Tehran media outline Pezeshkian's challenges soon after inauguration

"Iran has no objective or activity aimed at influencing the American elections. A significant portion of these accusations are psychological operations designed to create false momentum for election campaigns," the Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York stated on Monday.

US spy agencies say they observed Iran attempting to influence the 2024 election to prevent former President Trump from securing a second term in the White House.

Notably, the press briefing held by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, suggested a shift in Iran's strategy from previous years.

Instead of merely acting as a "chaos agent," Iran is now spreading “disinformation” through “vast webs of online personas and propaganda mills.” These efforts are in addition to clandestine attempts to influence the campaign in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris.

First reported by the Wall Street Journal, US officials say Iran has accelerated its use of covert social media networks to influence voters in the lead-up of election -- aiming to avoid increased tensions with the US.

Influence by “foreign actors” has been a source of apprehension in recent US elections, especially since 2016, when ‘Russian meddling’ became a major theme, with people on both parties accusing the other of having benefited from it.

Director of the US National Intelligence Avril Haines warned in a statement on July 9 that "Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in their foreign influence efforts, seeking to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions."

In yet another warning on Monday, an unnamed US intelligence official told Reuters that US foes targeting November's election with influence operations are expected to adapt to presidential contest developments, seemingly alluding to Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.

The official suggested that US intelligence agencies anticipate foreign actors will redirect their influence operations towards Vice President Kamala Harris. "We expect these actors to adjust to these developments and integrate them into their influence narratives, aiming to undermine democratic institutions."

There seems to be a growing consensus in Washington that the ‘influence’ offensive from the Tehran has to be taken seriously, even though it’s not yet as serious as threats from Moscow and Beijing –and perhaps not on the same global scale.

Russia, China, and Iran deny all such accusations, punching back with allegations of American influence campaigns –and direct interventions– across the world.

The senior intelligence official told Reuters Tehran and Moscow are sticking to their traditional presidential preferences. According to prior intelligence assessments, Iranian operatives are focused on undermining the Republican ticket, while Russia is making efforts to smear the Democrats.

Foreign actors have already used the July 13 attempted assassination of Trump "as part of their narratives," Reuters quoted the US intelligence official as saying.

Another official explained that Russia and Iran have in the past tried employing actual Americans in their operations through false front companies and third-party websites. "Doing so provides them with cover and offers a more authentic voice," the official said.

The Director of US National Intelligence had warned in May that Iran will pose a significant threat to the upcoming US elections, predicting that Tehran will intensify its cyber and influence activities.

"Iran's actions are becoming increasingly aggressive," Haines told the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. She added that Iran seeks to “stoke discord and undermine confidence” in democratic institutions, pointing to their interference in previous election cycles as evidence of this ongoing threat.

In 2021, the US Treasury sanctioned Iranian cyber company Emennet Pasargad formerly known as Net Peygard Samavat Company along with five individuals associated with the company for having "engaged in covert and deceptive activities to disseminate disinformation through websites and social media designed to undermine Americans’ faith in US elections."

Iran International revealed in an investigation with Semafor last year that an Iranian-backed influence network, called the Iran Experts Initiative, sought to build relationships with overseas academics and researchers in the West to affect Washington's foreign policy on Tehran.

According to rights group Halvash, which covers developments in Sistan-Baluchestan Province, security and military forces launched an assault on the village to search residents' homes without a judicial warrant.

When the villagers protested, the officers responded with gunfire, resulting in the death of one woman. A teenager was also among the injured in the shooting, Halvash reported.

The report indicates that military forces obstructed emergency services from accessing the area to transport the injured to the hospital, forcing villagers to use private vehicles to transfer the wounded to Khash Hospital.

Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, reported on the operation, stating that a four-member team transporting explosive materials for Jaish al-Adl was apprehended in the village of Qaderabad.

The separatist militia has refuted the Islamic Republic's allegations regarding the arrest of four individuals linked to the organization in Qaderabad, Khash.

In their official statement, the Baluch group, designated a terror group by Iran, the US and Pakistan, proclaimed: "The regime's propaganda concerning the apprehension of four Jaish al-Adl members in Qaderabad, Khash, is a blatant falsehood and an attempt to justify and cover up the atrocity committed by the notorious security forces in this village.

"The opening of fire by Khamenei's agents on ordinary civilians in Qaderabad, resulting in a grievous crime, is a despicable and abhorrent act that, God willing, will not remain unanswered."

Jaish al-Adl, an insurgent Sunni Baluch group, advocates for an independent Balochistan encompassing Baluch populations on both sides of the Iran-Pakistan border.

The group has conducted numerous major operations in Iran's southeastern region.

In June, the group announced that it had identified and apprehended nine key members of a "terrorist and espionage" network affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, comprising Iranian and Pakistani nationals, as well as members of the former Afghan government's armed forces.

