Mediaboss Marketing

Over the weekend, Prime MinisterStefan Lofven led a Swedish delegation to Iran. Lofven was received warmly by the Islamic Republic's political elite Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei tweeted positively about his meeting withLofven, adding that Sweden had a good reputation in Iran and the two countries agreed upon a number of trade-related deals.

Back home, however, coverage of the Swedish government delegation's trip to Tehran has focused on something else. As Sweden's media noted Monday, a number of female officials who joined the trip, including Trade Minister Ann Linde, chose to wear Islamic headscarves while in Iran.

According to Expressen newspaper, there were 11 women on the trip out of 15 total in the Swedish delegation. The women were photographed wearing headscarves almost all of the time they were in Iran, with the exception of a number of events that took place at the Swedish Embassy.

By law, women are required to cover theirhair and wear loose-fitting clothes when they appear in public in Iran, a country governed by a conservative Islamic elite. Many choose to wear loose-fitting hijabs, like the one worn by Linde in the picture above.

These rules require international visitors to dress modestly even if they are only in the country for a short time.

Lofven's Swedish government describes itself as a feminist government, and it has spoken of the need for a feminist foreign policy. Hillel Neuer, executive director of U.N. Watch, a human rights group and frequent critic of Iran ,noted this apparent contradiction in a tweet shared Sunday night.

Masih Alinejad, a journalist and activist who started a Facebook page that invited Iranian women to share photographs of themselves without a hijab, also criticized the Swedish delegation.

By actually complying with the directives of the Islamic Republic, Western women legitimize the compulsory hijab law, Alinejad wrote on Facebook. This is a discriminatory law and it's not an internal matter when the Islamic Republic forces all non-Iranian women to wear hijab as well.

Alinejad later shared to Facebook a recent image of Sweden's deputy prime ministerIsabella Lovin signing a document with an all-female staff behind her. That imagerecently went viral, as many viewed it as a criticism of President Trump's abortion policies. Trump's words on women are worthy of condemnation; so are the discriminatory laws in Iran,Alinejad wrote.

Speaking to Expressen,Linde said she had not wanted to wear a headscarf. But it is law in Iran that women must wear the veil. One can hardly come here and break the laws, she explained.

Other Swedish politicians were more critical.Jan Bjrklund, leader of the opposition Liberals party, told Aftonbladet newspaper that the headscarf is a symbol of oppression for women in Iran and that the Swedish government should have demanded that Linde and other female members of the delegation be exempted from wearing it.

Iran's rules on female attire often draw the ire of international visitors just last year, U.S. chess starNazi Paikidze made waves after refusing to travel to Iran to play inthe world championshipsbecause she would not wear a hijab. For female politicians, it represents a bigger challenge, however, as flouting the rules or refusing to travel to Iran could damage relations with the country.

Almost all female politicians who visit Iran cover their hair when they appear in public, but in some cases that has not stopped criticism. Marietje Schaake, a Dutch member of the European Parliament, was criticized by Iranian conservatives for wearing relatively tight clothes and a headscarf that did not cover her neck during a visit to the country in 2015.

The year before that, Italy's then foreign minister, Emma Bonino,was reported to have briefly not worn a headscarf after arriving in the country, which resulted in a back and forth with the conservative Iranian press.

Questions over Islamic attire on diplomatic visits are not limited to Iran. In 2015, first lady Michelle Obama was pictured without a headscarf in Saudi Arabia, where conservative religious dress is customary but not required by law for foreigners. While other female dignitaries visiting Saudi Arabia in the past had also chosen to not cover their hair, Obama's attire sparked criticism on social media from a small but vocal group of Saudi conservatives.

Linde toldAftonbladetthat she will of course not be wearing a veil when she visits Saudi Arabia next month.

More on WorldViews

Some people seem to think this photo of Swedens deputy leader is trolling Trump

Swedens unsent letter to a President-elect Hillary Clinton: It is a milestone for the world

Swedens subtly radical feminist foreign policy is causing a stir

See the article here:
Sweden's 'feminist' government criticized for wearing headscarves in Iran - Washington Post

LONDON

With tensions between the United States and Iran mounting over Tehrans test-firing of mid-range ballistic missiles, Iran's hardliners appear emboldened. They talk now of having a chance of winning their countrys presidential election in May - or at least turning incumbent Hassan Rouhani into a lame-duck president, if he does manage to secure reelection.

