Month: November 2020

A welcome article, this is what normal countries do.  The Majlis announced allocation of $950M from its budget for badly needed road projects.  “Iran allocates funds to boost road construction,” Argus Media, November 20, 2020.

“Venezuelan bishop warns of Iran’s rising influence in the country,” Inés San Martín, Crux Now, November 20, 2020.

“Why Was Iran Hiding Al Qaeda’s No. 2 in Tehran?,” James Phillips, National Interest, November 20, 2020.

“COVID-19 kills 479 more people in Iran: Official,” Kazinform, November 20, 2020.

“Iran reportedly seizes Panama-flagged tanker over fuel smuggling,” Tradewinds, November 20, 2020.

“Iran’s Economy Suffers from State-Backed Mafia, Not Sanctions,” Esmaeil Mohades, Iran Focus, November 20, 2020.

Dehghan is possible presidential candidate.  “US attack risks ‘full-fledged war,’ says adviser to Iran’s leader,” Nasser Karimi, Jon Gambrell, AP, November 20, 2020.

“Astan-e Quds Razavi, A Pillar of Khamenei’s Economic Empire in Iran,” Iran News Update, November 20, 2020.

“Lifting of Sanctions Precursor to Potential Talks with JCPOA Parties: Iran,” IFP, November 19, 2020.

“Iran: Teachers Struggle for Inherent Rights,” Iran News Update, November 19, 2020.

“Iran may be shipping military equipment to Venezuela,” Nicholas Carl, Critical Threats, November 19, 2020.

“Unit 840, a subdivision of the Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, operates in both the Damascus area and in the Syrian Golan. Israeli intelligence suggests the unit is behind two events, one last week and one in August, in which explosives were placed on the Israeli side of the Syrian border.”  See “Israel’s Latest Syria Strike Targeted Iranian Unit That Paid Locals to Plant Explosives on Border,” Amos Harel, Haaretz, November 19, 2020.

“Iranian attacks are down, but not over, CENTCOM commander says,” Meghann Myers, Military Times, November 19, 2020.

About the bomb trial beginning Nov. 27 in Antwerp, including for defendant Assadollah Assadi, an Iran diplomat.  “Iran’s Regime Diplomat-Terrorist on Trail: The Bomb,” Mohammad Sadat Khansari, NCRI, November 19, 2020.

“Baha’i University Candidates Summoned for Interrogation,” Iran Press Watch, November 19, 2020.

“Iran Unveils Its New Sea Base Warship That Looks Like A Floating Arms Bazaar,” Thomas Newdick, The Drive, November 19, 2020.  See also “VIDEO: Iran Inducts New Special Operations Ship,” H.I. Sutton, USNI News, November 19, 2020.

“Iranian Activists Who Celebrated Ancient Persian Ruler’s Birthday Get Long Prison Terms,” Michael Lipin and Ramin Haghjoo, VOA, November 19, 2020.

We all want Iran to move toward the normalcy, certainly the relative normalcy, of some of its neighbors to the West across the Gulf.  Bahrain is one of those countries who refuses to enable Iran’s revolutionary path.  “Exclusive: Biden must consult Gulf states before new Iran deal, Bahrain foreign minister says,” Barak Ravid, Barak Ravid, Axios, November 18, 2020.

“Rockets apparently fired by Iran-backed Iraqi militia hit US complex in Baghdad,” Karen DeYoung, Louisa Loveluck, and Ellen Nakashima, Guam Daily Post, Washington Post, November 18, 2020.

“Iran’s Most-wanted Terrorist & Former Pak Army Conspirator Killed; Had Abducted Kulbhushan,” Republic World, November 18, 2020.  “In a massive development, Pakistani police have allegedly killed Iran’s top wanted terrorist and their own military’s former conspirator Mulla Omar in Turbat city of Balochistan. As per media reports, he used to work for Pakistan Army and was the one who kidnapped and handed over Kulbhushan Jadhav to Pakistan. He has been killed days after Iran’s FM Javad Zarif met senior Pakistan Army leadership, allegedly at the behest of the Pak Army.”

