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WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden used a White House event to mark Persian New Year on Monday to pay tribute to Iranian women and girls who took to the streets of Iran to protest following the death last year of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and vowed to keep pressure on Tehran.

Biden said he wished the Nowruz holiday, a nearly 4,000-year-old tradition known as the Festival of Fire thats linked to the Zoroastrian religion, would be a moment of hope for the women of Iran fighting for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The United States stands with those brave women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their conviction, Biden said, describing the reception as the biggest White House Nowruz celebration to date. Were going to continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their people.

The United States, Europe and the United Kingdom have imposed a series of fresh sanctions on dozens of Iranian officials and organizations, including the countrys special military and police forces, for their violent clampdown.

The protests began in mid-September when Amini died after being arrested by Irans morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republics strict dress code.

The protests mark one of the biggest challenges to Irans theocracy since the 1979 revolution.

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Biden pays tribute to Iranian women at Nowruz celebration - Yahoo News

Irans nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri-Kani met European diplomats last week in Oslo, the official news agency IRNA reported Wednesday without details about the talks.

Quoting several well-informed sources IRNA said Bagheri-Kani, who is also deputy foreign minister met with foreign ministry directors of the United Kingdom, France and Germany, three signatories of the 2015 nuclear accord known as the JCPOA.

An official from the German foreign ministry confirmed Wednesday afternoon that a meeting had taken place, but said the purpose was "to make our positions very clear in the face of the Iranian escalation in many areas. No, there are still no negotiations, not even on the JCPoA."

The three countries are known as the E3 and participated in long but unsuccessful negotiations with Iran in Vienna, together with Russia and China from April 2021 to March 2022. The European Union that has been coordinating the talks continued discussion with Iran in the following months hoping to bring about a deal to revive the JCPOA, abandoned by the United States in 2018.

These attempts reached a deadlock last September followed by US declarations that reviving the JCPOA is no longer on its agenda.

Europe has also adopted a sharply critical position toward the Islamic Republic on its gross violations of human rights by a deadly crackdown on protesters. Several rounds of sanctions by the EU and the UK have been announced against entities and officials involved in violence against civilians and mass arrests.

IRNA quoting a senior official said that Enrique Mora, deputy to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell was also present at the meeting. But Amwaj.media, which also reported about the meeting, later quoted a diplomatic source as saying that Mora was not present.

IRNA also said that there is no information about the agenda of the meeting, but quoted a senior Iranian official as saying that the event was supposed to be a brain storming session. IRNA quoted another source who said the meeting was secret, which the agency said shows there are still obstacles to renewed negotiations.

The report went on to say, Although such meetings rarely take place in Norway, but this was not the first time this Scandinavian country, which is not an EU member, hosted talks between Iran and Europe. It added that a similar meeting also took place a few months ago.

IRNA's report is full of positive references to recent Iranian diplomatic efforts. It seems that Iranian government wants to reinforce positive news about its attempts aimed at ending its international isolation.

IRNA also claimed that the are signs about a possible release of US citizens held in Iran, a claim recently repeated by Iranian officials and dismissed by Washington.

IRNAs report seems more as an attempt to reinforce optimist about Iran breaking out of isolation with mentioning a vague deal achieved with the International Atomic Energy Agency earlier this month when the agencys chief Rafael Grossi paid a two-day visit to Tehran.

Irans economic situation has sharply deteriorated in recent weeks, amid continuing US sanctions, with the national currency falling to historic lows, signaling much higher inflation in the coming months. Tehran seems anxious to make some sort of improvement in its foreign relations and to open the door to more talks with Washington.

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Iran Reports Meeting Held With European Diplomats -

Members of IRGCs Quds Force are weary of the fight with Israeli forces at Golan Heights and are selling military intel to Israel, a recently-leaked document shows.

Minutes of a meeting of senior clerics and Revolutionary Guard commanders with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, leaked to media last week, suggest that the economic and political situation in Iran has made the Islamic Republicsforces sell information about Quds Force operations to Israel, and that more and more elements are seeking to leave the battlefield in Syria and get jobs and positions inside the country.

The44-page document contains citations of remarks by 45 IRGC commanders and clerics at a meeting at Khameneis office on January 3 on the anniversary of the death of Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by the US three years ago.

Almost all the participants spoke about the current wave of antiregime protests that has engulfed the country since September last year. The meeting, held more than three months into the protests, focused on the negative impact of the protests on the morale of forces under the command of the IRGC and their burn-out, with several offering anecdotal accounts of insubordination.

The document indicates that officials are shocked by the large scale and duration of the protests and admit that they do not have the means to quell the uprising. The participants also acknowledged massive defections and desertions among themilitary forces and clerics, mainly due to the unrelenting economic woes as well as in protest to the heavy-handed crackdown by security forces and harsh sentences by the judiciary.

IRGC Commander Rahim Noi Aghdam (right) and former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani

Rahim Noi Aghdam, who served as the commander of IRGCs Zeynab operational headquarters in Syria, said during the meeting that the Quds Force "faces many problems" in the border areas of Israel and the Golan Heights. He mentioned Israel's "non-stop" bombings and "inability of quick access to the supplies of Iran's allied forces in this region" as some of the problems, adding that economic hardships and the ongoing protests have also led to "ideological issues and family problems" among the ranks of the forces.

