Short news summaries for August 6, 2018. Read the most important news from Iran and the world on the fifteenth day of Mordad 97 here moment by moment.
Latest news updates: 22:37, 15.5.1397 - A commander of the IRGC: 13 people arrested related to the UAE intelligence service. An IRGC commander stated that 13 individuals were arrested during recent unrest in the currency and gold coin market, claiming they were connected to the 'UAE intelligence service.' Nasser Shabani, an IRGC commander, added that these individuals were instructed to go to Istanbul Square in Tehran and buy as many dollars as possible, even at higher prices, to deliver in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. He stated without evidence that 'two tons of coins were supposed to be smuggled out of the country, but fortunately many of these shipments did not leave the country.' The spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary announced on Monday that 45 individuals have been arrested in relation to the recent inflation of currency and gold coins. Previously, the detainees were introduced as 'economic disruptors,' who could face the death penalty.
22:01, 15.5.1397 - Netanyahu: The reinstatement of Iran sanctions is a significant moment for the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the U.S. President for reinstating the first round of sanctions against Iran. He stated, 'I urge European countries that speak about stopping the Iranian regime to join this movement. It is time to stop talking; now is the time for action.' Netanyahu described the reinstatement of sanctions against Iran as 'a significant moment for Israel, the United States, the region, and the entire world.'
21:24, 15.5.1397 - Pompeo: The Iranian regime must use resources to help its citizens. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted about the return of Washington's sanctions against Iran. He wrote, '90 days ago, President Trump withdrew the United States from the ineffective nuclear deal with Iran. Today, sanctions against the regime in Iran have been reinstated to counter its destructive activities. The regime must use Iran's resources to help its citizens, not to support terrorism and enrich its leaders.'
21:16, 15.5.1397 - Rouhani: If the U.S. is ready to negotiate about compensation. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for negotiations, stating, 'I am willing to negotiate, but negotiations have a basis, and the first is honesty, which both sides must believe in. The second basis for negotiation is to reach a result.' In a televised interview, he added, 'The one who claims to negotiate today is someone who has exited international commitments without negotiation, from the Paris Agreement to other trade treaties.' He stated, 'If the U.S. government is ready, we can negotiate about compensations that should have been paid to Iran since 1953. The U.S. owes Iran, both in apologies and compensations.' This is Rouhani's first televised interview following recent protests, the rise in the dollar and gold coin prices, and the return of Washington's sanctions against Tehran.
19:27, 15.5.1397 - The number of detainees in new economic cases has reached '45.' The spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary stated that 45 individuals have been arrested in recent economic cases. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei mentioned on Monday that, in response to the demands of the people, particularly religious authorities and Friday prayer leaders, for a quicker and more decisive action against 'corrupt individuals,' several cases have completed the preliminary investigation stage and are going to court. He previously reported that Ahmad Iraqchi, the currency deputy of the Central Bank of Iran, is among the detainees. According to Ejei, 'An employee of one of the vice presidents and four currency brokers who were engaged in unauthorized activities' are also among the detainees. In recent weeks, Iran's financial markets have experienced severe turbulence, with the price of each U.S. dollar rising to 12,000 tomans. Iranian judicial officials have attributed these disturbances to 'foreign corrupt hands' and 'economic disruptors.'
19:07, 15.5.1397 - Trump's executive order for the return of Iran sanctions. Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating sanctions against Iran. In the signing ceremony, he stated that the U.S. policy is 'to exert maximum economic pressure' on Iran. The U.S. President emphasized that the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran in exchange for lifting sanctions was 'a terrible and one-sided agreement.' He stated that this agreement allowed money to flow into Iran, which was used for conflict in the Middle East. He urged all countries in the world 'to make it clear that the Iranian regime is facing a choice: either change its threatening and destabilizing behavior and join the global economy, or continue on its path of economic isolation.' The U.S. President warned that countries that do not sever their ties with the Iranian economy will face 'severe consequences' under the reinstatement of sanctions. Trump also stated that he is still ready to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran that addresses a wide range of the regime's malign behaviors, including its ballistic missile program and support for terrorism.
17:42, 15.5.1397 - Strikes by railway workers continue in several cities in Iran. Reports from labor organizations indicate that the strikes by railway maintenance workers in several cities in Iran continued on Monday. Previously, the Coordination Council of these workers had issued a statement saying that their strike would continue until their demands are met. The strikes and protests by these workers began on July 20, in protest against the non-payment of three to four months of wages. According to the recent statement, seven thousand workers from this company are also demanding attention to their health insurance status, permanent employment contracts, the right to organize and assemble, and a halt to the dismissal of workers. Previously, government officials had promised to pay the overdue wages of these workers.
17:29, 15.5.1397 - Motahari: Rouhani lacks the courage to state all the facts. Ali Motahari, the Vice President of the Iranian Parliament, stated that President Hassan Rouhani does not have the 'courage' to state all the facts. His remarks came after a number of parliament members questioned Rouhani. The Iranian President is expected to appear before the parliament within a month. Motahari expressed that he does not see this 'courage' in Rouhani to 'speak about all the obstacles, as they keep some of them hidden under the pretext of national interests.' He stated, 'If the obstacles facing the government remain hidden under the pretext of national interests, the government's goals will not be achieved. Stating the facts will put pressure on public opinion to remove the obstacles.' The questions from parliament members to the Iranian President mainly relate to the country's economic issues and include five main points, from the prices of goods and currency in recent months to banking sanctions and the depreciation of Iran's national currency.
17:11, 15.5.1397 - 'The IRGC has not entered political issues.' The senior spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces stated on Monday that 'the IRGC has not entered political issues and is fulfilling its legal duties.' Abolfazl Shekarchi emphasized that this military force is 'one of the pillars of the regime's power' and 'enemies must know Iran's positions in special circumstances.' According to ISNA, this military official claimed that 'it is because of these powerful positions that the enemy is afraid of us.' This claim by the Iranian military official about the IRGC not entering political issues comes after Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of this force, reacted strongly to Trump's offer to meet with Rouhani, stating that he and future U.S. presidents 'will never see such a day' and 'the people of Iran will not allow a meeting with the Great Satan.'
15:32, 15.5.1397 - Zarif: The country is in good condition. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on Monday, 'Try to put aside black propaganda and discouraging the people; our country is in good condition. Let us not allow a crisis atmosphere to be created in our country.' According to him, Iran has previously gone through 'much tougher conditions' and 'the current situation is much better than before, so we can handle it.' According to ISNA, Zarif, speaking at a ceremony commemorating Journalist Day at the Foreign Ministry, added, 'Today is the day of reinstating sanctions. However, nothing will happen; during this time, they did what they wanted, and these have more psychological aspects.'