Tehran slams Argentina's ‘Iranophobic’ statements as Milei doubles down

Mahmoud Najafi Arab, head of Tehran Chamber of Commerce for Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) stated that Iran’s pharmaceutical and medical equipment sectors are struggling to secure both foreign currency and local rials, in an interview with state-affiliated ILNA News agency on Saturday.

"There is a problem of foreign currency supply in all industries, and the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries are no exception," he stated. This financial strain hinders the companies' ability to obtain the necessary working capital and import essential medicines.

Iran's export revenues have drastically declined because of US oil and banking sanctions. The stringent government control over imports and the private-sector also exacerbates these difficulties, making it increasingly challenging for the industry to operate smoothly.

Adding to the financial woes, power outages have become a regular occurrence, affecting drug production units across the country. "This industry, like other industries in the country, is affected by power shortages, and spends these hot days of the year with power outages," Najafi Arab said. These blackouts, occurring twice a week, disrupt manufacturing processes and contribute to the industry's ongoing struggles.

Persistent power cuts due to aging infrastructure and natural gas shortages have caused significant disruptions in Tehran's industrial hub. Each outage severely impacts industries, taking about 24 hours to restart operations, thereby increasing losses.

The demonstrators, holding pictures of Mohammadi, chanted slogans demanding the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, emphasizing their solidarity with Iranian labor activists and their opposition to capital punishment.

The death sentence for Mohammadi, a female labor activist in Iran, has ignited widespread condemnation. Convicted on fabricated charges of armed rebellion, she has become a symbol of Tehran's harsh crackdown on dissent. The announcement came just a day before Masoud Pezeshkian's victory in the July 5 presidential runoff, who has been presented as a "reformist" politician.

The Campaign to Defend Mohammadi, initiated on Instagram by her family, asserts that the sentence is based on the pretext of her decade-old membership in an independent, public, and legal labor organization, underscoring the verdict's perceived injustice.

Previously, Italian labor organizations such as the Confederazione dei Comitati di Base (Cobas) and the Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL) called for the abolition of the death sentence and the release of Mohammadi. They urged the Italian government and European Union institutions to mobilize and demand that the Islamic Republic revoke her conviction.

In a statement, the Italian organizations described the death sentence for Mohammadi as "part of a systematic strategy by security institutions to instill fear and marginalize social movements in Iran's future political developments."

Five French and eight Danish labor unions have issued statements protesting the death sentence of Mohammadi and called for her immediate release.

Additionally, Robin Korte, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia regional parliament in Germany, has undertaken political sponsorship of Mohammadi, emphasizing international support for her cause.

According to human rights groups, Mohammadi was deprived of basic prisoner rights during her detention, including in-person visits and phone calls. She was denied visits by her family, particularly her child, and was not permitted to contact them by phone for an extended period. The physical and psychological torture inflicted on Mohammadi by Ministry of Intelligence officials was so severe that even prison authorities expressed concern for her life.

Eighty-five political prisoners in Evin Prison also initiated a hunger strike on Thursday to protest the "unjust sentence" of execution for Mohammadi. Unions and activists in Iran, including The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, have also condemned the charges against the labor activist. In a statement, they called the accusation of "rebellion" against her "completely baseless" and "pure falsehood," demanding her immediate and unconditional release.

Arrested in December 2023, Mohammadi is among the latest victims in a wave of executions aimed at quelling dissent. According to the United Nations, 834 Iranians were executed last year, marking a record high and a 50 percent increase from the previous year. Of those executed, at least 22 were women, making Iran the world's leading executioner of women. The 2023 figures were the highest since 2014, as reported by Iran Human Rights.

Former national security advisor John Bolton tweeted on Friday that the White House has failed to hold Iran responsible for the mayhem in the Middle East.

"Biden still has not acknowledged Iran as the chief aggressor in the Middle East. Americans must know that Tehran is using terrorist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah to wipe out Israel, and the U.S. is next. This is a failure for our national security," Bolton, who is both a critique of Biden and former President Donald Trump said.

Earlier in the week, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who co-authored Public Law 117-263, Section 5593 of the Iran Nuclear Weapons Capability and Terrorism Monitoring Act of 2022, accused the administration of violating the law by missing crucial deadlines.

