Borrell Urges Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Regional De-Escalation In Call With Iran FM

“[Prime Minister] Albanese’s government should expel the ambassador. There shouldn't be an embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Australia at the moment,” AJA CEO Robert Gregory said in an interview with Iran International’s Alireza Mohebbi.

The call comes after the Islamic Republic’s Ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, posted a series of tweets on X (formerly known as Twitter).

In one of his tweets Sadeghi said humanity had no choice but to put "an end" to Israel, calling it “the most notorious killing machine in current world history.

The posts followed Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, where thousands of gunmen killed around 1,200 Israelis and foreigners. It was the worst loss of life in a single day since Israel's founding in 1948. More than 240 people were taken hostage.

In retaliation, Israel declared war on the militant group. Since then, the numbers compiled by Gaza’s Ministry of Health, run by Hamas, says Israeli strikes have killed around 30,000 people since.

The Iranian Ambassador has used his official X account to post numerous images of what appeared to be dead children – along with violent rhetoric against Israel throughout this recent conflict.

Although the Australian government condemned Iran’s ambassador for the posts, Gregory criticized the Prime Minister of Australia for offering "mere words of condemnation" regarding anti-Semitism.

The tit-for-tat military attacks between Israel and Iran last month further fueled tensions between the AJA and the Islamic Republic's embassy in Australia.

On April 13, Iran launched 300 missiles and combat drones in retaliation for Israel's April 1 air strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus. Six days later, a suspected Israeli attack hit the central part of an air defense system at an Iranian air base in Isfahan. No casualties were reported.

Following the latest confrontation, AJA published a statement “welcoming” the Israeli attack.

"While [Iran’s] attack may have largely failed, there is no doubt that it was intended to kill thousands of innocent people,” the statement read, drawing anger from Iran's ambassador to Australia, who called AJA a “demon Zionist lobby.”

AJA’s statement further stressed the distinction between the Iranian people and the regime. It urged the international community to support the people of Iran to “overthrow the monsters who oppress them.”

“The reported Israeli attack, if we have a look at just how calculated just how precise it was, we can see that it was not intended to hurt the Iranian people at all. It was directed at the regime in such a precise way and to send such a strong message that Israel can strike where it wants to,” AJA CEO told Iran International.

“We're calling for a strong response because the nuclear weapons program of the Islamic Republic of Iran is illegal. And we think action needs to be taken,” the AJA CEO explained to Iran International.

The Australian government has been urged to take a more rigid stance against Iran amid escalating tensions with Western nations due to reported intimidation tactics and claims that it funds Hamas.

In March, the Australian government was accused of concealing the danger posed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) by withholding documents regarding the backstory to the reversal of its decision to proscribe the state-backed terrorist group.

Shakarami became an icon of the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising after her death in 2022 amid the nationwide protests after she was filmed burning her hijab.

The post by the Iranian Nobel laureate condemned the actions of the Iranian regime, stating, "Brave Nika, your stature embodies the power of the protesters and the brutality of the aggressors.

“What a scandalous regime the Islamic Republic is, arresting and imprisoning women under the pretext of their hair, and sexually assaulting the same women.”

A recent BBC investigation unveiled a "highly confidential" document implicating three security personnel in the direct assault and murder of Shakarami. 

The report detailed a disturbing account of the events leading to her death, including an officer forcefully restraining her while others sexually assaulting her and beating her with batons. Despite her resistance, the sexual assault ended fatally, with the regime later falsely claiming she had committed suicide.

Shakarami's murder came after that of Mahsa Amini, whose death in September 2022 in police custody for hijab defiance ignited nationwide protests.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting, Eslami asserted that “over 130 inspectors are currently permitted to conduct their activities in Iran.”

The statement comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the IAEA, which escalated in September when Tehran opposed the appointment one third of the inspectors.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said at the time that Iran’s “unprecedented” actions had hindered the agency’s inspection capabilities.

“Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the Agency’s most experienced inspectors designated for Iran,” Grossi stated, adding that this impacts the IAEA’s ability to perform effectively.

However, Eslami claimed the barred inspectors exhibited "extremist political behavior," justifying Iran’s decision to ban them.

Grossi recently voiced concerns that Iran is "weeks, not months" away from developing a nuclear weapon capability.

Iran continues to enrich uranium to 60 percent purity, nearing weapon-grade levels, far above the 3.67 percent cap set under the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers.

Since the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and the reinstatement of sanctions, Iran has surpassed the agreed limits, leading to declarations from the IAEA that the 2015 deal has "all but disintegrated."

Like most other developments in Tehran, the battle over the Speaker's seat is seen as a crucial aspect of the broader preparation for the post-Khamenei era. Yet, no one knows for sure why Iranian conservatives are so confident that Khamenei's days are numbered.