“Bonyad Mostazafan is ostensibly a charitable organization charged with providing benefits to the poor and oppressed. Its holdings are expropriated from the Iranian people and are used by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to enrich his office, reward his political allies and persecute the regime’s enemies.”  See “In New Iran Sanctions, US Targets Khamenei-Controlled Foundation,” VOA, November 18, 2020.

“Iran feeds uranium gas into advanced centrifuges underground -IAEA report,” Francois Murphy, Reuters, November 18, 2020.  But what the headline doesn’t say about violation the article quickly announces—“ Iran has fired up advanced uranium-enriching centrifuges that it had installed underground at its Natanz site, in the latest breach of its nuclear deal with major powers, a report by the U.N. atomic watchdog obtained by Reuters on Wednesday showed. Natanz is Iran’s main uranium-enrichment site and the one that U.S. President Donald Trump recently asked for options on attacking, according to a source who confirmed a New York Times report. The deal states that Iran can only accumulate enriched uranium with first-generation IR-1 machines and that those are the only centrifuges it can operate at its underground plant at Natanz, apparently built to withstand aerial bombardment.”

After Iran planted explosives close to an Israeli military base in the Golan Heights.  “Israel strikes widely in Syria, sending signal of aggressive post-Trump posture,” Reuters, November 18, 2020.

“Iranian Christian gets 80 lashes for drinking Communion wine,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, November 18, 2020.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but entering an arms race means there is a race, and we are reminded that one’s neighbors may follow.  “Saudi Minister Won’t Rule Out Developing Nuclear Weapons if Iran Does,” Haaretz, November 17, 2020.

“UN atomic watchdog: Iran now operating Natanz centrifuges,” David Rising, AP, November 17, 2020.

“Iranian, British foreign ministers discuss JCPOA,” Tehran Times, November 17, 2020.

In the category of “read the details,” the FM claims that if the U.S. president will simply sign executive orders, Iran will immediately come back into the JCPOA.  But read the article, and remember all the other pronouncements by the Iranian government representatives for many, many months—that is not accurate.  At the least, the U.S. has a number of steps it has to take first, including paying billions to Iran for “sanctions relief.”  And Iran doesn’t have to do anything.  See “Iran’s Zarif says Biden can lift sanctions with ‘three executive orders’,” Reuters, November 17, 2020.

“Upcoming Terrorism Trial Is Opportunity To Challenge Status Quo Relations With Iran,” Alejo Vidal Quadras, NCRI, November 17, 2020.

“Why Is Iran Talking About Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Now?,” Fabian Hinz, Radio Farda, November 17, 2020.

Another way of saying this is, will the new Administration look to Israel to encourage Iran to change?  See “Israel’s Success Against Iran Poses a Challenge for Biden,” Eli Lake, op-ed, Bloomberg, November 17, 2020.

“Chinese and Russian officials made clear at a 2019 area studies conference in Beijing, which one of us attended, that their nations share the goal of deposing the United States as global leader.”  (and “Tehran May Be Less Open Than Ever to Threats or Persuasion”).  See “China and Russia Have Iran’s Back,” Jamsheed Choksy and Carol Choksy, Foreign Affairs, November 17, 2020.

“Iran Denies Borders Change After Karabakh Peace Deal,” Radio Farda, November 17, 2020.

“Iran Starts Mass Producing 20-Minute COVID-19 Test,” IFP, November 17, 2020.

Remember, the ballistic missile attacks on two U.S. bases in Iraq don’t count because no U.S. personnel died.  And regardless of the Iranian officials at the time who said that revenge had been accomplished.  “Iran to Avenge General Soleimani’s Assassination: IRGC Chief,” IFP, November 16, 2020.

486 deaths (again, only about a third of actual deaths) announced Sunday.  “Iran registers record daily increase in coronavirus cases, fatalities: TV,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, November 16, 2020.

The Helmand River continues to be simmering dispute, and Iran has more leverage even though Afghanistan is upstream.  “Iran has sufficient technical capacities to help Afghanistan using border water sources,” Trend, November 16, 2020.

