Any foreign hostages or Baha’i or Zoroastrians in the group? “Iran Leader Grants Clemency to 3,840 Prisoners on Revolution Anniversary,” IFP, February 8, 2021.
With the FBI arrest of Iranian academic Kaveh Afrasiabi for failing to register as a foreign agent, it brings to mind allegations of other actors appearing to act in accord with Iran’s positions on regime opposition and anti-sanction, such as the National Iranian American Council and Trita Parsi. “An Arrest in the US Shows the Islamic Republic’s Influence in the West,” Ardavan Khoshnood, BESA, February 8, 2021. See also “Iran’s Emboldened U.S. Lobby,” Michael Rubin, Commentary, March 20, 2017.
This statement by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, speaking of Iran, Russia, and China, speaks volumes. “We must stand next to each other and [cooperate] in all directions: from environment, sociology, culture, and bilateral relations, to politics, defense and security,” the Iranian speaker added. See “Iran’s Khamenei thanked Putin for Russia’s position on JCPoA,” TASS, February 8, 2021.
The International Observatory for Human Rights has produced a 29-min. documentary “Iran’s high stakes game of hostage diplomacy.” The link to the documentary is included in this article. Remember, Iran does hostage taking because it works—they get a prisoner swap or cash or a political deal. See “Human rights group releases documentary on Iran’s hostage-taking,” Arab News, February 8, 2021.
“U.N. Envoy, Iran’s Zarif Discuss How to End War in Yemen,” Reuters, USNWR, February 8, 2021.
“Iranian Workers’ Salaries Don’t Reach the Poverty Line,” Mehdi Hosseini, Iran Focus, February 8, 2021.
“Dormant for Years, Iranian Cyber Sleeper Cell Awakens,” Omer Benjakob, Haaertz, Febreuary 8, 2021.
Why isn’t this international news? “Iran and North Korea Resumed Cooperation on Missiles, UN Says,” David Wainer, Bloomberg, February 8, 2021. “Iran and North Korea cooperated on long-range missile development projects last year, according to a confidential United Nations report that may pressure the Biden administration to respond to one of its first major geopolitical crises. “This resumed cooperation is said to have included the transfer of critical parts, with the most recent shipment associated with this relationship taking place in 2020,” an independent panel of experts monitoring sanctions on North Korea said in the report, citing a member state. Frequently on the fringes of international diplomacy, North Korea and Iran have long had a secretive, mutually beneficial relationship. The UN panel received information showing that Iran’s Shahid Haj Ali Movahed Research Center received “support and assistance” from North Korean missile specialists for a space launch vehicle, and that North Korea was involved in certain shipments to Iran.”
Don’t call it the Arabian Gulf. “Iran protests to Russia’s use of fake name for Persian Gulf,” Mehr News, February 8, 2021.
“Iran ‘hides spyware in wallpaper, restaurant and games apps’,” Gordon Corera, BBC, February 8, 2021.
And Iran was warned. “US warns Yemen’s Houthi rebels after terrorism delisting,” Matthew Lee, AP, February 8, 2021.