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LONDON A British cultural organization said on Wednesday that one of its employees from Iran had been acquitted of espionage charges by that countrys Supreme Court and was back in Britain after spending more than three years in prison.

While visiting her grandmother in Iran, the woman, Aras Amiri, was arrested in March 2018 along with other Iranians with British connections, in what was thought to be an attempt by the authorities to gain leverage in an old dispute with Britain over more than $400 million in undelivered weaponry.

Ms. Amiri, an art student employed for five years by the British Council to facilitate greater appreciation of Iranian culture in the U.K., is an Iranian citizen who had lived in Britain for about 10 years before she was detained. Irans Supreme Court acquitted her in August, the council said, and she returned to Britain this week after the travel ban associated with her original detention was lifted.

She had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in April 2019, a punishment announced on state TV before she or her lawyer had been informed, according to a letter Ms. Amiri wrote in June 2019 from prison, which her cousin, Mohsen Omrani, sent to the Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based advocacy group.

According to the letter, which was addressed to Ebrahim Raisi, then the judiciary chief and now president, Ms. Amiri said that she had been imprisoned because of her association with the British Council and that she had turned down an explicit invitation to spy for Irans Intelligence Ministry.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Ms. Amiris lawyer, Hojjat Kermani, said that Irans Supreme Court had determined that her earlier espionage conviction was against Shariah, or Islamic law.

We have always refuted the original charges made against Aras, the British Council said in a statement on Wednesday. We are very proud of her work in our London office as an arts program officer.

Ms. Amiri was incarcerated in Evin Prison, north of Tehran. Before her acquittal and return to Britain, Ms. Amiri had been released on furlough in April 2020 over concerns about the spread of coronavirus.

The case underscored the Iranian authorities targeting of dual citizens and Iranian citizens with Western connections as bargaining chips in geopolitical disputes.

A British-Iranian national, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2016 after she was accused of plotting to overthrow the government in Tehran. She was issued another one-year sentence and travel ban in April, under new charges of conducting propaganda activities against the Iranian government.

Several foreign and dual nationals are held in Iranian prisons, including Nahid Taghavi, a German-Iranian architect; Siamak Namazi, a businessman, and his father, Baquer Namazi, a former official with Unicef, both Iranian Americans; Dr. Ahmad Reza Jalali, a Swedish-Iranian physician and researcher; Morad Tahbaz, an Iranian-American environmentalist; and Emad Shargi, an Iranian-American who was working for an Iranian venture-capital fund.

Farnaz Fassihi contributed reporting.

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Aras Amiri Has Returned to the U.K. After Being Jailed in Iran - The New York Times

The legislature only just gaveled in this week and anti-gun legislators and gun control groups couldnt wait to reintroduce their extreme gun ban legislation- an "assault weapons" ban, Senate Bill 5217.Having failed to gain any traction in the 2021 Regular Session, the measure has now been re-filed and scheduled for a public hearing and executive session next week in the Senate Committee on Law and Justice. At the same time, the committee will also consider anti-preemption legislation, Senate Bill 5568. Please contact committee members and strongly urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 5217 and Senate Bill 5568.

Senate Bill 5217arbitrarily classifies many popularly-owned semi-automatic firearms as so-called assault weapons and bans their possession, manufacture, transfer, etc. These firearms are widely used for self-defense, recreational shooting,and hunting,and have now been vilified due to cosmetic features. It is extremely important that NRA Members and Second Amendment supporters contact their lawmakers in opposition to SB 5217.

Senate Bill 5568deals with the states preemption laws. SB 5568 will expand gun free zones and permit municipalities to ban the open carryof firearms. These types of measures result in a complex patchwork of gun laws across the state that ensnare otherwise law-abiding gun owners, turning them into criminals.

Again, please contact members of the Senate Committee on Law and Justice, and ask them to strongly OPPOSE Senate Bill 5217 and Senate Bill 5568.

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Washington: Another Year Another Extreme Gun Ban! - NRA ILA

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A man with ties to Massachusetts has been charged with conspiring to illegally export U.S. goods, technology, and services to end-users in Iran,including the government of Iran, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, according to a statement from federal officials.

