Iran Update, April 12, 2023
Reuters reported that the IRGC brought weapons and military equipment into Syria under the guise of earthquake relief, confirming CTP’s longstanding assessment that Iran exploited the February 6 earthquake to move advanced weaponry and military equipment into Syria.
The Iranian regime’s insufficient supply of the chemical compound ammonium perchlorate (AP) may have delayed expected Iranian missile shipments to Russia.
Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Abbas Mousavi met with Azerbaijani Presidential Assistant Hikmat Hajiyev on April 12, likely to discuss the rising tensions between Tehran and Baku during recent months.
The Assad regime is beginning to normalize diplomatic relations with multiple Arab countries and regional organizations.
CTP did not record protest activity that met its reporting thresholds on April 12. CTP also did not record any student poisoning incidents on April 12.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-april-12-2023
Iran Update, April 13, 2023
A senior delegation from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)—a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)—traveled to Iraq, highlighting the growing Iranian influence there and potential for Baghdad to become a central node in the Iran-led Axis of Resistance.
IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported that President Ebrahim Raisi may soon dismiss Industry, Mines, and Trade Minister Reza Fatemi Amin.
Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian participated in a quadrilateral meeting on Afghanistan with his Chinese, Russian, and Pakistani counterparts in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji traveled to Caracas, Venezuela to visit Venezuelan state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) facilities and meet with his Venezuelan counterpart Pedro Tellechea.
CTP recorded no protests in Iran.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-april-13-2023