|
Staging Unity, Deepening Divide
By Behnam Mohammadi
The Islamic Republic stages nightly pro-regime rallies to project unity, loyalty, and legitimacy. Yet as it tightens the noose through executions, arrests, and continuing internet blackout, the gulf between Iran and the regime deepens.
Welcome to the Kayhan Life Week in Review
Kayhan Life’s coverage this week threw the spotlight on messy power plays in Tehran, a collapsing currency, and rising diplomatic tensions in the region and beyond. Whilst the Islamic Republic is working hard to project control, popularity, and legitimacy, its repression and shutdown of Iran’s internet for more than two months severely undermine those claims. Meanwhile, Iranian culture continues to inspire resilience.
►The week began with anticipation of a second round of talks in Islamabad between the United States and the Islamic Republic. Reports that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, head of Tehran’s negotiating team, had stepped down or been removed pointed to internal divisions within the Islamic Republic over the regime’s insistence that the nuclear issue remain off the table until after the war and the resolution of the Strait of Hormuz conflict.
US Reviews Latest Iranian Proposal To End War Stalemate
US-Iran Peace Hopes Fade As Trump Scraps Talks
Trump Not Happy With Latest Iran Proposal To End The War, US Official Says
►As hopes for a swift diplomatic breakthrough faded, the U.S. President claimed Tehran was in a “state of collapse” and struggling with leadership. Sources close to the decision-makers told Reuters that real power remained with a hardline circle within the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and that Mojtaba Khamenei mainly served to legitimize choices made by this group.
Trump Says Iran Has Told Him It Is In A ‘State Of Collapse’
ANALYSIS – Iran’s Guards Seize Wartime Power, Blunting Supreme Leader’s Role
►Still, Pakistan insisted that efforts to bridge the U.S.-Iran gap continued, even without face-to-face talks. The ongoing diplomatic activity was evident when Russian President Putin and Donald Trump spoke by phone, during which Putin put forward ideas on resolving the conflict over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Putin, In Call With Trump, Put Forward Ideas On Iran, Kremlin Says
►Transatlantic friction over the war was exposed when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the Islamic Republic was humiliating the U.S. His comments underscored European unease over Washington’s strategy. Trump accused Merz of being soft on nuclear ambitions, even though the Chancellor stated that Tehran must not acquire a nuclear weapon.
Germany’s Merz Says Iran Is Humiliating US As Talks Stall
Trump Hits Back At German Chancellor After Iran Criticism
►The U.S. expressed its outrage at the U.N. after the Islamic Republic was selected to be one of dozens of vice presidents at a month-long conference to review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. U.S. officials called the choice an affront because Tehran had refused to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog to resolve questions about its program.
US, Iran Clash At UN After Tehran Gets Nuclear Non-proliferation Role
►The UK-US special relationship brought the U.S. President relief. At a White House state dinner, Trump claimed King Charles opposed Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. Buckingham Palace stressed the monarch upheld Britain’s nuclear nonproliferation stance. Although the King did not comment directly, a source noted the British foreign secretary nodded as Trump spoke.
Trump Says King Charles Does Not Want Iran to Have Nuclear Weapons
►The U.S. widened its sanctions campaign as Washington sought to squeeze Iran’s economy. The U.S. also targeted a Chinese “teapot” refinery and dozens of shipping firms and vessels accused of helping Tehran move oil through its shadow fleet.
US Treasury Chief Says Businesses Working With Iranian Airlines Risk Sanctions
US Imposes Sanctions On Chinese ‘Teapot’ Refinery For Buying Iranian Oil
►With the conflict disrupting energy and fueling inflation, Trump discussed with oil companies how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports. Meanwhile, the UAE announced its departure from OPEC. This could allow for its increased output once exports resume, as it would be free of OPEC quotas. The UAE’s exit was interpreted as a win for the U.S. President, who in 2018 accused OPEC of inflating oil prices in a U.N. speech.
Trump Urges Iran To Sign A Deal And Discusses Prolonged Blockade
UAE Leaves OPEC In Blow To Global Oil Producers’ Group
►Before the May 1 deadline, for the Trump administration to get Congressional approval for war under the 1973 War Powers Act or move to end it, a senior State Department lawyer argued the campaign against the Islamic Republic was justified as self-defense and in defense of Israel. He framed it not as a new war, but as a continuation of an ongoing conflict since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, including attacks by Tehran’s proxies on U.S. forces and Israel, its missile strikes against Israel in 2024, and its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
US Legal Adviser Says Iran War Justified By Tehran’s ‘Aggression’ Over Decades
►On Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Democratic lawmakers who described the conflict as a “quagmire” and “political and economic disaster at every level” as “reckless, feckless, and defeatist.” At the same time reports emerged that U.S. intelligence agencies are studying the implications of a potential pullback by Trump, as some officials and advisers worry that the conflict could contribute to deep Republican losses in the midterm elections later this year.
Pentagon’s Hegseth Defends Iran War, Says Not a Quagmire
EXCLUSIVE – US Spy Agencies Examine How Iran Would React To Trump Declaring Victory
►Wartime economic pressure in Iran fueled a black market in “traveler’s checks,” which the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran printed and distributed as a secure alternative to carrying cash. Strong indications linked the scheme to smuggling networks within the country, affiliated with the state.
Iran War Spurs ‘Travel Dollar’ Black Market Linked to Smuggling Rings
►Demand for foreign currency surged, sending the rial sharply lower to 1,810,000 per dollar, while Iranians already battered by war, poverty, job insecurity, state dysfunction, and repression faced the added burden of a prolonged internet shutdown. Kayhan Life spoke with Iranians inside the country about the psychological toll.
EXCLUSIVE: Internet Shutdown in Iran Costs Billions, Causes Widespread Distress
Iran’s Rial Drops to Record Low as Ceasefire Prompts Rush for Hard Currency
►To demonstrate public readiness for wartime sacrifice, the Islamic Republic heavily promoted its “Jan-Fada” campaign, claiming 30 million registrations. However, the veracity of the figure was questioned and disparaged.
Islamic Republic Launches ‘Jan-Fada’ Campaign to Attract War Volunteers
►The campaign was also promoted internationally through Tehran’s diplomatic missions. Britain summoned Tehran’s ambassador after his embassy in London posted a statement on its social media, calling on Iranians in Britain to volunteer to sacrifice their lives for the Islamic Republic.
UK Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Embassy’s ‘Unacceptable’ Comments On Social Media
►Canadian authorities also adopted a tougher approach to hold the Islamic Republic to account. They turned away its football federation delegation, including a former member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, at its borders.
Iranian Soccer Officials Set to Miss Pre-World Cup FIFA Meeting After Being Turned Back at Toronto Airport
►We conclude this Week in Review with an interview featuring Curator Ziba Ardalan and her project, “Turandot: To the Daughters of the East,” at the Venice Biennale. Ardalan’s exhibition unites women artists from Iran, Central Asia, and beyond by highlighting themes of voice, inheritance, and artistic defiance.
At Venice Biennale, Ziba Ardalan to Exhibit Artists from Central Asia, the Middle East in ‘Turandot’ |
