Month: September 2020

“Phosphorus, an Iranian hacker group often called Charming Kitten, has gone after the personal and work accounts of Trump campaign staffers and administration officials.”  See “Russia, China and Iran trying to hack presidential race, Microsoft says,” Tim Starks, Politico, September 10, 2020.

“Houthi Drones, Missiles Strike Saudi Capital; Iran Eyes Israelis In UAE,” Arie Egozi, Breaking Defense, September 10, 2020.

“The four Iranians are facing the death penalty for participating in protest rallies against corruption, economic hardship, skyrocketing prices and mismanagement by Iranian officials.”  See “Iranian Lawyer Presents Her Award to 4 on Death Row,” Radio Farda, September 10, 2020.

“Russia, China, Iran to hold massive joint military exercise,” Ben Wolfgang, Washington Times, September 10, 2020.

“20 Million Iranians Live in ‘Dark Zones’,” Iran News Update, September 10, 2020.

“Russia, China and Iran launched cyberattacks on presidential campaigns, Microsoft says,” NBC, September 10, 2020.

“Iran’s Space Program Is Far from Benign,” Mosaic, September 10, 2020.

“Iranian press review: Law proposed to allow military generals to run for president,” Middle East Eye, September 10, 2020.

It is important to note a headline that accurately portrays the situation.  That she is being charged with additional crimes, though, is not the reason to now (after almost 5 years) to declare openly that Iran is holding hostages.  That should happen within the first week or two after the person is originally detained illegally.  “Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ‘held hostage’ by Iran, says husband,” Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, September 9, 2020.

“Iran Building New Production Hall for Centrifuges in Mountains Near Natanz,” Algemeiner, September 9, 2020.

“Tractor football club win Iran’s Hazfi Cup,” Muhammet Kursun, AA, September 9, 2020.

“International Federation of Journalists Defends Iranian Whistle Blower Reporter,” Radio Farda, September 9, 2020.

The title itself seems mystifying, that a charity would drill for oil, until you take into account that non-profits in Iran are often used for the profit of government or IRGC.  “Iran Charity to Develop Marun Oil Field,” Golnar Motevalli and Patrick Sykes, Bloomberg, Rig Zone, September 9, 2020.

“Iran Announces Large-Scale Military Exercise In The Strait Of Hormuz,” Kashmir Observer, September 9, 2020.

“Iranian Wrestler Facing Execution Beaten in Shiraz Prison Last Week, Source Says,” Michael Lipin and Ramin Haghjoo, VOA, September 9, 2020.

And there’s no need for this, just cruelty.  They already charged her with spying and have held her for almost 5 years.  This is just more antagonism to pressure the UK into larger ransom payments or other concessions.  “Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ‘to face new charge and trial in Iran’,” BBC, September 8, 2020.

“Iran’s insistence to involve Islamic Revolutionary Guard firm at Chabahar has strained ties with India,” K.N. Pandia, Intervention, September 8, 2020.

“Watchdog Denounces Growing ‘Persecution’ Of Journalists In Iran,” RFE/RL, September 8, 2020.

“Athletes’ union wants Iran expelled from sport if wrestler executed,” Reuters, September 8, 2020.

“What Is Iran up to in Latin America?,” Lindsay Gabow, The Defense Post, September 8, 2020.

“Iran’s Khamenei says Mohammed cartoons ‘unforgivable’,” France 24, September 8, 2020.

TankerTrackers has identified three Iranian-owned vessels that went ‘dark’ in August after loading cargoes, and that are apparently owned by Iran (no foreign companies willing to give into U.S. pressure).  “Iran tests US resolve as tanker trio ‘heads to Venezuela’,” Gary Dixon, Trade Winds, September 8, 2020.

“Iran Medical Council lambasts education ministry for schools’ reopening,” Arab News, September 7, 2020.

