Daily News Brief - 11/10/2022
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Please find below today’s daily news brief.
Iran: Anti-government protests continue as fears of an intensified crackdown on demonstrators increase
Workers at the Abadan refinery, the largest in Iran, went on strike on Tuesday as the demonstrations expand to include the petrochemical sector. On Monday, the Assaluye plant workers also declared a strike, although according to officials the reason was a dispute over wages. Human rights groups fear that Iranian authorities will intensify their crackdown, particularly in the country’s Kurdish region. Reports revealed that the riot police fired into at least one neighborhood in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran’s Kurdistan province. On Tuesday, President Ebrahim Raisi held a public speech blaming “the enemy” for sparking the protests, saying that it “seeks to target the people’s minds with psychological warfare and create fear and frustration in the society.” He further urged the security apparatus to quell the demonstrations. The United Kingdom imposed on Monday sanctions on Iran’s “morality police” and several security officials in response to the violent crackdown on protesters.
Iran: The UN nuclear watchdog says Iran is rapidly expanding uranium enrichment capabilities
According to a confidential report seen by Reuters on Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that Iran is rapidly expanding its capabilities to enrich uranium with advanced centrifuges at its Natanz underground plant. Indirect talks between the US and Iran on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal have stalled with no meaningful development over the last weeks.
Iraq: Members of the Iraqi parliament will convene to elect a new president
One year after the elections, Iraq’s parliament will convene on Thursday to elect a new president, according to a press release by Speaker Mohammad al-Halbousi’s office on Tuesday. The country has yet to form a new government after the October 2021 elections triggered by mass protests against corruption, unemployment, and low standards of living.
Israel | Lebanon: The two countries reach an agreement on the maritime border demarcation
Israel and Lebanon reached an agreement on the delimitation of the maritime border after months of US-mediated negotiations. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Israel’s Prime Minister Yair Lapid who called the agreement a “historic deal.” He added that it will “strengthen Israel’s security, inject billions into Israel’s economy, and ensure the stability of our northern border.” Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that the terms of the final US proposal were satisfactory. Lebanon’s negotiator Elias Bou Saab stated that the latest draft “takes into consideration all of Lebanon’s requirements and we believe that the other side should feel the same.” The powerful Shia group Hezbollah also “agreed” to the terms according to a Lebanese government official. In Israel, the opposition harshly criticized the deal, with former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz of surrendering to Hezbollah’s blackmail. According to reports, the agreement will be signed on October 20.
Israel | Palestine: A Palestinian boy died after being shot during an Israeli raid
A 12-year-old Palestinian boy died on Monday after being shot and wounded by Israeli soldiers during a military raid in the Jenin refugee camp on Saturday. At the time, the Palestinian health ministry reported the death of two teenagers, ages 16 and 18, and that 11 other people were injured.
Israel | Palestine: One Israeli soldier was wounded in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank
An Israeli soldier was wounded by gunfire on Tuesday while securing a march organized by Jewish settlers near the Palestinian town of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank’s north. An armed Palestinian group based in Nablus and known as Lion’s Den claimed responsibility for the shooting.
Saudi Arabia: Three tribesmen sentenced to death for refusing to evacuate their homes
Three members of the Howeitat tribe have been sentenced to death for refusing to leave their homes to make way for the new $450 billion mega-city Neom. The three men were arrested in 2020 for opposing the eviction.
Saudi Arabia | US: Key US Senate chair calls for freezing the cooperation with Saudi Arabia as Biden is reportedly rethinking relations
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairperson Robert Mendez called on Monday for freezing all of Washington’s cooperation with Riyadh, including cutting off all arms sales and security collaboration. His statement comes four days after Saudi Arabia and Russia led OPEC+ in announcing a two million barrel-a-day cut in oil production. According to the White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday that US President Joe Biden is re-evaluating Washington’s relationship with Saudi Arabia.
Syria | US: US-led coalition drone strike kills an ISIS militant in northeastern Syria
According to a Syrian official speaking on the condition of anonymity, a US-led coalition drone strike in the northeastern village of Hamam al-Turkman killed an ISIS militant. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) did not immediately issue a statement on the attack. It comes after the US announced last week the killing of three ISIS leaders in two separate operations.
Turkey | Russia: Leaders of the two countries are expected to meet on Wednesday
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to meet on Wednesday on the sidelines of a summit in Kazakhstan. The two leaders last met in mid-September in Uzbekistan during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Erdogan has publicly expressed hope he can bring Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky together for peace talks.
UAE | Russia: UAE president meets with the Russian leader in Saint Petersburg
The UAE President Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan met on Tuesday with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin. During their discussions, the two addressed a number of issues, including bilateral relations and the current developments in Ukraine.