This is a tough blog entry to make—we want Iran’s policies to change, and whether it is a R or D U.S. Administration you don’t want side comments or future agreements or criticisms on foreign soil by U.S. senators, etc. including when they meet high officials of Iran. This blog entry is about the U.S.—not Iran—they are the government which others says needs to conform to international norms. So it is tough to turn my keyboard against U.S. senators when the focus should be on Iran and its actions. But this is a moment to also say that if the Regime was really interested in changing that it would not attempt to play American sides off against each other. Here is the list of Democrat senators who met with Zarif (they were attending the Munich Security Conference) Murphy of CT, Menendez of NJ, and Van Hollen of MD. But I am particularly concerned that former Secretary of State and former senator from MA John Kerry also attended—he has met with Zarif several times, and since they were the two main architects of the JCPOA, which was dangerous for the world, I have to say that I turn very critical of this meeting. I can’t think of a time when a past secretary of state has worked to undo a new administration’s policy like this, and with multiple meetings with a country that considers itself at war with the U.S. and is the leader in state-sponsored terrorism. See “Pompeo: I Hope Secret Democrat Meeting With Iran Wasn’t Meant To Undermine U.S. Foreign Policy,” Tristan Justice, The Federalist, February 18, 2020.
“Iran’s Khamenei says voting in parliament election is a religious duty,” Reuters, February 18, 2020.
“After Suleimani: Iran’s scramble to recover from general’s death,” Martin Chulov and Dan Sabbagh, The Guardian, February 18, 2020.
“Iran frees jailed German citizen in prisoner swap,” Al Jazeera, February 18, 2020. So, a German sentenced to three years for taking photographs in sensitive areas was released in exchange for a freed Iranian. We’ll see if Germany did this with the approval of the U.S.
“International Watchdog To Review Iran’s Status On Anti-Terror, Money Laundering Laws,” Radio Farda, February 17, 2020.
In a new letter to the Iran government, the international soccer body FIFA says Iranian females must be allowed to enter all stadiums across the country to watch men’s matches. The death last year of Sahar Khodayari, nicknamed the “Blue Girl” after the main color of her favorite team, restarted the debate over the ban barring Iranian women from attending men’s matches in various sports. Khodayari was arrested in March for attempting to enter a stadium to watch her favorite team play and was told by court officials she faced a six-month sentence behind bars. Devastated, she poured gasoline on herself and set herself on fire, dying a few days later in hospital. This set off a national debate on the no-women policy. See “FIFA Demands Iran Allow Women To Attend All Football Matches,” Radio Farda, February 18, 2020.
“From Iran, Shiite Cleric Tries To Crush Iraq’s Protest Movement,” Jane Arraf, NPR, February 17, 2020.
Iran continues to influence politics in Afghanistan. Not surprising because it coincides with their geography, but also because of the expansion of the Revolution, and due to the threat from the east of the U.S. presence. “Why the Taliban Won’t Cut Ties with Iran,” Kashif Hussain, The Diplomat, February 15, 2020.
“The Iranian Elections: Who’s Running, Who’s Not, Who’s Been Barred,” Frud Bezhan, RFE/RL, February 17, 2020.
“Blackouts Caused By Shortage Of Natural Gas, Iran Officials Say,” Radio Farda, February 17, 2020.
A really good article on the power and politics of the Assembly of Experts, who select and (supposedly) oversee the Supreme Leader. “Iran’s most powerful hardline clerics to reunite in Assembly of Experts election,” Rohollah Faghihi, Al Monitor, February 18, 2020.
“Iran’s lies reach new levels of mendacity,” Struan Stevenson, UPI, February 18, 2020.
“This Is Iran’s Deadliest Missile (And It Could Someday Carry a Nuclear Weapon),” David Axe, The National Interest, February 17, 2020.
This story is worth posting, but take a look at the picture from Getty selected—I had not noticed before (but now I’ll be on the lookout) the large national flags scattered around Tehran. How many do you see? I counted six. These are identical, and are undoubtedly put up by the Regime for their own purposes. I wonder how many other large cities in Iran have these government-sanctioned (and nationalistic) markers? See “Iran-linked hackers use VPN exploits in far-flung spying campaign,” Sean Lyngaas, Cyberscoop, February 18, 2020.
“High voter turnout expected in Iran towns, villages,” Al Jazeera, February 18, 2020. But not in the large cities—only in rural areas. At least that’s the prediction. What happens if in rural areas persons do not show to vote in numbers similar to past elections? This story also reminds us that the Parliament elections are Friday.