IranWire reports that 1B slated for Covid is missing.  “Iran’s Khamenei funds terrorism over COVID-19 aid workers,” U.S. Embassy in Georgia, November 16, 2020.

“Erdoğan confidant who runs ops in Europe has criminal record with links to Iran’s mullah regime,” Abdullah Bozkurt, Nordic Monitor, November 16, 2020.

This blog regularly sees news of religious discrimination against multiple groups, even Shia.  Baha’i have recently been in the news.  Today it is Christianity’s turn, and the number one million makes another appearance.  “Gospel Making Inroads In Iran Despite Strong Persecution,” Leah Nablo Yecla, Christianity Daily, November 16, 2020.

But yet Twitter won’t block the Supreme Leader’s account.  “Twitter Blocks Iran Oil Minister’s Account,” Charles Kennedy, OilPrice.com, November 16, 2020.

Points for the new administration to remember.  The Iranian regime never stopped work on its top-secret nuclear program, nor its terror attacks.  “Biden administration should take tough stance with Iran,” Struan Stevenson, UPI, November 16, 2020.

I want to know more about this—what kind of cooperation, and who is driving the boat.  And note the source.  “Iran, Iraq finalize bilateral defense cooperation,” Xinhua, November 15,| 2020.

“Iran ‘deliberately blocked’ internet to cover up protest killings – new investigation,” Amnesty International, November 15, 2020.

“Intelligence Ministry Launches New Wave of Arrests to Fend off Iran Protests,” Iran HRM, November 15, 2020.

“Iran says opposition leader tested positive for coronavirus,” AP, November 15, 2020.  “Mir Hossein Mousavi lost the 2009 race to former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Allegations of vote-rigging sparked huge protests, leading to a wide-scale crackdown on dissent. Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard have been under house arrest since 2011 in the capital, Tehran.”  And now Iran’s semi-official ILNA news agency says Mousavi and his wife have tested positive for Covid while under house arrest.

More information.  “Israeli operatives gunned down al-Qaeda’s second-in-command on a Tehran street in August at the behest of the United States, the New York Times reported on Friday.  Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, who used the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was accused of being one of the chief planners of devastating attacks on two US embassies in Africa in 1998. He was killed on August 7, the anniversary of the attacks, the report said, citing unnamed intelligence officials. A former Israeli intelligence official told the newspaper that Al-Masri is also accused of ordering the 2002 attack on an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa, Kenya which killed 13 and injured 80. Al-Masri was driving his sedan close to his home when two Israeli agents on a motorcycle pulled up alongside his vehicle and fired five shots from a silenced pistol, killing al-Masri and his daughter, Miriam, who was married to Osama bin Laden’s late son Hamza bin Laden.” And “Following the shooting, Iranian media identified the victims as a history professor from Lebanon named Habib Daoud and his daughter, Maryam, the New York Times report said. A Lebanese news outlet and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps said the victim was a member of the Hezbollah terrorist group, which is backed by Iran. Daoud and Maryam did not actually exist, however. One intelligence official, and a former head of Egypt’s Islamic Jihad group, said the persona was an alias Iran provided to al-Masri.”  See “Israeli agents killed al-Qaeda’s No. 2 on Iran street, at behest of US: NY Times,” Times of Israel, November 14, 2020.

Like the late night commercial says, “But wait, there’s more!”  “Iran Denies That Al Qaeda Leader Was Killed in Tehran,” Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, November 14, 2020.

“Iran gets ready for two-week coronavirus closure,” Tehran Times, November 14, 2020.

“Iran to prohibit travel across the country without negative PCR test,” Trend, November 14, 2020.

What the NYT and Post do not ask is “Why did Iran harbor the mastermind of the 1998 embassy bombings?”  Look again at the headline—think about why it wasn’t “Mastermind of 1998 U.S. Embassy Bombings Killed While Protected Inside Iran.”  Masri was second in command of al-Qaeda.  See “Israel, at behest of U.S., killed al-Qaeda’s deputy in a drive-by attack in Iran,” Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, November 14, 2020.

