Month: March 2021

Interesting.  This seems to clear up the earlier confusion, and reporting from Iranian sources.  “Secretary of State Antony Blinken dismissed as untrue reports that the South Korean government is sending $1 billion to Iran to resolve a sanctions dispute.”  See “Blinken Says Seoul Isn’t Sending Iran Sanctions-Linked Cash,” Daniel Flatley, BloombergQuint, March 11, 2021.

“Amid Nuclear Standoff, Who’s In The Running To Take The Reins In Iran?,” Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL, March 11, 2021.

“Leaked Iranian document reveals systematic effort to monitor and suppress Baha’is,” Yahoo Finance, March 11, 2021.

“Impasse Over Iran Nuclear Talks Sets Off International Scramble to Save Accord,” Lara Jakes, New York Times, March 11, 2021.

China is an enabler.  “A Surge in Iranian Oil Exports Is Clogging Up Chinese Ports,” Bloomberg, March 20, 2021.

Iran has been totally irresponsible in responding to the legitimate claims of other countries for Iran’s shooting down of a commercial airliner.  “Ukraine joins UK, Canada, Sweden statement on PS752 downing by Iran,” UNIAN, March 10, 2021.

“UN report reveals horrors of daily life for many in Iran,” Ephrem Kossaify, Arab News, March 9, 2021.

The Levinson family has it right, the Biden Administration has it wrong.  The Levinsons say, “We urge the Biden administration – the fourth presidential administration charged with holding Iran accountable – to make it clear to the Iranian regime that there will be no path to taking a seat at the table of civilized nations without resolving Bob’s case and sending him home,” the statement read.”  Instead, the hear “The Biden administration is working to open negotiations with Iran over efforts to rein in its nuclear program and prevent it from being able to build a nuclear weapon, but has said it views the return of hostages as a separate issue. “We don’t want to tie their fates to an issue that is complex and that is challenging and that may be a longer-term proposition,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a press briefing last month, about separating the issue of American hostages held in Iran and the nuclear issue.”  These are not separate issues.  And until someone stands up to Iran and insists they clear the deck of hostages before any negotiations on anything, then the hostage taking will continue.  See “Blinken calls on Iran to answer for Levinson,” Laura Kelly, The Hill, March 9, 2021.

Good.  They are under direct orders of the Regime.  “State Department designates two Iranians for ‘involvement in gross violations of human rights’,” Tal Axelrod, The Hill, March 9, 2021.

“Iran’s top nuclear scientist discusses the potential for a nuclear deal with the U.S.,” Nick Schifrin and Reza Sayah, NPR, March 9, 2021.

“How Mossad turned the IAEA around on Iran with evidence – analysis,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, March 9, 2021.

“Israeli defense minister says Iran behind cargo ship explosion,” Arab News, March 8, 2021.

The Quds Force members who planted this bomb may have been Iranian diplomats in India.  “India said to blame Iran’s Quds Force for blast outside Israeli embassy,” Times of Israel, March 8, 2021.

“No country for minorities: The agony of Iran’s ethnic Arabs, Kurds, Balochis and Azeris,” Oubai Shahbandar, Arab News, March 8, 2021.

“The Saudi Energy Ministry confirmed the strikes targeting infrastructure at the port of Ras Tanura and in the city of Dhahran late on Sunday. A ministry spokesman said a drone launched from the sea hit a petroleum tank farm at Ras Tanura Port and a “ballistic missile’s shrapnel” fell near Saudi Aramco’s residential compound in the city of Dhahran after it was intercepted by the country’s missile defense systems.”  See “Saudi Arabia oil facilities targeted in drone and missile attack by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen,” Khaled Wassef, CBS, March 8, 2021.

China remains one of the main enablers of problem states such as Iran, Myanmar, and North Korea.  There are differences, students of international relations see, in how countries behave.  See “Analysis: Iran slips record volume of oil into China, reaches out to Asian clients for trade resumption,” Oil & Gas 360, March 8, 2021.

“IAEA says Iran enriching uranium with advanced centrifuges, in further breach,” Times of Israel, March 8, 2021.  “UN nuclear watchdog tells member states Islamic Republic has started using a third cluster of advanced IR-2m centrifuges at underground Natanz plant.”

It is easy to ask why would Iran know to send its drone to film the attacked Israeli cargo ship and to know where to zoom in at the waterline.  “Iranian drone footage shows Israeli ship after explosion damage,” Times of Israel, March 8, 2021.

