Month: December 2020

Afghan analysts criticized comments by the Iranian FM Zarif, where he suggested fighters from Fatemiyoun, an Iranian militia (and overseen by the Quds Force of the IRGC) made up of Afghan Shiite migrants, could help in Kabul’s fight against Daesh.”  We don’t need Iranian militia in Afghanistan.  (BTW, I just recently posted a story about L.A. Iranians also upset by his comments, on a different topic–he has angered people on both sides of the globe in the same week).  See “Iran’s foreign minister arouses Afghan anger,” Sayed Salahuddin, Arab News, December 21, 2020.

Fascinating information about Iranian society and Covid and government misrule.  “Iran Is Nearing Collapse Under the Strain of Covid-19,” Ahmad Jalalpour, The Nation, December 21, 2020.

Now, after the news of the U.S.S. Georgia transiting Hormuz publicly, Israel does the same in Suez.  More warnings against Iran terror.  And the sub movement was approved by Egypt.  “Israeli submarine reportedly crosses Suez Canal in ‘message’ to Iran,” Times of Israel, AFP, December 21, 2020.  And the story includes this–“Vessel said to have surfaced and faced Persian Gulf, in show of force amid threats over killing of nuclear scientist.”

Most analysts are commenting on the public warning to Iran.  But did you notice equating a Tomahawk and a Seal?  ““The Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine’s presence in Mideast waterways signals the U.S. Navy’s “commitment to regional partners and maritime security,” the Navy said, demonstrating its readiness “to defend against any threat at any time.” The USS Georgia is armed with 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and can host up to 66 special operations forces, the Navy added.”  See “US Navy announces nuclear submarine passed through Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Iran,” Navy Times, AP, December 21, 2020.

“Iran: Lawmakers Must Urgently Drop the Bill That Criminalises Fundamental Rights and Freedoms,” Iran Press Watch, December 21, 2020.

“Railway link from Turkey to Pakistan, through Iran to start in 2021,” Middle East Monitor, December 21, 2020.

“Iran Sends New Flotilla To International Waters,” Orkhan Jalilov, Caspian News, December 21, 2020.

“China And Iran Start Drilling In This Super Giant Gas Field,” Simon Watkins, OilPrice.com, December 21, 2020.

“Iran’s foreign assets blocked abroad due to FATF-related issues,” MENAFN, December 21, 2020.  “Iran’s $30 billion worth of foreign assets is blocked, due to the country’s not being a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), former member of the parliament Ghassem Mirzaei told Trend in an interview. … “Iran’s review of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related bills would prevent possible violation in money transfers, ” he said. … “Iran’s strategic partners including China and Russia have stated that if the issue of the FATF related bills are not resolved, they would not work with Iran,” he said.”

“Why Iranian authorities force women to wear a veil,” DW, December 21, 2020.

Only 28 organizations (for example, AI did not join) complained the U.S. was not assuring Iran and international banks that Covid medicine could be obtained sanctions free.  This blog has catalogued several stories that this is not a concern, that the U.S. is not blocking Covid meds, and that it is Iran who makes this accusation but is actually not taking the steps and spending the money it has to acquire such.  It is unfortunate these 28 entities give Iran ammunition for these charges.  See “Joint Statement: Ensure Iranians Equitable Access to Covid-19 Vaccines,” Human Rights Watch, December 21, 2020.

Daily numbers of coronavirus cases have slowed since more restrictive measures were implemented.  See “Coronavirus claims 191 more lives in Iran,” Muhammet Kursun, AA, December 21, 2020.

“Eight rockets target US embassy in Baghdad: Iraq army,” Al Jazeera, December 20, 2020.

“12 inmates executed in just one week; Iran steps up executions,” Iran Human Rights Monitor, December 20, 2020.

“Iran-linked group claims to hack Israeli defense firm, releases employee data,” Judah Gross, Times of Israel, December 20, 2020.

Government harassment campaign continues against the wrestler’s family.  See “Source: Iran Damages Gravesite of Executed Wrestler-Activist in Escalating Harassment of His Family,” Michael Lipin and Ramin Haghjoo, VOA, December 20, 2020.

“EU Parliament seeks targeted sanctions on Iran for killing of Afkari, Zam,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, December 20, 2020.

