November 17 2022
On the evening of 16 November, two members of Iran’s security forces were killed and at least eight others were injured in the neighborhood of Khane Esfahan in the city of Isfahan. The assailants who carried out the attack reportedly drove by on motorcycles and opened fire on the security forces stationed in the street.
According to Fars News Agency, the two victims were Mohsen Hamidi and Mohammad Hossein Karimi, both members of the Basij – one of the five armed wings of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that serves as an auxiliary force engaged in internal security.
Among the injured were seven law enforcement personnel and one Basij member, according to Anadolu Agency.
There is presently no further information on the attackers. However, local sources say that the weapons used were military-grade assault rifles.
This attack came just hours after a shooting in a busy market in Izeh, Khuzestan that left five people dead and at least 10 injured, two of which were Basij members, and three police officers. No group or organization has claimed responsibility for either attack.
The Islamic Republic has been witnessing a surge in armed attacks and terror incidents in the months following the death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked protests across the country that have often turned into violent riots.
These riots re-ignited in recent days, as anti-government protesters called for a three-day strike that began on 15 November, marking the third anniversary of what is referred to as “Bloody November.”
In November 2019, security forces suppressed and opened fire on demonstrators during mass protests against a hike in fuel prices, leaving many dead.
Iranian authorities have blamed foreign powers for inciting violence in a heavy-handed attempt at overthrowing the government. Even former US officials have admitted that separatist groups in western Iran are being trained and armed in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) for this purpose.
Over the years, Iran has been persistently targeted by intensive propaganda efforts led by foreign-funded Farsi-language news outlets to undermine the political stability in the country.
Though armed attacks across Iran have been ongoing, the attack in Izeh marks the fourth major attack in the span of two months – leaving a death toll of over 40 people, among them civilians, police, and security personnel.
At least 19 died in Zahedan at the hands of the Jaish al-Zulm separatist group; 15 in the attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz carried out by ISIS, five in Khuzestan, and two in Isfahan.
IAEA Again Condemns Iran Over ‘Lack of Cooperation’ on Particles
China and Russia both vote against West-backed resolution
November 17, 2022
The IAEA’s issues with uranium particles in Iran remain unresolved, with the body voting once again to condemn the Iranian Republic for “lack of cooperation” on the questions of the particles. This is the second condemnation and both China and Russia voted against it.
The allegation isn’t really factually correct. Iran has cooperated several times over the particles, providing the IAEA access to sites, and attempting to explain them. The US rejected the explanation, and insisted that the IAEA do so as well. That left the matter unresolved, and so the West has been able to bring up the matter for condemnation every once in awhile.
Since Iran offered an explanation and didn’t accomplish anything, they are now very reluctant to engage on that specific matter, considering it unresolvable in practical terms.
The problem is, the US, in particular has demanded the resolution of outstanding issues in the nuclear talks, but the actions on the particles mean it will always be a pretext to not finalize a deal.
When the IAEA originally announced the finding of unprocessed uranium particles, there seemed at least some speculation that IAEA inspectors had accidentally contaminated the site.
Even then, trace particles of raw (unenriched) uranium is not a proliferation risk in and of itself, so but for the US and EU wanting to make it an issue, it broadly doesn’t matter.
At the root of the scandal is Israel as the particles were “found” at Israel-alleged undeclared sites, so making them an issue serves to vindicate Israel’s accusations.
Iran denied the sites were ever nuclear-related, and said
they were closed industrial sites. The sites were closed and cleaned, which
fueled claims of a cover up.
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