Khamenei Says Children's Toys Constitute ‘Cultural Invasion’

Parliament speaker Ghalibaf, building on policies from the Ebrahim Raisi administration, insisted in a televised debate that "regional authority" is the cornerstone of Iran’s foreign relations, a stance that may further isolate Iran internationally amidst an ongoing war led by Iran's proxies.

He said, "Our issue is Iran and Iran's positioning in international relations," suggesting a focus on strengthening the so-called 'axis of resistance, Iran's terror proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

With Hezbollah currently at war with Israel and the Houthis blockading the Red Sea region in support of Iran-backed Hamas's war with Israel in Gaza, his campaigning shows a certain continuation of Iran's warmongering.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, founded the proxies in a bid to fight Iran's archenemy Israel and the West and any presidential hopeful must be sure to align with the theocratic dictator's policies in order to succeed in the upcoming June 28 poll.

Though he did not give details of how he proposed this, the former military officer also promised to leverage negotiations to ensure the lifting of global sanctions in a way which is "real and measurable," focusing on revitalizing oil sales, banking operations, and foreign trade.

”Given that we are under sanctions, priority should be given to small companies to lift the sanctions, as they provide us with good capacities," he said, as Iran continues to find ways to evade international sanctions. Iran has been sanctioned for its ongoing nuclear program, human rights abuses and support of Russia's war on Ukraine.

The upcoming elections follow the sudden death last month of President Ebrahim Raisi who was killed in a freak helicopter crash along with his delegation.

In an op-ed for the Etemad newspaper on Sunday, Abdi stated, "the ice of boycotting the elections has not yet begun to melt.”

He added that “one should not need to provide reasons or arguments for not participating, but rather, reasons and analysis are required for deciding to participate.”

The sentiment underscores the broader public dissatisfaction that was evident during the historically low turnout in the March parliamentary elections. Many Iranians, disenchanted with continuous economic struggles and government oppression, feel alienated from the political process. Key issues fueling voter apathy include rampant inflation, crackdowns on protests and dissent, and a pervasive sense of ineffective governance.

Since 2020, the core of the clerical regime loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have barred other insider from running in elections, giving control of the parliament and the presidency to hardliners. Seeing little choice among candidates, voters have stayed away, bringing participation well below 50%.

With the presidential election approaching following the sudden death of Ebrahim Raisi in helicopter crash, the lack of enthusiasm suggests that many in Iran continue to see no value in participating in what they perceive as a flawed and predetermined electoral system. 

The system faces a challenge in convincing a disillusioned populace that their votes matter and can lead to tangible changes, a task made even more daunting in the current climate of widespread discontent and economic hardship.

Iranian state media has reported that Mohammad Mokhber called for a thorough inquiry into reports of adverse effects from the dialysis solution.

On Tuesday, Iran International TV's Titre Aval program (First Headline) revealed documents showing that peritoneal dialysis solutions produced by Samen Pharmaceutical Company, owned by US-sanctioned Astan Quds Razavi, are contaminated with aluminum. The report revealed contamination has poisoned several dialysis patients, leading to some fatalities. The Astan business conglomerate is controlled by Ali Khamenei's office.

Peritoneal dialysis is a kidney failure treatment that filters blood through the abdominal lining, requiring a surgical tube insertion into the belly.

Iran International's report featured voice messages from individuals sharing their loved ones' experiences, recounting seizures and coma-like states with decreased consciousness levels. Following the program's broadcast, another individual reported the death of a patient due to the contamination's consequences.

Iran International also published two letters regarding this issue.

The first, dated June 6, from the Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) to Samen's CEO, demanded the halt of the distribution and use of the contaminated solutions.

The second, dated June 8, from the director of the Iranian Nephrology Association, informed nephrologists across Iran about the contamination and patient poisonings. It confirmed that Samen acknowledged the contamination.

During Donald Trump's presidency, the US sanctioned Astan Quds Razavi, a robust religious-business foundation managing the Imam Reza Holy Shrine, for being controlled by Iran's Supreme Leader.

The institution enables “Iran’s elite to sustain a corrupt system of ownership over large parts of Iran’s economy,” according to the US Treasury.

Iran's late president, Ebrahim Raisi, was a former head of Astan Quds Razavi, which has extensive economic holdings in Iran. Raisi's successor, Ahmad Marvi, was also sanctioned under Executive Order 13876.

Swiftly after the Iran International report, state media reported that the Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) also said it had received reports of problems and side effects related to Samen Pharmaceutical Company's peritoneal dialysis solution. They confirmed on Wednesday that an order had been issued to stop the production, distribution, and consumption of this product's entire manufacturing series until more detailed tests were carried out in the country.

According to Hamshahri Online in Tehran, the Samen company also announced that the issue is under investigation.

This report emerges amidst significant concerns over the scarcity and escalating costs of medications in Iran, coupled with pharmaceutical companies facing bankruptcy and closure. Local media report that many common and critical hospital drugs are unavailable.

The government controls medicine imports, allocating foreign currency to public and private sector importers. However, Iran's economic challenges, worsened by numerous sanctions, have stretched the government's ability to allocate foreign currencies. Additionally, reports of widespread corruption in the pharmaceutical sector have exacerbated the current situation.

Despite these challenges in the health sector, the government continues to finance a host of armed militias throughout the Middle East, including Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah and Houthis in Yemen, in addition to its military presence in Syria.