“IAEA head says new Iran deal necessary due to multiple violations since 2015,” JNS, December 20, 2020.

Great article explaining Covid medicine/immunizations are there for the taking if Iran would simply spend the money.  And U.S. sanctions are not hindering Iran in any way.  They just want the world to think the U.S. is being cruel to Iranian citizens and blocking those persons from life-saving medicine.  See “Iran has route to obtain COVID-19 vaccines despite sanctions,” Jon Gambrell, Times of Israel, December 19, 2020.

“The UN “takes seriously” the travel restrictions and arguments of the “two Missions” that say they are hindered in their functions, the text added.”  This is categorically untrue.  UN delegations like to have all diplomats have freedom to visit receptions and events in NYC.  Again, categorically, Iran and Russia’s staffs are not hindered by visa or travel restrictions—they can do their job.  See “UN Calls For Lifting Restrictions On Iran Diplomats,” Radio Farda, December 19, 2020.

“The United States has imposed sanctions on two Iranian judges whom it accuses of having punished Iranian citizens and dual nationals for exercising their freedoms of speech and assembly, the U.S. Treasury said on Thursday. The judges, Abolghassem Salavati and Mohammad Moghisseh, “oversaw the Iranian regime’s miscarriage of justice in show trials in which journalists, attorneys, political activists, and members of Iran’s ethnic and religious minority groups were penalized for exercising their freedom of expression and assembly and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, lashes, and even execution,” the Treasury said in a statement.”  See “U.S. Imposes Sanctions On Two Iranian Judges For ‘Oppression’,” Reuters, Radio Farda, December 19, 2020.

“While 70 countries improved their human freedom ranking in the past year, Iran remained in the 154th place among the 162 countries in the Human Freedom Index (HFI). The index which measures personal, civil and economic freedom at a global level, covers areas such as rule of law, security and safety, size of government, property rights, religion, civil society and expression.”  See “Iran Still Amongst Lowest In Human Freedom Index,” Radio Farda, December 19, 2020.

“L.A.’s Iranian Jews denounce Iran Foreign Minister Zarif’s use of derogatory word for Jews,” Karmel Melamed, Forward, December 18, 2020.

“The defense chief did not elaborate on the countries with which Iran has signed arms deals.”  See “Iran has inked arms deal with other countries: defense minister,” Tehran Times, December 18, 2020.

“Saudi-Led coalition destroys Iranian-made mine in Red Sea – state TV,” Reuters, December 18, 2020.

“Iran Transfers Ninth Female Dissident to Harsher Prison,” Michael Lipin and Ramin Haghjoo, VOA, December 18, 2020.

After Rafael Grossi, who heads the IAEA, “said there had been too many breaches by Iran for the agreement to simply snap back into place when U.S. President-elect Joe Biden takes office next month.”  See “Iran rejects IAEA chief’s call that new agreement needed after Biden takes office –tweet,” Reuters, December 18, 2020.

Notice how the Regime has destroyed the wrestler’s entire family.  And notice the video response by Masih Alinejad, a well-known dissident journalist/activist and the organizer of the United for Navid campaign (about the wrester who was executed), and who has herself faced many death threats.  She made this video after the authorities executed dissident journalist Rouhollah Zam.  She makes the great point that the weak Regime can’t fight back against countries more powerful (and defending themselves) so it takes out is frustration on citizens and families of Iran.  See “Iran arrests father and brother of executed wrestler while cleaning grave,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, December 17, 2020.

“A United Nations resolution calling on the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect the rights of its citizens—and which refers to the violations faced by Iranian Baha’is—passed today at the General Assembly in New York.”  See “International support for Iran’s Baha’is highlights growing rights violations,” Iran Press Watch, December 17, 2020.

So then Iran said—“Iran Deplores Adoption of Human Rights Resolution at UNGA,” Iran Front Page, December 17, 2020.  The IRI’s position is that the resolution lacks legal credibility, and the countries who passed it were hypocrites.  Iran never addresses the specific allegations of these types of resolutions.  And rarely does anything about the claims.

“The details of the kidnapping and judicial murder of Ruhollah Zam reveal both the deep penetration by Iranian state agencies of exiled opposition circles and, no less gravely, the extent to which certain agencies of the official Iraqi state now appear to be openly doing the bidding of Tehran.”  See “Who betrayed Iranian journalist Ruhollah Zam?,” Jonathan Spyer, Jerusalem Post  Middle East, December 17, 2020.