The law mandates a biannual assessment to Congress on Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear weapons development progress which led the United Nations' nuclear chief Rafael Grossi to admit recently that Iran is "weeks not months" away from a nuclear weapon.

In a letter to Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence, Senator Graham stated that the administration is "in violation of the law" for missing two Section 5593 assessment deadlines in the past year and failing to submit Section 7413 assessments when Iran reaches major enrichment thresholds.

A coalition of US foreign policy and advocacy organizations this week urged policymakers to intensify their focus on countering the Iranian nuclear threat.

The Vandenberg Coalition and the Foundation For Defense of Democracies Action led the letter signed by nine other organizations, which provides a comprehensive list of recommendations for US and allied policymakers to “degrade and reverse Iran’s nuclear campaign, deter Iranian terror and empower Iranian dissidents.”

According to the letter, Tehran continues to fund terrorism, develop dangerous weapons, oppress its own people, and take foreign hostages, demonstrating a longstanding resistance to reform. It emphasizes that Iran has accelerated its nuclear program, necessitating a comprehensive response from US policymakers.

The coalition asserted that "The election of Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran's President will neither resolve these issues nor alter Iran's trajectory," emphasizing that Iran’s security policy remains firmly under the control of the Supreme Leader. They further stated that the President lacks authority over the security services or the actions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The letter, addressed to US policymakers, outlined a set of measures designed to address the multifaceted challenges posed by Iran. The strategies include:

- Degrade and Reverse Iran’s Weapons Program: Use international pressure, trigger UN arms embargo provisions, and require regular reporting on Iran’s nuclear activities.

- Deter Iran from Aggression and Terrorism: Strengthen alliances, expand sanctions, and hold Iran accountable for proxy actions.

- Empower Internal Dissidents: Provide Iranian dissidents with knowledge, resources, and internet access, highlight their plight, and offer reform support programs.

- Ensure American Defense: Provide adequate defense resources, develop military options to prevent nuclear acquisition, and enhance border security and cyber resilience.

Tehran's covert actions and refusal to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have heightened suspicions about its intent to develop nuclear weapons, potentially triggering a regional arms race.

Recent reports from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) and the Washington Post indicate that Iran plans to significantly increase its uranium enrichment at Fordow, one of its most secretive nuclear sites. Experts have warned that within a month, Iran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for five nuclear weapons at Fordow.

In June, the UN nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors passed a resolution censuring Iran and demanding it resolve outstanding issues with the IAEA regarding its advancing nuclear program. The IAEA's June report stated that Iran continues to expand its nuclear activities in ways that "have no credible peaceful purpose." The IAEA has demanded Iran enhance cooperation with the agency and reverse its recent barring of inspectors.

Commencing on June 19 under the initiative of the unofficial Council for Organizing Oil Contract-Workers' Protests, the strike has united workers from “123 companies” in the oil and gas sector.

The workers, who are calling for significant changes including eliminating intermediary contractors, wage increases, and improved working conditions, have warned that the strikes will escalate if their demands are not met.

Also, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported on Saturday that workers at the Iranian Offshore Oil Company employees on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf staged a workplace protest, voicing their discontent over the unaddressed demands.

Additional concerns of the contract workers in the oil and gas industry include substandard dormitory conditions, inadequate working conditions, and insufficient workplace safety measures, all of which have yet to be sufficiently addressed.

Adding to the tensions, protesting workers have been receiving threatening text messages from supporters of the contractors, which many see as an attempt to suppress the growing dissent, according to Alireza Mirghaffari, a member of the Supreme Council of Labor Associations.

In recent years, Iran's oil and gas sector has increasingly replaced regular employees with contract workers who endure harsh conditions and low pay.

In February, assurances were given that the Job Classification Act (JCA) would be implemented, with workers receiving their salaries accordingly by May. However, this promise still needs to be fulfilled. The absence of job classifications results in workers being trapped in precarious temporary positions for years, with inconsistent pay rates for the same work.

The JCA covers only some of Iran's wage earners, leaving their jobs unclassified, which has become the norm.

Initially, the strike involved 8,000 oil contract workers from over 60 contracting companies. With the number of strikers now reaching 23,000, the protest is rapidly gaining momentum.

These protests are part of a broader wave of labor unrest in Iran, driven by delayed wages, low pay, and layoffs that have intermittently disrupted various industrial sectors since 2018.