Shocking.  India loses Chabahar port.  China takes over, and takes over Iran.  Must read story.  More people will move out of Iran.  “China Looks To Build Espionage Hub In Iran Under 25-Year Deal,” Simon Watkins, OilPrice.com, September 7, 2020.  “The next phase of the 25-year deal between China and Iran will focus on a large-scale roll-out of electronic espionage and warfare capabilities focused around the port of Chabahar and extending for a nearly 5,000 kilometer (3,000 mile) radius, and the concomitant build-out of mass surveillance and monitoring of the Iranian population, in line with the standard operating procedure across China, senior sources close to the Iranian government told OilPrice.com last week. Both of these elements dovetail into Beijing’s strategic vision for Iran as a fully-functioning client state of China by the end of the 25-year period. By that time, Iran will be an irreplaceable geographical and geopolitical foundation stone in Beijing’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ project, as well as providing a large pool of young, well-educated, relatively cheap labor for Chinese industry. The mass surveillance, monitoring, and control systems to cover Iran’s population is to begin its full roll-out as from the second week of November, after the final agreement on event sequencing has been reached in the third week of October at a meeting between Iran’s most senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and intelligence services figures and their Chinese counterparts. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, already agreed on the broad plans in July, according to the Iran sources. “The plan is for nearly 10 million extra CCTV [closed-circuit television] cameras to be placed in Iran’s seven most populous cities, to begin with, plus another five million or so pinhole surveillance cameras to be placed at the same time in another 21 cities, with all of these being directly linked in to China’s main state surveillance and monitoring systems,” said an Iran source. “This will enable the full integration of Iran into the next generation of China’s algorithmic surveillance system that allows for the targeting of behavior down to the level of the individual by combining these inputs with already-stored local, national, and regional records on each citizen, together with their virtual data footprints,” he said. “At the same time as this, China will start to trial its own heavily-censored version of the internet via the Great Firewall of China [that prohibits foreign internet sites], in Iran, and to begin the broad roll-out of Mandarin as a key foreign language to be learned in school, initially alongside English, but then to replace English,” one of the Iran sources added. “By the end of this process, these seven cities in Iran will be among the top 25 most surveilled cities in the world,” he underlined.”  [see the article for the Chinese military presence that will come to be in Iran]

“Report: Three More Iranian Tankers Under Way With Fuel for Venezuela,” Maritime Executive, September 7, 2020.

“Greenhouse Expansion on Track in Iran,” Financial Tribune, September 7, 2020.

“Iranian Authorities Tighten Their Grip On Daycare Centers,” Radio Farda, September 6, 2020.

“Iran’s National Information Network Not Based on Censorship: Official,” IFP, September 6, 2020.  When you read this story, your realize that based on Iran’s history over 40 years that every media source, every one, will be censored—just the opposite of what the headline declares.  “In remarks at a televised interview, director of Iran’s National Centre of Cyberspace, Abul-Hassan Firoozabadi, said the National Information Network (NIN) is not based upon censorship and will not carry out any filtering policy unless the platforms violate the law and their illegal activities would cause cultural, social, political and security problems. Like all other international networks, web contents in the Iranian Internet or the NIN will be accessible in accordance with the country’s regulations and the network is not going to censor anything at the beginning, he added. “There is no plan to shut down any foreign network or platform, unless the platform disobeys the Iranian law and causes widespread destructive security effects,” he noted.”  These arguments—that media violates Iranian law and poses security threats—are made all the time in Iranian courts at present.

“Rouhani Is No Moderate,” Isaac Schorr, National Review, September 6, 2020.

If Iran follows its pattern, of accusing Israel or the U.S. of so many attacks, then this announcement by the AEOI means that Iran does not think Israel or the U.S. prosecuted the attack.  Atomic Energy Organization of Iran spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi just said the July incident at Natanz was “an act of sabotage” and the “culprits” and “incentives [motivations] and methods” are known. In short, Iran has full knowledge of what happened.  See “Iran claims it’s identified saboteurs behind blast at nuclear site,” Times of Israel, September 6, 2020.

“Iran: We will proudly continue helping Syria,” Tehran Times, September 6, 2020.

