Iran Implies Collapse Of Deal To Buy Russia’s Su-35 Warplanes

The news was released this week in the latest recent report by Dadgostar, the news agency of US-based Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA).

Over the past decade, Iran has witnessed an alarming rate of executions with at least 4,800 individuals put to death by the Islamic Republic. The report highlights the concerning trend of an average of 10 citizens being executed every week since May of the current year alone.

Of the executed individuals, 2,196 faced drug-related charges, raising serious concerns about the use of capital punishment for offenses that do not qualify as the "most serious crimes."

Disturbingly, the report also reveals that 41 "child-criminals" were among those executed, with at least one of them being charged with drug-related offenses.

Human rights organizations have also expressed deep concern over the imminent execution of six Arab prisoners, further emphasizing the need for urgent international attention on Iran's approach to capital punishment.

HRANA, in its report, underscored that Iran, as a member of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is bound by the principle that the death penalty should only be applied to the "most serious crimes." Any deviation from this principle is considered a violation of the right to life, as stated by international law.

The announcement comes amidst concerns over potential difficulties in the development of this agreement due to protests from the Iranian side in response to a joint statement following the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue ministerial meeting.

The disagreement centers around one specific point in the joint statement, which Iranian officials believe reflects solidarity with the UAE's stance on the territorial dispute concerning three islands in the Persian Gulf, territories that Tehran considers its own. The Iranian side expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by Moscow.

However, despite the challenges, Zakharova on Thursday asserted that the process of drafting the new interstate treaty between Iran and Russia is ongoing.

Zakharova further noted that in a recent telephone conversation on July 18, the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Iran discussed the outcomes of the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue meeting.

“During the call, they reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, with a particular emphasis on respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said.

Iran’s foreign ministry summoned Russia's ambassador and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and government spokesman Ali Bahadori wrote in separate tweets that "Iran will not compromise over its national interests and territorial integrity."

However, Tehran’s official reaction to one of its most powerful allies has been meek as the regime navigates through the crisis.

The controversy surfaced when a video began circulating on social media, allegedly showing Reza Seqati engaging in a sexual act with a young man. The identity of the other individual in the video remains undisclosed.

Local media reported on Wednesday that Seqati's dismissal was attributed to "scandals". It was claimed that the decision to remove the director of the ministry's Gilan province branch was carried out under the directive of President Ebrahim Raisi’s culture minister.

The Iranian government has not yet commented and Culture Minister Mohammad Mahdi Esmaili only claimed in a video on Wednesday that he had “fired several ministry managers for their failure to adhere seriously to implementing the hijab law.”

Iran International cannot independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Seqati, who is reported to be married with three daughters, has previously been known as a staunch advocate of mandatory hijab in Gilan. In May, he had announced the launch of a hijab hypermarket in the province and had taken measures to establish a hijab exhibition in Rasht's central exhibition hall, focusing on producing clothing in line with “Iranian-Islamic culture”.

Hardliners have been looking for ways to strengthen the enforcement of hijab after their ‘morality police’ tactic of arresting women for “improper hijab” backfired with the death of Mahsa Amini last September, triggering nationwide popular protests.

London-based consultancy company Henley & Partners, which publishes rankings and reports on global mobility, investment and wealth migration trends, placed Iran on the 92nd position in its latest Henley Passport Index.

According to the company’s Global Mobility Report 2023 Q3, the ranking of the passport has risen by seven steps compared to the figure in the first quarter of this year, although the number of destinations accessible to Iranians without a prior visa has increased just by one country, reaching a total of 44.

It means that Iran’s passport grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access in 44 destinations. The index, which includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations, is updated quarterly. The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the most extensive and accurate travel information database -- and is further enhanced by Henley & Partners' research team.

Iran shares its spot with Eritrea and Sudan – both granted easy access to 44 destinations. Iran's passport is weaker that those of Congo, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Myanmar and stronger than Kosovo, Libya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and North Korea.