He said that "leaks of operational plans has reduced the edge of Iranian forces against Israelis, adding that "pre-emptive attacks by Israeli forces in five operations showed us that the issue of infiltration... and the forces unwillingness to remain at Israel's borders have made them do unimaginable things, such as selling military intel.

Noi Aghdam added that if the Islamic Republic loses the areas that it has gained "with years of effort" outside its borders, "a practical threat to the Islamic Republic regime will not be unimaginable."

Other attendees also talked about the desertions and disobedience within their forces, with Abdollah Haji-Sadeghi, Khameneis representative in the IRGC, saying that there is no doubt about desertions. He said that different security organizations of the country have reported varying figures, from 12 percent to 68 percent of desertions.

Khodarahm Sarani, the IRGCs commander in the city of Zahedan -- the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province that is home to Iran's Sunni Baluch minority of up to two million said the demands of the people there are basic such as water and basic necessities. He added that remarks by their Sunni leader Mowlavi Abdolahamid have united the residents, making them leave aside their sectarian differences and focus on popular demands.

A sample page of the leaked document

Sarani then made a direct attack on the secretary of Irans security council Ali Shamkhani who was present at the meeting. When an officer under my command comes to my office and shows the watch worn by Mr. Shamkhani's son and tells me that the price of this watch is equal to four years of my service inthe armed forces, how can I answer?

We cannot always blame the problems on the enemy, yes, we are under sanctions, but the country's income is not low. If there are problems in the country, then how come these problems do not show themselves at the level of military commanders, he added.

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IRGC Losing Edge In Iran And Region Leaked Document -

As the Iranian year was coming to an end on March 20, some local media presented a more than disappointing assessment over the performance of the parliament.

The election for the next parliament (Majles) is less than 11 months from now, and the current parliament, whose members call themselves "revolutionaries" has had no achievement to be proud of.

Khabar Online website in Tehran summarized the "radical parliament's" track record saying that the Majles was "unable to meet the society's demands and incapable of supervising the government's performance or holding it accountable for shortcomings the media have been complaining about on a daily basis.

According to the website, lawmakers have failed to address issues such as the the economic hardship people face, the fall of the Iranian currency, deadlock in the country's foreign policy, international isolation, inefficiency of local governors and other officials including cabinet ministers. They have not been able to impeach any minister although they talked about it every single day.

The Majles has not been able even to make the government accountable for the promises given to the people. Nor the Majles asked any serious questions about why the government has not been able to control inflation.

Prices of cars, houses and rents have been constantly on the rise, turning necessities into dreams for citizens. Journalists in Iran tweeted that in some areas people buy their daily bread on credit from neighborhood bakeries, promising to pay at the end of the month.

When at one point in February the US dollar rose to 600,000 rials, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber told the Majles that he cannot do anything about it and lawmakers "can take it or leave it." Parliament simply listened to Mokhber and took no action.

President Ebrahim Raisi with Hardliner supporters in parliament during his inauguration in August 2021

During the year, most proposed bills ended in controversy and remained inconclusive. Here are some examples:

Hijab

While opposition to compulsory hijab was the one of the root causes of the uprising that shook the country for more than five months, the Majles discussed a bill that called for sending text message threats to women and freezing their ID cards and closing their bank accounts as well as forcing them to pay a fine for not wearing their headscarves "properly". They seemed not to care that this was exactly why Mahsa Amini was murdered in police custody.

Women

Another controversial bill proposed to restrict women's freedom to travel abroad, demanding that all women should have the consent of their husband, father or grandfather for a travel permit. Apart from everything else, those who drafted the bill failed to realize who would sign the permit for an 80-year-old woman who has no husband or father. After several denials by lawmakers, no one still knows if the bill has gone any further.

Documenting Crimes and Brutality

As photos and videos of police brutality during the protests went viral on social media, the parliament approved that filming such scenes is strictly prohibited. The bill even called for harsh punishment for anyone who circulated such images on social media or sent them to foreign-based media. Those breaking the law could be charged with colluding with the enemy and acting against national security, the bill stipulated.

"Fake" News

Another controversial bill called for prosecution of anyone who posted any "false" story on social media. The bill said that courts, which are in fact controlled by intelligence agencies, are the authority to determine if a news story was fake. Basically, the bill meant that any account of events different from the official version is punishable.

Other similar bills included barring university students from travelling abroad as a punishment for taking part in protests, as well as controversial attestations that forced government employees to learn to recite the Koran.

While these bills backed by hardliners may not have majority support, supporters can get them passed at the opportune moment. Meanwhile, the parliament has not tackled any legislation to alleviate the financial hardships endured by citizens.

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Media In Iran Slam Performance Of Hardliner Parliament -

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The Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement to restore diplomatic relations signals a major de-escalation between the two bitter rivals. However, the manner in which this deal came about raised more questions than the rapprochement itself. The agreement was brokered by China and signed in Beijing, thus signaling a significant shift in power alignments in the Middle East.