One of the most intense confrontations between the group and Iranian border forces transpired in April when Jaish al-Adl forces launched simultaneous attacks on five public locations as well as military and law enforcement bases in Chabahar and Rask.
The Baluch community, alongside the Kurds, has long been among the most persecuted minorities in Iran. The region is one of the most impoverished in the country, characterized by high unemployment rates and inadequate infrastructure. Consequently, smuggling fuel, goods, and, in some cases, drugs has become a vital means of survival for many.

A deadly rocket strike on Saturday in Majdal Shams village in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 children playing soccer, becoming the latest victims in a suspected Hezbollah attack on Saturday.

The Druze are an Arabic-speaking ethno- religious group who adhere to the Druze faith, residing in Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

The scale of the massacre is the largest civilian loss in Israel since October 7. Druze and Israelis are still mourning and coming to terms with the immense loss, said Anan Wahabi, a lecturer at the University of Haifa, specializing in national security.

Wahabi is also a Druze-Israeli.

“It was unprecedented attack that killed the innocent and beautiful children. Their only guilt was just to come and to try and play football,” he said.

The complex situation of the Golan Heights Druze has been highlighted in the most tragic way possible. Wahabi said those in the area had longstanding Syrian identity in the past, but now have a growing affiliation with Israel, especially the younger generation, some of whom serve in the Israeli military. They are not forced to serve and volunteer should they enlist.

The people of Golan Heights are residents of Israel and an increasing number are choosing to become Israeli citizens. Since the Syrian civil war, and October 7, Israeli citizenship by Druze in that area, jumped significantly. In contrast, other Druze in Israel, serve in the military and police, including the war against Hamas with many reaching high ranks in the IDF and government.

After the 1967 Mideast war, Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria - and effectively annexed it in 1981.

For the Druze, their identity and history is complex and multifaceted.

“I must tell that the first identity is the Druze identity for them, and we have our own flag. Secondly there is the national identity. We've gotten a lot of messages from all parts of the Israeli society giving condolences and standing with us in this very hard time,” said Wahabi.

The Druze in Syria are angry said Wahabi, calling Hezbollah, which translates to the party of God in Arabic to the party of the devil, instead. He said the Druze in Lebanon are not speaking up and are trying to avoid confrontation, with the Iran-backed Shiite military organization that dominates the country.

"We could hear voices, from the Syrian Druze calling Hezbollah, Hezbsheytan; the party of the devil."

No escaping Geopolitics:

But there is no escaping the geopolitics of the region no matter the ethnic or religious identity.

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a press conference from the scene the rocket that struck Majdal Shams was an Iranian-made Falaq-1. The rocket identified as having had 53 kg load of explosives.

US intelligence officials said there is no doubt that Hezbollah carried out the attack, however, what is not clear is if the children were the target or if they misfired.

Israeli officials were quick to offer support to the community and pointed the blame at Tehran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a “harsh response” during a visit to Majdal Shams Monday.

Hezbollah denied responsibility but said it had launched strikes on what it said were military targets in nearby areas.

"A Jewish child murdered on the Gaza border on Oct. 7 and a Druze child murdered on the Golan Heights are the same. These are our children," Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday while with the Prime Minister in Majdal Shams.

A turning point?

Some experts believe the deadly incident involving youth could be a turning point in the conflict.

The FDD’s Behnam Ben Taleblu said Israel’s response will likely be severe, referring to it as “deterrence by punishment.”

“The question is really where and when,” said Taleblu.

Taleblu said a number of factors, like America’s upcoming presidential elections, will determine just how far Israel can go in their response.

“If Israel does look to restore deterrence, it may be a short lived deterrence. Iran, Hezbollah and many of these other actors think there's a longer leash here because the US may want to avoid a military conflict or may want to avoid even the potential for escalation as it gets closer to the election,” said Taleblu.

On Monday, the US declared support for Israel but also cautioned its Middle East ally about escalation with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday to “avoid regional military escalation,” according to Élysée Palace.

The Alma Research and Education center based in Northern Israel published an assessment, saying that Hezbollah finds itself in a“Win-Win” situation, where it benefits regardless of the outcome.

The report, by Alma founder Sarit Zehavi, states Hezbollah has a desire to draw Israel into a full-scale conflict with the aim of consolidating power in Lebanon.

"An occurrence of such a large-scale tragedy resulting in several casualties has the potential to provoke a substantial and notable reaction from Israel. Within the upcoming hours and days, we shall ascertain whether this event truly marks a pivotal moment," as written in the Alma report.

The law, enacted three years ago, has been criticized by experts and human rights groups for violating women's rights to sexual and reproductive health and endangering women's health and lives.

