Activists Express Dismay As Iran Sanction Bill Stalls In US Senate

Iranian media reported in November that the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution (SCCR) had renamed certain events on the official calendar including the pre-Islamic winter Festival of Yalda, which millions of Iranians celebrate on the night of December 21 when winter begins.

The council which is tasked with neutralizing non-Islamic cultural influences and ideologies, among other things, had decided that the day of the Winter Solstice be referred to as "Day of Promoting the Culture of Hosting and Connecting with Relatives” in the calendar.

Family of Mahsa (Jina) Amini, remembering their daughter on the longest night of the year. 

Many believed that this irrelevant name was an onslaught on the deep-rooted culture and customs of Iranians.

Iran's religious establishment and hardliners often refer to ancient festivals as "pagan" calendar events and sometimes even demand that they should be banned. But despite endless religious propaganda, ancient traditions appear to have gained more popularity since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In defiance of the regime, social media users vowed to celebrate their beloved festivals such as Yalda, which they celebrate with family and friends, with even more splendor and merry-making this year, and shared numerous jokes about the lengthy new names assigned to their cherished festivals.

Municipality billboard in Tehran Honoring Yalda

The public's reaction to the renaming of the ancient festivals was so strong that the Council's spokesman, Abbas Mirza Hosseini, had to deny the removal of the names of ancient festivals from the official calendar. He claimed that the new names were only complementary and emphasized the "national identity and Islamic-Iranian culture and civilization."

In the past few days, presumably in response to such criticism, IRIB, which has a monopoly on broadcasting in the country, has shown unprecedented interest in the celebration of Yalda. It has also aired some Yalda entertainment programs including one with stand-up comedian Hassan Reyvandi who had been persona non grata at IRIB for some time.

The municipality of Tehran and some other cities also displayed an unprecedented interest in honoring Yalda. A massive billboard in Tehran’s Vali Asr Square congratulated citizens for Yalda and municipality trucks decorated with balloons and mascots played music on the streets.

The family of a victim of last year’s protests, Erfan Khazaei, celebrated Yalda at his grave.

The celebration of Yalda on the night of Winter Solstice and the Iranian New Year (Nowrouz) on the day of Spring Equinox both date to ancient, pre-Islamic times. The non-Islamic Nowrouz is still the main calendar event for most Iranians. The strength of the Nowrouz tradition is such that even the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei makes a televised speech on that day.

Iranians send each other millions of text messages to congratulate Yalda just as they do on Nowruz, and increasingly more in recent years, Christmas and western New Year.

“I do not understand the resistance that some [in the religious and political establishment] show against elements that build culture and a sense of national identity,” former government spokesman, reformist politician and sociologist Ali Rabiei wrote in a commentary in Etemad newspaper Thursday entitled “The Indelible Yalda”.

Rabiei opined that introducing a new name for the festival in the calendar was an attempt to obscure the festival’s ancient roots through “historical transformation”. He also urged the regime to stop “engineering cultural calendar events”.

“The pressure of the people and public opinion has forced the Islamic regime to retreat repeatedly in the past 44 years in trying to ban music, short-sleeved clothes, video players, satellite TV, Yalda night, even Nowruz … Don't underestimate your power,” a tweet said.

The stand-in envoy, Abram Paley, said: "On this Yalda night, we want the people of Iran to know that the United States will continue to support your aspirations for a free and democratic future. We are confident that Iran will overcome this period of darkness, and that brighter days are ahead."

Matthew Miller, State Department Spokesman, also joined in marking Yalda night, saying: "On the longest night of the year, we join the people of Iran and the wider region in looking forward to brighter days ahead. Happy Yalda to all who celebrate."

Yalda night, an ancient Iranian celebration, marks the longest night of the year, observed from the last night of Autumn to the sunrise of the first Winter day in the northern hemisphere.

Celebrated in multiple countries, including Iran, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, traditions include reading Hafez poetry and enjoying pomegranates, watermelons, and assorted nuts.

The symbolic celebration underscores the victory of light over darkness. In Iran, where most are now living under the poverty line in the worst economic crisis in recent history, and oppression continues to deepen, many in Iran are feeling the country is in its darkest times.

Hassan Alidadi Kermani noted, "The population of Kerman province exceeds three million people, and there is a collective wish for everyone to have the opportunity to visit Khamenei."

However, his remarks unfold against a backdrop of growing discontent among the majority of Iranians who hold Khamenei accountable for the deaths of civilians in anti-regime protests over the past years. Kerman in particular has been a hotbed of unrest in the wake of the September 2022 uprising, sparked by the death in morality-police custody of Mahsa Amini. 

Opposition figures assert that the repressive forces, including their commanders, share responsibility for the aggression during the 2022 protests and blame Iran's Supreme Leader, Khamenei, as the central figure responsible for the atrocities and aggression.

A rights group report says that in November 2019, security forces of the Islamic Republic allegedly killed at least 3,000 protesters during demonstrations triggered by a significant fuel price hike. The protests swiftly transformed into calls for government overthrow and opposition to Khamenei. Reuters, at the time, reported 1,500 deaths.

Recent reports from rights groups shed light on the aftermath of protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in custody. The reports indicate that over 500 people, including minors, lost their lives, thousands were injured, and 22,000 were arrested. In response, the Iranian government has imposed several death sentences for demonstrators, with some already executed.