Kambiz Attar Kashani, 44, a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, was arrested Thursday in Chicago, Illinois, according to the statement.

The arrest was announced by Breon Peace, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, assistant attorney general of the Justice Departments National Security Division, and Joseph R. Bonavolanta, special agent-in-charge of the FBIs Boston field office.

Kashanis arrest underscores the unrelenting resolve of this office and theDepartment of Justice to prosecute those who seek to profit by compromising our national security,Peace said.

Peace alleged that Kashani orchestrated an elaborate scheme to evade federal export laws and use the U.S. financial system in procuring U.S. electronic equipment and technology for the Central Bank of Iran, which has been designated by the federal government as acting for or on behalf of terrorist organizations, according to the statement.

According to officials, Kashani allegedly used two United Arab Emirates companies as fronts to procure items from multiple U.S.technology companies, including a company in Massachusetts.

We believe Mr. Kashani profited financially by strengthening the economy of one of the worlds most infamous state sponsors of terrorism, while circumventing critical U.S. lawsdesigned to protect our national security interests, Bonavolonta said.

As set forth in the complaint, according to the statement, Kashani conspired to illegally export goods and technology to the Central Bank of Iran.

The Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control has classified CBI as a SpeciallyDesignated National (SDN) signifying that CBI is acting for or on behalf of a terrorist organization, according to officials.

According to the U.S. government, CBI has materially assisted, sponsored, and provided financial, material, or technological support, goods, or services to LebaneseHizballah, a terrorist organization, and to the Qods Force of Irans Islamic RevolutionaryGuards Corps (IRGC).

The IRGC is a branch of the Iranian armed forces and represents the primary means of the government of Iran to direct and implement its global terrorism campaign, according to the statement.

Kashani allegedly perpetrated the illegal transshipping scheme through two separate United Arab Emirates (UAE) front companies for which he acts as principal, officials said.

From around February 2019 through June 2021, Kashani and his co-conspirators used the two UAE companies to procure electronic goods and technology from multiple U.S. technology companies for end-users in Iran, including CBI, without obtaining the required export licenses, according to the statement.

Officials allege that Kashani and his co-conspirators intentionally concealed from the U.S. companies that they intended to send the items to Iran, falsely claiming that the UAE front companies would be the ultimate end users.

The governments case is being handled by the Offices National Security and Cybercrime Section.

Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon andMeredith A. Arfa are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by TrialAttorney S. Derek Shugert of the Justice Departments Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant United States Attorney Shawn McCarthy of the Northern District of Illinois.

Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com

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U.S.-Iranian citizen accused of sending U.S. technology to Iran - Boston.com

Six years after snapping their diplomatic ties, arch-foes Iran and Saudi Arabia are slowly moving toward rapprochement and preparing to reopen embassies, according to a senior Iranian lawmaker, reported Anadolu Agency.

Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, a member of the Iranian Parliament's national security and foreign policy commission, in a Twitter post on Saturday, said the two countries are on course to restore their fractured ties.

The two neighbours fell out in January 2016 after attacks on two Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad, triggered by the execution of a prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, in Saudi Arabia.

Efforts to repair the broken relationship have intensified recently with four rounds of tension-easing talks between the officials of the two countries held in Baghdad since April last year, brokered by the Iraqi government.

While Iranian officials have noted progress in the marathon talks, Jahanabadi's latest remarks suggest that a breakthrough could be just around the corner.

Read: Putin to host Iranian president next week for talks state TV

The senior reformist lawmaker, who previously headed the parliament's judicial and legal committee, said diplomatic ties between the two countries are being "revived," with preparations afoot to "open the embassies."

He said the rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh could contribute to "reducing regional tensions and increasing the cohesion of the Muslim world."

Jahanabadi, however, warned the country's security agencies and media about what he called "vicious activities of Zionists and imprudent acts of radicals" to thwart efforts being made to restore relations with Riyadh.

The negotiations to end the standoff were launched by the previous Iranian government and continued under the new administration led by Ebrahim Raisi.

Earlier this month, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed Tehran's "readiness" to continue talks with Riyadh, which were halted following the general elections in Iraq.

He said Tehran had presented "a set of practical proposals" to Riyadh, which elicited "positive response," paving the ground for the next round of talks in Baghdad.