Over the past decade, many components of the oil and gas industry have been outsourced to influential regime insiders as intermediary contractors. These contractors underpay workers and subject them to harsh working conditions. Traditionally, oil workers in Iran enjoyed the highest salaries and best benefits.

Argentina has a complex history with Iran, especially following the 1992 Israeli embassy and the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires, which has left a legacy of vigilance against Iranian activities in the region.

Iran has significantly strengthened its ties with Bolivia and Venezuela over recent years. In Bolivia, the relationship deepened during Evo Morales' presidency and has continued under President Luis Arce.

This cooperation has included multiple bilateral agreements, particularly in defense and security, resulting in Iran providing drones and other military equipment to Bolivia under the guise of commercial exchanges. These moves are seen as a strategic effort by Iran to establish a foothold in Latin America, potentially facilitating the movement of its operatives.

Threat to Argentina

The Argentine government has expressed concerns about the potential introduction of Iranian agents into the country via Bolivia and Venezuela. Iran has been using these countries as bases to conduct activities linked to terrorism and drug trafficking. This includes the alleged provision of Bolivian passports to Iranians with fake identities, enabling them to operate across Latin America. Such activities are primarily facilitated through Iran's Quds Force and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

Bolivia and Iran, under President Luis Arce, signed a formal defense pact in July 2023, extending the 2012 La Paz bilateral agreement signed by Evo Morales and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which included security cooperation. The deal was said to include an Iranian pledge to provide Bolivia with drones for narcotics enforcement. The terms, however, were secretive, prompting both Argentina and the Bolivian opposition to demand clarity on the details.

This cooperation has included multiple bilateral agreements, particularly in defense and security under the guise of commercial exchanges. These moves are viewed as a strategic effort by Iran to expand its foothold in Latin America, potentially facilitating the movement of its operatives.

Argentina has stepped up the breadth of its security, particularly at the border to the north, with Bolivia. The government has heightened surveillance and border controls to prevent the infiltration of Iranian agents. This move follows the broader strategy of ensuring that the country's security apparatus is robust against any covert operations that might be directed from Iran through its Latin American allies.

“We have Hezbollah cells on the Triple Border. But it is on the Bolivian border where we see the highest level of alert and security in the country, because there has been a memorandum signed by Bolivia and Iran,” Patricia Bullrich, Argentina's minister of security said in an interview with La Nación. “That pact allowed the presence of Iranian members of the Quds forces, which are combatant forces and are integrated into Iran’s armed branches, in the territory. We are investigating whether there are people who do not speak Spanish yet have Bolivian passports.” she added.

The country has formally requested from Interpol to arrest Iran’s interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, for his alleged role in the attack that claimed 85 lives. Argentina has taken a significant step in its pursuit of justice for the victims of the 1992 Israeli embassy and 1994 bombing of AMIA - a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires.

Argentina draws the line in the sand

Several days before Tehran’s April 13th drone and missile attack on Israel, Javier Milei’s administration announced that it has placed its borders on alert considering the likely infiltration of Iranian and Hezbollah operatives into Argentina. There have long been concerns about a Hezbollah presence in the Triborder Region where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet. But Interior Minister Patricia Bullrich’s announcement this time emphasized an apparent threat from Bolivia.

Then, following Tehran’s drone and missile attack on Israel, a statement condemning the attack was issued by Milei’s press team that read: “The office of President Javier Milei expresses its solidarity and unwavering commitment to the State of Israel following the attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran.” It adds that the new administration in Argentina has adopted a new foreign policy based on the “defense of Western values” such as “life, freedom, and private property” and “strongly supports the State of Israel in the defense of its sovereignty, especially against regimes that promote terror and seek to destroy western civilization.”

According to recent reports, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has sent armored carriers, light tanks, missile-equipped patrol boats, and military troops to the Guyanese border, in the Essequibo region, controlled by Guyana, in an apparent threat to take two-thirds of the smaller neighboring country's national territory by force.

An understanding between Venezuela’s Maduro and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali was signed in December of 2023, which rebuked the use of force.

