withdrawal from Afghanistan, besting America in Syria in recent years, if you will, showing that the regime has greater staying power than the U.S. And the things that they remember are actually the U.S.

The cadre of men at the helm today are ultra hard-line. You know, all those things are necessary, but not sufficient from deterring Iran and from changing the regime's calculus. It's always voluntary, and it's always political, which means the regime remains in the nuclear driver's seat. The challenges - that's always been the challenge with the Islamic Republic. So, it makes sense that Grossi said much of these hinge on Iranian political promises. The moment after Grossi departs, you have had a host of Iranian hard-line media outlets and people affiliated with the hard-line establishment inside Iran talk about how the things Grossi had said were agreed upon were actually not true and walking it back. Well, the problem with the get-go, as the regime is increasing its nuclear output both qualitatively and quantitatively, it is actually diminishing much of the monitoring.Īnd, in fact, Rafael Grossi before the IAEA board today talked about that they still don't know where Iran is making centrifuge rotors and centrifuge bellows, as well as exact heavy water output, as well as several other technical components that go into the regime's nuclear program that were supposed to be monitored and were supposed to be governed by safeguards. But it's highly likely that,if there is any investigation by the government of Iran, it may aim to avoid blame or point a finger elsewhere. Today, the country's supreme leader talked about those poisonings for the first time ever. The regime has been forced into by parent pressure, by social pressure, by street pressure into conducting an investigation. As you know, there has been about 1,000 of these reported cases of schoolgirl poisonings across Iran really since November, which is about two months after nationwide anti-regime protests led by women and indeed young girls began and indeed is bravely continuing. is calling for a - quote - 'credible, independent, outside Iran, investigation into the schoolgirl incidents.'īehnam Ben Taleblu, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies: Pleasure to be with you, Nick. Today, a National Security Council spokesperson told me that the U.S. That has largely ended these demonstrations, but activists are calling for more protests tomorrow.įor more on human rights in Iran and recent steps that Iran has taken to advance its nuclear program, we turn to Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a think tank in Washington. Authorities have also imprisoned hundreds more on what human rights groups call dubious charges and issued dozens of death sentences. Human rights organizations accuse authorities of using excessive force and killing hundreds of largely peaceful protesters, including dozens of children. They were led by women, many of them teenagers. Last year, Iranians launched their most widespread protests in more than a decade. This is a crime against the most innocent part of society, meaning children.īut the regime has targeted innocent children and thousands of demonstrators. The culprits must face the toughest of punishments, because this is not a small crime. Today, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei broke his silence, saying those responsible would receive the death penalty.Īyatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran (through translator): If there truly is vandalism and there are individuals or groups behind this matter, this is a great and unforgivable crime. The Iranian regime launched an investigation, but has made no arrests or conclusions. It's still unknown who or what is responsible.

'The next to be poisoned will be yours,' they chant. Now Iranian officials admit suspected cases have spread to more than 20 of Iran's 31 provinces.Īngry parents are taking to the streets in videos blurred to protect them from government retribution, this protest outside the Department of Education in Tehran. The first suspected incident was reported in November in the holy city of Qom south of Tehran.

Fallen hero retribution sexuality