Month: April 2021

“Are Iran’s Gold Mines Under China’s Control? – OpEd,” Iran News Wire, April 10, 2021.

“Tehran’s famous bazaar to shut due to Covid,” MENAFN, April 10, 2021.

The NYT Editorial Board is wrong, by definition.  The sanctions were designed to get Iran back to the negotiating table.  And they have.  Not because Biden is in office (otherwise would have happened in January, just like releasing the hostages was put off until Reagan’s inauguration) but because the economic pressure and the lack of funding for the terror/Shia Arc pressure).  “‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran Has Failed,” Editorial Board, Opinion, New York Times, April 10, 2021.

“Official tells Iranian state TV that ‘accident’ strikes electrical distribution grid of Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility,” AP, April 10, 2021.

Reassuring news—the FM spokesman said ““extensive investigations” suggest that the Iranian-flagged oil tanker has not committed any violations.”  “Efforts Underway For Release Of Iranian Tanker Seized By Indonesia,” Tasnim, April 10, 2021.

FM Zarif is wrong, by definition.  Trump’s sanctions were Not Anti-JCPOA, because they were enacted after the U.S. left the JCPOA.  The U.S. was not bound by the JCPOA, and could do whatever it wanted with its own sanctions against Iran to try to convince it to give up its nuclear weapons program and other bad acts.  See “Zarif: All Trump sanctions were against Iran nuclear deal & must be removed,” Reuters, April 9, 2021.

“Report outlines how Iran smuggles arms to Hamas,” Adnan Abu Amer, Al Monitor, April 9, 2021.

One of many.  “In 1998, former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani opened a rally to commemorate Al-Quds (Jerusalem) day by labeling the fact that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust as “Zionist propaganda.””  See “Never forget Iran’s Holocaust denial,” Ellie Cohanim, Washington Examiner, April 9, 2021.

“3 Years Later, A Prisoner’s Family Still Awaits His Return From Iran,” Patrick Holmes, WSKG, April 8, 2021.

This is proof that Iran can act rational if it chooses—it has decided to release a hostage ship.  This is also proof that Iran takes things/ships hostage for ransom.  In this case, ask yourself what is Iran getting in exchange.  The article doesn’t say, but we can guarantee they have received something.  The ship sailed just hours ahead of further talks in Vienna between Iran and world powers over the JCPOA.  Remember also that “Iran had accused the MT Hankuk Chemi of polluting the waters in the crucial Strait of   Hormuz.”  But this was a flat out lie, and most countries did not call out Iran on this.  There was no environmental damage, only a taking.  “Iran frees South Korean ship it held amid dispute over funds,” Isabel Debre and Jon Gambrell, AP, YourBasin, April 8, 2021.

Notice this line—“Despite frosty relations in the past amid Dushanbe’s longstanding anxieties over Iran exporting the Islamic Revolution to its territory, the two Persian-speaking countries appear to be warming to each other as Turkey goes about firming Turkic ties among their neighbours.”  See “Persian-speaking Iran and Tajikistan boost defence relations,” bne IntelIiNews April 8, 2021.

Ah ha, some sort of promise.  “Iran frees South Korean ship, captain after promise to help with frozen funds,” Hyonhee Shin, Reuters, April 8, 2021.

Sounds like Trump’s sanctions are at fault.  “Furious calls are growing louder in Iran against the pandemic mismanagement after the country’s infection rates tripled in a matter of two days. According to official statistics April 8, all provincial capitals and over three-fourths of the country were mapped as red zones. The number of daily cases hit a record new high of 22,586, pushing beyond 2 million the entire population of those infected since the outbreak of the pandemic.”  See “Bitter blame game in Iran amid coronavirus ‘explosion’,” Al Monitor, April 8, 2021.

