Iran News Round Up

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei met with President Hassan Rouhani and members of Rouhani’s cabinet on July 15. Khamenei noted during the meeting that people need to see the government as “capable and efficient” in order for government officials to receive people’s praise and admiration and for people to oversee their failures and mishaps. Khamenei also acknowledged the legitimacy of recent criticisms of government officials and called on government officials to establish closer and stronger relationships with “people, workers, and manufacturers.” Khamenei’s meeting follows increased calls for a change in Rouhani’s “economic team,” including Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Massoud Karbasian and Central Bank Governor Valiollah Seif. Both Seif and Karbasian were present for the closed-door meeting with Khamenei. (Khamenei.ir) (Khamenei.ir) (Khamenei.ir)

Unidentified U.S. and western officials claimed that the U.S. rejected the UK, France, and Germany’s request for a U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license to exempt European companies from the forthcoming reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Iran. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stated that they will consider granting OFAC licenses for U.S. sanctions against Iran only on national security and humanitarian grounds. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire confirmed that the U.S. rejected France’s request on July 13. (NBC News) (E)

Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) Chief IRGC Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri headed a senior delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan for a three-day visit to discuss counterterrorism, border security, and defense cooperation on July 16. Bagheri met with senior Pakistani political and military officials including Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa. Bagheri announced that Iran and Pakistan intend to manufacture “joint defense products” to which both countries will have access. Bagheri’s visit may have been a follow-on coordination visit after Pakistani Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Bilal Akbar’s official visit to Tehran from June 29-30. The bilateral security meetings between Iran and Pakistan follow an increase in border clashes between Iranian security forces and unidentified militants. Anti-regime organizations such as Ansar al Furqan, Jundullah, and the Army of Justice have claimed responsibility for attacks on Iranian forces in the past. (Sepah News) (IRNA) (Defa Press) (Defa Press)