A TUSSLE WITH TEXAS OVER STATE-LEVEL SANCTIONS
Facing pressure from Iran, the Obama administration is now seeking ways to provide the Islamic Republic with more economic relief in exchange with its continued compliance with the terms of last year's nuclear deal. As part of this effort, the White House has reached out to various states in the union, with the goal of convincing them to roll back local economic penalties and restrictions on the Islamic Republic.
The effort, however, is receiving a chilly reception at the state level, and nowhere more so than in Texas. While some states are presumably pondering compliance with the White House's wishes, the Texas State House has publicly refused the President's urging. "I strongly oppose the Iran deal because it undermines the national security of the United States and its strategic allies abroad - especially our most important Middle East ally, Israel," Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote in response to President Obama's April letter outlining his desires. "Entering into an agreement with a country that consistently calls for 'death to America,' and repeatedly articulates antisemitic policies is short-sighted and ignores geopolitical realities."
Abbott's objections don't stop there. In recent days, the Texas governor has sent an open letter to counterparts across the country in an effort to erect a united front against the Iran deal at the state level. According to Abbott, his goal is to ensure "that taxpayer dollars from Texas do not flow to the world's leading state sponsor of terror." (Algemeiner, May 16 and June 5, 2016)
IN IRAN, BRIGHTENING ENERGY PROSPECTS...
Iran, meanwhile, is beginning to feel the concrete benefits of the nuclear deal. "Thanks to [the] JCPOA, production and export of crude oil and its byproducts have risen two-fold compared to the sanctions period," Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh has confirmed to reporters. "We can now clearly see the benefits of sanctions removal on the Oil Ministry's projects." Iran's oil exports had dipped below one million barrels per day as a result of Western sanctions in the months prior to the start of negotiations with the West over the regime's nuclear program in November 2013. (Beijing Xinhua, May 16, 2016)
...AND ENDURING GRIEVANCES
Iran may have come to terms with the West over its nuclear program, but its animus toward the United States remains unabated. In mid-May, Iran's parliament (or majles) formally voted to approve a bill demanding compensation from the United States for "spiritual and material damage" inflicted on Iran over the past six decades as a result of its policies. In its deliberations, the majles cited incidents such as America's involvement in the 1953 overthrow of nationalist prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh and America's support for Iraq during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War as signs of enduring U.S. hostility. The measure passed the Iranian parliament resoundingly, garnering 174 votes in favor and only seven against. (CNN, May 18, 2016)
AN IRANIAN FOOTHOLD IN KURDISTAN
The Islamic Republic's presence on the territory of its western neighbor continues to expand. In early May, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly began construction on what is said to be its largest missile base to date, near Sayed Sadiq in Iraqi Kurdistan. The area has received a rash of visits by IRGC commanders in recent weeks in what local officials are saying is a concrete sign of Iran's expanding regional ambitions. (London Asharq Al-Awsat, May 28, 2016)
IRAN VERSUS THE INTERNET, AGAIN
Iran's government is tightening its already-extensive grip on social media within the country still further. The regime's dedicated agency dealing with cyberspace has imposed onerous new restrictions on social media usage within the Islamic Republic, with the goal of imposing stricter controls on Internet usage among Iranians. "Foreign messaging companies active in the country are required to transfer all data and activity linked to Iranian citizens into the country in order to ensure their continued activity," a new regulation promulgated by Iran's Supreme Council of Cyberspace has outlined. The measure to acquire the personal data of social media users comes in response to the growing popularity of platforms as the messaging app Telegram among Iranians - a trend that Iranian authorities are attempting to both track and stifle. (Riyadh Al-Arabiya, May 29, 2016)