But will they dip into their sovereign fund to pay for the immunizations?  “Iran’s Aviation Organization Announces Readiness to Import Pfizer Vaccine,” Trend News Agency, Aviation Pros, December 17, 2020.

Despite the hardline repeated public statements against negotiations, the Leader really wants relief.  “Iranian press review: Supreme leader gives green light for new talks with US,” Middle East Eye, December 17, 2020.

No longer in a hospital bed, at least for the moment.  “Iran’s Supreme Leader reappears in public, hits out at U.S.,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, December 16, 2020.

So, now he will be in public.  And an interesting choice of event—“The media reports said Khamenei would meet organizers of events to mark the first anniversary of the killing of Iran’s top commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone attack in Iraq.”  See “Iran’s Supreme Leader to hold first function since health rumors – report,” Reuters, Jerusalem Post, December 16, 2020.

Another enabler of Iran, which causes one to not act normal.  “US refuses to share intel with Qatar due to its support for Iran,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, December 16, 2020.

“MPs urge UK to designate Iran’s IRGC a terrorist group,” Arab News, December 16, 2020.

Sweden is very patient; it takes a lot to get the Swedes to complain publicly.  And this is another person snatched from Turkey.  “Sweden says Iran has denied access to detained dissident,” AFP, December 16, 2020.

“US Blacklists Chinese, UAE-based Companies Over Sale of Iranian Petrochemicals,” Reuters, VOA, December 16, 2020.

“Iran Lifts Nuclear Research Group’s Budget by 256 Percent After Scientist Killing,” David Brennan, Newsweek, December 15, 2020.

“Israel’s historic missile test: A message to Iran, Hezbollah, allies,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, December 15, 2020.  Israel is the only country in the world that has developed an effective missile defense system, and it is for low, mid, and high altitudes.  The recurring threat from Iran is the main reason during the past decade that Israel has developed its three systems.  Iran does not have to threaten Israel with extermination–that is not what normal countries do.

“How Iran Has Brought Israel and Arab States Together,” Marc Champion, Bloomberg, December 15, 2020.

“U.S. designates Bahrain-based group as terrorist, accusing it of having Iran backing,” Reuters, December 15, 2020.

Good article on the supposed difference between hardliners and moderates.  “The myth of the agenda struggle in Iran’s regime,” Salem al-Ketbi, Israel Hayom, December 15, 2020.

223 died Monday.  “Iran reports over 7,700 new virus cases, 223 deaths,” Muhammet Kursun, AA, December 15, 2020.

“Iran hopes to unveil homemade coronavirus vaccine in March,” Al Monitor, December 15, 2020.

“Iran flexes muscles ahead of Biden’s inauguration,” The Arab Weekly, December 15, 2020.

This was almost a year ago!  Iran still refuses to cooperate with other countries for the airplane it shot down.  “Iran’s probe into downing of airliner has major flaws: Canada report,” David Ljunggren, Reuters, December 15, 2020.

“Iranian Oil Exports Rise as Tehran Circumvents Sanctions, Finds New Buyers,” Benoit Faucon, Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2020.

About six months overdue after the court judgment and huge damages determined.  And note that MOIS officials were named, but the U.S. could have gone higher up the decision tree to the Leader.  “However, senior Iranian officials authorized Levinson’s abduction and detention and launched a disinformation campaign to deflect blame from the Iranian regime. The individuals designated today, Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, acted in their capacity as MOIS officers in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Mr. Levinson.”  See “U.S. imposes sanctions against Iran over the 2007 abduction of former FBI agent,” David Li and Abigail Williams, NBC, December 14, 2020.  And see “US formally blames Iranian officers for abduction, likely death of retired FBI agent Robert Levinson,” Kevin Johnson and Deirdre Shesgreen, USA Today, December 14, 2020.

