Security measures are tight around the Israeli embassy in the Indian capital New Delhi reportedly over a serious possibility of an attack by Iran-backed elements, Iran International has learned.
An Israeli informed source told Iran International on Saturday that the Indian police and counter-terrorism forces have also carried out a security maneuver on the streets leading to the Israeli diplomatic mission.
During the drills, which were held to prepare for possible attacks, all streets around the Israeli embassy in New Delhi were blocked and the gunfire and explosions could be heard, according to the source.
The source also said that the Israeli embassy in the city has become one of the likely targets for militias affiliated with the Islamic Republic since last year.
The streets around the Israeli embassy in India have also been equipped with CCTV cameras and are under tight round the clock patrols.
An explosion took place near the embassy on the 29th anniversary of establishment of India-Israel diplomatic ties on January 29, 2021.
Immediately after the blast, Israel claimed that Iran was behind the attack, an allegation that was confirmed by Indian intelligence agencies. A letter was also found at the site of the explosion, claiming the attack was to avenge the killings the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Commander Qasem Soleimani, and Abu Mehdhi Al Muhandis, who were killed in a US drone attack in January 2020, as well as an Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who died in a car bomb attack in Iran in November 2020.
Some clerics and para-military organizations have warned that the sudden rise in the price of items such as bread could lead to protests and riots.
Meanwhile, journalists in Tehran Friday reported on Twitter that the price of bread has risen nearly five-fold in Tehran despite statements by economic officials that higher flour prices would not affect traditional bread bought at neighborhood bakeries and the rise will be limited to baguettes and other western-style rolls.
The Friday Prayer Imam of Tehran, Mohammad Hassan Abutorabi Fard, said in his sermon that the government should focus its efforts on improving the nation's livelihood. He called on the government to explain the reasons of recent price increases and to make sure people understand that the government strives to compensate the higher cost of living by introducing economic reform.
On Tuesday, in Eid al-Fitr sermons, other clerics including firebrand Ahmad Khatami promised that the economic situation will improve but did not say how. Kazem Seddiqi, another prayer leader in Tehran had also expressed concern over the consequences of rising prices.
On Friday, imams in cities including Dayyer, Bojnourd, Zahedan, Shar-e Kord, Bushehr, Kermanshah, as well as many other cities warned the government that people are suffering from rising prices of bread and other everyday necessities.
In Tehran, the commander of the students Basij militia of the IRGC warned President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday that the situation could lead to a major riot in the country. Meanwhile, prominent reformist cleric Mohammad Taqi Fazel Maybodi also warned Raisi that "if the rise in prices is not controlled Iran should wait for riots more dangerous than a revolution."
Social media users in Iran on Friday shifted from complaints about the scarcity and high price of pasta to more serious complaints and warnings about the possible impact of the rising prices of all sorts of bread in Tehran.
Somaye Naghi, an economic journalist in Tehran wrote that they sent someone from the newspaper’s office to buy traditional stone-baked bread called Sangak, but they were told that the price has increased from 60,000 rials to 250,000 rials ($1) per loaf. She pointed out that's this comes while Raisi's Minister of Agriculture had promised the day before that the price of traditional bread will not rise and it will impact "luxury western-style" rolls.
In the meantime, many Iranian journalists have interpreted Vice President for Executive Affairs Solar Mortazavi's strong defense of doing away with cheap government dollars for importing essential commodities, including flour, as a sign that the living conditions for workers, teachers, pensioners and low wage earners will dramatically deteriorate.
The government has resorted to rationing bread in some cities and the general perception is that the practice is going to be widely introduced all over the country. Journalist Ameneh Mousavi wrote on Twitter that rationing has started in Zanjan.
None of the clerics who spoke about the rising price of bread on Friday talked about the impact of sanctions apparently because they find it difficult to explain why the country is under sanctions and why Iranian officials cannot negotiate with the United States to have the sanctions lifted. They fear this will offend Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei who is responsible for major decisions, including the talks with the United States.
