Hmmm, we start with opposing stories about China today. “China’s top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks on Monday with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf via video link, saying the two countries should implement the important consensus by the two heads of state and promote the continued development of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership.” See “Chinese top legislator calls for advancing China-Iran ties,” Xinhua, January 26, 2021.
“Bitcoin Mining and Blackouts Add to Anti-Chinese Sentiments in Iran,” Reza Khaasteh, The Diplomat, January 26, 2021.
“NYT writer accused of promoting Iran’s policies in US,” Tobias Siegal, Jerusalem Post, January 26, 2021.
Another hostage, now up to five again. The seizure is the first such since the inauguration of Pres. Biden. Emad Shargi was out on jail and was caught as he tried to leave the country at a western border. See “Iranian-American facing spying charges arrested as he tried to leave Iran,” Reuters, January 26, 2021.
“One of the extremely unpopular moves he [the Supreme Leader] recently made was that he personally banned the import of coronavirus vaccines from France, Britain, and the US. Average Iranians, who have lost tens of thousands of loved ones to the virus and are reeling under the severe economic ramifications, are furious.” See “Sign of a Volcano Erupting in Iran,” Hamid Enayat, Modern Diplomacy, January 26, 2021.
“Brother of Iranian senior vice president gets 2 years in jail for corruption,” AP, Times of Israel, January 26, 2021. Mahdi Jahangiri was sentenced for currency smuggling.
“Iran will take steps next month to curb short-notice IAEA inspections: official,” Reuters, January 26, 2021.
“Paragliding in Iran,” Tehran Times, January 26, 2021.
“Game-changing Iranian Pipeline Set To Launch In March,” Simon Watkins, OilPrice.com, January 26, 2021. “The geopolitically game-changing Goreh-Jask pipeline project saw a major advance last week with the commencement last week of offshore pipe-laying operations. … “The initial focus of the oil-transfer chain across the Goreh-Jask pipeline will be the huge oil fields cluster in the West Karoun region, which are the current focus of plans between Iran and China to boost short-term oil production as part of the two countries’ 25-year plan. … Phase 2 will involve the transfer more than one million barrels of crude oil to export terminals. … for later loading on to very large crude carriers (VLCCs) headed from the Gulf of Oman and into the Arabian Sea and then on to the Indian Ocean. … Over and above the technical details involved in the Goreh-Jask pipeline project, the key point is that the pipeline will allow Iran another method by which it can export huge amounts of oil without being prey to U.S. sanctions and it will also allow Iran to do this whilst at the same time causing chaos for a third of the rest of the world’s oil shipments through blockading the Strait of Hormuz, should it wish to do so again. “The logistical model Iran has at present is not sustainable in the current circumstances, with around 90 per cent of all of its oil for export currently loaded at Kharg Island – with most of the remaining loads going through terminals on Lavan and Sirri – making it an obvious and easy target for the U.S. and its proxies to cripple Iran’s oil sector and therefore its economy,” a senior oil and gas industry source who works closely with Iran’s Petroleum Ministry told OilPrice.com.”
“Soleimani film ‘insult’ to Peshmerga,” Al Monitor, January 26, 2021.
“Iran threatens to curb short-notice IAEA inspections next month,” Arab News, January 26, 2021.
Thank you China. “Iran’s oil exports rise in January despite sanctions – trackers,” Alex Lawler, Reuters, January 26, 2021.
“With Signal shut down, WhatsApp and Instagram remain the only two unblocked major social media platforms” in Iran. “Iran blocks Signal messaging app after WhatsApp exodus,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, January 26, 2021.
“Iran executes another wrestler despite US, international outcry, reports say,” Greg Norman, Fox, January 26, 2021.
“US tries to seize oil shipment it says came from Iran,” Verity Ratcliffe, Bloomberg, Houston Chronicle, January 26, 2021.
“Iran: Biden won’t have infinite time to rejoin nuclear deal,” Nasser Karimi, AP, January 26, 2021.