Iran is the only country I am aware of who actively supports the BDS movement.  And is a leader.  “BDS groups from US and Europe team up with Iran and Hamas against Israel,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, March 8, 2021.

“Latest Houthi attack shows reach of Iran’s power,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, March 8, 2021.

It is noteworthy—what has caused seemingly more strife over 40 years?  Saddam?  ISIS?  The PLO?  From Lebanon to Yemen, this author writes that Syria is key to Iran’s Crescent.  “The Shiite “Crescent: The Middle East’s Arc of Crisis,” Reza Parchizadeh, BESA, March 7, 2021.

A number of aspects, not all, of the Trump Administration deterrence against Iran are continuing under Pres. Biden.  “Biden sends B-52 heavy bomber over Persian Gulf in signal to Iran,” Jerusalem Post, March 7, 2021.  “It was the seventh mission into CENTCOM’s area of operation in the last four months and the second deployment of the heavy bomber since Joe Biden became president on January 20.”

“‘Bring back nine fishermen jailed in Iran’,” The Hindu, March 7, 2021.

Not a fair justice system, and this is one more reminder—do your sentence, but you’re not free.  It would be nice if the NYT regularly complained of such.  “Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Is Freed by Iran but Not Yet Cleared to Return to U.K.,” Megan Specia, New York Times, March 7, 2021.

Iran is also cracking down on Kurdish activists, particularly women.  “Hijacking, riots and explosions: Iran’s regime tested amid tensions,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, March 7, 2021.

“’Iran is a main destination for uranium smuggling from Venezuela’,” Damian Pachter, Israel Hayom, March 7, 2021.

“The FBI and Iranian Espionage,” Erfan Fard, BESA, March 7, 2021.

Dismal domestic management and poor foreign policy result in this.  “Rouhani concluded by saying, “The public should maintain last year’s lifestyle for another year.”  Iran says it will vaccinate enough people by the end of 2021 to reach herd immunity. Officials reported the deaths of 82 patients on Saturday, the spokeswoman for the Health Ministry, Sima Sadat Lari, said, adding that the new deaths have taken the national toll to 60,594.”  See “Iran Bans Travel to Covid High-Risk Zones in New Year Holidays,” Financial Tribune, March 6, 2021.

“Iran must allow inspections,” Op-ed, Gulf News, March 6, 2021.

“Iran: Government’s $12-Billion Debt to Social Security Organization,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, March 6, 2021.

“Iranian firefighters contain fuel tanks blaze at Afghan border,” Reuters, March 6, 2021.

“Iran Doubles Down On Oil Industry Research And Development,” OilPrice.com, Felicity Bradstock, March 6, 2021.

“Olympic sponsors must withdraw support if Iran is not banned,” Benjamin Weinthal and Alireza Nader, op-ed, The Hill, March 6, 2021.

“Iranian militias claim to have active cells in Washington DC: Fox News,” Arab News, March 6, 2021.

Iran uses debts to its advantage.  “Iraq settles part of Iran energy dues,” Tehran Times, March 6, 2021.

“Restart Iran Policy by Stopping Tehran’s Influence Operations,” Ali Safavi, Modern Diplomacy, March 6, 2021.

“Iran displays latest offerings at New Delhi World Book Fair,” Tehran Times, March 6, 2021.

“Iran to Build Its Largest Oceanic Port in Sea of Oman: Minister,” IFP, March 6, 2021.

The appears on its face a rational decision by Iran.  “Iran, Pakistan agreed to set up 1st joint border marketplace,” Mehr, March 6, 2021.

A FM Zarif sighting.  “Iranian FM stresses nuclear accord not renegotiable,” MENAFN, March 6, 2021.

If Iran can’t get banned for this (executing its athletes, etc.), no one can.  “Olympic sponsors must withdraw support if Iran is not banned,” Benjamin Weinthal and Alireza Nader, op-eds, March 6, 2021.

“US Embassy in Baghdad warns of attacks from ‘Iran-supported groups’ in Iraq,” Al Monitor, March 5, 2021.

“Analysis: Iranian state textbooks incite terrorism,” David Andrew Weinburg, FDD’s Long War Journal, March 5, 2021.  “United States Government has routinely identified Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, going back to the 1980s and across successive American administrations.  Furthermore, Tehran’s efforts to export its revolution are widely known, as are its shameless promotion of antisemitic propaganda, such as cartoon contests to encourage Holocaust denial. But comparatively little attention has been paid to Iran’s incitement of hatred, extremism, and terrorism in its official government textbooks.  Whereas credible and comprehensive studies of incitement in the Saudi state curriculum have been published each one of the last five years, for example, the last such expert study of the Iranian curriculum was only published in 2016. For this reason, ADL (Anti-Defamation League) just published a new monograph that surveys Iran’s official textbooks from the 2020-21 school year, the full text of which is downloadable here from ADL’s website.”

“Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says airplane hijacking attempt thwarted,” AP, Times of Israel, March 5, 2021.

“Alert: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says authorities disrupted attempted hijacking of passenger jet in flight on Thursday,” The Wilton Bulletin, March 5, 2021.

Whack-a-Mole by the border patrol, no holds barred.  “U.N. condemns up to 23 killings in Iran’s border area with Pakistan,” Reuters, March 5, 2021.

Once again, hostage taking works.  Not the traditional taking of a person’s body, or not the holding of a ship or other property, but Iran’s holding the snap inspections hostage.  So France, Germany, and the UK decided to not push a resolution opposing Iran’s snap decision in exchange for Iran agreeing to sit down with the IAEA and discuss uranium particles found at several sites—something Iran was obligated to do anyway.  “Iran to meet with United Nations technical experts over uranium find,” AP, March 4, 2021.

“Biden Can’t Bring Peace to Yemen While Iran Keeps Sending Weapons,” Bradley Bowman and Katherine Zimmerman, Foreign Policy, March 4, 2021.

To make room for diplomacy they say, and not outside the norm of what countries do.  While some would prefer to keep all pressure on, to find the right incentive for Iran to do the same is not outside reason in international relations.  What will Iran do in response?  Diplomacy or violence?  “Western powers scrap plan for IAEA rebuke of Iran to make space for talks,” Francois Murphy and John Irish, Reuters, March 4, 2021.

“GCC chief urges Iran to halt supporting militias,” Arab News, March 4, 2021.

Berman argues that proxies/militias must be addressed first in considering re-joining the JCPOA.  (Others say release the hostages).  See “The Iran nuclear deal needs to be fixed and rewritten, not just revived,” Russell Berman, op-ed, The Hill, March 3, 2021.

If true, the large oil spill “trail” against Israel will go up to the highest levels of the IRI.  We will have to see.  “… following a two-week investigation, the Environmental Protection Ministry found that the ship that leaked the crude oil, called the Emerald, was owned by a Libyan company and sailed from Iran to Syria. It departed Iran, turning off its automatic identification system (AIS) – which transmits its location to other ships in the area. It turned the AIS on as it went through the Suez Canal, and then off again as it approached Israel’s shores. The ship remained within tens of kilometers of Israel’s shores, within Israel’s economic waters, for nearly a full day, spilling large amounts of oil on February 1-2, with its AIS off. Then it continued on to Syria, where it turned on its transmitter, and it returned to Iran, turning off its AIS as it passed Israel. It is currently in Iran. The tar reached Israeli shores on February 17.”  See “Mediterranean oil spill is ‘eco-terrorism’ by Iran, Israel says,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, March 3, 2021.

But see the following article—it is not the consensus of the Israel intelligence community (yet) that Iran ordered this environmental act.  For example, it may have been an accident.  But, we would all acknowledge that if that much oil was spilled as the ship traveled north, and was only spilled along Israel’s coast and not from a leak while passing through the Canal, any claim of accident seems dubious.  See “Blaming Iran, environment minister calls oil spill ‘environmental terrorism’,” Times of Israel, March 3, 2021.

“Kimia Alizadeh, Iran’s only female Olympic medalist, hopes to compete as refugee in Tokyo,” Japan Times, March 3, 2021.

Smart.  “An Iranian Think Tank Recommends the Use of Cryptocurrencies to Circumvent Sanctions,” Terence Zimwara, Bitcoin.com, March 2, 2021.

“Iran: Militants attack Revolutionary Guard unit in southeast,” Isabel Debre, AP, Washington Post, March 2, 2021.

Apparently the Court of Arbitration for Sport made this decision based on one case only, and not Iran’s long-standing anti-Semitic policies.  The CAS did not like the 2019 indefinite suspension and returned the case to the disciplinary committee of judo’s governing body for a lesser penalty.  “Iran judo suspension over Israel policy lifted,” AP, March 2, 2021.  The media release is here.

“Iran’s Exports to Russia Double to Record High of $800m in 2020,” Financial Tribune, March 2, 2021.