New Quds Force head Esmail Ghaani does not want al-Zurfi to be the next Iraq prime minister. Wonder why? Iran can’t control him. “Iran General Visits Baghdad, Tries to Forge Political Unity,” AP, Haaretz, April 2, 2020.
Ghaani makes the news again, as a target. This is amazing, and may be a result of the U.S. targeting Gen. Soleimani when he was planning attacks on Americans. Thus, Israel may have used the same justification—that he was planning attacks against Israel. Israel planes shot from Lebanon to target Iranian military transport aircraft and a meeting of IRGC and Lebanese Hezbollah commanders, as well as the chief of al-Quds Force Esmail Ghaani. “Israel Targets Iranian Commanders in Syrian Base Near Homs,” Asharq Al-Awsat, April 2, 2020.
“Exclusive: Hackers linked to Iran target WHO staff emails during coronavirus – sources,” Joseph Menn, Christopher Bing, Raphael Satter, and Jack Stubbs, Reuters, April 2, 2020.
“Iran’s Parliament Speaker Larijani Quarantined With Coronavirus,” Yasna Haghdoost, Bloomberg, April 2, 2020.
“Iranian resistance group, citing documents, says regime knew of coronavirus cases in January,” Adam Shaw, Fox News, April 2, 2020. The opposition group NCRI published documents that Iran had multiple cases in late January, weeks earlier than stated by authorities. The documents are mission reports from the government’s National Emergency Organization, and with the emblem of the country’s Health Ministry, that describe multiple suspected cases (with symptoms) of the virus, all from the Chinese Embassy in Tehran. One document was dated Jan 28. This is in contrast with claims by Iranian officials in early February that there were no coronavirus cases in Iran. The allegations include that the Regime suppressed the information to ensure participation by the public in the national anniversary of their coming to power on February 11 and the parliament election on February 21.
“124 deaths (“officially”) on Wednesday,” Reuters, Algemeiner, April 2, 2020.
“More Evidence Suggests Iran’s Nuclear Shopping Sprees Persist,” Andrea Stricker and Behnam Ben Taleblu, Radio Farda, April 2, 2020.