“A year after Khamenei’s bloody crackdown on Iranian protesters – analysis,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post,  November 14, 2020.

“Ukraine says Iran dragging its feet in plane crash investigation,” Dhaka Tribune, November 14, 2020.

“National Museum of Iran launches guided virtual tours on early human relics, history,” Tehran Times, November 14, 2020.

“Iran placed no order to buy Russia’s S-400 missile system: advisor,” Tehran Times, November 14, 2020.

So this is the big news today.  “Al Qaeda’s No. 2, Accused in U.S. Embassy Attacks, Was Killed in Iran,” Adam Goldman, Eric Schmitt, Farnaz Fassihi, and Ronen Bergman, New York Times, August 13, 2020.  “Israeli agents shot Abu Muhammad al-Masri on the streets of Tehran at the behest of the U.S., officials said, but no one — Iran, Al Qaeda, the U.S. or Israel — has publicly acknowledged the killing.”  Here are the important points of the story, followed by some comments.  “Al-Qaida’s second-highest leader, accused of being one of the masterminds of the deadly 1998 attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa, was killed in Iran three months ago, intelligence officials have confirmed. Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was gunned down on the streets of Tehran by two assassins on a motorcycle on Aug. 7, the anniversary of the embassy attacks. He was killed along with his daughter, Miriam, the widow of Osama bin Laden’s son Hamza bin Laden. The attack was carried out by Israeli operatives at the behest of the United States, according to four of the officials. It is unclear what role if any was played by the United States, which had been tracking the movements of al-Masri and other al-Qaida operatives in Iran for years. The killing occurred in such a netherworld of geopolitical intrigue and counterterrorism spycraft that al-Masri’s death had been rumored but never confirmed until now. For reasons that are still obscure, al-Qaida has not announced the death of one of its top leaders, Iranian officials covered it up, and no country has publicly claimed responsibility for it. Al-Masri, who was about 58, was one of al-Qaida’s founding leaders and was thought to be first in line to lead the organization after its current leader, Ayman al-Zawahri. Long featured on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist list, he had been indicted in the United States for crimes related to the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed 224 people and wounded hundreds. The FBI offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture, and as of Friday, his picture was still on the Most Wanted list.” Why is this story being reported by today?  Who leaked it?  Were there cover stories for the shooting?  What is going on beyond what is being reported here?  Isn’t it amazing who is being sheltered by Iran?

“DarkSide ransomware is creating a secure data leak service in Iran,” Lawrence Abrams, Bleeping Computer, November 13, 2020.

“A year after the November protests, human rights violators have not been held accountable in Iran,” Gissou Nia, Iran Source, November 13, 2020.

“Iran the big loser in Nagorno-Karabakh war,” Luke Coffey, Arab News, November 13, 2020,

Iran oversaw effort to send two explosives-packed boats to a major refinery and terminal.  “Saudis say they thwarted Iran-backed attack on oil facility near Yemen,” AP, November 13, 2020.

“Iran, Syria explore avenues of cooperation in water sector,” Tehran Times, November 13, 2020.

“Iran considering total lockdown in Tehran: Iranian media,” WHBL, November 13, 2020.

“Iran game show asks contestants which ‘spy’ Boris Johnson wants released,” Borzou Daragahi, Independent, November 13, 2020.

This story starts—“Just a few decades ago, Iran boasted the greenest government in the Middle East. An expansive national park network protected species found almost nowhere else in the world. The nation’s rivers delivered potable water; air pollution was minimal. But now, the parks are being subsumed by development. The country’s waterways are withering away, in no small part because neither conservationists nor campaigners dare voice their concerns about the environment for fear of retribution. Many top wildlife biologists languish behind bars, and so some of Iran’s unique species are endangered only decades after a previous generation of conservationists had brought them back from the brink. “Highly respected conservationists in Iran face torture, unfair trials on fabricated charges, and prolonged arbitrary detention,” says Richard Pearshouse, head of crises and environment at Amnesty International. “Iran’s revolutionary guards and courts have effectively obliterated the civic space required for legitimate wildlife conservation.””  See “How Iran is destroying its once thriving environmental movement,” Peter Schwartzstein, National Geographic, November 12, 2020.