“Iran has what is probably the most confusing currency system in the world, and it will soon become more so, as it says it will alter the appearance of the zeroes on one of its notes. Although the currency of record is the rial, that term is hardly used in trade and commerce. Instead, transactions are conducted in tomans. One toman is equal to 10 rials. A tourist blog, ariamedtour.com, gives this example: If you go to buy a bottle of water and ask how much it is, the seller will tell you that it is 1,500 tomans, meaning that you should pay 15,000 rials. That’s not all. It also has two systems of bank notes: Rials are issued in 10 denominations from 100 to 100,000 rials. To complicate things further, there are Iran cheques in the amounts of 500,000 and 1 million rials. The central bank used to permit major banks to print their own bank notes known as “cash cheques.” They looked like official bank notes and could function as cash for a year. The two types were Iran cheques that could be cashed in any financial institution and cash cheques that could be cashed only at the issuing bank. In 2008 the central bank halted that practice, and took over the issue of Iran cheques. In May, after extended dawdling, Iran’s rampant inflation (100,000 rials is now $2.38) led Parliament to slash four zeroes off the rial and change its name to the toman. One toman will equal 10,000 rials. The Financial Times quotes Abdolnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank as saying on the bank’s website, “The parliament is in favor of the currency revaluation plans … the color of four zeros will be different on new banknotes printed by the CBI to show that we are in a transitional period.” For a transition period of up to two years, both the toman and the rial will be legal tender.”  This is from “Iran to introduce currency re-denomination in tomans,” Arthur Friedberg, Coin World, September 6, 2020.

Totally improper, and a violation of human rights.  “Iran airs televised confession of wrestler after Trump tweet,” WNEP, AP, September 6, 2020.

“Iran to Extend Range of Air-Launched Cruise Missiles,” Tasnim, September 6, 2020.

“Iran exports tea to India, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Canada, Australia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.”  See “Iran’s annual tea output expected to reach 130m tons,” Tehran Times, September 6, 2020.

“Iran Among World’s Top 5 Military Speedboat Producers,” IFP, September 6, 2020.

Not inspiring, and may not be tested enough.  “Iran, Russia to jointly produce COVID-19 vaccine,” India TV News, September 6, 2020.

“Iranian Authorities Tighten Their Grip On Daycare Centers,” Radio Farda, September 6, 2020. What could this be?  In the past, the State Welfare Organization controlled preschools.  But after the Supreme Leader on Sep. 3 expressed concern over local daycare centers and their curriculum (they allow mixed dancing and swimming for the young children), Iran’s Ministry of Education will oversee kindergartens and nurseries.  Next up: “Following the recent amendment of school and university textbooks, Iranian authorities are also set to change kindergarten textbooks’ content.”

“China, Iran, Russia Seeking To Undermine US Elections: NSA,” News India, September 5, 2020.

“Iran could become hub of arms trafficking and exports as embargo ends,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, September 5, 2020.

“Iran stockpiling enriched uranium,” Kiyoko Metzler and David Rising, AP, Northwest Arkansas Democratic Gazette, September 5, 2020.

“New school year starts in Iran,” Trend, September 5, 2020.

“Defense Minister Says Iran To Export Weapons When Embargo Lifted,” Radio Farda, September 5, 2020.

“Iran used ‘excessive force’ against fuel-hike protesters: UN special rapporteur,” Rudaw, September 5, 2020.  ““The Special Rapporteur expresses his shock at the unprecedented use of excessive and lethal force by State security forces during the November 2019 protests, including by the police, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij militia,” read special rapporteur Javaid Rehman’s report to the UN General Assembly. According to his report, at least 304 people were killed in 37 cities across Iran between 15 and 19 November, 2019. Rehman believes the actual death toll is much higher.”

“Facing unprecedented pressure, Iran uses its most reliable tool: Brutality,” Jason Rezaian, op-ed, Washington Post, September 4, 2020.

“Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile ’10 times limit’,” BBC, September 4, 2020.  The IAEA reports that “Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile had reached 2,105kg (4,640lb) – well above the 300kg agreed in 2015. Iran insists its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes. It comes after Iran gave IAEA inspectors access to one of two suspected former nuclear sites. The agency said it would take samples at the second site later this month. Last year, Iran began deliberately and publicly reneging on commitments it had made under the international nuclear accord, signed in 2015 by Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US. This included the production of more enriched uranium than it was allowed – although only at enrichment levels far below that required for use in atomic weapons. To manufacture a nuclear weapon, Iran would need to produce 1,050kg of 3.67% enriched uranium, but would then need to further enrich that to 90% or more, according to US-based advocacy group the Arms Control Association. Low-enriched uranium – which has a concentration of between 3% and 5% of the fissile isotope U-235 – can be used to produce fuel for power plants. Weapons-grade uranium is 90% enriched or more.”

