A collection of the most important news from Iran and the world on the third day of August 2018.
Latest News:
- Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting postponed: John Bolton, the White House National Security Advisor, announced that due to Robert Mueller's investigation, the next meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been postponed until 2019. Bolton was tasked by Trump last week to invite Putin to the White House this fall. Mueller is investigating potential collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied any collusion.
- Negotiating team calls for approval of FATF bills in Parliament: Abolfazl Mousavi, a member of the Hope faction, stated that Iran's negotiating team emphasized to Parliament that if they want to succeed in negotiations with Europeans regarding the JCPOA, the four FATF bills must be approved. Previously, Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, opposed Iran's accession to the FATF.
- Hormidas Bavaand: The U.S. will not accept the ICJ ruling: Davood Hormidas Bavaand, spokesperson for the National Front of Iran and international affairs analyst, stated in an interview that since the current U.S. government does not recognize the ICJ as a dispute resolution authority, the ruling will lack necessary enforcement guarantees. Iran has filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) due to the U.S.'s unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA and the return of extraterritorial sanctions. Bavaand noted that the ICJ's ruling during the nationalization of oil was based on the legal dispute between the Iranian government and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, and the court only addresses disputes between states. He stated that this ruling is a "political and legal victory for the Iranian government."
- Alireza Jahanbakhsh joins Brighton: Brighton FC announced that Alireza Jahanbakhsh, the Iranian national team player, has joined the team. The club welcomed him on Twitter.
- ICJ letter to the U.S. following Iran's complaint: The International Court of Justice published an image of its letter to the United States regarding Iran's case on its Twitter account. Previously, Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, had announced the sending of this letter, but the U.S. has not yet officially responded to this matter. According to Iranian officials, the ICJ's review of Iran's complaint is expected to take place in about a month. The Islamic Republic filed a complaint against the U.S. on July 16, citing the Treaty of Amity between Iran and the U.S. for the imposition of unilateral sanctions against Iran.
- A member of the Supreme Labor Council: Workers' purchasing power has decreased by 48% compared to December: Ali Khodaei, a labor member of the Supreme Labor Council, stated that in the first week of July compared to December of last year, workers' purchasing power has decreased by 48.2%. He pointed out that the minimum wage of 1,115,000 tomans has not only failed to narrow the gap between wages and costs but that the purchasing power of wages has severely decreased against living expenses.
- Decrease in dollar price in the free market: According to Eghtesad Online, following the appointment of Abdolnaser Hemmati as the head of the Central Bank, the dollar price in the free market has been decreasing, trading between 9,100 to 9,300 tomans on Wednesday. The dollar had previously exceeded 9,800 tomans this week.
- Head of the ideological-political organization of NAJA: The broadcast of Maedeh Hejabi's confessions was coordinated with NAJA: Alireza Adiyani, head of the ideological-political organization of the police, stated that the broadcast of Maedeh Hejabi's confessions was coordinated with the police forces, although he personally opposed this action. The broadcast of Maedeh Hejabi's tears has faced widespread condemnation from various Iranian cultural and political figures.
- Iran's formal protest to Pompeo's remarks submitted to the Swiss embassy: The Iranian Foreign Ministry submitted its formal protest against U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks to the Swiss embassy. According to Bahram Qasemi, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Pompeo's remarks were deemed "interference in Iran's internal affairs" and condemned by Tehran. On Sunday, the U.S. Secretary of State compared Iranian officials to a "mafia" and stated that the U.S. stands with the Iranian people.
- Over 150 killed in ISIS suicide attacks in Syria's Sweida: According to the Syrian state news agency SANA, over 150 people were killed on Wednesday in Sweida province due to a series of suicide attacks. ISIS has claimed responsibility for these attacks. The Syrian government forces, supported by Russian forces, are engaged with the remaining ISIS fighters in this province, which borders Jordan.