Trump’s views on hijab and alcohol resonate with Muslims, ex-Iranian diplomat says

"In Iran, nobody would be detained due to his professional activities, like the media, like the civil society," Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy minister for international and legal affairs at the ministry of foreign affairs told the 48th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Friday.

He also dismissed UN Special Rapporteur’s reports on Iran, arguing that they fail to reflect the realities of human rights in the country and rely on incorrect information and unreliable sources with a biased approach and political motivations.

Gharibabadi did not clarify which sources or organizations Iran considers credible, adding only that Iran views the appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur on the country as "an act based on continuous political mobilization against Iran", orchestrated by certain member states of the Human Rights Council.

Over the past year, many independent non-governmental organizations have expressed concern over its rights abuses including its ongoing crackdown on journalists.

Iran’s press freedom ranking remains among the worst globally, with Reporters Without Borders placing the country 176th out of 180 in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index.

Earlier this month, Defending Free Flow of Information (DeFFI), a non-profit which monitors and documents press freedom in Iran said in its annual report it documented 385 judicial and security actions targeting at least 256 journalists and media outlets in 2024.

Among these, 36 journalists and media activists were arrested, and 11 served prison sentences totaling 69 years and 10 months. Penalties included flogging with 110 lashes and fines.

The report outlined a deliberate pattern of repression, correlating significant waves of arrests and prosecutions with major political events, including the death of former president Ebrahim Raisi, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria and tensions between Iran and Israel.

DeFFI said Iran’s judicial and security bodies systematically used charges such as “dissemination of falsehoods aimed at disturbing public opinion” to stifle dissent and enforce self-censorship among journalists.

The repression disproportionately impacted female journalists, with 40 women facing judicial and security actions, including arrests, prison sentences, and professional bans. Three female journalists received five-year prison terms, among the harshest sentences issued in 2024.

While Gharibabadi denied the existence of ethnic minorities in Iran on Friday, DeFFI’s report said the Islamic Republic also intensified media suppression outside Tehran, particularly in provinces with significant ethnic minority populations, such as Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Kurdistan.

DeFFI reported that judicial action against journalists in these areas contributed to a growing “news desert” depriving citizens of reliable, independent information.

The appointment of Michael Dimino as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East is seen by some observers in Tehran as an indication of a possible recalibration in US policy toward Tehran.

Esmaeil Khatib, Iran’s Intelligence Minister, dismissed the notion of productive negotiations with the US, citing previous instances where, according to him, Washington failed to uphold its commitments.

“The Islamic Revolution has extensive experience with these negotiations, a prominent example being the JCPOA. Negotiations held in Oman, as well as those concerning our assets in Qatar and South Korea, all reveal that the Americans have not fulfilled their promises in any of them,” Khatib told ILNA, referencing the 2015 nuclear deal.

He repeated his staunch opposition to what he called imposed negotiations, adding, “Anyone who is truthful will earn the respect of Iran, Islam, and the Revolution for their honesty, and wherever there is deceit, arrogance, hostility, and oppression, Iran will resist.”

Clerics Echo Anti-US Sentiment

Tehran’s Friday prayers featured strong rebukes of US policies. Ahmad Khatami, a senior ultra-conservative cleric, invoked Iran’s ideological opposition to Washington, saying, “The late leader Khomeini called the US the Great Satan. The Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reiterated this stance numerous times.”

Khatami argued that the US’s primary aim in seeking talks was to undermine the Islamic Republic, adding, “The US seeks negotiations as a means to confront the Revolution.”

Ahmad Alamolhoda, Mashhad’s hardliner Friday Prayer Leader, also criticized domestic advocates for dialogue with the West, asking, “With whom do you wish to negotiate? With defeated elements who have sunk to such humiliation?”

Dovish Dimino?

While Iranian hardliners reject overtures from Washington, moderate voices within the country have pointed to potential openings under Trump’s renewed tenure.

