“Iran Is Assembling Gear Able to Produce Key Nuclear-Weapons Material,” Laurence Norman, Wall Street Journal, January 13, 2021.  “Iran has taken a new step toward possible atomic-weapons production, United Nations inspectors said in a confidential report, starting work on an assembly line to manufacture a key material at the core of nuclear warheads and raising the stakes in Tehran’s standoff with Washington ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. The International Atomic Energy Agency, in a report for member states viewed Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal, said Iran told the watchdog that it would install equipment to produce uranium metal at a site in Isfahan over the next four to five months. Uranium metal can be used to build the core of a nuclear weapon. The IAEA said that in January 2019, Iran informed the agency it intended to produce more advanced fuel for its Tehran Research Reactor. After being repeatedly pressed by the agency, it set out a plan in mid-December saying it would make uranium metal to make an advanced fuel for the Tehran reactor. Iran hasn’t made uranium metal so far, senior Western officials said. The IAEA said Tehran had given it no timeline for when it would do so. Still, the development brings Iran closer to crossing the line between nuclear operations with a potential civilian use, such as enriching nuclear fuel for power-generating reactors, and nuclear-weapons work, something it has long denied ever carrying out.”

“Iranian Bill Seeks to Destroy Israel by 2041, Avenge Soleimani,” KMJN, January 13, 2021.  “Iran is proposing legislation seeking to destroy Israel in 20 years, according to The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP). The bill introduced to the Iranian parliament lists the goal of eliminating Israel by 2041 and the four main goals of the legislation include, per the report: Exact “decisive act of revenge” on the U.S. for the killing of Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani and evicting the U.S. from the Middle East. Continue Soleimani’s mission of destroying Israel. Counter alleged economic sanctions, which is deemed “terrorism.” Install a defiant foreign policy. The bill, which the think tank predicts will be passed in weeks, brands Israel an “aggressor Zionist regime” as a threat to Iran, vowing to ramp up military operations against Israel and the U.S. The bill lists Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and groups in the Gaza Strip as potential allies in the above stated goals, The Washington Free Beacon reported. Also, Iran will seek trade relations with U.S. antagonists China, Russia, and Venezuela, per the reports.”

This news story reflects the environmental impact of the poor choices to pursue an illegtimate form or economic trading.  “The push by many in Iran to establish the country as a mecca for crypto miners may be having some unintended environmental consequences. According to a Bloomberg report, the energy requirements of Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto mining in Iran coupled with the demand for heat in an exceptionally cold winter have contributed to a natural gas shortage, forcing power plants to allegedly burn “low-grade fuel oils” to meet the country’s electrical needs. The result has been “thick layers of toxic smog” across many Iranian cities and blackouts as some power plants have closed.”  See “Crypto mining allegedly worsening air pollution in Iran,” Turner Wright, Coin Telegraph, January 13, 2021.

The U.S. has for years avoided sanctioning the Leader’s EIKO so that he would still have something, to try to entice him to treaty.  “The Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order (EIKO) and Astan Quds Razavi (AQR), allegedly enabled Iran’s elite to “control large portions of the Iranian economy, including assets seized from political dissidents and religious minorities,” the agency said in a statement. “EIKO has systematically violated the rights of dissidents by confiscating land and property from opponents of the regime, including political opponents, religious minorities, and exiled Iranians,” the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.”  See “US Targets Foundations Controlled by Iran’s Supreme Leader,” VOA, January 13, 2021.