“Tehran behind cyberattacks against Israeli power grid, Iranian scholar says,” i24NEWS and Israel Hayom, November 12, 2020.  In a sermon on Nov. 6 and aired on Khorasan Shomali TV, “Iman Rahim Mahdavipour claims the Islamic republic … targeted desalination plants inside Israel in early April, in what was a failed attempt to poison the water supply delivered to several central Israeli cities.”  He said, “The first, at the beginning of the year, was against the desalination plants inside Israel, in that occupied land. Similarly, a few days ago, it carried out a cyber attack against some Israeli electricity plants, and disabled most of them.”  These events were in the Israel news at the time.

How did Chaab (based in Sweden) end up in Iran?  “Iran captures Arab separatist leader linked to military parade attack – state TV,” Reuters, November 12, 2020.

“From Satellite to Internet, Iran’s Regime Fears ‘Freedom’,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, November 12, 2020.

“Check Point unveils new Iranian cybercrime, ransoming companies’ data,” Hagay Hacohen, Jerusalem Post, November 12, 2020.  “Seven Israeli companies and one Italian company were victimized by Iranian hackers who created a new method for hacking into systems and holding their contents for ransom. The method is called “Pay2Key.” The IT security company Check Point Software Technologies reported the attacks on Thursday. The crime was given its name because victims pay for a “key” to get their data back. “They actually have a sort of ‘gentlemen’s understanding’ that if you pay hackers in one crime-family they won’t touch you again,” head of Cyber Intelligence at Check Point Lotem Finkelstein told The Jerusalem Post. “Some criminals even have support telephone lines for victims who agree to pay but can’t get the key to work and regain access to their data.””

Size, depth, cost, distance—so many issues wrapped up in the Behesht-e-Zahra (“Zahra’s Paradise”) cemetery and how Iran has responded to Covid.  See “In Iran, a massive cemetery struggles to keep up with virus,” Mohammad Nasiri, AP, November 11, 2020.

Look at these dates.  This is not something that happened in the distant past, or was part of a former policy.  Iran continues to attempt to eliminate its opponents right now, and in other countries.  “UN accuses Turkey of turning blind eye to Iranian assassinations,” Arab News, November 11, 2020.

“Iran’s low-enriched uranium stockpile 12 times beyond limit: IAEA,” Al Jazeera, November 11, 2020.

“UN rapporteurs implicitly accuse Turkey of allowing Iranian intelligence to orchestrate killings in its territory,” Nordic Monitor, November 11, 2020.

“Iran’s Dictatorship Is Concerned Over Growing the Society’s Political Knowledge,” Shahin Mahmoudi, Iran Focus, November 11, 2020.

“Second Iran Air aircraft makes wrong-runway landing at Tabriz,” David Kaminski-Morrow, Flight Global, November 11, 2020.

“Iran registered on Wednesday 462 deaths related to COVID-19 and 11,780 new cases, both the highest daily figure since the outbreak of the disease in the country.”  See “Iran sees record daily COVID-19 deaths, new cases since outbreak,” Xinhua, November 11, 2020.

“Iranian chess team faces ban for refusal to compete against Israelis,” Zachary Keyser, Jerusalem Post, November 11, 2020.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran arrested the country’s Paralympian Reza Tabrizi because he questioned why gyms have been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic while religious shrines continue to remain open….”  See “Iran may execute disabled bodybuilder who criticized COVID-19 rule,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, November 11, 2020.

“Iran Atomic Stock Swells, Complicating U.S. Return to Deal,” Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, November 11, 2020.

“Iran finishes moving first batch of advanced centrifuges underground,” Andrew MacAskill, Metro, November 11, 2020.

“Iran frees 157, thousands remain jailed on protest anniversary,” Al Monitor, November 11, 2020.