Fararu, a relatively moderate Iranian news outlet, highlighted comments by VP for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, who expressed hope for a more rational approach from Trump.

The outlet noted that recent changes in Trump’s foreign policy team, including Dimino’s appointment, could signal an interest in diplomacy.

Dimino’s stance on the Middle East contrasts with more forceful policies. He has opposed preemptive military strikes on Iran, called for reducing the US military footprint in the region, and emphasized diplomacy as a solution to conflicts.

This Department of Defense official has said that the US should significantly reduce its troop presence in the region and shut down its military bases in Iraq and Syria.

Dimino had described US strikes on the Houthis as lacking deterrent value. He also called for a reassessment of the US presence in the Persian Gulf.

"Iranian power remains both exaggerated and misunderstood. Its economy continues to underperform, and its conventional military is antiquated and untested. Tehran simply doesn’t have the financial capital or hard power capabilities to dominate the Middle East or directly threaten core US interests," he wrote in a 2023 article.

He has repeatedly warned that Israeli attacks on Iran and the Islamic Republic’s proxy forces increase the risks to US forces in the region.

Critics, however, argue that his affiliation with the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft —a think tank known for promoting restraint in US foreign policy—raises concerns about the administration’s commitment to Israel.

Pro-Israel figures, such as commentator Mark Levin, have criticized Dimino’s views, citing his opposition to US defensive support for Israel against Hezbollah. Others view his appointment as a potential indicator that Trump is exploring non-military options in dealing with Tehran.

US-Iran relations have been fraught since Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA, a decision that intensified sanctions and strained Tehran’s economy.

Tensions peaked in January 2020, when a US drone strike killed IRGC Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani, an event that both nations view as a turning point in their confrontation.

As Trump’s administration implements a renewed maximum pressure campaign, debates persist about the feasibility of US-Iran diplomacy.

According to the APA news agency, Azerbaijani officials raised objections over what they described as a systematic campaign by Iranian media outlets, allegedly close to the Iranian government, to discredit Azerbaijan.

The controversy follows reports that Azerbaijan expelled or barred 16 Iranian female students, accusing them of collaborating with Iranian-linked entities. Iranian state media condemned the expulsions as being aligned with Israel’s policies.

Tensions further escalated earlier in January after Azerbaijan’s security services said they had foiled a plot to assassinate a prominent local Jewish figure for $200,000. Two suspects were arrested, with Azerbaijani officials alleging they acted "under the guidance of a foreign country." While no nation was explicitly named, sources within Azerbaijan’s Jewish community have pointed to Iran.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Mojtaba Demirchilou, an aide to Iran’s foreign minister and director general for Eurasia affairs, met with Azerbaijan's ambassador in Tehran, Ali Alizadeh. During the meeting, Demirchilou protested what he described as "negative actions by certain circles or individuals in Azerbaijan," including the "unethical incident" involving Iranian students. He described these actions as "damaging to relations between the two nations" and called for decisive measures against those responsible.

This development adds to long-standing tensions between the two countries. Tehran has been critical of Baku’s close ties with Israel, while Azerbaijan has expressed frustration over Tehran’s alleged provocations, including inflammatory rhetoric by Iranian clerics and media.

Earlier this month, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev condemned remarks by Iranian cleric Seyyed Hassan Ameli, the Friday Prayer Leader of Ardabil. Ameli accused Azerbaijan of collaborating with Israel and described President Aliyev's policies as part of a "multi-billion dollar gamble with the Israelis." The remarks, aired on IRIB News, also reportedly included insults towards Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

During a press briefing, Aliyev publicly questioned Iran’s leadership over its silence on the matter, demanding an apology. "What is their reaction? Does [the Iranian leadership] support this or not? Who will apologize to Azerbaijan?" Aliyev asked, reflecting the deepening strain between the neighbors.

The proposal comes as Iranian officials and many commentators in Tehran advocate for negotiations with President Donald Trump to address differences with Washington and ease sanctions amid deep economic malaise.