On one hand, conservative politicians vie fiercely for leadership, yet individual Iranians show apathy towards Majles leadership, evident in their lack of participation in the March 1 election, indicating their distrust in the system. However, the outcome is crucial for Ali Khamenei, who risks losing control if a dissenting figure like ultra hardliner Hamid Rasaei replaces incumbent Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is a relative of the Supreme Leader.

Among the candidates for the seat, Ghalibaf, Paydari Party leaders Morteza Agha-Tehrani and Sadeq Mahsouli, as well as outspoken Hamid Rasaei have been pushing their own campaign for the election of the Speaker in the Majles (parliament)

Paysari and Rasaei's camp, a radical offshoot of Paydari, have revealed that Ghalibaf has been holding meetings with those who have influence the next parliament, promising them posts in the Majles committees and presidium provided that they vote for Ghalibaf as the Speaker.

Social media users have said that Rasaei's statements are part of his campaign to win the Speaker's seat. This comes while some conservatives have said they are adamant to reject Rasaei's credential and bar him from continuing his career as a member of the p[parliament. 

On the other hand, Entekhab News in Tehran has quoted Rasaei as promising free housing, cars and offices to new lawmakers, if he is elected to be the Speaker of the Majles. Critics argue Rasaei and his allies prioritize personal gain over voters' interests.

The challenging situation created by the ultra-hardliners dominating the new parliament is the making of Khamenei’s engineered elections, in which his Guardian Council barred hundreds of ‘reformists’ and traditional conservatives from running as candidates.

While the competition is fierce, Gholamreza Nouri Ghezelcheh, the chairman of the independent MPs' faction at the outgoing parliament has pointed out that "support for Ghalibaf's speakership will come from outside the Majles," meaning that similar to the previous round in 2020, whatever the internal mood, Khamenei will exercise his unquestionable authority to push his relative and confidant Ghalibaf into the Speaker's seat.

Khamenei is likely to lose his grip on the legislative body, if Ghalibaf is replaced by someone like Rasaei who has proven that he has no respect for Khamenei's leadership. He did not obey Khamenei when the Supreme Leader called on new MPs to stop infighting and continued levelling accusations on Ghalibaf immediately after the March election.

According to conservative politician Hamid Reza Taraqqi, "Ghalibaf's position in both the current and upcoming parliaments is precarious. He lacks sufficient support among lawmakers and faces numerous opponents in the new Majles."

Taraqqi believes Ghalibaf is unlikely to garner support from more than 80 of the 290 representatives in the next Majles. However, like Ghezelcheh, Taraqqi suggests that support for Ghalibaf may come from outside the Majles, possibly from Khamenei's household.

From Khamenei's perspective, this presents a lose-lose scenario. If Ghalibaf secures the post, as in the current Majles, he's unlikely to be an effective Speaker, forcing Khamenei into open intervention in legislative affairs, inviting criticism. On the other hand, if Ghalibaf loses, Khamenei risks being at the mercy of "young revolutionary" lawmakers who may not heed him as readily as the old guard.

The associations also called for the expansion of a charter advocating for the minimum demands of Iran's trade and civil associations.

The groups include the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations, the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, and the Free Union of Iranian Workers.

The Women, Life, Freedom movement began in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody for “improper” hijab. Subsequent protests resulted in over 500 deaths at the hands of the Iranian regime.

The groups also voiced strong opposition to the enforced hijab policy under Iran's Noor Plan, which they labeled a "declaration of war against the people," affirming women's rights to choose their lifestyle freely.

Since April 13, the initiation of Noor plan has led to numerous incidents of violent interactions between law enforcement and plainclothes officers with women opposing the mandatory hijab.

The statement comes amid restrictions on independent labor gatherings in Iran, where only regime-affiliated group assemblies are permitted. The signatories condemned what they described as "double oppression" faced by Iranian women.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, a group of retirees and pensioners held a protest in front of the Social Security Organization buildings in the cities of Arak, Kermanshah, Mashhad, and Tehran.

One of the main demands of the retirees is an increase in pensions in line with inflation, a request that has been made during numerous protests in previous years, but so far, the Islamic Republic authorities have not taken any action in this regard.

Workers of the Haft-Tappeh Sugarcane complex also marked the occasion by holding a gathering titled "Unity, Solidarity, and Struggle".

Workers in Iran are currently facing economic difficulties, with the minimum cost of living in Tehran estimated at 300 million rials (about $500) and in other cities at 200 million rials (about $350), while the minimum wage for the current year has been set at about 110 million rials (about $190).

Various cities in Iran have witnessed labor protests in recent months, facing crackdowns by security forces and arrests of labor activists.