Khamenei's Man In Kerman Claims Iranians' Desire To Meet Leader

Hossein Salami stated Thursday that "according to divine promise, the enemies will soon be defeated", referring to Israel. Claiming the spiritual underpinning of the IRGC, he added, "The IRGC embodies many divine symbols, and its essence and nature are based on piety."

Since the terror attack of October 7, in which Hamas unleashed thousands of its militia to invade the Jewish state, Israel has responded with its most brutal force since the proscribed terror group took control of Gaza in 2007. Around 20,000 Gazans have been killed in the offensive which came after 1,200 mostly civilians in Israel were murdered and 240 more taken hostage to Gaza.

The IRGC, classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, is directing Iran's proxies in countries including Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen in the wake of the Gaza war. Over 100 attacks have been carried out against US facilities in the region and attacks on Israel from north to south.

As a potent faction in Iran, the IRGC not only oversees a substantial business empire but also commands elite armed and intelligence forces. Washington asserts that these forces are actively involved in a global terrorist campaign.

The only avenue open to Iran is to make deals with Chinese companies and start EV assembly, like fossil-fuel vehicles it produces.

China, dominating the global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing landscape, holds the largest market share among the top five producers in 2023. Germany and the United States trail, while France and the UK see a rise in EV production. Collectively, these nations wield substantial influence on the global EV manufacturing scene.

The recent UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, emphasized international efforts to combat climate change, with a focus on EV adoption and greenhouse gas reduction. Major EV brands like Tesla, Kia/Hyundai, and Mercedes spearhead the transition to battery power, while newcomers such as Rivian diversify the market, influencing its ongoing evolution.

In Iran, IKCO introduced the Tara EV, the country's inaugural all-electric vehicle, set for release in March 2024. Developed by IKCO's Jetco division, the Tara EV boasts a 45-kWh battery pack, providing a 300 km range on a full charge. Iran's Minister of Industry, Abbas Ali-Abadi, announced plans for three locally produced EV models by the first half of the upcoming Iranian year (beginning in March).

With ambitions for increased EV manufacturing and imports to meet rising demand, the government aims to deploy 100,000 electric taxis in key cities this year that suffer from chronic air pollution. Significant projects, including the launch of Oxygen, Iran's first all-electric car, and MAPNA group's plan for 20 EV charging stations nationwide. 

However, Iran grapples with challenges within its auto sector, encapsulated by the term "Car Mafia." This network, alleged to thrive due to the state-owned auto sector's monopoly and inadequate government oversight, faces accusations of financial wrongdoing, evading US sanctions, and contributing to mismanagement. The "car mafia" obstructs the import of reasonably priced cars, manipulating the production of pricier, inferior local vehicles. This term encapsulates various issues within Iran's auto sector, including the impeachment of the industry minister and corruption allegations, portraying it as a formidable and dishonest force negatively impacting the auto industry and vehicle quality.

China’s Dominance in Iran Future EV Market

China's dominant position in the EV industry poses a significant challenge for Iran's plans, particularly concerning the production and processing of essential minerals like cobalt. The reliance on China raises doubts about the feasibility and affordability of Iran's comprehensive EV strategy, emphasizing the need to address China's hegemony over critical minerals for a reliable supply chain.

Global concerns emerge as China's control over vital minerals triggers reactions and export restrictions, impacting the global EV supply chain. The US responds with proposed regulations to limit tax breaks for EVs using minerals or batteries manufactured in China, reflecting the international repercussions of China's dominance in the EV sector.

Despite China and Iran's intentions to collaborate on EV manufacturing, Iran faces challenges in providing sufficient electricity for EV charging amid a natural gas crisis. The gas shortage would impede widespread EV adoption, necessitating steps to encourage renewable energy, which is substantially underdeveloped in Iran.

While automobile companies in Iran claim to be jointly producing electric cars with China, studies indicate that, in the current situation, most automobile companies in Iran are not profitable. Due to government meddling, Iran's state-owned automakers suffer significant losses of $3.7 million a day, or more than $1 billion annually. These automakers battle with demand while being huge businesses, which drives up prices. The issues are made worse by mismanagement, corruption. It will need quick action at the highest governmental levels to stop the car industry from collapsing and to find solutions to its problems.