“A new report by Javaid Rahman, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, reveals other dimensions of the crimes of the Iranian security forces. In a new report, the Special Rapporteur revealed that the Iranian government dealt violently with protesters over the high price of gasoline in November 2019, killing hundreds, detaining thousands, torturing them, and imposing harsh sentences. Execution sentences were also handed down by unjust courts. “The Special Rapporteur is alarmed by the unprecedented violent crackdown against protesters across the Islamic Republic of Iran in November 2019. Excessive force by State security forces has led to hundreds of deaths and injuries and thousands of arrests.”  See “New Report by Javaid Rehman: Iran’s IRGC, Basij, and Police Opened Deadly Fire on Protesters,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, September 4, 2020.

Fishy with a capital F.  The Romania prosecutor has irrationally decided that people who check out of a hotel but walk back to the top floor of their hotel will kill themselves.  “Iranian judge in Romania committed suicide, prosecutors say,” Reuters, September 4, 2020.

“Iran says reissue of Prophet Mohammed cartoons is ‘provocation’,” AFP, September 4 2020.

“Iran Caught Stockpiling Enriched Uranium Needed for Bomb,” Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, September 4, 2020.  “Iran’s enriched uranium store “now exceeds by 10-fold the limit set in the [nuclear deal],” according to the Institute for Science and International Security, a nuclear watchdog group that has closely tracked the IAEA’s inspections. The group said “Iran’s estimated breakout time as of September 2020 is as short as 3.5 months.” “A new development is that Iran may have enough low enriched uranium to produce enough weapon-grade uranium for a second nuclear weapon, where the second one could be produced more quickly than the first, requiring in total as little as 5.5 months to produce enough weapon-grade uranium for two nuclear weapons,” the group said Friday.”

“Dubai deputy police chief: Iran and Turkey, not Israel, threaten the Gulf states,” Cleveland Jewish News, September 3, 2020.

An incredible message from the Princeton graduate school hostage in Iran.  “Lessons From Three Years in an Iranian Prison:  Rapprochement Is a Fantasy—the Islamic Republic Thrives on Tension With the United States,” Xiyue Wang, Foreign Affairs, September 3, 2020.

“Official: COVID-19 kills 129 more in Iran,” Kazinform, September 3, 2020.

“Trump Urges Iran Not to Execute Wrestler for 2018 Murder Confession Apparently Made Under Torture,” Michael Lipin and Ramin Haghjoo, VOA, September 3, 2020.

The Iran government (judiciary) does not want to pay the national soccer coach the contracted amount.  He quit because they weren’t paying him.  Now the Regime is in trouble with FIFA.  The Regime is also in trouble because its judiciary has threatened the Iranian football association with prosecution (jail).  “Iran: Football scandal triggers FIFA sanctions threat,” Syed Zafar Mehdi, AA, September 2, 2020.  And see “FIFA issue another warning to Iran over interference after authorities intervene in contract case,” Liam Morgan, Inside the Games, September 3, 2020.

“US blocks propaganda websites registered by Iran-backed militia,” Chad Garland, Stars and Stripes, September 3, 2020.

“Ex US intel head urges Olympics to probe Iran’s execution of wrestler,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, September 3, 2020.

“FIFA Threatens Iranian Soccer With Suspension,” Orkhan Jalilov, Caspian News, September 3, 2020.

“Iran: Detainees flogged, sexually abused and given electric shocks in gruesome post-protest crackdown – new report,” Amnesty International, September 2, 2020.

Her life has just about been ruined.  Australia needs to get tough with Iran.  “Kylie Moore-Gilbert’s every step being followed inside prison in Iran,” Ben Doherty, The Guardian, September 2, 2020.

For support of the 1998 terrorist attacks in Kenya and Tanzania by Al Qaida, Iran has been ordered (again) to pay up.  “Judge Orders Iran To Pay $566M For Terrorist Bombings,” Law 360, September 2, 2020.

