The Farda Briefing

Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, a new RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter.

I'm Hannah Kaviani, a senior broadcaster and editor at RFE/RL's Radio Farda. Here's what I’ve been following and what I’m watching out for in the days ahead.

The Big Issue

Tensions are soaring between Iran and Israel, its regional foe. This comes as Israel is suspected of carrying out a recent spate of assassinations and sabotage attacks inside the Islamic republic. Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on June 20 said the death of a Defense Ministry engineer in May was the result of "industrial sabotage," not simply an "accident," as officials previously suggested.

The New York Times reported that the engineer had been killed in a suspected Israeli drone attack. Last month, Tehran blamed Israel for the killing of an IRGC colonel outside his home in the Iranian capital and vowed revenge.

Why It Matters: Tensions have flared as negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers remain deadlocked. In the absence of a deal that would curb Iran’s sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions, Tehran has reduced its commitments and expanded its nuclear activities.

There are fears in the West that Tehran is close to amassing enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon. If Iran does acquire a nuclear weapon, Israel is likely to launch military strikes inside the Islamic republic, a worst-case scenario that could trigger a wider conflict in the region.

What's Next: In the wake of suspected Israeli assassinations and sabotage attacks, calls have grown in Iran for a tough response. Some hard-liners have advocated for military strikes against Israel. The hard-line Resalat newspaper called for a “hard blow” against Israel. Iran is likely to target Israeli citizens or interests in the region.

As Iranian rhetoric intensifies, Israel has warned its citizens not to travel to Turkey. Israel has already claimed that it has thwarted attacks against Israeli tourists in Istanbul. Some Iranian observers have cautioned that Iranian retaliation is likely to harm rather than benefit Tehran’s interests.

Stories You Might Have Missed

-- Rights activist Maryam Karimbeigi was arrested by Iranian security forces after they raided her family’s home. Karimbeigi’s brother, Mostafa, was killed in the state crackdown that followed mass street protests over the disputed 2009 presidential election. Karimbeigi was arrested on June 14, and she has been on a hunger strike since. Shahnaz Akmali, Karimbeigi's mother, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that her daughter had been under pressure by authorities as she sought justice for her brother’s death.

-- During a visit to a domestic aircraft manufacturer, President Ebrahim Raisi called on the company to intensify its efforts to build passenger planes. His comments on June 16 triggered skepticism and mockery among Iranian social media users. Due to U.S. sanctions, Iran has been unable to renew its aging fleet or import spare parts to maintain its aircraft. Days after Raisi’s comments, an Iranian-owned, U.S.-made F-14 fighter jet crashed during a military exercise, the second such incident in the past month. Tehran acquired the jets before the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

What We're Watching

Iran has been hit by near-daily protests by workers angered by soaring living costs in the Islamic republic. Authorities have tolerated some of the rallies, but they have cracked down on the teachers’ protests.

The Iranian Teachers' Union's Coordination Council said that more than 100 teachers were detained on June 16 for participating in widespread protests demanding the release of other imprisoned teachers and better working conditions. Some are still in detention, where they have launched hunger strikes. A decision by authorities to increase taxes on the private sector has led to strikes by merchants and shopkeepers at bazaars.

Why It Matters: Hamstrung by crippling U.S. sanctions and years of government mismanagement, Iran’s economy is unlikely to improve if the nuclear deal is not revived. In the meantime, discontent will grow, and more Iranians are likely to join the protests over living conditions.

As of now, teachers, pensioners and retirees, truck drivers, bus workers, taxi drivers, merchants, and shopkeepers are among those taking to the streets to vent their anger and frustration at authorities. The rallies at Iran’s bazaars, in particular, are ominous. Rallies at the markets have often been the trigger for bigger and more significant protests in the past.

That’s all from me for now. Don't hesitate to send us any questions, comments, or tips that you have by writing to newsletters@rferl.org

We invite you to check out the improved Farda website in English and its dedicated Twitter account, which showcase all of our compelling journalism from Iran. And Farda's YouTube playlist is also worth a look.

Until next time,

Hannah Kaviani

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your in-box every Wednesday.

*CORRECTION: A previous version of this article inferred that Tel Aviv is the capital of Israel. The text has been changed.

Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, a new RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter.

I'm senior correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here's what I've been following and what I'm watching out for in the days ahead.

The Big Issue

In a dramatic move, Iran has removed 27 surveillance cameras installed at its nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It came after the UN nuclear watchdog adopted a resolution submitted by the West that criticized Iran for failing to fully cooperate with the body. The censure angered Tehran, which warned of retaliation. The monitoring equipment was installed after Iran and world powers signed a nuclear deal in 2015 that significantly limited Tehran’s sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. But the accord has been on life support since then-U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions. In response, Iran has reduced its commitments and expanded its nuclear activities.

Why It Matters: Talks began in April last year to bring the United States back into the nuclear deal. But the indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Vienna have been deadlocked for months. The IAEA chief has warned that Iran’s decision to remove the surveillance cameras at its nuclear sites could deal a “fatal blow” to the protracted, complex negotiations. Without the cameras, the IAEA is unable to monitor and verify Iran’s nuclear activities, which will heighten fears in the West, where there are concerns Tehran is close to amassing enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon. The longer the cameras remain offline, the harder it will be to revive the deal.

What's Next: Iran’s escalation appears to be aimed at gaining leverage in the nuclear talks. There is the risk that the move could torpedo the negotiations, but it could also create the urgency needed to finally ink a deal. A draft deal to restore the agreement has been on the table for months, but unrelated issues have prevented the sides from pulling the trigger. Experts believe the 2015 accord is still the best solution to limit Iran’s nuclear activities.

Stories You May Have Missed

Water shortages in the central Iranian province of Isfahan led to mass protests in November 2021 and a violent government response. Farmers in the province told Radio Farda that the situation has not improved despite pledges by the government to increase water supplies. Iran has been facing water scarcity due to reduced rainfall, drought, and years of mismanagement.

Radio Farda has produced a video about the thousands of young women and girls in Iran who continue to be subjected to "virginity tests" ahead of marriage despite there being no medical basis for such examinations. Those who fail the tests could be forced to undergo hymen reconstruction, or, in some cases, have been the subject of "honor killings." The World Health Organization says seeking proof of virginity is an inhumane manifestation of violence against women with no medical justification.

What We’re Watching

Two Iranian aerospace officials have been "martyred” while on duty in separate incidents in the country, according to state media, suggesting both had been killed. Ali Kamani, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) aerospace division, was killed in a “car accident” in the city of Khomein on June 12. On the same day, state media reported that Mohammad Abdus, an employee of the Defense Ministry who worked in the field of aerospace, was “martyred" during a mission in the northern province of Semnan. The IRGC's aerospace program oversees Iran's ballistic missile program, as well as some of the country's air defenses.

Why It Matters: They are part of a series of recent assassinations and suspicious deaths of engineers and IRGC members in the Islamic republic, some of which Tehran has blamed on Israel. On May 31, Iranian aerospace engineer Ayoob Entezari died under unclear circumstances. His death came days after the mysterious passing of Ali Esmailzadeh, a senior officer in the Quds Force, the overseas arm of the IRGC, the elite branch of the country’s armed forces. State media reported that Esmailzadeh died after falling off his balcony. Another IRGC colonel, Hassan Sayad Khodaei, was killed by gunmen outside his home in Tehran on May 22, an attack blamed on Israel. Observers have said that the recent killings and unexplained deaths appear to reflect a change in Israeli policy toward Iran.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have.

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your in-box every Wednesday.

Until next time,

Golnaz Esfandiari