Raisi to adopt a fundamental solution to the problems that the country is currently grappling with, particularly the issue of soaring prices and very high inflation, and to reform faulty structures and change policies while showing tolerance towards protesters.

Activists also warned that suppression of protests and arresting protesters would only make the situation worse and add fuel to the fire.

Protests that began in the southwestern province of Khuzestan over a week ago triggered by a sudden jump in food prices have spread to other provinces and have continued, mainly in smaller towns. The protests have quickly taken an anti-government tone and protesters often chant slogans against authorities, including the supreme leader, the president, and the ruling clerics. In some instances, protesters have attacked local headquarters of the Basij militia of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) whose members are often deployed to suppress protesters.

In larger cities such as the capital Tehran, Mashhad, Zanjan and Shiraz security forces have displayed a heavy presence on the streets, creating an atmosphere of fear and apprehension.

So far at least six protesters have been shot, in the head or chest, by security forces in western provinces of Khuzestan as well as Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari and around one hundred have been arrested in various cities.

The global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, also said in a statement Tuesday that it is the human right of people in Iran to "organize and take part in peaceful protests free from intimidation, violence and threats of arbitrary arrest, torture and unjust prosecution”. Amnesty urged Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to “rein in security forces to prevent further bloodshed.”

Amnesty also said access to the internet is essential to protect human rights, especially during protests. “Iran’s authorities must stop the pattern of internet shutdowns used to silence people in Iran and cover their human rights violations, including by security forces.”

The global rights watchdog also urged the international community, including the UN Human Rights Council states, to pressure the Iranian authorities to stop the recurrent pattern of using lethal force and pursue accountability through an independent UN mechanism.

In exclusive comments to Iran International on Monday, a US spokesman also condemned the use of violence by security forces against protesters and supported their right to peaceful assembly. “We are witnessing brave Iranian protestors demand that their government address their concerns amid rising commodity prices and water and electricity shortages. We have also seen deeply disturbing reports of security forces firing on protesters. Again, we condemn the use of violence against peaceful protestors,” he said.

The spokesman also condemned the disruption of internet services in many cities and towns by the government who wants to prevent news reaching the world about the protests and the violence used against unarmed citizens.

Monday evening a young man, Jamshid Mokhtari, was shot dead by security forces in Jouneghan, a small town in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province. Social media reports Tuesday said the Internet had completely shut down in Jouneghan and security forces were shooting at protesters.

More Protests were reported in Golpayegan in the central province of Esfahan Tuesday where people took to the streets for the first time.