The year that was: Major events that defined 2023 for Iran and the region
By Humaira Ahad
The year 2023 is over. It was a mixed bag, bringing tears to some and smiles to others. The year gone by proved a damp squib for many while rekindling the hopes of many others.
The year brought people closer as their voices became louder against different forms and manifestations of injustice across the world, against Western imperialism and Zionism in particular.
For the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2023 was marked by fortifying the country’s international role and revitalizing its diplomatic relations with neighboring countries and establishing new connections.
For the region, the year symbolized the revival of good neighborliness as the regional countries tried to overcome their differences for a greater cause – a region free of foreign interference.
Here are the major events of the year that changed lives and the way we look at the world.
Earthquake jolts Turkey and Syria
[February, 2023]
"God will save us. We have turned into refugees, but all praise to God.” On this haunting note, the year 2023 began for a Turkish woman when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northwest Syria on February 6.
The devastating earthquake killed more than 55,000 people and affected almost 16 million. Homes, schools, hospitals, entire cities and villages were destroyed.
The two countries are still struggling to rebuild the infrastructure which is estimated to cost more than $130 billion for Turkey alone.
While many countries around the world, especially in the West, offered help and aid to Turkey, Syrians had fewer sympathizers, mostly countries in the region.
Iranian president visits China
[February, 2023]
On February 14, Iran’s President Ibrahim Raeisi, heading a high-ranking politico-economic delegation, paid an official visit to China. It marked the first visit by an Iranian president to the East Asian country in over twenty years.
President Raeisi held a series of meetings in China, including with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, and the two countries signed over twenty documents and agreements on trade, information technology, transportation, etc.
Discussions were also held on the operationalization of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Tehran and Beijing, the 25-year pact which was signed in March 2021 in order to bolster ties between the two all-weather allies.
Iran- Saudi relations restored
[March, 2023]
In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia, two Persian Gulf nations, agreed to resume their diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and diplomatic missions after seven years of estrangement.
The detente between the two regional powers followed intensive negotiations hosted by Chinese authorities in Beijing. It came after two years of marathon fence-mending talks between the two countries at different levels, hosted mainly by Iraq and Oman.
The much-anticipated restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries was an event of massive geopolitical significance on both regional and global levels, giving jitters to Western states.
ICJ issues judgment in favour of Iran
[March, 2023]
On March 30, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague ruled that the United States had violated international law by allowing American courts to confiscate nearly $2 billion dollars in assets from Iranian companies, and ordered Washington to pay compensation to Iran.
In the historic decision, the ICJ said Washington's freezing of funds belonging to several Iranian individuals and companies, including $1.75 billion from the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), was “manifestly unreasonable.”
The court, however, said it did not have jurisdiction to rule on the freezing of assets from the CBI.
In reaction to the verdict, Iran's foreign ministry in a statement called it a victory, saying the decision was proof of Iran's “righteousness and the violations by the US government.”
Hezbollah launches rockets at Israeli entity
[April, 2023]
On April 6, at least 30 rockets were launched from southern Lebanon into the Israeli-occupied territories in retaliation for violent raids by the regime forces desecrating the holy al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.
Israeli occupation army had stormed the mosque compound overnight and attacked Palestinian worshipers in the holy month of Ramadan, following a string of such provocative incidents.
The attack marked the largest number of rockets fired from Lebanon since the 33-day war in 2006 between Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement and Israel.
It was followed by the Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza launching a barrage of rockets at the occupied territories, which rattled the regime.
Arab League readmits Syria
[May, 2023]
On May 7, the Arab League readmitted Syria in defiance of threats made by the United States and other Western states, marking the end of years-long isolation and hostility against Damascus.
The decision was taken at a closed meeting of foreign ministers at the Arab League’s headquarters in Cairo after months of back-door talks between the member states.
The decision reopened the doors for President Bashar al-Assad to attend Arab League meetings and urged the resolution of the crisis in the Arab country resulting from the US-backed war.
Later that month, Assad attended the regional bloc’s 32nd summit in Saudi Arabia for the first time since his country’s suspension following the eruption of war in Syria in 2011.
The Syrian president, who received a warm reception at the summit, said it was a “historic opportunity” to address regional crises.
“I hope that it marks the beginning of a new phase of Arab action for solidarity among us, for peace in our region, development and prosperity instead of war and destruction,” he told the gathering.
