Iran news in brief, February 8, 2018

Iran news in brief, February 8, 2018

1- Security forces attack peaceful gathering near Isfahan’s Zayanderud River

Security forces attacked a peaceful gathering by hundreds of people including teachers near the Zayanderud River in the central city of Isfahan.

The protesters had come out to demand that the government refrain from once again diverting Zayanderud’s water to other areas which had left the river completely dry.

Report indicate that many of the protesters were Isfahani teachers who had asked all resident of Isfahan to join the rally.

According to reports, security forces attacked the peaceful rally with tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowds. The protesters chanted “Don’t be afraid, we’re all together” and “We are teachers not criminals” in return.

The protesters chanted, “Our enemy is right here; they lie when they say it’s the US”, meaning that the people believe that their enemy is the regime and not the US. 

2- Prison authorities attack religious minority inmates

Anti-riot units and prison authorities attacked religious minority inmates in Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, west of Tehran. This raid, taking place Wednesday morning, involved units equipped with anti-riot gear and tear gas attacking Hall 21 of Ward 7 in this prison. The brave Sunni prisoners courageously showed resistance as authorities intended to force an inmate by the name of Mr. Towhid Ghoreishi to attend a court trial.

The anti-riot units used tear gas and attacked the inmates using batons. The legs of a number of the inmates were broken in this attack. Ghoreishi and Mr. Hamzeh Darwish were left in critical conditions.

The Iranian regime is known and widely condemned for its long record of human rights violations, especially against religious and ethnic minorities.

3- Security Forces Arrest Ahvazi Arabs For Alleged Assisting Flood Victims

Security forces arrested three Ahvazi Arabs on Wednesday, taking them to an unknown location.

The state security forces arrested Sahab Siahi and Ahmad Siahi on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

On the same day security forces arrested Nabi Saedi, a young Ahwazi poet and critic of the regime’s economic policies.

Local sources said that the three were arrested for assisting families affected by a recent flooding in the region.

4- U.S. Assails Iranian Space Program After Reports Of Second Failed Launch

The United States has again accused Iran of developing and testing ballistic missiles in “defiance of the international community” after reports of a second failed space launch by Tehran in less than a month.

In a statement late on February 7, the State Department asserted that space launch vehicles “use technologies that are virtually identical and interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles, including in Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).”

The attempted launch earlier on February 7 “furthers Iran’s ability to eventually build such a weapon that threatens our allies,” it added.

Two satellite imagery companies released photos that suggested Iran had attempted a second launch of a satellite after the failure of another lift-off in January.

5- US slaps sanctions on Turkish businessman for dealing with Iran

The United States slapped sanctions on a Turkish businessman on Thursday for violating US sanctions on Iran.

Evren Kayakiran, 39, was the managing director from 2013-2015 of a Turkish company that distributes motion control products, the Treasury Department said in a statement.

It said the Turkish firm, Elsim, had been acquired by a US company, Kollmorgen Corp., in 2013, making it subject to US sanctions on Iran.

Elsim violated US sanctions by sending employees to Iran to service machines under the guise that they were on vacation there, the Treasury Department said.