Observers say Rouhani had hoped a nuclear deal with the West would strengthen his political position. The deal was concluded during the administration of President Barack Obama. Public disapproval of President Donald Trumps ban on Iranians entering the U.S., currently suspended by the American courts, and the absence of any obvious economic benefit for ordinary Iranians from the deal, appear to be boosting the prospects of a hardliner winning in May - or at least it is adding to their hopes of doing so, say analysts.

The hardliners have yet to pick a candidate: but theres talk their standard bearer might be Qassim Sulemani, the head of of the foreign legion of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Quds Force. Hes been overseeing Irans military intervention in Syria.

If Sulemani does get the nod, then it will signal that Iranian conservatives really do think they have a chance to pull off a win in three months' time.

Former state broadcasting chief eyed for presidential run

Another possible hardline pick is Ezzatollah Zarghami, a former boss of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, according to Saeid Jafari, an Iranian journalist. The 57-year-old Zarghami, an IRGC veteran, was added to the European Union sanctions list in 2012 for what Brussels deemed gross human rights violations related to the state broadcasters coverage of the disputed 2009 presidential elections.

Although Zarghami has denied the possibility of his own candidacy, he has behaved in a way that can be interpreted as preparing for the elections, Jafari said on the news site, Al Monitor.

Zarghami oversaw the expansion of Irans state broadcaster, including the launching of English-language PressTV and Spanish-language HispanTV. On Instagram in December, Zarghami warned Rouhani that 2017 will not be like 2013 when Rouhani first won the presidency because he will be defending a record rather than campaigning as an insurgent.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Jan. 25, 2017.

Last April, moderates and reformists won a working majority in the Iranian parliament for the first time in more than a decade. Hardliners won just under a third of the seats in a humiliating performance that appeared to position Rouhani for this years presidential contest. Aprils results were seen as an endorsement of the nuclear accord that Rouhanis government signed with the U.S. and other world powers to curtail Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of international sanctions.

Trumps upset election win, his threats to rip up the 2015 nuclear deal, and his aides' talk of fostering regime change in Iran, are all seen by conservatives as opportunities by Iranian conservatives to reshape politics in the Islamic Republic.

After the November U.S. elections, the official newspaper of the IRGC, Sobhe Sadeq (True Dawn) said in an editorial, With the presence of Trump, in practical terms, nothing will be left of the nuclear deal. The paper reported that the nuclear agreement was viewed by the Rouhani government as its winning card for the presidential election, but with Trump it will be transformed into the Achilles Heel of the administration.

Many still waiting for economic boost from lifted sanctions

Aside from Trumps threats to rip up the deal, frustration with the economy is building among ordinary Iranians. Rouhani, during his campaigning for the accord, had led them to believe that lifting the sanctions would have a quick impact. The economy indeed has improved as a result of the deal, growing by 4 percent last year, and the International Monetary Fund had predicted growth to reach 6 percent this year.

Most Iranians, however, have not seen any turnaround in their lives. According to a recent poll conducted for the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland, 63 percent of Iranians see Irans economic situation as somewhat or very bad. Nearly 73 percent say living conditions have not improved as a result of the deal.

Analyst Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington DC-based research institution, says the U.S. should be making it clear that the economic benefits from the deal have not trickled down because of graft and a rigged system, one that helps fund the IRGC. He says Washington should be helping to expose bank accounts and corruption, and do it in a way that 80 million Iranians can hear.

Rubin doesnt fault the Trump administration for wanting to confront Iran. Theres nothing wrong with a no-nonsense approach, he adds, but added theres danger in speaking loudly, while waving a small stick.

The stern talk from the U.S. has included a warning from Trumps national security adviser, Mike Flynn, that the U.S. has officially put Iran on notice.

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Feb. 1, 2017.

Reprisals are threatened and on February 3, Trump imposed fresh sanctions on Iran, but they affected only 13 Iranian individuals and 12 companies. Rubin maintains this is just replicating the worst of Obama, by utilizing red lines as a rhetorical tool without the preparation and will to enforce the threat.

Rubin, like some other Americans who advocate a more aggressive policy, would like to see clear practical steps taken by the Trump administration to contain what they argue is an expansionist Iranian regime - ones that make it costly for Irans hardliners but also erode public support for them. Otherwise, they argue, harsh rhetoric without tougher action will merely embolden Irans hardliners.

Washington's talk of applying more pressure on Tehran is prompting alarm in European capitals. Last week, the 28-member blocs foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, was in Washington for talks and while emphasizing the importance of the nuclear agreement being fully implemented in all its parts by all sides, she made it clear the EU doesnt have an appetite for confrontation with Iran.