“A climber (who asked to remain anonymous) told Climbing that the local mountain in Isfahan, Kooh Sefid, has over 40 sport routes that have been used freely by both men and women until now. The incident occurred on the mountain during a canyoning class that was attended by both men and women in central Iran. Local Islamic fundamental extremists interrupted the group. When the group objected to the intrusion, they were beaten. IranWire reported that the Isfahan Mountaineering Board condemned the attack and offered legal assistance to the victims. However, following that, the Imam of the grand mosque in Dorche supported the attacker.”  See “Iran Bans Women Climbers From Local Crag,” Rebecca McPhee, ExplorersWeb, April 8, 2021.

Enablers in the Academy.  “Does Iran even need spies in academia?,” A.J. Caschetta, op-ed, The Hill, April 8, 2021.

Notice again that the NYT is rewarded with carrying the Administration’s messages about Iran, and that this time there was one anonymous source in the U.S. government.  One source is a violation of journalism ethics, and that it is secret makes it untraceable.  Apparently the Biden administration and the NYT wanted this story out these so quickly to help Iran that we have relaxed media standards.  “Israel notifies US it attacked Iranian ship in Red Sea – report,” Tzvi Joffre, Jerusalem Post, April 7, 2021.

“Iran ship said to be Red Sea troop base off Yemen attacked,” Jon Gambrell, Yahoo, April 7, 2021.

Marib.  “Battle for Yemen desert city now a key to Iran, US tension,” Jon Gambrell and Isabel Debre, AP, April 7, 2021.

“The deal that the Obama team negotiated was fundamentally flawed if the goal was to restrain Iran. It enabled hundreds of billions of dollars to flow to Iran up front, while allowing the regime to continue work on ballistic missiles and to maintain a “civilian” nuclear program. In a frenzy to get Iran to agree to restrictions on uranium enrichment, negotiators did not address Iran’s sponsorship of international terrorism. And yet, a sunset clause allowed restrictions on enriching uranium to start to phase out over ten to 15 years. Even if Iran were to have followed the agreement to the letter, it would still have been allowed to become a more potent conventional threat and carry out terrorism while maintaining the long-term option of becoming a nuclear power. Of course, it has repeatedly violated the deal anyway, maintaining a nuclear archive the whole time. More recently, in February, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that Iran had produced uranium metal at one of its nuclear plants.”  “Iran Has a Reason to Be Happy with Biden,” National Review, April 7, 2021.

“Will Iran’s Infamous 25-Year Contract With China Become Operational?,” Sia Rajabi, Iran Focus, April 7, 2021.

This is significant (the story about former IRGC commander Saeed Mohammad) because of the issue of Iran becoming a military dictatorship, not even a theocracy.  The tightening control of the IRGC (directed to do so by the ayatollahs) for years is leading to the country not just looking like organized crime but organized military crime—like Venezuela and Cuba.  See “Iran: Ex-IRGC official’s election bid stirs controversy,” Syed Zafar Mehdi, AA, April 7, 2021.

“In Soleimani’s path, Iran’s IRGC is in Iraq for meetings,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, April 7, 2021.

“Iran has produced 55 kg of 20% enriched uranium since January: official,” Reuters, April 7, 2021.

“The window for an Iran missile deal is already closing,” John Krzyzaniak, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, April 7, 2021.

“US, Iran hold 1st indirect talks in bid to save nuclear deal,” Conor Finnegan, ABC, April 6, 2021.

The NYT gets a kind of scoop from the Biden Administration—but the headline doesn’t quite match the news. But note the approval of the Supreme Leader, and remember–sanctions work.  “Iran and U.S. Agree on Path Back to Nuclear Deal,” Steven Erlanger, New York Times, April 6, 2021.  “The United States and Iran agreed through intermediaries on Tuesday to establish two working groups to try to get both countries back into compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a meeting of the current members of the deal in Vienna, all parties agreed to establish one working group to focus on how to get the United States back to the deal by lifting harsh economic sanctions imposed or reimposed after President Donald J. Trump pulled out of the accord in May 2018. The other working group will focus on how to get Iran back into compliance with the accord’s limitations on nuclear enrichment and stockpiles of enriched uranium. … The new working groups are intended to create a road map for a synchronized return of both countries to compliance. But even if there is agreement, verification will take some time given the technical complications and the absence of trust on both sides. .. On Monday, an Iranian government spokesman, Ali Rabiei, said that President Hassan Rouhani and the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were in agreement about nuclear talks. “Everything can happen really quickly in a series of independent but connected synchronized steps,” Mr. Rabiei said, according to official Iranian media.”