In an editorial titled "Iran: The Gateway for Elon Musk to the Middle East," Etemad highlighted Musk’s global influence, describing him as "a world-renowned figure and an extraordinary, golden opportunity." The editorial urged officials to act swiftly, stating, "Let us seize this chance ahead of competitors and invite him to Tehran, to Azadi Stadium." It further remarked, "Just as he envisions carpeting Mars for humanity, we should not hesitate to roll out the carpet for him in Tehran."

This proposal coincides with speculation about Musk’s indirect involvement in the release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was arrested in Iran last month and released in January.

Last week, The New York Times reported that Musk reached out to Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, to facilitate Sala’s freedom—a claim Musk denied on X, writing, "I haven’t had any interaction with Iran. Just recommended support from the US side." Iranian officials have dismissed the reports as "media storytelling and fabrication."

Also in November, The New York Times wrote that Musk and Iravani met in person in New York, which Tehran denied.

Despite the controversy, Etemad framed Musk’s potential visit as a pivotal moment for Iran, asserting, "His arrival in Tehran would attract more attention globally than his journey to Mars. Let us seize this opportunity for Iran and the Middle East." The newspaper argued that Musk’s presence could symbolize a leap forward in technology and artificial intelligence for the region.

Iranian state-controlled media published an official account of the interview on Friday from his visit to Moscow last week, highlighting exchanges with Vladimir Solovyov, one of Russia’s most outspoken nationalist TV personalities.

When asked about his view of Putin, Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for the Russian president’s opposition to unilateralism, a term often used by the two heavily sanctioned and isolated powers to describe US policies.

“That sense within us, and among those who seek freedom and independence, grows stronger by the day. As a result, we feel this shared connection and closeness in our beliefs, and we will stand together,” Pezeshkian said, referring to Putin.

Addressing sanctions imposed by the United States on both Russia and Iran, Pezeshkian emphasized the significance of their partnership.

“The long-term strategic agreement we signed with the Russian Federation indicates that neither Russia nor Iran intends to succumb to the demands they seek to impose on us,” he remarked.

Pezeshkian posed a question of his own, asking whether Moscow and Tehran would cooperate in mutual defense if Iran were attacked by the United States or Israel.

“According to the terms of the agreement, it has been established that in the event of an attack on Iran or Russia by another country, we are committed to refraining from any form of cooperation with the aggressor and preventing such an occurrence," he answered.

Pezeshkian’s answer implied that the strategic treaty he signed with Putin is not an ironclad mutual defense pact, despite Iran's heavy supply of drones and other munitions to Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The deliveries have been met with further US-led sanctions, deepening economic suffering in Iran which has led relative moderates in the country to call for renewed talks with the United States over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Solovyov posed a sharp question, asking why the Islamic Republic shows such restraint despite the United States imposing "terroristic sanctions" and Israel directly targeting its officials and interests.

While Pezeshkian condemned Israel, his response was measured, launching into an extended monologue about the peaceful nature of religions and prophets.

Solovyov persisted with his line of questioning, asking Pezeshkian for his thoughts on “the recent developments in the region and the Americans' efforts to create instability along Iran's borders.”

“As I mentioned earlier, the conflict is fundamentally about truth versus falsehood and justice versus injustice,” Pezeshkian replied, continuing into an extended philosophical reply.

Like Ankara and Moscow aspiring to rebuild their Ottoman and Russian empires, Iran was one of the world’s oldest empires, Pezeshkian said, which ruled vast territories but respected local customs and traditions and giving authority to local elites.

Pezeshkian went on to deny that the Islamic Republic has ever engaged in violent actions or encouraged and supported war in the region. However, a countdown clock in Tehran still prominently displays the purported timeline for Israel’s destruction.

The president had sounded a dovish tone in an interview with US news channel NBC in an interview in Tehran the same week.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to peace and de-escalation in the region and globally, condemns the Zionist regime's war-mongering, aggression, and genocide, and stands ready for honorable and equal negotiations," he said.