Now, following recent overflights by US F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets over Guyana, Venezuela has mobilized troops towards the disputed border Essequibo region and Venezuela’s threats to invade Guyana has escalated. While an initial analysis would focus on local implications, the projection of this conflict on the global stage reveals a clash between major powers; with the United States and its allies on one side, and an axis composed of Russia, China, and Iran on the other.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, Guyana’s most recent estimate of recoverable oil and natural gas resources is more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels, and developers are still exploring the country’s offshore waters. According to Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, Guyana also boasts an impressive reserve of lithium and copper, gold, diamonds and other rare minerals.

Venezuela's Allies

Russia and China’s investments in Venezuela aside, the Islamic regime’s alliances and agreements with the South American dictatorship, especially in the military and energy fields, will see this conflict as an opportunity to strengthen its position against the United States.

Latin American Affairs expert, Mookie Tenembaum told Iran International: “If these tensions escalate into an armed conflict, the confrontation will become a global flashpoint where local interests clash, and global superpower strategies are involved.”

Tenembaum added that such a scenario will lead to an indirect confrontation between the US-led bloc and the Russia-China-Iran axis, each seeking to expand its influence and protect its strategic interests in Latin America. “Therefore, the potential conflict between Venezuela and Guyana should be considered not only in the context of a territorial dispute but also as a possible catalyst for global confrontation. The international community, including organizations such as the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, plays a crucial role in mediating these tensions to avoid an escalation that could have much broader and severe repercussions.”

Patterns

Between November 2014 and June 2015, three fake bombs were found outside of the Israeli Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay. All were assumed by Uruguayan police to have been placed there by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Analysts and officials in Latin America have often described Uruguay as a staging base for Iranian and Iranian-supported terrorist activities in the region.

On November 24, 2014, a suspicious-looking suitcase, thought to contain explosives, was discovered outside the Israeli embassy building in Montevideo, Uruguay. Upon controlled detonation, the police established that the device was fake. Uruguayan police viewed surveillance footage shot outside the embassy and discovered the car of an Iranian diplomat stationed at Iran’s embassy in Uruguay, Ahmed Sabatgold, parked right where the suitcase had been deposited.

Ahmed Sabatgold was reported as having a long history of public expressions of anti-Semitism as well as interference in Latin-American internal politics. Before coming to Uruguay, he had served at the Iranian embassy in Venezuela, where he was the official translator during the 2013 meetings between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He had openly criticized Uruguay’s President, Jose Mujica, and encouraged young Uruguayan converts to Islam to support the radical leftist political party, Unidad Popular. Sabatgold also denied the Holocaust, an assertion supported by his boss, the Iranian ambassador to Uruguay, Hojjatollah Soltani.

Uruguay’s Foreign Minister, Luis Almagro, summoned ambassador Soltani on December 10, 2014, to complain about the suitcase and warned the Islamic Republic’s representative that Uruguay would adopt “more severe measures should similar circumstances arise in the future.”

However, Ahmed Sabatgold, the alleged perpetrator, had left the country three days before the ambassador was summoned. Observers characterized his departure as fleeing the country before he could be charged with terrorism-related crimes. Almagro himself has come under question as to whether he honestly pursued Iran’s activities against Israel in Uruguay, due to his history of close relations with Iran. No reports on Sabatgold’s further activities have surfaced since his departure from Uruguay. Typically, it is entirely likely that Ahmad Sabatgold was not his real name.

The Israeli embassy changed locations in the aftermath of the suitcase incident; but on January 8, 2015, a realistic-looking fake bomb was discovered outside the new Israeli embassy building. The embassy was evacuated before Uruguayan police discovered that the device did not contain explosives. The Uruguayan police assumed the Islamic Republic of Iran was responsible, and that it was a repeat of what had occurred on November 24, 2014. No arrests were ever made in this case.

On June 17, 2015, another fake bomb was discovered outside the Israeli embassy. An embassy employee was arrested soon afterward but quickly released due to lack of evidence.

In October 2022, Argentine politician Elisa Carrio, recalling the 2015 Israeli embassy incidents along with the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish cultural center, stated that the "Iranian penetration in Latin America is based in Montevideo." Alberto Nisman, the Argentinian prosecutor who had investigated the AMIA attack, had repeatedly requested information from Uruguay about the activities of Iranian officials in the country. He was mysteriously murdered in July 2013. 

Also, the same October, Uruguayan Senator Graciela Bianchi published documents linking suspected Iranian terrorists to properties in Montevideo.