Best article today, and for some days seen on why authoritarian government mismanage and do not keep pace.  Part of it is due to corruption, part of it is due the nature of the regime involved—they don’t let people have freedom in business and in their lives.  This article is also not a product of the West—it is based on investigative reporting by Fars itself.  “Inside Iran’s failure to become a gas hub,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, February 7, 2021.

“Iran to start human trials on second local COVID vaccine,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, February 7, 2021.

Good, if Iran claims no knowledge, they won’t contest at court.  “Iran Claims No Knowledge of Oil Cargo U.S. Trying to Seize,” By Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg, February 7, 2021.

I am sensing the wheels are coming off some with regard to the Leader’s comments.  Already Zarif is having conversations about the JCPOA or whatever comes after it.  And already the Health Ministry ignored (at their peril?) the Leader’s directive to not take Western Covid meds and only take Russian or Chinese.  “U.S. must lift curbs before Iran rejoins deal: Khamenei cites ‘final’ stance,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, February 7, 2021.

“Iran cleric: People who are vaccinated for COVID have ‘become homosexuals’,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, February 7, 2021.

“European officials and people familiar with discussions in Washington say there is likely to be a series of carefully sequenced steps leading both sides back to compliance in parallel.”  See “Biden Won’t Lift Iran Sanctions to Bring Tehran Back to Negotiating Table,” Andrew Restuccia and Sune Engel Rasmussen, Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2021.

“Iran calls for UN response over Israeli military action threat,” Al Jazeera, February 7, 2021.  But Iran doesn’t mention its own many threats against Israel.

“The Iranians are also creative in how they take advantage of religious and cultural institutions and events in Iraq for intelligence purposes. Many of their Iraqi agents are, like Iranians, Shia Muslims, and so personal visits to Shia religious sites in Iraq provide the MOIS with good cover for their spy meetings.”  See “Spying on the U.S.:  How Iran Tried to Recruit Spies Against the U.S. in Iraq,” James Risen, Intercept, February 7, 2021.