Rafsanjani’s Daughter Defends Remark that Trump was Good for Iran

Faezeh Hashemi, Ensaf News
Faezeh Hashemi, Ensaf News
TT
20

Rafsanjani’s Daughter Defends Remark that Trump was Good for Iran

Faezeh Hashemi, Ensaf News
Faezeh Hashemi, Ensaf News

Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, slammed a number of figures and parties in Iran for being “more dangerous bullies” than the outgoing US President Donald Trump.

Hashemi accused those she addressed of placing the country on the “verge of destruction.”

In an open letter, she responded to harsh criticism she had received from members of her family and fellow comrades in the Executives of Construction Party.

Hashemi had made highly controversial statements earlier in support of Trump’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran and said that chances for reform in the cleric-led country are diminished now that US President-elect Joe Biden will rise to power.

Responding to her brother, Mohsen Hashemi, who had asked her to apologize, Hashemi on Tuesday accused him of “mapping a future for himself” and seeking to “protect his interests,” an apparent reference to plans beyond his current position as Chairman of Tehran’s City Council.

She reiterated that Iran’s leaders had pursued policies wasting resources and leading the country to a dead-end.

The war of words between Hashemi and her brother on the fourth anniversary of their father’s death has made headlines in Iranian newspapers.

The official newspaper affiliated with the Executives of Construction Party ran a front page displaying a picture of Hashemi and her brother under the headline “Brother Slams Sister.”

“In Iran, there are individuals and entities that are far more dangerous than Trump in bullying and failing to abide by rules and regulation. They have put the country on the slippery slope of ineffectiveness, mismanagement and inefficiency, dogmatism and even taking it to the point of collapse at times,” Hashemi said in defense of her statements.

In an implicit reference to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who is considered a moderate reformer, Hashemi said: “These days we are witnessing deviations that are much deeper than that caused by Ahmadinejad.”



Two British Lawmakers Detained by Israel Return Home, Criticize Decision

A Palestinian flag is pictured during a symbolic funeral procession in solidarity with the people killed in Gaza and the West Bank, in Berlin, Germany, 06 April 2025. (EPA)
A Palestinian flag is pictured during a symbolic funeral procession in solidarity with the people killed in Gaza and the West Bank, in Berlin, Germany, 06 April 2025. (EPA)
TT
20

Two British Lawmakers Detained by Israel Return Home, Criticize Decision

A Palestinian flag is pictured during a symbolic funeral procession in solidarity with the people killed in Gaza and the West Bank, in Berlin, Germany, 06 April 2025. (EPA)
A Palestinian flag is pictured during a symbolic funeral procession in solidarity with the people killed in Gaza and the West Bank, in Berlin, Germany, 06 April 2025. (EPA)

Two British members of parliament who were refused entry to Israel have returned to London after attempting to visit the West Bank on a fact-finding trip, they said on Sunday.

Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang from Britain's governing Labor Party were travelling as part of a parliamentary delegation, but were stopped at the border on the grounds that they intended to provoke anti-Israel activities, according to the Israeli embassy in Britain.

The blocking of their visit marks the latest in a series of attempts by Israel to restrict entry of foreign lawmakers and dignitaries who have criticized the country's policies.

"We're astounded at the unprecedented step taken by the Israeli authorities to refuse British MPs entry on our trip to visit the occupied West Bank," Mohamed and Yang said in a joint statement.

"It is vital that parliamentarians are able to witness, firsthand the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory."

The Israeli embassy in London said the interior ministry had a duty to prevent entry to people who intended to cause the state harm.

"These individuals had accused Israel of false claims, were actively involved in promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers, and supported campaigns aimed at boycotting the State of Israel," the embassy said.

In their statement on Sunday, Mohamed and Yang said they had spoken out in Britain's parliament about the conflict between Israel and Palestine and the importance of complying with international law.

"Parliamentarians should feel free to speak truthfully in the House of Commons, without fear of being targeted," they said.

In November, Mohamed asked Britain's government if it would review its relationship with Israel in light of "atrocities taking place in Gaza, the West Bank and in Lebanon".

Yang had told parliament it was important that Britain proceeded with sanctions against Israeli government officials.

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the detention of lawmakers Mohamed and Yang was no way to treat parliamentarians.

Israel has previously stopped members of the European Parliament and US Congress from entering the country.

In October, Israel's foreign minister said he was barring UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country because he had not "unequivocally" condemned a missile attack by Iran on Israel.