But why wasn’t Zarif banned from travelling also? “Iran bans 15 people from travelling over Zarif leak, official resigns,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, April 29, 2021.
So Iran’s president has replaced the head of a think tank that recorded an interview with the country’s foreign minister, but that is the interviewer. Why not punish the person who talked and caused the problem? “Shakeup in Iran’s presidential office after leaked tape,” AP, April 29, 2021.
Nukes, nukes, nukes. We keep saying it. “Sweden’s Security Service disclosed in its 2020 intelligence report that the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks Swedish technology for its nuclear weapons program, The Jerusalem Post can reveal. Iran, China and Russia are Sweden’s biggest security threats, according to the report. A damning section states that “Iran also conducts industrial espionage, which is mainly targeted against Swedish hi-tech industry and Swedish products, which can be used in nuclear weapons programs. Iran is investing heavy resources in this area and some of the resources are used in Sweden.” The revelations about Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons procurement activities in Sweden comes on the heels of a German intelligence document, which declared last week that Iran’s regime has not ceased its drive to obtain weapons of mass destruction during 2020.” See “Iran seeks tech in Sweden for nuclear weapons – Swedish intel. Report,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 29, 2021.
“Iran forces religious minority to bury dead in mass grave for political prisoners,” Christopher Hamill-Stewart, Arab News, April 29, 2021.
“The reality for women in Iran goes far beyond the injustice done to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe,” Kasia Delgado, April 29, 2021.
“Iran in talks with Chinese contractor over financing last stage of multi-billion-dollar highway,” Global Construction Review, April 29, 2021.
“The Quds Force, in cooperation with Iran’s formidable missile industry, appears intent on enabling all its main proxies [Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq] to be able to autonomously manufacture artillery rockets and precision-guided missiles.” See “How Iran’s Militia Proxies Could Threaten Israel From These Four Countries,” Paul Iddon, Forbes, April 29, 2021.
“Is Disconcerting the right word? “US Senate confirms Colin Kahl, a shaper of Iran deal, to senior defense post,” Ron Kampeas, Times of Israel, April 29, 2021.
“Sanction applied to the Islamic Republic of Iran Judo Federation, following the recommendations of the CAS Award,” International Judo Federation, April 29, 2021.
“Iranian press review: Ahmadinejad claims officials will escape to private island if public revolts,” MEE, April 29, 2021.
Gabriel Noronha, a former State Department special adviser on Iran, said, “The State Department still won’t say whether it voted for Iran, won’t criticize Iran’s accession to the commission, and hasn’t once condemned the regime’s treatment of women beyond language buried in the mandatory annual U.S. human rights report. “My fear is that the United States will continue to sell out the Iranian people so long as they are pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran.” See “US Criticized for Response to Iran’s Election to UN Women’s Rights Commission,” Michael Lipin and Cindy Saine, April 29, 2021.
Not really that helpful of an article because it only describes initial, perhaps only surface-level cooperation. It does not hint at the underlying real problems of the region or of Iran’s decision-making. “Adding an Ishmael Track to the Abraham Accords: How to pursue détente between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE,” Kirsten Fontenrose, Atlantic Council, April 29, 2021.
“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy crossing the bow of the Coast Guard boat Monomoy in international waters of the southern Arabian Gulf.” See “Coast Guard encounter with Iranian crew,” U.S. Navy, Cape Cod Times, April 29, 2021.
Even if joking, a reflection of how the Regime does business. “Zarif was heard in leaked audiotape praising the original nuclear deal as a major win for Tehran as the country was previously reeling under harsh economic sanctions by the US.” See “Iran’s Javad Zarif joked about kidnapping Obama’s daughter to ensure he signed nuke deal, leaked tapes reveal,” Kunal Deyn, MEAWW, April 29, 2021.
“After revival, Iran’s great salt lake faces new peril,” Richard Stone, Science, April 29, 2021.