“Owners of Iranian Fuel Seized by US Assert Rights to Cargoes,” VOA, Reuters, September 2, 2020.

“Iran Looks To China For Development Of Intranet,” Radio Farda, September 2, 2020.

“Speculation grows over Larijani nomination for Iran presidency,” Al Monitor, September 2, 2020.

“‘Filthy Zionist agents:’ Iran’s Khamenei singles out Jared Kushner,” Marcy Oster, Forward, September 2, 2020.

“Iran Ramps Up Production At Supergiant South Pars Gas Field,” Simon Watkins, OilPrice.com, September 2, 2020.

“Family of US-born Israeli settler files $1bn lawsuit against Iran and Syria for West Bank stabbing,” Sheren Khalel, Middle East Eye, September 2, 2020.

“The calls for protests in Iran are three times more than they were last year, according to the Head of the Security and Law Enforcement Department at Iran’s Ministry of Interior. Hossein Zolfaghari said Tuesday that that was 1,702 calls for protests since the beginning of the Persian year in March, compared with 519 calls in the same period last year, which is a 227% increase.”  See “Protests Increase Three-Fold in Iran,” Jubin Katiraie, Iran Focus, September 2, 2020.

Look at the picture.  Not weatherproof.  Most likely another system that does not live up to billing.  “Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard, the commander of the Air Defense Force, attended the unveiling ceremony. Kashef-99 can detect 300 targets simultaneously within a range of 12 kilometers, Tasnim reported. The domestically produced device is a 3D phased-array radar system that is carried on a vehicle, suitable for detecting small aircraft and objects.”  See “Iran unveils new portable radar,” Tehran Times, September 2, 2020.

Similar story.  No proof.  “Iran claims advances in radar that it says can reach Israel,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, September 2, 2020.

“Austrian court convicts Iran-trained Hezbollah commander for terrorism,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, September 2, 2020.  “Austria has refused to ban Hezbollah’s entire organization. Germany, the Netherlands, Britain, the US, Canada, Israel, the Arab League, Lithuania and many Latin American countries have designated Hezbollah’s entire movement a terrorist entity. Austria and the EU have merely banned Hezbollah’s “military wing” while allowing its “political arm” to function.”

A real pressure against journalists—just do your job, get thrown in jail.  “Mohammad Mosaed, CPJ 2020 awardee, sentenced to more than 4 years in jail in Iran,” Committee to Protect Journalists, September 2, 2020.

“Iran’s Khamenei says Israel deal ‘betrayal’ of Islamic world by UAE,” Dawn, Sep 1, 2020.

“Iran nuclear deal parties meet amid US pressure,” France 24, September 1, 2020.

“Iran imposes double execution on champion wrestler for peacefully protesting regime,” Benjamin Weinthal | Fox News, September 1, 2020.

“Iran, 5 nations discuss moving forward with 2015 nuclear deal,” Clyde Hughes, UPI, September 1, 2020.

“Iranian hackers are selling access to compromised companies on an underground forum,” Catalin Cimpanu, ZDNet, September 1, 2020.

“Newspaper Close To Khamenei Office Criticizes Officials Who Do Not Retire After 80,” Radio Farda, September 1, 2020.

“Newspaper Close To Khamenei Office Criticizes Officials Who Do Not Retire After 80,” Radio Farda, September 1, 2020.  “A hardliner Iranian newspaper linked to the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is criticizing Iranian politicians of advanced age who insist on holding official positions past the age of 80. Referring to the recent resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Jomhouri Eslami [Islamic Republic] published a commentary on Monday, August 31 claiming that some elderly Iranian politicians have difficulty walking, yet still hold sensitive positions. The daily, whose managing editor is Massih Mohajeri, a cleric close to the core of the Iranian regime, did not refer to any particular Iranian politician. … How about 89-year-old Guardian Council and Expediency Council member Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, who are confined to wheelchairs because of old age, but still hold more than one key position requiring agility and sharpness in decision-making. Yazdi was recently elected as a member of the Assembly of Experts, which is at least his third key position. … One of the most well-known elderly politicians in Iran who has been the subject of many jokes and cartoons is Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, 93, Chairman of the Assembly of Experts and the secretary of the Guardian Council.”  And don’t forget the Leader himself—at 83.