Read: China confirms opposition to US sanctions on Iran

Last week, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the next round of talks between Tehran and Riyadh was "on the agenda," without specifying the exact date.

On whether developments in Lebanon or Yemen would have any bearing on the outcome of talks, the spokesman said Iran has "tried to continue the talks despite the differences."

Experts, however, believe the war in Yemen could still act as a stumbling block in a full restoration of diplomatic ties, despite the new Iranian government's push to realign its foreign policy priorities from the west to the east.

In his first press conference after winning the election in June last year, Raisi said there was "no obstacle" in having a dialogue with Saudi Arabia and in reopening the embassies.

The restoration of diplomatic ties between the estranged neighbours will see Iranians going to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage first time in seven years.

Read: Biden will not allow Iran to have nuke, US says as talks hit critical phase

Originally posted here:
6 years after Nimr's execution, Iran and Saudi 'preparing to reopen embassies' - Middle East Monitor

City councils: Lemon Grove, 3146 School Lane: 6 p.m. Tuesday

School boards: Grossmont Union High School District, 6 p.m. Thursday; Santee School District, 6 p.m. Tuesday

Health center hosts vaccine clinic Saturday

Family Health Centers of San Diego is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the FHCSD PACE Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly campus, 3420 College Ave., in the College Grove Shopping Center next door to Sam Ash Music Store. To make an appointment, call (619) 906-5351. Walk-ins are available as well as scheduled appointments. For more information, or additional vaccination sites, visit fhcsd.org/covid-19-vaccines.

Gun owners group to meet Tuesday

San Diego County Gun Owners, a political action committee promoting Second Amendment rights, will host its monthly East County meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at American Shooters, 1464 Graves Ave., El Cajon. The free meeting is open to the public. Topics will include updates on the groups advocacy, educational and training efforts, as well as information on shooting socials, gun safety classes and new gun laws. Visit http://www.sandiegocountygunowners.com.

Community invited to goal-setting workshop

El Cajons City Council invites the community to its annual goal-setting workshop, which has been rescheduled to 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Ronald Reagan Community Center. At the workshop, the council will review last years priorities and establish city goals for 2022. At last years workshop, the council set five priorities and 16 specific goals related to the priorities. The 2021 priorities are communications and civic engagement; economic development; enhancing the citys image by focusing on its entry points; homelessness; and public safety. The Ronald Reagan Community Center is at 195 E. Douglas Ave. For information, call the City Managers Office at (619) 441-1716.

El Cajon to hold fourth redistricting hearing

The El Cajon City Council is hosting its fourth redistricting hearing at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the El Cajon Valley High School, 1035 E. Madison Ave. Redistricting is the process of adjusting City Council voting districts after the U.S. Census, to ensure that each district has roughly the same number of residents. At the hearing, city staff will present an overview of redistricting, discuss draft maps, and potentially select the citys next council district election map. To view submitted draft maps, visit http://www.elcajon.gov/redistricting. Translated information including presentations, tutorials and flyers are also on that website. Materials are available in Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Pashto, and Dari. Residents may request an interpreter for the hearing by email at redistricting@elcajon.gov. Visit http://www.elcajon.gov/redistricting.

Santee holds Discovery Day for recreation

The city of Santee holds Discovery Day on Saturday for the community to sample several of its recreation amenities. Five locations are offering free samples of activities. The schedule:

Santee Discovery Day has options for all ages and abilities, so stop by one or more of these locations and start your year off with a new activity. Visit https://bit.ly/3f8V6xw.

Local students graduate

Ohio University, Athens, Ohio: Monica Cheng of El Cajon, Bachelor of Science in nursing; Kasey Woollard of Lakeside, Master of Science in geological sciences

Blood drives

The San Diego Blood Bank hosts these blood donor opportunities:

Those 17 and older, weighing at least 114 pounds and in good health may be eligible to donate blood. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended before donating. Appointments strongly encouraged. Photo ID required. Call (800) 469-7322 or visit SanDiegoBloodBank.org.

Please send items to fyi.east@sduniontribune.com at least two weeks before events are to take place.

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East County Happenings, Jan. 16 - The San Diego Union-Tribune