I sometimes am asked, do you trust media out of Israel, speaking about Iran?  Why not use Iranian media as your source?  This article is a good example of this.  When you read open sources, including media broadly (including from many countries), and you look at non-profit sites, and you look at government sites, and you talk to individuals, you have a good idea of what is going on.  And you learn more over several years which sources to trust.  So, on to the news.  “Women’s rights are severely restricted in Iran, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported, saying that they face  “serious discrimination” on a variety of issues including marriage, divorce and child custody. Women have been jailed for speaking out in favor of women’s rights, HRW reported. Domestic violence, marital rape, early and forced marriage are all offenses that Iranian authorities have failed to criminalize, according to Amnesty International. These offenses and other gender-based violence against women remain widespread in the country, according to Amnesty International. Authorities have also failed to take steps against men who kill their wives or daughters and the legal age for marriage is 13, although men can obtain permission to marry their daughters and granddaughters earlier, said Amnesty International. “Electing the Islamic Republic of Iran to protect women’s rights is like making an arsonist into the town fire chief,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch. “It’s absurd — and morally reprehensible.””  See “Iran, oppressor of rights, elected to UN Commission on Status of Women,” Eve Young, Jerusalem Post, April 22, 2021.

Exactly what my op-eds on the JCPOA said.  After just a few years, the 2015 JCPOA would allow Iran free reign to go nuclear.  So this turns into the Quote of the Day, from the NYT’s David Sanger—“And, you know, he had a point here, because the main parts of the agreement, as they were emerging in this negotiations, allowed the Iranians to do more and more work by 2025.  And by 2030, there would be no limits at all on the amount of nuclear fuel that Iran could produce.”  See “Netanyahu ‘Had a Point’ About Iran Nuclear Deal, a Star New York Times Reporter Concedes,” Ira Stoll, Alegemeiner, April 22, 2021.

We have updated information on the firing of the missiles from Syria that landed somewhat near Dimona.  Notice the ability of the Israeli military to determine the intention of the weapon.  “Israel says Syrian missile was not aimed at nuclear reactor,” Josef Federman, AP, The Herald Sun, April 22, 2021.

Again and again, we plead for the U.S. and Europe leaders to demand their citizen hostages be released first before any concessions are made.  Will they hear us?  This op-ed is written by Barry Rosen, one the 52 Americans held hostage in Iran from 1979-81.  “Iran must free hostages before negotiations begin,” Barry Rosen, op-ed, Sun Sentinel, April 22, 2021.

When you play with fire, …”  “Iran cuts number of centrifuges enriching uranium to 60% purity, IAEA report says,” Francois Murphy, Reuters, April 22, 2021.

Article mainly about destructive nature of early/forced marriage.  “Iran: Girls’ Suicide Rate Increases,” Mahmoud Hamidi, Iran News Update, April 22, 2021.

Human rights concerns highlighted today.  “Trafficking In Iran; A Major Concern,” Sia Rajabi, Iran Focus, April 22, 2021.

“Was the Deputy Head of the Iranian Quds Force Assassinated?,” Ardavan Khoshnood, BESA, April 22, 2021.

“Iran cuts number of centrifuges enriching uranium to 60% purity: IAEA report,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, April 22, 2021.