“Antony Blinken—nominated to be Biden secretary of state—and Jake Sullivan—nominated to serve as national security adviser—both condemned the killing on Twitter and vowed to hold Tehran to account for this and other abuses.  …  “Sullivan wrote on Twitter late Sunday: “Iran’s execution of Ruhollah Zam, a journalist who was denied due process and sentenced for exercising his universal rights, is another horrifying human rights violation by the Iranian regime. We will join our partners in calling out and standing up to Iran’s abuses.” Blinken simply retweeted Sullivan’s statement, adding: “This.””  See “Biden Aides Condemn ‘Horrifying’ Iran Execution Despite Nuclear Deal Hopes,” David Brennan, Newsweek, December 14, 2020.

Look at the list Bolivia says it wants to re-build relations with—Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Russia, and Nicaragua.  See “Bolivia to reopen Iran embassy,” Middle East Monitor, December 14, 2020.  Drugs, Quds, IRGC, will flow through.

“Good news for the chances of reviving the Iran nuclear deal: President Hassan Rouhani announced on Monday that if the United States returns to the deal, Iran will also return, with no preconditions.”  This is what Slate reports.  Fake News, because this is not what Rouhani said, nor what Iran has said for months—they will not return to the deal, and they would require billions of dollars to return anyway.  See “The Iran Deal Lives,” Fred Kaplan, Slate, December 14, 2020.

Iran is anticipating oil demand from China over the next decade.  Thus, China’s purchases are assisting Iran to be a regional actor that remains a threat to other countries.  See “IOOC orders five offshore Iran platforms,” Offshore, December 14, 2020.

“Iranian president directly accuses Israel of killing nuclear scientist,” AP, Fox, December 14, 2020.

“Iran uses disguised tanker to export Venezuelan oil — documents,” Reuters, Arab News, December 14, 2020.

“UN human rights chief ‘appalled’ at Iran execution, questions trial process and verdict,” Daniel Johnson, UN News, December 14, 2020.

If true, this pressures Iran in the right direction.  “Report: Biden Team Divided on Rejoining Iran Nuclear Deal,” I24, Algemeiner, December 14, 2020.

“Ruhollah Zam established AMAD in 2015, named for the Persian acronym for “awareness, combat, and democracy). Zam said that the Telegram channel’s aim was fighting and exposing the Iranian government’s corruption and secret activities, claiming that the channel could disclose highly confidential news related to the ruling system’s most clandestine parts. After publishing classified images and documents, the channel not only attracted millions of followers, and successfully humiliated Iran’s intelligence services, but also turned into a news source for many Persian speakers outside Iran. The abduction and execution of Ruhollah Zam was seemingly the revenge for that humiliation.”  See “Was Ruhollah Zam’s Execution Payback For Embarrassing Iran’s Intel Agencies?,” Reza Haqiqatnezhad, Radio Farda, December 14, 2020.

Stalling for time.  “Review period of FATF conventions extended in Iran,” Elnur Baghishov, Trend, December 14, 2020.

This is exactly what needs to be said in every meeting time with Iran and at every level and in every speech by U.S. and Western officials.  And that any additional hostage taking freezes any agreement with Iran at that moment of the taking.  “No Iran deal without freeing detained U.S. citizens, U.S. official says,” Reuters, December 14, 2020.

This is important.  Repeatedly on this blog I state that Iran acts as it does (and not as a normal country) in support of its Islamic Revolution (and everything that Revolution entails).  Here is another article, and this one is tied directly to the slain nuclear scientist.  Here’s a quote—“The broadcaster said the first class Order of Nasr (“Victory” in Persian), bearing Khamenei’s signature, was handed to the scientist’s family by the armed forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri. “This is a decoration meant for dear ones who defend the Islamic Revolution and Iran’s territorial integrity and independence,” Bagheri said. He added that it is the highest medal awarded in recognition of logistics contribution and support of the troops. After Fakhrizadeh’s death, Defense Minister Amir Hatami referred to him as his deputy minister and head of the ministry’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), focusing on the field of “nuclear defense.””  See?  Fakhrizadhe’s work was nuclear, and in support of the Revolution.  The Revolution is not about clean water and isotopes and electricity, by-products of a civilian nuclear program.  See “Iran awards posthumous medal to assassinated nuke chief for ‘defending nation’,” Times of Israel, December 13, 2020.

In November.  “Iran Suspected After Massive Cyberattack on Israeli Firms Revealed,” Amitai Ziv, Haaertz, December 13, 2020.

“Time to bring perpetrators of Iran’s 1988 massacre to justice,” Majid Rafizadeh, op-ed, Arab News, December 13, 2020.