Before the 1979 revolution, as Iran was a fast modernizing country with a strong economy, its passport enjoyed visa-free status in most European countries, when global travel was more limited than today.

After five years of Japan's dominance, Singapore now tops the list with visa-free access to 193 destinations, similar to Germany, Italy, and Spain.

Given the fact that countries can share spots in the ranking, and although Iran is placed on the 92nd spot, there are only 14 passports worse than that of Iran. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and the Palestinian Territory sit on rock-bottom with insignificant changes since the last report.

Most of the countries with which the Islamic Republic has agreed to visa waivers or reduced entry restrictions are located in Africa or South America, such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, or former Soviet republics like Kazakhstan. Several countries, including the United States, Canada, Israel, and Morocco, still do not have an embassy or consular section in Iran.

Earlier in July, Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, the deputy in the ministry of tourism, claimed that Iran is considering the possibility of unilaterally waiving visas for 60 countries.

Over the past decade, Iranian authorities have made repeated claims regarding visa waiver agreements, including with their ally Russia. However, Russia still demands visas.

For Iranians, getting visas for developed countries, including those of the Schengen area in the European Union, has always been challenging. In recent years, the obstacles have intensified, so have the number of Iranians who seek to leave the country.

During the peak of antigovernment nationwide protests in 2022, reports emerged about certain European countries refusing to issue Schengen visas in Tehran.

Although some of these countries officially denied the reports or responsibility for such actions, sources within European embassies in Iran confirmed the reports.

In October, the French Embassy in Tehran denied the visa issuance suspension as "common rumors in the virtual space," claiming that "The problems are entirely beyond our control.” In a statement, it said "Due to internet filtering, which Iranian authorities have decided to implement, the French embassy is temporarily unable to process a large volume of files.”

The problems are not limited to Western countries. The Islamic Republic's embassy in Baku recently announced that based on a decision by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, issuing visas upon arrival for Iranian citizens has been suspended.

Apart from the difficulties in obtaining visas, Iranians also face challenges in extending their stays or accessing banking and insurance systems in the countries that allow them in with fewer restrictions.

Turkey, which has been a very popular destination for Iranians seeking refuge from uncertainties of life in Iran, has ceased issuing residence permits to Iranians based on rent contracts, which used to be a common practice in Turkey. Although official regulations have not changed, Iranians are rejected by the immigration office or at banks without providing any explanation to the applicants. 

Concerns about people fleeing Iran and possible destabilizing actions in other countries by Islamic Republic agents are prime reasons for widespread travel restrictions. Prior to the 1979 revolution, which led to the ouster of Mohammad Reza Shah, Iranians could travel without visas throughout Western Europe, with the exceptions of Austria and Switzerland.

Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani emphasized the significance of Latin American nations in Iran's foreign and defense policy. He claimed that these countries occupy a special place in Iran's strategic outlook, prompting the desire to forge closer ties with Bolivia in particular.

“In light of Bolivia's critical requirements in border defense and the fight against drug trafficking, we actively sought to establish collaborations in equipment and expertise with the country. This cooperative endeavor has the potential to serve as a pioneering model for other nations in South America,” Ashtiani said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Defense of Bolivia, Edmundo Novillo Aguilar, acknowledged his country's concerns regarding drug smuggling and border control, highlighting the importance of external cooperation to address these pressing issues effectively.

Iran's pursuit of defense partnerships in the region has raised eyebrows due to its historically opaque behavior on the international stage. There are fears that the motives behind these engagements might extend beyond genuine cooperation and could involve the export of radical ideologies and the dissemination of unconventional arms and technologies.

Of particular concern is Iran's track record of supporting extremist groups and engaging in proxy warfare in other parts of the world. There are apprehensions that Iran may seek to exploit defense cooperation with South American nations as a means to advance its interests, extend its influence, and potentially interfere in regional affairs. Its growing encroachment on the continent is of particular worry to the US.