Iran News Round Up

Iraqi protesters in Basra, Iraq reportedly set fire to the Iranian consulate there on September 7 after massive protests erupted throughout the city earlier this month. The consulate was reportedly empty during the time of the attack, according to Iraqi security forces. Protesters also reportedly set fire to other pro-Iranian organizations, such as the IRGC-backed Badr Organizations headquarters in Basra. The Iranian Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq reportedly ordered all Iranian citizens living in Basra to evacuate the city. (Telegram) (Twitter) (Instagram)

The Assembly of Experts invited President Hassan Rouhani, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary head Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani to attend a joint meeting to discuss economic issues on September 5. Ali Larijani and Sadegh Amoli Larijani were present for the meeting, but Rouhani declined the invitation. Ali Larijani presented a report on Parliament’s efforts in addressing the nation’s economic problems. Sadegh Amoli Larijani briefed Assembly of Experts members on judicial efforts in combating corruption and smuggling. Rouhani’s absence from the meeting follows his participation in a hardliner-instigated parliamentary questioning on August 28. Parliamentarians expressed their unhappiness with Rouhani’s responses on several economy-related issues. The Assembly of Experts issued a conclusory statement calling on officials to improve Iran’s economic situation, reduce unemployment, and stabilize the value of the Iranian rial, among other things. The meeting follows the devaluation of the Iranian rial to an all-time low of 138,000 rials per U.S. dollar on September 3. (Assembly of Experts) (Assembly of Experts) (Assembly of Experts) (Reuters) (E) 

Reformist Parliamentarian Mahmoud Sadeghi tweeted on September 6 that unidentified sources told him that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved of anti-money laundering (AML) parliamentary legislation. The Guardian Council previously rejected parliamentary-approved AML amendments on August 18, sending the legislation back to Parliament for revision. Khamenei expressed his disagreement with pending AML and counter-terror financing legislation that would necessitate Iran’s adherence to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on June 20. It is unclear if the current status of the amendments are in line with FATF-specified requirements to prevent Iran from FATF blacklisting. (Twitter)

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with Artesh Khatam ol Anbia Air Defense Base commanders and leaders on September 2 on the annually-celebrated Air Defense Day. Artesh Khatam ol Anbia Commander Brig. Gen. Alireza Sabahi Fard presented a report to Khamenei on the air defense base’s operations and programs. Khamenei emphasized the importance of the armed forces’ readiness and stated that armed forces “must upgrade their human and equipment capabilities every day.” The meeting follows a Reuters report on August 31 that details the regime’s transfer of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM’s) to Iranian-backed forces in Iraq. (Khamenei.ir) (Reuters) (E)