April
19, 2023
Two-time
Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi, Iran’s best-known director, was at the Zurich Film
Festival last September when protests following the death of Mahsa Amini
erupted in his home country.
Since
then, the auteur of “A Separation,” “The Salesman” and “A Hero” has not
returned to Iran. He’s been working on a new film in Los Angeles and Europe.
Interestingly, he says he plans to go back to his country before he shoots this
film, even though he is not 100% sure they will let him out again. It’s clearly
a risk that the enigmatic Farhadi is willing to take.
Farhadi
was in Turin on Monday to give a masterclass at Italy’s National Museum of
Cinema, where he also received a lifetime achievement award. In a rare
interview, he took questions via e-mail from Variety.
Where
are you living these days? I read that you are working on your next movie in
Los Angeles. Can you confirm?
These
days, I’m frequently traveling between Europe and the U.S. I’ve been busy with
research and writing a script since last year, which I will continue to do for
a few months. It is still too soon to announce the details of the project. The
only thing I can say is I spend all my time writing.
Have
you relocated to the U.S.?
I’m
in the U.S. for my new project, which doesn’t mean I’ve moved there. Like
[with] other films I have made in France [“The Past”] and Spain [“Everybody
Knows”], I spent some time in those countries for the sake of the projects.
You
have made several very outspoken statements against the Iranian government and
the brutality with which it is punishing expressions of dissent. Do you have
anything to add to those statements in the wake of the alleged poisoning of
schoolgirls and cameras being put in public places to identify women not
wearing a hijab?
What
I can add to what I have already said is: The situation will not return to how
it was before. And that there is great hope in what happened. And I believe in
this extraordinary uprising that occurred in Iran in the last few months.
Because, at its core, there is a tremendous humane and legitimate desire.
Do
you think your outcry against police brutality in Iran and that of thousands,
if not millions, of other protesters is being heard?
I
believe that people, especially the new generation, are extremely powerful.
They know what their goal is and exactly what they want. I find this uprising
very promising, and I believe in it.
Do
you think Iran has now reached a turning point? Are the protests so strong that
there is no turning back?
Nothing
has stopped. Iranian people are continuing to pursue their rightful and
legitimate demands, and it is their right. I don’t feel that this process has
ever stopped. And I am sure this struggle will continue because it is a humane
demand, and there is excellent solidarity around the issue. The result will be
rewarding.
What
I can say with certainty is that these voices were heard by people outside of
Iran who followed the news and created solidarity between Iranians and
non-Iranians outside of Iran and Iranians within the country, which is
invaluable. It was the first time we could see this level of solidarity. Thus,
it was very encouraging.
I
do not believe you have returned to Iran since your first public statement against
the killing of Mahsa Amini. Would you like to return to your country?
The
reason I was outside Iran during this time is because of a project that was
planned in advance, and I am sure when the film’s script is finished and the
research is done, I will return [to Iran] until the pre-production starts. Then
I will go back to the film’s location, where it is going to be shot.
Are
you now banned from making movies in Iran?
I’m
not officially aware of being banned from working in Iran, but I have heard it
unofficially. Moreover, I know that I’m officially banned from trading. And
again, unofficially, I have heard that I am banned from leaving Iran.
US imposes sanctions on network supporting Iran's drone, military programs
April
19, 2023
WASHINGTON
(Reuters) -The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a procurement
network it accused of supporting Iran's drone and military programs, targeting
companies and suppliers in China, Iran and elsewhere in the fresh action aimed
at increasing pressure on Tehran.
The
U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it imposed sanctions on the head
of Iran’s Pardazan System Namad Arman (PASNA), which was already under U.S.
sanctions, and the entity's front companies and suppliers in Iran, Malaysia,
Hong Kong and China that Washington said have enabled PASNA's procurement of
goods and technology.
It
marks the latest move by Washington targeting Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) industry.
"The
network sanctioned today has procured goods and technology for the Iranian
government and its defense industry and UAV program," the Treasury's Under
Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in the
statement.
"Treasury
will continue to enforce its sanctions against Iran’s military procurement
efforts that contribute to regional insecurity and global instability."
Iran's
mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
The
Treasury targeted the managing director of PASNA, accusing him of being
responsible for the company's sanctions evasion efforts. It said he used front
companies to seek a variety of electronic components from suppliers based
primarily in China.
Three
China-based suppliers of PASNA were also targeted in Wednesday's action
alongside a Hong Kong-based company, a Malaysia-based front company and one
based in Iran.
The
move freezes any U.S. assets of those hit with sanctions and generally bars
Americans from dealing with them. Those that engage in certain transactions
with them also risk being hit by sanctions.
The
latest U.S. move against Iran comes as efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal
have stalled and ties between the Islamic Republic and the West became
increasingly strained as Iran's security forces violently put down the protests
following the death of a Kurdish woman in the custody of the morality police
last September.
Iran’s top leader rules out referendums on divisive issues
April
19, 2023
Iran’s
supreme leader on Tuesday ruled out the holding of popular referendums on state
policies.
Iran
faced calls for a referendum on the Islamic Republic itself during
anti-government protests last year, and a moderate former president recently
suggested such votes should be held to decide major policies as a way of
reducing divisions.
Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say over such policies,
rejected the idea when asked about it during a meeting with university students.
“Where
in the world is this done? Is it possible to hold a referendum for various
issues of the country?” he asked. “For any single issue, the country would be
engaged in debate and arguments and polarization for six months, so that a
referendum can be held on that issue.”
He
appeared to be referring to recent remarks by former President Hassan Rouhani,
a relative moderate, who had suggested holding referendums on domestic and
foreign policies.
Iran
holds regular presidential and parliamentary elections overseen by clerical
bodies that vet candidates. Under the constitution, a referendum is only
possible if two-thirds of parliament votes for it and a 12-member
constitutional body — half of whom are appointed by the supreme leader —
approves.
Iran
saw months of nationwide anti-government protests sparked by the death in
September of a 22-year-old woman who was detained by the morality police for
allegedly violating the country’s strict Islamic dress code. The protests
rapidly escalated into calls for the overthrow of the ruling clerics, marking a
major challenge to their four-decade rule.
The
protests died down earlier this year amid a violent crackdown by authorities,
though there are lingering signs of discontent.
Iran
held referendums to establish an Islamic Republic and approve a new
constitution shortly after the 1979 revolution. It held another referendum in
the late 1980s to amend the constitution.
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