Iran Approves Harsh ‘Hijab Bill’
- The “hijab and chastity” bill passed overwhelmingly in parliament and would establish punishments ranging from fines to imprisonment for violating the dress code (Al Jazeera)
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Iran’s War With Israel and the United States
Qatari Officials Hold Bilateral Meetings With United States, Iran
- Reuters reported the meetings discussed U.S. concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and military links to Russia (Reuters)
Five Formerly Detained Americans Arrive on U.S. Soil Following Deal With Iran
- Five Americans formerly detained in Iran were freed after the completion of a deal yesterday that also saw $6 billion in Iranian assets unfrozen and the United States drop charges against five Iranians (NYT)
- The deal follows years of indirect negotiations during a tense time in U.S.-Iran relations (CNN)
Monetary Transfer Triggers U.S.-Iran Prisoner Exchange
- Iran’s foreign ministry said that a prisoner swap of five detainees each between Iran and the United States would move forward today after previously frozen Iranian funds had arrived in Qatari banks, Iranian state media reported; the $6 billion is slated to be used for purchase of non-sanctioned goods, such as food and medicine (WaPo)
UN Criticizes Iran for Barring Several Inspectors
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) denounced Iran’s de-designation of some of the IAEA’s most experienced inspectors as “disproportionate and unprecedented;” Iran, however, is within its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (Al Jazeera)
Iran, Saudi Arabia Exchange Ambassadors For the First Time Since 2016
- The states resumed bilateral engagement in March after a period of hostile relations (Al-Monitor)
AP: UN Found Iran Has Eased Weapons-grade Enrichment
- A report published by the UN nuclear agency found that Iran has eased its weapons-grade enrichment of uranium; its stockpile is now growing at its slowest pace since 2021 (AP)
Iranian Military Delegation Visits Moscow
- The visitors arrived to discuss ground cooperation between the two militaries, Russian state media reported; the West has placed sanctions on both countries and accused Iran of selling drones to Russia for the war in Ukraine, a claim that Iran denies (Reuters)
Iran Detains Activists Ahead of Anniversary of Mass Protests
- Authorities detained at least twelve women’s rights activists ahead of next month’s anniversary to mark one year since the start of women-led, anti-government protests, human rights groups and the Iranian media said (NYT)
Iran’s Foreign Minister Visits Saudi Arabia
- This is his first visit since a China-brokered rapprochement between the two countries in March restored diplomatic ties after they were severed in 2016; during the visit, officials are expected to discuss bilateral ties and regional relations (AFP)
U.S. Asks Iran to Stop Supplying Russia With Armed Drones
- The request was made ss part of ongoing informal talks with Iran this year (FT)
Iran Moves Five Americans to House Arrest in Preparation for Deal
- The transfer of the Americans from Evin Prison is the first step in a deal that reportedly includes a prisoner swap and Iran gaining access to some $6 billion in U.S.-sanctioned bank funds for humanitarian purposes (Al-Monitor)
U.S. Force Enters Suez Canal, Red Sea in Effort to Counter Iran Ship Seizures
- The 3,000-person strong force is part of a U.S. effort to deter Iran from seizing commercial ships in the Persian Gulf area and includes aircraft, helicopters, and amphibious landing equipment (Al-Monitor; Al Jazeera)
U.K. Mulls Terrorist Listing for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
- As British officials grow wary of Iran’s threat to national security, the government is split over whether to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, with some fearing Iranian retaliation (FT)
- Meanwhile, Iran has ordered psychiatric treatment for women who violate hijab laws and promoted a U.S.-sanctioned prosecutor general to supreme court chief (AFP; France 24)
Iran Invites UAE President to Visit Tehran
- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi invited Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan for an official visit in the near future, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported; Iran appointed its first ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in seven years in April as part of its warming ties with Gulf states (Reuters)
- Meanwhile, a two-day nationwide office shutdown in Iran has raised concerns of power shortages (Al Jazeera)
Iranian Navy Unveils New Ships During Military Exercise
- State media reported the new ships are stocked with 370-mile range missiles; last month, the United States sent additional planes and a warship to monitor the Gulf in light of Iran seizing commercial shipping vessels (Reuters)
- Meanwhile, Iran began military drills to demonstrate its preparedness to defend three disputed islands that the UAE claims (Al Jazeera)
Iran Says Saudi Rapprochement with Israel Would Harm Regional Peace
- The statement comes a day after Iran promised to “pursue its rights” in a natural gas field dispute with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, highlighting early challenges to the improvement of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia (Al Jazeera; Reuters)
Iran Begins Military Exercises Amid Heightened Gulf Tensions
- After the United States announced it would boost its military presence to counter Iranian activity in the Persian Gulf, Iran today began annual air force drills that it says demonstrate its military capabilities (VOA)
- Meanwhile, attackers killed four police officers in the southern Sistan-Baluchistan province, a hotbed of unrest (VOA)
U.S. Increases Military Presence in Persian Gulf Following Iranian Seizures
- The Biden administration approved sending marine and air units to the Gulf in response to a series of Iranian seizures of commercial tankers, U.S. officials said; Iran has been ramping up retaliation against U.S. confiscation of sanctioned oil headed to East Asia (Al-Monitor)
United States Bans Fourteen Iraqi Banks Linked to Iran Dollar Trade
Iran’s Morality Police Resume Enforcement of Hijab Laws
- The patrols were paused amid nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody for violating the laws in late 2022 (BBC)
Additional U.S. Fighter Jets to Patrol Persian Gulf
- The United States announced that F-16s will bolster existing operations to monitor the area as Iran has stepped up attempted seizures of oil tankers (Al Jazeera)
Iranian President Begins Three-Country Africa Tour in Kenya
- Iran and Kenya signed pledges to cooperate in areas including technology, investment promotion, and livestock promotion (Nation Africa)
- Tehran has touted the tour as a “new beginning” in Iran-Africa relations, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will next travel to Uganda and Zimbabwe (The National)
- Meanwhile, Iran summoned the Russian ambassador over a joint statement issued by Moscow and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that called for negotiations over three islands that Iran claims as “inseparable” parts of its territory (AP)
U.S. Intelligence: Iran Not Actively Developing Nuclear Weapons
- A new report reiterates that though Iran has resumed activities that would help it build a nuclear weapon, there is no indication that it is yet pursuing a bomb; U.S. efforts to reach a deal with Iran have been complicated by the suspension of its Iran envoy Rob Malley (AP)
Militants Attack Police Station in Southeast Iran, Killing Two
- The militant group Jaish al-Adl, or Army of Justice, claimed responsibility, accusing the police station in Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchistan province, of perpetrating one of the bloodiest crackdowns on protesters during demonstrations in late 2022 (NBC; Reuters)
- Separately, Iran publicly executed the two men accused of killing thirteen and injuring forty in an attack on a shrine in Shiraz for which the Islamic State claimed responsibility (CNN)