US Issues Seventh Round of Sanctions Against Iran-Backed Houthis

Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said Monday that diplomatic actions have been taken since the moment they were informed of Biazar’s arrest, without elaborating further.

“The Foreign Ministry and the Iranian Embassy have been actively following up on his case through diplomatic notes and phone calls,” he noted, adding that the ministry has also discussed his release with the French ambassador in Tehran, Nicolas Roche.

Biazar, who was in charge of the state TV’s music office, is currently in administrative detention—a procedure utilized for urgent deportation cases under French law.

Sources informed Iran International on Friday that the deportation process for Biazar is in progress following his detention. While Iranian officials assert that his arrest is linked to his anti-Israel activities, sources have disclosed to Iran International that he is facing multiple security-related charges. The nature of these charges is not clear, although in similar cases in the past Iranian diplomats and government employees abroad were found to have had links with Tehran's security and intelligence organs.

Biazar has resided in France since 2022 on a long-term family visa due to his wife’s residency. Prior to his arrest, he posted a video of his speech at the UN Human Rights Council last November, in which he criticized Israel and the sanctions imposed on Iran. Previously living in London, Biazar Identified himself as the secretary of the Iran-backed Islamic Student Association of London in interviews with Iran’s state-run outlets such as the IRGC's Tasnim News Agency. He was later forced to leave the UK.

This incident comes amidst the ongoing imprisonment of several French citizens in Iran, including Cécile Kohler, Jacques Paris, and Louis Arnaud.

Reaction To GCC Statement

Elsewhere in his press briefing, Kanaani rejected a statement issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Sunday, reiterating concerns over Iran's nuclear program and support for the UAE’s claim on three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, as well as Kuwait’s and Saudi Arabia’s claim over a disputed oil and gas field in the Persian Gulf.

"The Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb are an inseparable and eternal part of the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Kanani emphasized. "Any claim to the three islands is an interference in Iran's internal affairs and territorial integrity, and we strongly condemn it."

On Sunday, the foreign ministers of the GCC issued a statement following their meeting in Doha, expressing their support for "the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates over the three islands.”

The UAE, which claims sovereignty over the three islands in the Persian Gulf, has on several occasions called for the matter to be referred to the International Court of Justice in The Hague in recent decades.

Since the British withdrew from what is now the UAE in 1971, the three islands in the Persian Gulf have been disputed. That year, Iran's then-monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah, ordered the country's navy to occupy all three islands. Iranian forces continue to be stationed there, with only Abu Musa having a significant civilian population of several thousand.

Additionally, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia insist that Iran has no right over Arash/al-Durra maritime field in a shared area, asserting their “exclusive” right over the field. Called Arash in Iran and Durra or Dorra by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- the offshore field was discovered in 1967 and is estimated to have a total proven reserves of around 310 million barrels of oil and 20 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Iran claims any development without its consent breaks international laws, as 40 percent of the field is located in its territorial waters. However, Saudi Aramco Gulf Operations Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022 with Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC) to develop the joint gas field, leaving Iran out of the project. Outraged by the snub, Iran keeps saying it has a stake in the field and calls the Saudi-Kuwaiti agreement "illegal".

In its statement, the GCC also expressed concern over Iran's nuclear program, stressing the importance of Tehran’s commitment not to exceed its uranium enrichment to weapons-grade.

At the end of every summit, the GCC issues a similar statement, which contains several clauses related directly to Iran, the Iranian nuclear program, and the UAE's claim over the three islands as well as the joint gas field. Last month, China’s backing for the statement prompted Iran to summon Beijing’s envoy.

“We are prepared to use all elements of power to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” US top National Security Council arms control official Parnay Vaddi said, stressing that “dealing” with Iran’s nuclear ambitions is not easy, and that the US must also set the conditions for future diplomacy with Tehran.

