“Russian chief rabbi wants Moscow to pressure Iran to repair Esther’s Tomb,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, May 26, 2020.
Never fear, Iran’s embassy in Moscow shouldn’t be worried. Despite the embassy’s media department complaining of losing its Twitter account for no reason, the Supreme Leader still has his Twitter account, and the Moscow embassy can call for Israel’s destruction on that account. See “Twitter closes Iranian embassy’s account,” Tehran Times, May 26, 2020.
“Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi dismissed the U.S. State Department allegations that the Iranian regime has carried out more than 360 assassinations and terrorist operations across the world since 1979. In a fact sheet published last Friday, the U.S. Department of State highlighted allegations that since coming to power in 1979, the Iranian regime has been involved in more than 360 assassinations, terrorist plots, and terrorist attacks in more than 40 countries.” See “Iran Spokesman Rejects State Department Allegations Of Extraterritorial Terrorism,” Radio Farda, May 26, 2020.
Shocking. The father beheaded the daughter with a sickle in an honor killing. But “[a]lthough Romina’s father has been arrested, according to Article 220 of the Islamic Penal Code, as the guardian of the murdered girl, he will not be punished by death. Many on social media speculate that he will receive a light sentence.” See “Police In Iran Arrest Father Of 13-Year-Old Girl For ‘Honor Killing’,” Radio Farda, May 26, 2020.
The research center of the Majlis (Parliament) announced that the National Iranian Oil Company owes $34 billion to the country’s banking system including the Central Bank of Iran. “The company’s lack of resources has led to the company’s large debt to the banking system, the National Development Fund, and private contractors; In this respect, the oil company is on the verge of collapse.” See “Iran’s Main Oil Company Owes $34-billion to the Banking System,” Iran Focus, May 26, 2020.
57 more die Monday, reported Tuesday. “Iran: Virus deaths cross 7,500, cases near 140,000,” Mahmoud Mohamed Barakat, AA, May 26, 2020.
Protesting because you need water can be hazardous to your health. “Khamenei Representative Apologizes After Plastic Bullets Fired At Iranian Protesters,” RFE/RL, May 26, 2020.
The relationship between Iran and Venezuela is not to defy Imperialism. It is to support a nacro-terrorism enterprise—hardly a call to high-minded democracy or socialism or government for the good of the people. “Over a decade ago, former Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela established a special relationship—finding common cause under a banner of “anti-imperialism.” Iran began pledging to invest millions in economic development projects bolstering Venezuela’s petrochemical and small-arms ammunition factories. Iranian diplomatic missions began growing in size and strategic value. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force members descended on the region. The two countries also created an “Aeroterror” flight, with stops in Caracas, Damascus and Tehran, reportedly carrying arms, cash and drugs twice per month. Later, ProPublica reported on evidence they established a joint intelligence program and increased the ease of travel for Iranian operatives and the transfer of air freight. See “It’s Time to Crack Down on Iran-Venezuela Relations,” Jason Brodsky, op-ed, Newsweek, May 26, 2020.
“Iran’s president orders implementation of law banning all use of Israeli tech,” Times of Israel, May 26, 2020.
“Iran claims it circumvents US sanctions with shipments to Venezuela,” Al Monitor, May 26, 2020.
This story is illustrative of how twisted things can become in Iran. Because the government is dead set against Israel, it is blind to the good things Israel has provided such as technology improvements. See “Iran’s president orders implementation of law banning all use of Israeli,” Times of Israel, May 26, 2020.
“According to Fars, the legislation states that any cooperation or spying for “the Zionist regime” is to be considered “equal to enmity towards God and corruption on earth,” and “activities of the Israeli software platforms in Iran and using its hardware and software products are forbidden.” … According to Saul Singer, co-author of the book “Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle,” the law, if fully implemented, would set Iran back at least half a century, with computers, the internet and smartphones off-limits, exports hobbled and healthcare ravaged. An Iran without “Israel inside,” Singer told The Times of Israel last week, “would make North Korea look advanced and cosmopolitan. Essentially, Iran would go back to the world of 50 years ago, maybe more. It would look like a huge Amish colony in Muslim garb.” “It’s endless,” Singer added, when considering the impact the Majlis ban on all things Israeli would have. “If you count all the Fortune 500 companies that have critical development centers in Israel — including Siemens, an Iranian favorite, IBM, GE… — there’s not much left. I guess they would have to go back to pen and paper, horses, and home visits by doctors with stethoscopes and World War II-era hospitals.”
The merger of the government/military/police banks comes at a time when the country’s banking system is in a fragile situation due to corruption, mismanagement, U.S. sanctions, and poor economic conditions. And it is said that most banks in Iran would fail without infusion of printed money. See “Iran’s Central Bank To Merge Several Military-Owned Banks Amid Economic Crisis,” Radio Farda, May 26, 2020.