In an interview with the Tehran daily, Etemad, Amir Hossein Bankipour, a former MP and head of the joint commission responsible for passing the law, denied any increase in birth defects over the past 33 months.

He stated, "The numbers remained the same despite the controversy stirred on social media."

Etemad further reported that since the law's enactment, "The Ministry of Health has yet to provide any statistics on birth defects, merely asserting that despite a reduction of 200,000 pregnancy screenings during the law's enforcement, no increase in fetal abnormalities has been observed."

Typically conducted during the first trimester, these tests are employed to identify and assess the risk of various congenital conditions, such as Down syndrome and chromosomal anomalies like trisomy.

Under the "Supporting Family and Regenerating Population Act", screening procedures may only be initiated at the request of the parents or a specialist doctor and only if substantial evidence necessitating the screening is provided. In such cases, families must independently cover the associated costs.

Nevertheless, a ban announced last year has rendered it impossible to access screening kits for congenital anomalies in Iran.

The Health Ministry’s Food and Drug Administration announced it will no longer issue permits for medical kits that serve as diagnostic tools used primarily in prenatal screening and general disease detection.

That includes the production or importation of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-hCG) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests.

Khamenei's punitive push to increase population growth

Although recent statistics are unavailable, officials in 2015 reported that the annual rate of children born with birth defects ranged between 50,000 and 70,000. Etemad’s article also suggests a figure of approximately 60,000.

In 2005, based on a fatwa by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other religious authorities, the "Therapeutic Abortion" act was passed by parliament and approved by the Guardian Council. The law prevented the birth of children in Iran who either endangered the mother's life, had a short and burdensome life expectancy, or possessed chromosomal abnormalities.

Then, fifteen years later, Khamenei publicly changed his stance, commenting on the necessity of increasing the population, stating that limiting the population was a "mistake" and asking God for forgiveness.

Following his remarks, members of parliament introduced the controversial law, which also mandates that government and state entities actively promote marriage and childbearing, imposes penalties for non-compliance, and prohibits any activities endorsing birth control.

Additionally, it bans government health services from offering family planning services, including contraceptives, vasectomies, and tubectomies.

Birth rate continues to decline, despite state's efforts

In a commentary published last year in Etemad, Abbas Abdi noted that the current administration and parliament have invested at least 250 trillion rials ($500 million) annually to increase the birth rate.

Analysts have argued that Khamenei's desire to boost the country's population is underpinned by a strategic aim to bolster Iran's geopolitical influence and sustain the regime's power through demographic manipulation.

Despite these extensive efforts to promote an increase in fertility rates, Iran's Civil Registration Organization has reported a decline in birth rates for the year 2023.

According to official statistics, births fell from 1,075,381 in 2022 to 1,057,948 in 2023.

Critics of the population increase policy argue that the Islamic Republic has failed to enhance living standards, with official statistics showing that over a third of the population lives below the absolute poverty line, and many more endure increasing hardship despite holding multiple jobs.

Nonetheless, Khamenei advocates for Iran's population to reach at least 150 million by 2050, emphasizing this as a purportedly necessary measure to prevent an aging demographic.

The 63-year-old prince, in his capacity as a top opposition leader, has long been campaigning for the establishment of "a secular democracy" in Iran and the end of the Islamic Republic's 46-year rule, which started with the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi monarchy.

In his latest interview with the US-based Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), Pahlavi said, "When you have a regime that is completely delegitimized when you have people who no longer believe in the system, even if they did at some point and they want out, that makes this system vulnerable."

He further cautioned the United States and Western powers not to be deceived by the election of Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, referring to him as a “lackey.”

Criticizing the legitimacy of the widely boycotted Iranian presidential elections, Pahlavi remarked, "We call this the circus of elections in Iran." He added, "In all these years, it really didn't matter who was presented because all the shots are ultimately called by Khamenei, the supreme leader."

Official figures released by Iran's Interior Ministry put the turnout in the first round of the elections held on July 28 at 39.92 percent, the lowest recorded since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.

In February this year, a study by Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance revealed that approximately 73 percent of Iranians advocate for the separation of religion from state, indicating an unprecedented demand for a secular government.

Referring to this figure, Pahlavi said: "The regime's own figures demonstrate that at least 73% of the population want another form of government."

The confidential study, leaked to foreign-based Persian media outlets, highlights a sharp increase in secularism, with demands for secular governance rising from less than 31 percent in 2015.

The significant change seems to have taken place since large anti-government protests in 2022 and 2023 when the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement began, representing the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic in 45 years.

In one of the most important findings of the study, 85 percent said Iranians have become less religious compared to 5 years ago. Only 7 percent said they have become more religious and around 8 percent said they can see no difference in this regard between now and 5 years ago.