The European Union and its member states continue and will continue, as the nuclear deal is implemented, to have open channels with Iran, she said. The European Union is not introducing additional sanctions on Iran, she added.

More here:
Iran's Hardliners Grow More Confident - Voice of America

PSA Middle East chief Jean-Christophe Quemard (R) and Iran Khodro CEO Hashem Yekezare in a ceremony to sign a cooperation agreement between the two companies held in Tehran in 2016.

France's auto giant PSA Group says it is pushing ahead with a plan to invest in Irans auto industry despite an increased anti-Iran rhetoric by the United States under President Donald Trump.

PSA Middle East chief Jean-Christophe Quemard was quoted by Reuters as saying that a hardened US stance against Tehran under Trump could even play to the carmaker's advantage.

He added that the renewed pressure from Washington against the Islamic Republic could probably extend PSA's lead as rivals hold back from re-entering the country.

"This is our opportunity to accelerate," he said. "It will become even harder for American companies to operate, that's for sure. We've opened up a lead and we plan to hold on to it."

More

Peugeot a member of PSA Group signed an agreement worth 400 million with key local player Iran Khodro last year for the joint production of 200,000 cars per year.

Citroen another PSA Group member - also signed an agreement worth 300 million with another major local partner SAIPA for the production of 150,000 cars per year.

Iran Khodro CEO Hashem Yekezare had previously said that his companys first joint project with the French auto giant the Peugeot 2008 SUV would be released to the Iranian market in March. Other reports also said that the next products - the 301 and the 208 models would be released later. Reports also said that the first Citron of the new generation is scheduled to be released to the Iranian market in early 2018.

Iran has the Middle Easts largest auto market with a population of 80 million. The automobile industry is seen as Irans biggest non-oil sector, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Iranian manufacturers produced 1.6 million automobiles in 2011, about half of them by Iran Khodro.

Reports said on Sunday that the total production of automobiles would reach as high as 1.3 million by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2017).

The rest is here:
PSA to carry out Iran plans despite US threats - Press TV

The Islamic Republic responded to years of sanctions that undercut its ability to import advanced weaponry and spare parts by creating a formidable indigenous military industry. Even after most sanctions have been lifted as a result of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iranian authorities have appeared to invest as much if not more effort in their domestic arms industry than in simply purchasing capabilities from abroad. If Iranian firmsin this case affiliated with Khatam al-Anbia, the economic wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)can support manufacture of the entire supply chain, then Iranian military officials need not worry about grounding or docking planes and ships for want of replacement parts.

Twenty20.com

The excerpted article from an IRGC-affiliated publication suggests that, rather than simply create depth on a few platforms, the Iranian military is rapidly increasing Iranian capabilities on a broad range of platforms. As Irans area of operations has shifted from the Persian Gulf to areas further afieldthe northern Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, and perhaps even the Mediterraneanit has taken pains to bolster its logistical capabilities and reach. It is in this context that Irans new catamaran capability becomes important, if it works. As the excerpt notes, it can carry troops and helicopters, enabling long range operations in the ocean.

Irans new catamaran has many of the same capabilities as the HSV-2, a catamaran that the United States Navy Military Sealift Command leased in 2003. While the US Navy initially sought to utilize the HSV-2 in mine-clearing operations and as a platform for testing other equipment, she ultimately was relegated for fleet support missions before being leased to the United Arab Emirates and deployed by Abu Dhabi off the coast of Yemen. On 1 October 2016, Houthi rebels fired missiles that disabled the catamaran which ultimately was towed to Eritrea. It is doubtful that the Iranian navy could operate a ship with more efficiency or greater capability than the US Navy. Still, any platform which would allow Iran to carry its helicopters further afield will complicate the operational environment among all the littoral states of the Middle East.

Here is the original post:
Iran building high-speed catamaran - American Enterprise Institute

Geopoliticalmonitor.com

To Break the Moscow-Tehran Alliance, Target Iran's Regime Wall Street Journal Then start with the real questions: Are the Russians prepared to abandon Iran and Bashar Assad's Syria? If so, what would it take to pull it off? Start by reminding yourself that Russia entered the Syrian battlefield upon Iranian request. The Iranians ... Iran: Internet Use Expands ExponentiallyAmerican Enterprise Institute all 6 news articles »

Original post:
To Break the Moscow-Tehran Alliance, Target Iran's Regime - Wall Street Journal