Just Access Campaign Launches
September 15, 2013
#Iran — Is Rouhani The One
September 30, 2013
Arseh Sevom — As we were getting ready to post this week’s review, we heard the good news that Nassrin Sotoudeh and eight other political prisoners had been released from prison. Author Pejman Majidzadeh’s nose must really be filled with the smell of change now. In this week’s review, he introduces the JUST ACCESS campaign against the unintended effects of economin sanctions. The US Treasury department has issued two new general licenses for humanitarian aid and amateur athletic events. We read of a letter exchange between Obama and Rouhani. Iran’s beleagured House of Cinema has now been reopened. The case of the house-imprisoned Green Movement leaders is finally going to court. The Supreme Leader hints at better relations between the US and Iran. Iranians wonder what happened to two billion dollars in oil revenues.
By Peyman Majidzadeh
Hand in Hand to Reduce Unintended Effects of Sanctions
International sanctions against Iran have been planned to target specific groups and individuals, yet they have caused suffering in the lives of ordinary people as well. People with certain diseases including hemophilia and thalassemia had an especially difficult time obtaining medication. The costs for many medical services and drugs has become prohibitively expensive. People in do not have access to a number of non-sanctioned items. Of course, those who imposed the sanctions state they did not intend such side effects, but the collateral damages of this silent war coupled with domestic mismanagement have undoubtedly taken lives.
Together with a group of human rights activists and organizations, Arseh Sevom has launched an international campaign in an attempt to offset the unwanted effects. JUST ACCESS asks the European Union to create a payment channel so that Iranian people can purchase non-sanctioned items such as medication and humanitarian goods. Sign the petition and help those who need your help, today.
U.S. Department of Treasury Takes Positive Steps
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) officially announced the issuance of two promising licenses. According to the report, General License E allows Iranian nongovernmental organizations to transfer services and funds for the purpose of certain not-for-profit humanitarian activities related to humanitarian projects to meet basic human needs. General License F makes it legal to import and export certain services in support of professional and amateur sporting activities and exchanges between US and Iran. These licenses ease the situation and keep up the hopes for change.
Obama and Rouhani Exchanged Letters
On Monday, September 16, most Iranian newspapers dedicated their cover pages to the Obama-Rouhani correspondence. According to Shargh Newspaper [fa], Barak Obama confirmed on Sunday, September 15 that there had been correspondence between him and Hassan Rouhani. The Iranian Foreign Minister also confirmed the correspondence, adding: “We don’t want to speak about the content of the letters.” Iranian high-ranked officials have previously sent letters to Obama, but it is the first time that he has answered to them. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent two letters to the US President, both unanswered.
If you are into satire, see how Barack and Hassan became pen pals!
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty [en] also reported on direct talks between British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. The two countries have stated they intend to revive diplomatic relations. Do you smell change? I do.
House of Cinema Reopened
According to BBC Persian [fa], Iranian authorities allowed House of Cinema to reopen approximately two years after its closure. Deputy Culture Minister Hojjatollah Ayoubi said on September 12 that the reopening of the House shows support for film by the government. He also said that when an institute is registered, it becomes a legal entity and the Culture Ministry is not entitled to dissolve it.
The House of Cinema was closed by the order of the Culture Ministry in early 2012 under Ahmadinejad’s presidency, saying it lacked a legal basis for operations.
The Curious Case of Babak Zanjani
Babak Zanjani’s name has gone viral on social media. The famous Iranian businessman confessed he helped the Iranian government sell oil. He also confirmed helping Iranian citizens transfer billions of dollars from other countries. Zanjani owns a large number of international companies, including an airline and a soccer team.
Recently, Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh claimed that the billionaire businessman owes the Iranian treasury two billion dollars. Zanganeh stated that Zanjani has not yet returned the amount. He quoted Zanjani as saying that the money has been deposited in his account, but the account has been blocked by the US.
The story did not end there and one day later Zanjani denied Zanganeh’s words, BBC Persian [fa] reported. He posted a video on Youtube and said that the money is in an account belonging to a company affiliated with the Oil Ministry and he is not responsible for the issue. To be continued?!
Supreme Leader Prescribes Hero’s Leniency in Foreign Relations
In a leader’s vocabulary, every single word holds meaning. This is especially true when we are talking about Iran’s Supreme Leader. On Tuesday 17 September, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his meeting with high-ranked commanders of the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guards:
“I’m not opposed to proper moves in diplomacy, and I still believe in what I named years ago as champion’s leniency”
By referring to “champion’s or hero’s leniency” he invoked the subtitle of a book he translated from Arabic many years ago. The book is named Imam Hassan’s Peace. It explains how the second Shia Imam entered an agreement with his enemy 14 centuries ago. The message is clear, isn’t it?
Analysts argue that Khamenei has clearly showed that the new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has the authority to directly talk with the US and the West on Iran’s nuclear case. Some days earlier, Rouhani announced the possibility of Iran entering to nuclear talks in New York in the following weeks. It seems that Iran well knows this is the best way to remove international sanctions.
Mousavi and Karroubi: New Hope for Release
It’s been more than two years since Green Movement leaders Mousavi, Karroubi and Rahnavard have been held under house arrest, with minimum access to the outside world. Lately, they have been given more opportunities to visit their families. On Wednesday, September 11, Karroubi’s son, Mohammad Taghi, told the Guardian [en] that the Supreme Leader has agreed to send their case to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. This can be considered progress in their situation, especially because their unclear and unlimited house arrest sentence is not the result of a trial.
However, they lack international support. On Monday 16 September, Reuters [en] reported that a U.S. web hosting company has shut down Karroubi’s website. It seems that international sanctions are not smart enough!
