Oct. 17 – A conservative newspaper in Iran closely aligned with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel a “mistake” which has had severe consequences for the regime’s axis of resistance in the Middle East, and weakened its power base in the region.
The Islamic Republic, a newspaper overseen by Khamenei’s representative and considered to be a mouthpiece for the regime, made the unusual remarks published in a paper featured in its weekly editorial.
The sentiments appear to suggest a shift in the Islamic Republic’s thinking with Khamenei previously expressing support for the attack and calling it “the move that changed the balance of power against Israel.”
Iranian officials have begun to use new tactics to crack down on women failing to wear their hijab according to legislation in Iran which makes it compulsory for women to veil their hair.
Businesses serving women who are unveiled have been closed down and their owners prosecuted, while the use of undercover agents fining and prosecuting women has increased, according to research by the Center for Human Rights in Iran.
Women across Iran have increasingly refused to wear the hijab following the death in 2022 of 22-year old Mahsa Amini while in police custody, who was detained for allegedly failing to wear her hijab, and the launch of the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ gender equality movement which was sparked by her death.
And Joe Bennett, the son of Lindsay Foreman, a British national detained in Iran on espionage charges expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump might step in to secure the release of his mother, following efforts by Washington to resume diplomatic talks with the Islamic Republic.
Her husband Craig foreman is also detained in Iran on spying charges, which they both deny.
Bennett told the BBC in an interview on Tuesday that he would like any U.S. deal brokered with Iran to include terms for his mother’s release.
