JUNE 14 – Iran’s Supreme Leader told Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this week that Iran had no intentions of making or using nuclear weapons, but also went on to say that Iran would not negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Two more oil tankers were hit on Thursday in the same area that saw four other oil ships sabotaged last month, not far from the Strait of Hormuz. One of the tankers was carrying cargo linked to Japan. Iran’s Foreign Minister called the incident suspicious. Oil prices surged after details of the attacks were released. U.S. officials believe Iran is coordinating these attacks in retaliation for reimposing sanctions on the country and pulling out of the nuclear deal.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on a company based in Iraq and two Iraqi citizens, for allegedly trafficking weapons to Iraqi militias backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force (QF). The U.S. Treasury also accused the company of moving “millions of dollars to Iraq for illicit financial activity benefiting the IRGC-QF and its Iraq-based militia groups.”
- Military strategy.
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- Nizar Zaka, a Lebanese IT consultant and businessman was released from Evin Prison during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s trip to Iran. Zaka told media outlet Al Arabiya that he had been subjected to torture while in jail and was routinely interrogated by the IRGC.
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- Gilan’s police chief claimed that his precinct had dealt with over 28,000 cases involving hijab violations since the start of the Iranian new year (March 21). The wearing of hijab and its observation under Islamic law is of particular significance to the Iranian government, who view the policy as integral to the republic’s raison d’être.
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- Arash Derambarsh, a French city councilor and campaigner against food waste, has won the Win Win Gothenburg Sustainability Award. The award is the world’s leading sustainability prize, which Derambash won after submitting an ingenious plan to reduce food waste.
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