It is understandable that the IRI would be upset.  But part of this is their own making.  “Why did President Erdogan’s poem infuriate Iranians?,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, December 13, 2020.

“Iran – the only country that has direct borders with both Azerbaijan and Armenia – especially since millions of Azeris and hundreds of thousands with Armenian origins live across the country. The poem recited by Erdogan laments how the Aras River has separated Azeri-speaking people in Azerbaijan and Iran and is a symbol of the pan-Turkism doctrine that seeks the unification of all Turks, including those living in Iran. To understand why the message infuriated Iranians so much, one must look at a treaty signed almost 200 years ago that concluded the Russo-Persian War and continues to be regarded as a source of shame brought on Iran by the Qajar dynasty that ruled until 1925. The Treaty of Turkmenchay ceded control of vast swathes of land in the South Caucasus to Russia and set the Aras River as the boundary between the two countries. Those lands now constitute large parts of Azerbaijan and Armenia, and even parts of Turkey. Millions of Azeri-descent Iranians still feel a close kinship and have relations with Azeris on the other side of the border.”

I don’t know yet if the execution was televised, and whether they hung Zam using a crane—strangulation, not hanging.  “Iran hangs journalist over 2017 protests,” Jon Gambrell, Newcastle Herald, December 13, 2020.

Actually, there is a long line of tolerance by Islam for persons of other faith, including Jews.  There were, in various places and times, various conditions also for that tolerance.  But Iran’s blanket statement that Morocco’s agreement to recognize Israel is certainly not a “betrayal of Islam.”  See “Iran says Morocco Israel deal ‘betrayal of Islam’,” AFP, December 13, 2020.  Ali Akbar Velayati spoke on behalf of the Supreme Leader.  Note also the threat by Iran to be involved in terror in those four countries—“Velayati said they will “witness popular uprisings in a not so distant future” as their “dependent, submissive and authoritarian leaders are unmasked.”

“A British-Iranian anthropologist has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of collaborating with a hostile state. The Foreign Office has been made aware of the case of Kameel Ahmady, who said he was detained for 100 days last year without access to legal representation. Unusually, he has not been sent directly to jail following the sentencing. Amir Raesian, Ahmady’s lawyer, said: “[On] Saturday my client Kameel Ahmady, a researcher and anthropologist, was sentenced to eight years in prison by branch 15 of the revolutionary court in Tehran on charges of ‘collaborating with a hostile government’. We will appeal this ruling and we still hope.” In a statement released via friends in the UK, Ahmady said: “In autumn 2019, contrary to all legal strictures and hope of fair judgment, I was subjected to 100 days of detention and extrajudicial interrogation without access to a lawyer. “The judgment now handed down was issued after two non-expert court hearings in a legal process full of flaws.” Ahmady has published several books and papers in Iran on issues such as child labour, female genital mutilation and child marriage . He said he was being targeted for his work. “The legal focus of the accusation goes back to my research on the most harmful traditions about children in disadvantaged minority areas of Iran, but the main intention of my accusers has been to link my research to the United Nations 2030 sustainable development goals, and to stop my activities with the target community of my research,” Ahmady said. “My aim now is to appeal this verdict and hope for a fair trial in the appeal court.”  See “British–Iranian academic sentenced to eight years in prison in Iran,” Patrick Wintour, Guardian, December 13, 2020.

Not a good move by Iran to execute a journalist and rights advocate on the eve of the Electoral College victory for the new U.S. President Joe Biden.  See “France, other European countries withdraw from Iran business forum over execution,” Euractiv, December 13, 2020.

Helpful story by The Post about how Iran snatches persons, several after luring them to Turkey.  “Turkey says Iranian intelligence was behind elaborate plot to kidnap opponent in Istanbul,” Kareem Fahim and Erin Cunningham, Washington Post, December 13, 2020.

And they fined him 700K.  “Iran sentences British-Iranian researcher to 9 years in jail,” AP, December 13, 2020.

Perhaps another Irainian limpet mine.  “‘External source’ causes oil tanker blast off Saudi Arabia,” Jon Gambrell, AP, Seattle Times, December 13, 2020.

“Iranian hackers claim to have broken into Israeli start-up Habana Labs,” Abigail Adler, Jerusalem Post, December 13, 2020.

