For those who say sanctions are having no effect.  “Iran is undergoing a severe economic crisis as Covid-19 cases surge in the country. The Iranian health ministry says that the number of daily Covid-19 infections has more than quadrupled in less than two months. In addition, an increasing number of sanctions have been placed on Iran by the U.S. government, while the local fiat currency, the rial, continues to dramatically fall. Steve H. Hanke, Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University and a hyperinflation expert, described the situation in Iran as “a classic death spiral.””  See “Iran Adopts Bitcoin for International Trade Amid Heavy Sanctions, Falling Rial, Soaring Inflation,” Kevin Helms, November 7, 2020.

These types of interviews are tricky for Western researchers, and as a general rule should be avoided because the Regime-controlled outlets take comments out of context.  Or they use comments to support their positions.  Or they attempt to magnify a split of opinion in the (free) West.  Or all three.  There is another reason to post this interview—it has the rare byline in a Tehran Times article, and the entire interview is actually posted.  This type of candor and openness is not the norm for the Times.  See “Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Iran absolutely failed: Harvard researcher,” Mohammad Mazhari, Tehran Times, November 7, 2020.

“Hezbollah, Iran preventing Lebanese recovery: Expert,” Benedict Spence, Arab News, November 7, 2020.

“Iran: Authorities Now Starving Political Prisoners,” Iran News Update, November 7, 2020.

On Nov. 7, the Supreme Leader had typed onto his Twitter feed his statement that “The situation in the US & what they themselves say about their elections is a spectacle! This is an example of the ugly face of liberal democracy in the US. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is absolutely clear, the definite political, civil, & moral decline of the US regime.”  Observers can decide for themselves—Is the U.S. in decline?  How does the U.S. election compare to Iran’s presidential elections?  Does the U.S. electoral system produce the voters’ will?  Does Iran’s?  See “Iran calls US election a ‘spectacle,’ says it is a clear sign of ‘decline’,” Peter Aitken, Fox News, November 7, 2020.

“Source: Female Iranian Filmmaker Jailed Since 2018 Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison,” Michael Lipin, Ramin Haghjoo, and Mehrdad Mashayekhi,” VOA, November 7, 2020.

“Jailed Iranian rights lawyer released, amid health problems,” AP, ABC, November 7, 2020.