Vaddi’s intervention comes at a time of increased pressure on Iran to come clean with its nuclear program. Less than a day before his speech at the Arms Control Association (ACA) conference in Washington DC, three European powers (France, Germany and the UK), known as the E3, wrote to the UN Security Council, detailing Iran's violations of its 2015 nuclear deal.

The letter is based on the most recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and seems to be an attempt by the E3 to pressure the authorities in Iran to resolve the issue diplomatically and avoid UN sanctions.

Iran has rejected the E3 advance, arguing that it has the right to expand its nuclear work since the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or the JCPOA in 2018.

Earlier in the week, the E3 managed to push a resolution critical of Iran at the IAEA board meeting, despite reservations from the Biden administration, which fears that Iran could retaliate by accelerating its nuclear activity or by encouraging its proxies to resume or ramp up attacks on American forces across the Middle East.

In a notable policy shift Friday, Vaddi indicated that the United States might need to deploy more strategic nuclear weapons in the coming years to deter threats from "adversaries," mentioning Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

"Absent a change in adversary arsenals, we may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required,” Vaddi told the Arms Control Association, outlining a more “competitive” approach. “We need to be fully prepared to execute if the president makes that decision,"

Only a year ago, the US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told the same group that there was no need to increase US strategic nuclear arms deployments to counter the arsenals of Russia and China, offering talks "without preconditions."

The US currently observes a limit of 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads, as set by the 2010 New START treaty with Russia, despite the latter suspending its participation last year in response to US support for Ukraine

Vaddi on Friday also highlighted increased cooperation among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which the US officials say threatens global peace and stability. This collaboration includes sharing advanced missile and drone technology, as evidenced by Russia's use of Iranian drones and North Korean artillery in Ukraine and Chinese support for Russia's defense industries.

US nuclear doctrine, Vaddi explained, reserves nuclear weapons for deterring attacks by adversaries on the US and its allies and partners. However, if adversaries continue to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons, the US. will have no choice but to adjust its posture and capabilities to preserve deterrence and stability.

The Biden administration has been trying to modernize the US arsenal while remaining committed to international arms control. President Biden has pledged continued compliance with the deployment limits set by the New START treaty as long as Russia observes them.

Brandstätter's stance includes pushing for the designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, a label he believes will impact Iran’s operational capabilities.

Last month, Brandstätter urged the European Union to implement sanctions against the IRGC, reflecting growing concerns within the EU about Iran’s role in global security threats.

The IRGC, known for its substantial role in quashing dissent through its regular forces and the Basij militia, has been instrumental in suppressing protests and public activities within Iran.

The United States officially designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019, based on its involvement in terrorist operations globally. Following suit, the United Kingdom last year acknowledged Iran, with its active IRGC components, as one of the country's most significant foreign threats, having thwarted multiple IRGC-led plots on British soil, especially on Iran International journalists.

The potential classification of the IRGC as a terrorist entity by the EU could alter European-Iranian trade dynamics, given that the IRGC is estimated to control over 50% of Iran's economy.

"Iranians are grappling with unprecedented challenges as their currency faces massive devaluation, ranking among the world's least valuable, despite the nation's abundant natural resources, such as gas and oil," said the top religious leader of Iran’s largely Sunni Baluch population during his Friday prayer sermons in Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchestan.

The statement comes amid upcoming snap presidential elections, called following the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19. Mohammad Mokhber has since assumed the role of acting president.

The outspoken cleric emphasized the nation's desire for freedom and women's demand for equal rights, pointing to the failure of both "reformist" and conservative factions to fulfill these aspirations.

“Despite their promises, the previous administrations failed to deliver. Reformists also failed to bring about a meritocracy system,” he said. “We talked to the fundamentalists [conservatives] about national and regional problems, but they didn't show any real commitment to solving them.”

In his critique of past administrations, Abdolhamid highlighted their constrained authority, asserting that "affairs are overseen from elsewhere," likely referring to Supreme Leader Khamenei's ultimate control over decisions, and raised concerns regarding the state's transparency and accountability.