Concerns about transparency arise in the Iran-China joint development of electric vehicles (EVs), especially considering the paucity of detailed information. This lack of openness raises the possibility that certain Iranian automakers, dubbed the "car mafia," might exploit the circumstances to import EVs rather than actively supporting home production.

The potential dominance of the Chinese in Iran's EV industry and the nation's reliance on vital minerals for battery manufacture underscore the serious flaws in the partnership. The success of Iran's EV plan depends on a clear roadmap, transparent implementation, and strict regulations to counter opportunistic activities in the automotive sector.

To advance a sustainable EV policy in Iran, a commitment to openness, robust regulation, and a shift towards renewable energy sources is essential. Immediate investments in EVs and addressing transportation industry challenges are crucial, emphasizing the need for a proactive and transparent approach to ensure the success of Iran's EV plan.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Thursday that Tehran will not show “the slightest hesitation in maintaining its territorial integrity.”

He called the three islands “an inseparable part” of Iran, adding that the Islamic Republic considers as “non-negotiable” its territorial integrity and sovereignty over these islands.

The remarks came a day after the sixth Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum in Morocco concluded with a statement reiterating the UAE’s claim over the islands. The Russian delegation to the forum was led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“The statement supported peaceful solutions and initiatives aiming to resolve the conflict through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, according to international law and the UN Charter,” the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Moscow had previously voiced its support for UAE’s claim back in July during a joint summit between the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Russian Federation.

The three Persian Gulf islands have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be corroborated by historical and geographical documents. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands, describing the situation as “the continued occupation by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The three islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Mohammad Reza Shah sent the Iranian navy to secure all three. Iranian forces remain on the islands, with only Abu Musa having a civilian population which is less than two thousand.

According to the indictments in court proceedings on Wednesday, they were accused of five crimes including “forming groups to undermine national security,” “insulting the supreme leader” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic.”

Information received by Iran International indicates that the Islamic Republic’s judiciary has so far refused to allow Karami’s lawyer to have access to and review the accused’s file.

Mashallah Karami was arrested on August 22, 2023, one month before the first anniversary of the Iranian people's uprising, when security forces stormed his home.

Human rights organizations and advocacy groups reported that, during the same period, security forces confiscated electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones belonging to the Karami family and froze their bank cards.

Mohammad Mehdi Karami was executed on January 7, 2023, along with another protester, Mohammad Hosseini. They were accused of participating in protests and allegedly being involved in the killing of Ruhollah Ajamian, a Basij member present at the 40th-day memorial ceremony for Hadis Najafi, another victim of anti-regime protests in Karaj.

At least eight people have been executed for their involvement in nationwide protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.

Since then, the Islamic Republic has continued to harass the families of the victims of Woman, Life, Freedom protests.

Mahsa Yazdani, the mother of Mohammad Javad Zahedi, one of the casualties of Iran’s nationwide protests in 2022, has also been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

As revealed by cybersecurity researchers, including Marc Elias from Symantec, this marks a departure from MuddyWater's previous emphasis on entities in the Middle East, marking their first known operation against African organizations.

The cyber-attacks, conducted in November against unspecified telecom companies, have not shown evidence of successful information theft. However, analysts suggest that the primary objective of the campaign is likely espionage, based on MuddyWater's historical patterns. There is also speculation about the potential for disruption attacks, drawing on the tactics of Iranian hacking groups in the past.

The hackers' activities in Africa may be influenced by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, with Egypt a prime target due to its proximity to Gaza and Israel.

MuddyWater's recent campaign, analyzed by Symantec, stands out for its use of a PowerShell launcher from a newly identified toolset called MuddyC2Go. Discovered in November, the toolset may have been operational since 2020, granting threat actors remote access to victim systems.

In addition to the PowerShell launcher, MuddyWater deployed other tools, including the legitimate remote device control and management software SimpleHelp. The software, once installed, operates as a system service, providing attackers continuous access and the ability to execute commands with administrator privileges.

Active since at least 2017, MuddyWater has consistently demonstrated an interest in targeting telecom organizations, aligning with broader trends observed among cyber-espionage groups.