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
Iran Crisis Update, March 6, 2023
Over 110 separate student poisonings occurred throughout Iran on March 6. Some have framed these incidents as “mass hysteria.” They are not. Someone is deliberately poisoning Iranian children—we are just not sure who.
Protests erupted in Iraq against the Shia Coordination Framework (SCF)—an umbrella organization for Iran-aligned political parties.
At least nine protests occurred on March 4, at least five protests occurred on March 5, and at least nine protests occurred on March 6.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-march-6-2023-0