Over the past few years, the Ministry of Health and the Red Crescent have seen numerous reports and news reports about corruption in drug imports. It has been revealed that some groups allocated government funds for medicine imports but misused these funds for other purposes.

The statement from the foreign ministry comes in the wake of a G7 statement on Friday that admonished Iran for its ongoing nuclear enrichment advancements and hinted at possible new sanctions if Tehran proceeds with the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.

"We call on Iran to stop assisting Russia’s war in Ukraine and not to transfer ballistic missiles and related technology, as this would represent a substantive material escalation and a direct threat to European security," the G7 stated.

Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said international efforts to connect Iran's nuclear activities with the conflict in Ukraine are nothing more than “biased political goals.”

Despite the tensions, Iran has continued to escalate its nuclear capabilities, as evidenced by a recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA noted that Iran has been installing additional uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Fordow facility, pushing the enrichment levels up to 60% purity—a threshold alarmingly close to the 90% required for nuclear weapons.

This level of enrichment is unprecedented for a country it claims has no plans for nuclear armament and puts Iran potentially on the brink of having sufficient material for three nuclear bombs. The UN's nuclear chief recently warned Iran is "weeks not months" away from a nuclear weapon.

The response to the G7's statement Friday from the European signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, known as the E3, was critical, asserting on Saturday that Iran's actions are undermining the landmark agreement.

This exchange, involving the release of Johan Floders, a Swedish diplomat, and Saeed Azizi, a dual-citizen, underscores Tehran’s mastery in leveraging “hostage diplomacy” to further its agenda.

Nouri was convicted for his role in the 1988 massacre of political prisoners, an event that saw thousands executed on the orders of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. His trial and subsequent conviction in Sweden were recognized as a significant step for international justice. However, his return to Iran in a political exchange undermines these achievements and could potentially embolden other regimes globally.

The decision by Sweden to acquiesce to Iran’s demands sends a message that hostage-taking can be perceived as an effective strategy. Sweden’s decision may encourage more kidnappings and unlawful detentions. This development could embolden not only Iran but also other regimes and organizations, demonstrating that democratic nations can be coerced into compromising their principles and judicial decisions. By negotiating Nouri’s return, Sweden has compromised the integrity of international justice and signaled that political considerations can override judicial outcomes.

Iranian government’s tactics are not new. Since its establishment, the clerical regime has shown a willingness to use extreme measures to achieve its goals, including the suppression of political dissidents and the use of state-sponsored violence. The 1988 massacre is one of the most egregious examples of this, with over 5,000 political prisoners executed in a matter of two months. By negotiating Nouri’s return, Sweden has not only failed the victims of these atrocities but also risked the safety of individuals and the stability of international relations.

A historical precedent that underscores the danger of such concessions is the Mykonos trial in Germany. On September 17, 1992, four Iranian-Kurdish dissidents were murdered. The court concluded that the highest levels of the Iranian government, including then-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, had approved the assassinations. The trial also exposed the involvement of Iran's embassy in Germany and its diplomats, such as Seyed Hossein Mousavian. This trial highlighted the extent to which the Islamic Republic (IRI) would go to silence its opponents, even on foreign soil.

Despite the significant verdict in the Mykonos trial, Germany eventually sent back one of the convicted perpetrators, Darabi, to Iran after 15 years in prison. His return was celebrated by the government in Iran, where he was interviewed by state media and published a book. This action emboldened the IRI, leading to renewed threats against the Iranian diaspora and terrorist activities in Europe. This concession nullified the EU's agreement to halt such activities with Iran.

A glaring example of this renewed aggression was the case of Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat arrested on June 10, 2018, in Germany. Assadi was accused of involvement in an attempted bombing at a gathering of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Villepinte, north of Paris. Although Assadi was entitled to diplomatic immunity in Austria, his country of posting, he did not have immunity on German soil. Despite Iran's objections, which claimed the detention violated international law and the 1961 Vienna Convention, Assadi was arrested while returning to Austria, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding state-sponsored terror activities.

Assadi was extradited to Belgium, where the conspiracy had been taking shape and eventually convicted, but in May 2023 Brussels decided to exchange him with another hostage. Iran released Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who had been incarcerated in Tehran for nearly 15 months.

This pattern of using hostage-taking as an act of terror was further exemplified on October 7, when Hamas, a group backed by the IRI, kidnapped more than 200 Israelis, including civilians, women, children, and the elderly, and took them to Gaza. This violation of the rules of combat shows the extent to which such groups are willing to go, knowing they can use innocent lives as bargaining chips in negotiations. This act underscores the dangerous precedent set by Sweden’s decision and the emboldening of regimes and organizations to continue such practices.

Sweden’s decision to return Hamid Nouri, despite his conviction for crimes against humanity, risks emboldening the IRI further. It indicates to other regimes that such activities might not face significant consequences. The Mykonos trial and subsequent events should have served as warnings and calls to action for stricter measures against state-sponsored terrorism. Yet, recent developments suggest that lessons from the past have not been fully heeded.

The international community must take a firm stance against hostage diplomacy. This involves refusing to negotiate with regimes that use such tactics, imposing stringent sanctions, and taking diplomatic action against them. Furthermore, democratic nations must collaborate to ensure that perpetrators of crimes against humanity face justice, regardless of political pressures. This means upholding the principles of universal jurisdiction and supporting judicial decisions made in good faith and through fair legal processes.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the views of Iran International