The Iranian judiciary claims the verdicts were issued through fair trials, but details were not disclosed. Concerns persist over the lack of due process, restrictions on defendants choosing their legal representation, and the overall transparency of the legal proceedings in such cases.

The only avenue open to Iran is to make deals with Chinese companies and start EV assembly, like fossil-fuel vehicles it produces.

China, dominating the global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing landscape, holds the largest market share among the top five producers in 2023. Germany and the United States trail, while France and the UK see a rise in EV production. Collectively, these nations wield substantial influence on the global EV manufacturing scene.

The recent UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, emphasized international efforts to combat climate change, with a focus on EV adoption and greenhouse gas reduction. Major EV brands like Tesla, Kia/Hyundai, and Mercedes spearhead the transition to battery power, while newcomers such as Rivian diversify the market, influencing its ongoing evolution.

In Iran, IKCO introduced the Tara EV, the country's inaugural all-electric vehicle, set for release in March 2024. Developed by IKCO's Jetco division, the Tara EV boasts a 45-kWh battery pack, providing a 300 km range on a full charge. Iran's Minister of Industry, Abbas Ali-Abadi, announced plans for three locally produced EV models by the first half of the upcoming Iranian year (beginning in March).

With ambitions for increased EV manufacturing and imports to meet rising demand, the government aims to deploy 100,000 electric taxis in key cities this year that suffer from chronic air pollution. Significant projects, including the launch of Oxygen, Iran's first all-electric car, and MAPNA group's plan for 20 EV charging stations nationwide. 

However, Iran grapples with challenges within its auto sector, encapsulated by the term "Car Mafia." This network, alleged to thrive due to the state-owned auto sector's monopoly and inadequate government oversight, faces accusations of financial wrongdoing, evading US sanctions, and contributing to mismanagement. The "car mafia" obstructs the import of reasonably priced cars, manipulating the production of pricier, inferior local vehicles. This term encapsulates various issues within Iran's auto sector, including the impeachment of the industry minister and corruption allegations, portraying it as a formidable and dishonest force negatively impacting the auto industry and vehicle quality.

China’s Dominance in Iran Future EV Market

China's dominant position in the EV industry poses a significant challenge for Iran's plans, particularly concerning the production and processing of essential minerals like cobalt. The reliance on China raises doubts about the feasibility and affordability of Iran's comprehensive EV strategy, emphasizing the need to address China's hegemony over critical minerals for a reliable supply chain.

Global concerns emerge as China's control over vital minerals triggers reactions and export restrictions, impacting the global EV supply chain. The US responds with proposed regulations to limit tax breaks for EVs using minerals or batteries manufactured in China, reflecting the international repercussions of China's dominance in the EV sector.

Despite China and Iran's intentions to collaborate on EV manufacturing, Iran faces challenges in providing sufficient electricity for EV charging amid a natural gas crisis. The gas shortage would impede widespread EV adoption, necessitating steps to encourage renewable energy, which is substantially underdeveloped in Iran.

While automobile companies in Iran claim to be jointly producing electric cars with China, studies indicate that, in the current situation, most automobile companies in Iran are not profitable. Due to government meddling, Iran's state-owned automakers suffer significant losses of $3.7 million a day, or more than $1 billion annually. These automakers battle with demand while being huge businesses, which drives up prices. The issues are made worse by mismanagement, corruption. It will need quick action at the highest governmental levels to stop the car industry from collapsing and to find solutions to its problems.

Concerns about transparency arise in the Iran-China joint development of electric vehicles (EVs), especially considering the paucity of detailed information. This lack of openness raises the possibility that certain Iranian automakers, dubbed the "car mafia," might exploit the circumstances to import EVs rather than actively supporting home production.

The potential dominance of the Chinese in Iran's EV industry and the nation's reliance on vital minerals for battery manufacture underscore the serious flaws in the partnership. The success of Iran's EV plan depends on a clear roadmap, transparent implementation, and strict regulations to counter opportunistic activities in the automotive sector.

To advance a sustainable EV policy in Iran, a commitment to openness, robust regulation, and a shift towards renewable energy sources is essential. Immediate investments in EVs and addressing transportation industry challenges are crucial, emphasizing the need for a proactive and transparent approach to ensure the success of Iran's EV plan.

According to the indictments in court proceedings on Wednesday, they were accused of five crimes including “forming groups to undermine national security,” “insulting the supreme leader” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic.”

Information received by Iran International indicates that the Islamic Republic’s judiciary has so far refused to allow Karami’s lawyer to have access to and review the accused’s file.

Mashallah Karami was arrested on August 22, 2023, one month before the first anniversary of the Iranian people's uprising, when security forces stormed his home.

Human rights organizations and advocacy groups reported that, during the same period, security forces confiscated electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones belonging to the Karami family and froze their bank cards.

Mohammad Mehdi Karami was executed on January 7, 2023, along with another protester, Mohammad Hosseini. They were accused of participating in protests and allegedly being involved in the killing of Ruhollah Ajamian, a Basij member present at the 40th-day memorial ceremony for Hadis Najafi, another victim of anti-regime protests in Karaj.

At least eight people have been executed for their involvement in nationwide protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.

Since then, the Islamic Republic has continued to harass the families of the victims of Woman, Life, Freedom protests.

Mahsa Yazdani, the mother of Mohammad Javad Zahedi, one of the casualties of Iran’s nationwide protests in 2022, has also been sentenced to 13 years in prison.