Historically, most of the accords in the Middle East have been either mediated or sponsored by the United States. Given the significant geostrategic and economic value of the region, these accords primarily between Israel and Arab states not only reflected the immense U.S.influence but also showcased Washingtons primacy in the region. Many have thus already described the recent development as a power shift, with China emerging as a significant player in the Middle East, replacing the U.S.

Though the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two Middle Eastern nations may not lead to a dramatic change in the regional security equation, the optics of Beijing playing an effective mediatory role between these long-time adversaries will surely raise Chinas status as a regional political player. In due course, other countries in the Gulf and beyond may begin seeing China as a more reliable mediator than Washington.

The ease with which China has filled the vacuum created by the United States falling political and economic engagement with the Middle East, some experts argue, would eventually catapult Beijing to global hegemony. However, global hegemony, as John Mearsheimer would argue, may prove to be an unattainable goal; more realistically, political influence over the Gulf may help China realize its regional ambitions. Regional hegemony would effectively enable China to neutralize its peer competitors in other regions too.

Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific.

But having China as a regional hegemon in Asia would not augur well for Indias geostrategic ambitions.

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The announcement of the rapprochement was significant on two other accounts. First, it timed to coincide with the beginning of Xi Jinpings unprecedented third term as the president of China, which reflected his complete grip on the party and thus laid to rest rumors about any simmering dissent. Second, it laid bare Chinas geopolitical ambitions of seeking political influence in the Middle East, something which Beijing always denied in the past. China has repeatedly declared that its interests in the Middle East are only economic. Some believe that it is only a matter of time before Beijing establishes a military presence in the region. This deal, therefore, comes with a huge red flag for India and raises important geopolitical and strategic questions for New Delhi.

Indias response to the recent Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement has so far been muted, and some experts have termed this silence disquieting. The question is, what should Indias official response be? No democracy can openly show hostility toward a peace initiative, even when brokered by an adversary. India has traditionally welcomed any reestablishment of diplomatic ties between these two nations. India also openly welcomed the agreementlast yearbetween the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran to resume the exchange of ambassadors.

New Delhi, it seems, is patiently watching events unfold and has rightly not been hasty in dismissing the Chinese initiative. On the whole, Indian interests in the Gulf would plausibly be more secure if the two bitter rivals were actively working to de-escalate mutual tensions. India, among other countries, also gained from the2001 security agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which prevented active conflict for 10 years despite deep mutual mistrust.

Iran was one of the primary oil suppliers to India, making up 11 percent of the total oil imports, up until 2019, when the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Iran after revoking the nuclear deal. India stopped its oil imports from Iran, and this significantly impacted Indias energy sufficiency, adding strain to the domestic economy.

At the same time, Indian and Chinese interests in the Gulf have the potential to be in conflict. Like India, China is a major importer of Saudi oil. Chinese oil imports from Iran are substantial, whereas Iran has traditionally been a major hydrocarbon supplier for India. A China-friendly Middle East would give Beijing leverage to manipulate Indias interests, besides greatly boosting Chinas Belt and Road investments and its African ambitions.

Moreover, in the realpolitik sense, increasing Chinese influence in the Middle East may indirectly help Pakistan, both economically and strategically. Given the close relationship between Islamabad and Beijing, China may advocate Pakistans case and influence rich Gulf countries to help ease Pakistans financial woes. In such a scenario, the Middle East under Chinas sphere of influence may fundamentally undermine Indias commercial and security interests.

Despite all this, the current developments may strangely create an opportunity for India to project itself as a more effective alternative to China. The hesitance of the United States to spend more political capital on mediating conflicts in the Middle East creates an opportunity for others to fill this space. Some would argue that China has already or is beginning to fill this vacuum. However, given Indias long-standing relationships with most of the Gulf states, it has a clear edge over China to become a more reliable partner and mediator. The large Indian diaspora in the Middle East is a formidable asset that provides India with a unique soft power advantage. This diaspora can act as a steadfast anchor in relations, irrespective of policy shifts and external shocks.

Moreover, given the potential tilt in the balance of power with the rise of China in the gulf region, the United States would inevitably put its weight behind any Indian effort as a future peacemaker in the Gulf.

Another added advantage for India is its growing cooperation with Israel. The I2U2 partnership between India, Israel, the UAE, and the U.S. has already put India on the regions alliance canvas. New Delhi has strong motivations to push I2U2 as it seeks to reframe its relationship with the Middle East and gain a bigger footprint in the region. New Delhi can leverage its de-hyphenated stance in the Middle East to act as a bridge between Arab states and the Jewish nation.

Indian and Chinese interests in the Gulf could become mutually exclusive if China restricts its ambition to the economic domain, something which China has publicly maintained. Indian interests will be compromised if China intends to use the Gulf region for its force projection. India needs to patiently assess if Chinas growing involvement in the Gulf is detrimental to its long-term security interests and the regional balance of power. At the same time, recent developments also provide a window of opportunity for India to embed itself as a significant player in the Middle East.

Excerpt from:
China's Role in the Iran-Saudi Deal May Not Be All That Bad for India - The Diplomat