Israel launches attacks on Palestine
[May, 2023]
On May 9, Khader Adnan, senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) resistance group, died in an Israeli jail after an 87-day hunger strike, which many called custodial murder.
For more than 20 years, Adnan was arrested a dozen times by Israeli regime forces for his political and anti-occupation activities. He spent a total of eight years in prison.
Following Adnan’s custodial murder, the Israeli army carried out a number of air strikes on the besieged coastal strip, killing around 34 Palestinian civilians.
It was followed by the Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza launching numerous rockets from multiple locations toward the occupied territories, taking the regime by complete surprise.
The five-day fighting ended after Egypt brokered a ceasefire between the PIJ and the Israeli regime, signifying a major victory for the Palestinian resistance.
Jenin massacre
[July, 2023]
In July 2023, Israeli aircraft and ground forces launched a deadly raid on the occupied West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, killing at least 12 Palestinians and injuring dozens of others.
Hundreds of Palestinian families were displaced as a result of the Zionist aggression.
It was described as the largest military operation in the occupied territory since the 2000-2005 Second Intifada – or mass Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation.
It again brought Jenin, the flashpoint and hotbed of anti-occupation resistance, into the limelight. Journalist Abu-Akleh was killed by the Israeli forces in the same city a year before.
Iran admitted as a member of SCO
[July, 2023]
On July 4, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) officially approved Iran's full-fledged membership in the world's largest regional organization, opening a new chapter in the country’s regional and international outreach and opening new avenues of cooperation.
Iran became a SCO member during the 23rd virtual summit of the bloc. The summit, chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders of the bloc.
In his remarks, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi said Iran's presence in the SCO will provide a platform for achieving collective security and sustainable development, as well as unity between countries.
Iran had first applied for membership in the alliance 15 years ago. The request was approved in 2021 and in 2023 membership was finally granted.
Iraq cuts ties with Sweden over Quran desecration
[July, 2023]
In July, Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador and cut ties with the Scandinavian country following a series of Quran-burning incidents in Stockholm, which drew condemnation from across the world.
“The Swedish ambassador’s term in Tehran has ended and, according to the president’s order, until the Swedish government takes serious action over the desecration of the Holy Qur'an, we will not accept the new Swedish ambassador,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said at the time.
“The Iranian ambassador will not be sent to Sweden,” he added.
The announcement came after angry protests in Tehran, in front of the Swedish embassy, participated by thousands of people, mostly university students.
Tension between Baghdad and Stockholm peaked after protesters stormed and set fire to the Swedish embassy in the Iraqi capital in condemnation of the incidents.
Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee, had desecrated the Quran in Stockholm after receiving permission from Swedish authorities. The desecration caused widespread anger across the Muslim world.
Iran reaches prisoner swap deal with US
[August, 2023]
Iran and the US reached a prisoner swap deal in August 2023, and both sides exchanged five prisoners each in September.
Tehran and Washington reached the deal after years of negotiations through mediators.
Around $6 billion of Iran’s frozen assets in South Korea were also unblocked under the agreement.
The five Americans released by Iran, including Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi and Morad Tahbaz, had been arrested over spying charges, which were confirmed by courts in the country.
Iran admitted to BRICS
[August, 2023]
During the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit in South Africa held between August 22 and 24, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the BRICS member states agreed to admit Iran, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia as new members.
Iran was among dozens of countries that sought membership in the influential geopolitical bloc and had submitted a formal application to join the body.
The formal admission of the invited countries, including Iran, took place on January 1, 2023.
Palestinian resistance launches Al-Aqsa Storm
[October, 2023]
Hamas-led Palestinian resistance launched its biggest operation against the Israeli occupation, dubbed the Al-Aqsa Storm (or Al-Aqsa Flood) against Israel in the wee hours of October 7 morning.
The unprecedented military operation took the Tel Aviv regime by complete surprise with Al-Qassam Brigade fighters crossing the fence into southern territories occupied by the regime.
Hamas said that the group’s military operation was in response to atrocities the Palestinians have faced over the decades as well as the repeated desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Since October 7, Israel has been brutally bombarding the besieged coastal strip. The aggression by the regime has so far killed over 22,000 Palestinians with more than 8,600 fatalities being children.
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