Iran Crisis Update, March 2, 2023
The Iranian regime has apparently failed to take measures to protect schools following 46 separate reports of chemical poisonings targeting schoolgirls throughout the country on March 1.
The regime is taking short-term measures to address economic grievances that will exacerbate Iran’s economic crisis in the long run.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian gave an interview with CNN on March 1 likely in an attempt to convince the United States to return to the suspended nuclear negotiations.
CTP did not record protest activity on March 2.
Raisi administration officials struck a conciliatory tone on March 2, and stressed the need to address deepening divides between Iranian leadership and its people.
Prominent Sunni cleric and regime critic Moulana Abdol Ghaffar Naghshbandi ‘s family stated in an interview with Radio Farda on March 2 that they are not aware of his whereabouts.
Iranian officials and state-affiliated news outlets reported on increased Russo-Iranian economic ties on March 2.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued new sanctions targeting Iranian energy exports on March 2.
Bloomberg reported on March 2 that Iran is seeking to obtain S-400 air defense systems from Russia, citing insider sources.
The US Naval Forces Central Command announced that US forces supported a UK-led interdiction of an illegal Iranain weapons shipment in the Gulf of Oman on February 23.
Iraq’s Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee went to Diyala to discuss “security breaches” likely in response to the 20 February massacre of Sunni civilians.
Former Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki is attempting to return to Iraqi politics as a major political actor.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-march-3-2023
Iran Crisis Update, March 3, 2023
Prominent Sunni cleric Moulana Abdol Hamid suggested that the Iranian regime may be responsible for or complicit in the recent chemical attacks on schoolgirls across the country.
Security forces sustained increased pressure against Abdol Hamid and his supporters for the second consecutive week, which could fuel further sectarian tensions.
President Ebrahim Raisi is expanding his efforts to deflect blame for internal crises onto Iran’s foreign enemies rather than taking personal accountability.
President Raisi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf likely remain divided on how to address and publicly discuss these internal crises.
Iran is trying to consolidate and increase its military presence in eastern Syria, likely as part of an effort to secure critical routes leading deeper into the country.
At least two protests occurred in two cities across two provinces.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-march-3-2023-0