“The implications of a military figure as president of Iran,” Farhad Rezaei and Jason Brodsky, JNS, December 13, 2020.

Iran says other countries shouldn’t interfere in Iran’s internal affairs.  But when Iran snatches people from other countries or takes other countries’ citizens hostage, then it is the business of other countries.  See “Iran summons EU envoys for protesting reporter’s hanging,” AP, Mercury News, December 13, 2020.

“France Condemns ‘Barbaric’ Iranian Execution,” Reuters, December 12, 2020.  “An exiled journalist has been executed in Iran over his online work that helped inspire nationwide economic protests in 2017. Ruhollah Zam was captured a little more than a year ago after authorities tricked him into travelling to Iraq, where he was abducted. The 47-year-old was one of several opposition figures successfully seized by Iranian intelligence operatives abroad in recent months as Tehran struggles under the weight of US sanctions. The execution drew immediate international condemnation. Zam’s execution was “a deadly blow to freedom of expression in Iran and shows the extent of the Iranian authorities’ brutal tactics to instil fear and deter dissent”, Amnesty International’s Diana Eltahawy warned. Iranian state television referred to Zam as “the leader of the riots” in announcing his execution by hanging early on Saturday. In June, a court sentenced Zam to death, saying he had been convicted of “corruption on earth”, a charge often used in cases involving espionage or attempts to overthrow Iran’s government. Zam’s website AmadNews and a channel he created on the popular messaging app Telegram had spread the timings of the 2017 protests and embarrassing information about officials that directly challenged Iran’s Shi’ite theocracy. Zam’s father, the reformist Shi’ite cleric Mohammad Ali Zam, seemed to confirm his son was abducted in Iraq in comments on Instagram on Saturday. “I made a deal with God, I have no worries, these people brought me to Karbala, but did not allow me to visit the shrine,” the Instagram post quotes the younger Zam as saying. Karbala is home to the shrine of Imam Hussein, an important pilgrimage point for Shi’ites. The cleric said he only was allowed to visit Tehran’s Evin prison on Friday to see his son after agreeing with authorities not to tell him his execution loomed. Reporters Without Borders said Zam’s hanging was a “new crime of Iranian justice”. Sherif Mansour of the Committee to Protect Journalists said Zam’s execution had seen Iranian authorities “join the company of criminal gangs and violent extremists who silence journalists by murdering them”. “This is a monstrous and shameful act, and one which the international community must not let pass unnoticed,” Mansour said. The European Union called on Iran to stop its executions and “cease the practice of using televised confessions to establish and promote their guilt”. Zam has been the subject of several state TV programs in which he gave apparently coerced confessions.”

“Iran’s execution of journalist Ruhollah Zam, briefly explained,” Cameron Peters, Vox, December 12, 2020.

“Iran’s Int’l Quran Competition Slated for March 2021,” International Quran New Agency, December 12, 2020.

“Iran’s options to hit Israel for nuke chief’s killing reach far beyond Hezbollah,” Avi Issacharoff, Times of Israel, December 12, 2020.

“Two Decades Later, Still No Justice For Iran’s ‘Chain Murders’ Of Intellectuals,” Golnaz Esfandiari and Fereshteh Ghazi, RFE/RL, December 12, 2020.

“Iran Starts Mass Producing Gate Valves in Defiance of Sanctions,” IFP Editorial Staff -December 12, 2020.

“Intelligence experts say Iranian regime hackers targeted dissidents during online rally,” Ray Hanania, Arab News, December 12, 2020.

“India, Iran, To Hold Trilateral Meeting On Chabahar Port On Dec 14,” Business World, December 12, 2020.

“Iran’s Supreme Leader: Who might succeed Ali Khamenei?,” Rana Rahimpour, BBC, December 12, 2020.

Not a very good translation, or they made a mistake.  Tasnim admits the hanging of Zam for spreading “incriminating content against Iran’s Islamic establishment and insulting the sanctities of Iranian Muslims and publishing fake news in order to drive a wedge between the Iranian people and government.”  That ought to send shivers down the spine of every Iranian citizen who speaks out, and a lot do.  See “Admin of Anti-Iran Website Ruhollah Zam Executed,” Tasnim News Agency, December, 12, 2020.