“The previous administration [under Hassan Rouhani] pledged to appoint 10 Sunni ambassadors, having received nominations from us for these positions. However, the Foreign Minister said that decision-making powers were not solely within their jurisdiction, and other institutions are involved in the decision-making,” Abdolhamid said.

Khamenei and his supporters have largely hesitated to acknowledge the economic strain on the country.

Pointing to the "weight of responsibilities" inherent in the role of president, the outspoken cleric questioned the candidates, asking if they have considered strategies to address the pressing issues facing the country, issues that have contributed to a rise in suicides.

Abdolhamid's views seem to align with many critics who consider the Iranian presidency to be more of a symbolic post. With significant decisions made at Khamenei's headquarters.

The incoming president, set to be elected by the end of June, faces the challenge of addressing escalating economic woes exacerbated by ongoing oil export and banking restrictions due to international sanctions. These sanctions primarily stem from Iran's advancing nuclear program and financial support for terrorist groups, like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Kazem Gharibabadi, head of the Judiciary's Human Rights Headquarters, labeled the network as "terrorist" on social media platform X and issued threats against its employees.

Calling the news network a "puppet of the Zionist regime," Gharibabadi said that the Islamic Republic has designated the channel as a "terrorist" entity and is "pursuing its agents and associates."

The official further implied that Iran International sought help from human rights organizations to reduce Iran's pressure on them.

His comment come a week after five UN experts condemned transnational violence, "death threats, and intimidation against Iran International staff."

The UN experts were clear about their perception of the threat. “We are deeply alarmed that death threats and intimidation against Iran International staff escalated into the violent stabbing of journalist Pouria Zeraati outside his home in London on 29 March 2024."

In reaction to the UN experts’ statement, Kazem Gharibabadi did not deny Islamic Republic’s threats against the channel.

He said that Iran International TV “has appealed to human rights mechanisms in hopes of reducing Iran's pressure, unaware that we will not appease terrorists!”

Zeraati, one of the network’s television hosts and journalists, was stabbed outside his home in London in March, prompting British police to launch a counterterrorism investigation.

A spokesman for the network said, "Iran International TV stands as a beacon of independent journalism, dedicated to delivering accurate and unbiased information. The network prides itself on upholding the highest principles of journalism, ensuring that its reporting remains fair and impartial."

The spokesman said the pressures will not have any impact on Iran International’s work and its reporting.

The mission is to provide comprehensive news coverage to Iranians both within the country and abroad, the spokesman added. "This commitment is reflected in the channel's rigorous approach to news gathering and reporting, which includes timely updates and in-depth analysis of key developments in Iran and around the world."

Last year, Scotland Yard disclosed that police and MI5 had foiled 15 plots since the start of 2022 to either kidnap or kill UK-based individuals perceived as “enemies of the Iranian regime.”

The five special UN rapporteurs urged the Iranian authorities to “refrain from violence, threats and intimidation against Iran International and its staff, online and offline, and other journalists and media workers reporting on Iran from abroad.”

The threats faced by Iran International and its staff from Iranian authorities and their proxies are intended to silence critical media reporting on Iran, the experts assert.

Since its founding, the network and its journalists have endured threats, but these reportedly surged dramatically after the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests erupted across Iran in 2022.

After multiple threats from Tehran, Iran International was temporarily forced to relocate its broadcasting activities to the US in 2023. The broadcaster has since resumed its work from a studio in the UK.

In 2022, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) orchestrated an assassination plot targeting two Iran International news presenters, Fardad Farahzad and Sima Sabet. The plan initially involved a car bomb but was later foiled by a double agent working for a Western intelligence agency.

The following year, Iran International journalist Kian Amani was physically and verbally assaulted by a member of Iran’s delegation to the United Nations at a hotel in New York.

The experts also asserted that the threats emanating from Iran were part of a broader pattern of attacks against Persian language media and dissidents abroad, including journalists working for BBC News Persian, Deutsche Welle, Voice of America, IranWire, and Radio Farda.