{"id":258482,"date":"2022-05-03T08:41:58","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T07:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=258482"},"modified":"2023-02-03T12:35:27","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T11:35:27","slug":"iran-news-in-brief-may-3-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-news-in-brief-may-3-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran News in Brief \u2013 May 3, 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The new Fatemeh Zahra mosque in Ashraf 3, Albania<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS<\/h2>\n

UPDATE: 5:30 PM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tehran’s FM Doubles Down on Belligerence Concerning Vienna Talks and Regional Conflicts<\/h3>\n

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In an interview with Al-Masira, the Iranian regime’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated<\/a>: “Praying in Quds is a divine promise and the blood of the martyrs of the resistance and the Palestinian people will fulfill this promise. We are sure that we will pray in Quds soon.”<\/p>\n

“Negotiations in Vienna have not stopped, but continue in another process in order to lift the unilateral sanctions imposed on us,” he added. “Our goal in these talks is to reach a strong and lasting agreement. We called on the American side to be realistic. The lifting of all sanctions and obtaining economic guarantees are among the most important items on our negotiating agenda.”<\/p>\n

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Pentagon Press Secretary Stresses Tehran’s Malign Influence in the Middle East<\/h3>\n

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Responding to a reporter during his daily press briefing at the Pentagon, US Department of Defense spokesman John F. Kirby said: “We always look at our force protection overseas, particularly in the Middle East. And we change it routinely based on whatever the existing security threat is. I would just tell you a couple of things without getting into the specific anecdotes you cited there and I’m not going to talk about intelligence. But nobody here at the department is oblivious to the fact that Iran continues to be a malign actor in the region. They continue to support terrorist groups; they continue to develop a ballistic missile program. They obviously, even as they sit in negotiations, continue to develop certain nuclear capabilities. And they are harassing shipping and clearly pose a threat in the maritime domain. You pick it. There’s an awful lot there that Iran is doing in a malign way in the Middle East region.”<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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RSF Ranks Iran at Bottom of World Press Freedom Index<\/h3>\n

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According to its annual report on the Global Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders examined the state of journalism in 180 countries and regions, with Norway, Denmark, and Sweden topping the list. Concerning Iran, the report reads: ” Iran is one of the world\u2019s ten worst countries for press freedom, according to RSF\u2019s World Press Freedom Index, and it remains one of the most repressive ones for journalists. <\/span>As the country\u2019s media is largely controlled by the Islamic regime, the main sources of news and information come from media outlets that are based abroad. Journalists and independent media in Iran are constantly persecuted by means of arbitrary arrests and very heavy sentences handed down after grossly unfair trials before revolutionary courts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s Next for Marines in the Middle East?<\/h3>\n

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As the Pentagon focuses on eastern Europe and threats from China in the Pacific, Marines in the Middle East are reorganizing and readying themselves for the future\u2014while keeping a wary eye on Iran.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive interview with\u00a0Defense One<\/em>, the commander of Marine Corps Forces Central Command, Maj. Gen. Paul Rock, said that while the Marine footprint in the area has decreased significantly over the last few years, the service understands \u201cthat there\u2019s a fair shot that we haven\u2019t seen the last crisis or contingency in this region,\u201d and they want to be prepared for that possibility.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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Below the Radar: How an Indian Tycoon\u2019s Petrochemicals Empire Quietly Dodged Iran Sanctions<\/h3>\n

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Indian tycoon Yogesh Mehta is not shy about his success. In dozens of interviews, YouTube videos, and Twitter posts, he recounts how his hard work and ingenuity made his Dubai-based business, Petrochem, the number one chemical distributor in the Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n

But throughout the many accounts of his rise, Mehta has omitted one element of his business\u2019s operations: a hidden trade in sanctioned Iranian petrochemicals.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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UPDATE: 10:00 AM CEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iranians Honor May Day Across Three Continents<\/h3>\n

On May 2, Iranians and supporters of the Iranian Resistance around the world organized rallies to honor International Workers’ Day. While expressing their respect and solidarity with the labor movement, they held placards and pictures that exposed the Iranian regime’s systemic mistreatment of Iranian workers at home. Rallies were held in the following locations:<\/p>\n

Gothenburg and Stockholm, Sweden<\/p>\n

Toronto and Montreal, Canada<\/p>\n

Oslo, Norway<\/p>\n

Sydney, Australia<\/p>\n

Paris, France<\/p>\n