Yesterday it was “terrorism.” Today it is a “crime against humanity.” Iran is getting its terms mixed up—Iran’s nuclear weapons program is for terrorism and to conduct crimes against humans. If other countries try to slow it down or stop it, that is a good thing. We will find out how much disturbing the electricity altered Iran’s newly installed advanced centrifuges (not needed for peaceful production of domestic electricity or medical isotopes) or has put back Iran’s nuclear weapons program (six months?). “Iran accuses Israel of attacking key nuclear site, calling it ‘crime against humanity’,” Shira Rubin and Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, April 12, 2021.
“Now Iran once again has trotted out the “hardliners” equation, claiming that if the U.S. doesn’t agree to a new deal, the hardliners might win an upcoming election. This is a talking point that Iran uses only in its discussions with the West; it doesn’t appear to ever mention hardliners in its own media or in talks with Russia, China and Turkey.” See “China and Russia will keep Iran from building a bomb,” Seth Frantzman, op-ed, The Hill, April 12, 2021.
“Iraq remains the key cover through which Iran transports its oil to the rest of the world,” reported OilPrice.com in response to the pipeline announcement. “It will also provide another ‘cover’ route for Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil, which can then be shipped easily both West and East.” The pipeline “should also be read in terms of the overall strategy for the expansion of influence of Iran … not just across the Shia crescent of power in the Middle East but into eastern and northern Africa as well.” See “Iran’s Pipeline Empire Targets Egypt,” Daniel Di Santo, The Trumpet, April 12, 2021.
“One Hundred Nurses Emigrate From Iran Each Month,” Sia Rajabi, Iran Focus, April 12, 2021.
“Iran Fabricates Claim that U.S. Blocked Vaccines from India,” Fatima Tlis, Polygraph.Info, April 12, 2021.
“The Natanz Blackout: Can the Iran Deal Talks Still Succeed?,” Ray Takeyh, Council on Foreign Relations, April 12, 2021.
“Iran’s June elections could consolidate hardline power before Khamenei succession,” IranElections2021, April 12, 2021.
SK needs to hold firm to not negotiating with kidnappers. The headline also doesn’t track the story, which claims that SK has agreed to return Iran’s frozen assets “as soon as possible.” “South Korea to return Iran’s frozen assets after ship’s release,” Elizabeth Shim, April 12, 2021.
Maybe the mystery of Fakhrizadeh’s death (was it gunmen, “remote-controlled machine gun,” weapons “controlled by satellite”) will be repeated by Iran—they really don’t know? “Iran nuclear attack: Mystery surrounds nuclear sabotage at Natanz,” Gordon Corera, BBC, April 12, 2021.