But who are they?  Names?  Rank?  Position?  “Iran prosecutor says 10 indicted for Ukraine plane shootdown,” AP, April 6, 2021.

SK’s PM remains hostage in time and efforts to free SK’s ship.  “PM heading to Iran for talks on seized vessel,” Lee Ji-yoon, Korea Herald, April 6, 2021.

“Iranian Rocket Shipment Enters Syria through Iraq,” Asharq Al-Awsat, April 6, 2021.

“Iran’s ‘resistance economy’ hasn’t worked before and it won’t work now,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, op-ed, Arab News, April 6, 2021.

The Biden administration, as we have repeatedly said, must first focus on freeing American hostages held by Iran.  Do we care about people? This must be done before a single sanction is lifted.  “Will Biden’s Return to the Iran Deal Abandon American Prisoners Held There — Again?,” Elliott Abrams, National Review, April 6, 2021.

“Iran Claims Victory Over United States as New Nuke Talks Begin,” Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, April 6, 2021.

“The rise of pseudoscientific Islamic cures in Iran,” Isobel Cockerell, Coda Story, April 6, 2021.

“Iranian, Uzbek foreign ministers discuss bilateral ties,” Tehran Times, April 5, 2021.

“State media says a man shot to death his 9-year-old son and seven relatives of his two wives before killing himself in southwestern Iran. The IRNA news agency reported the 50-year-old man also wounded three others but gave no information on the fate of his wives. Polygamy is legal in Iran. IRNA said the assailant had a criminal record and had previously served time in prison without elaborating. Gun violence is rare in Iran, where citizens are only allowed to own hunting rifles.”  See “Man kills 9-year-old son, 7 other relatives, himself in Iran,” AP, WXOM, April 5, 2021.

It is hard because Iran’s Regime refuses to act as a normal country, as this blog records regularly.  “Reviving The Iran Nuclear Deal: Here’s What It Involves And Why It’s Hard,” Larry Kaplow, NPR, April 5, 2021.

Interesting headline.  Story doesn’t do a great job of supporting it.  For example, one word–Fakhrizadeh.  While we’re on the topic of examining words, notice the quote at the end of the article about Iran, that it is a “martyr-fostering nation.”  “Intelligence forces thwart all plots of enemies waged on Iran,” Mehr, April 4, 2021.

“Iran Sends Oil Shipment to Syria,” Asharq Al-Awsat, April 4, 2021.

Notice that “Iran has so far imported only 785,000 doses of Russian, Indian and Chinese vaccines, with a vague plan for the vaccination of 83 million Iranians.”  Woefully insufficient.  And remember they’ve got money in their sovereign fund.  See “Covid-19: Iran’s rich go abroad for vaccines, while the poor are stuck in limbo,” Middle East Eye, April 4, 2021.

“Iran’s ayatollahs and the June election bogeyman,” Salem al-Ketbi, Israel Hayom, April 4, 2021.

“The China-Iran deal and the lack of transparency,” Tridivesh Singh Maini, Modern Diplomacy, April 4, 2021.

“Iran: Executions Resumed in New Iranian Year; Three Prisoners Hanged in Urmia,” NCRI, April 4, 2021.

“Coronavirus Daily Death Toll in Iran Stands at 161,” Tasnim, April 4, 2021.

NPR reports that the Trump Administration’s “maximum pressure” of sanctions has resulted in Iran’s returning to renegotiate the JCPOA.  “U.S. And Iran Officials To Meet In Vienna, Potentially Discuss Nuclear Deal,” KGOU, NPR, April 3, 2021.

“Morocco’s Terrorism Intelligence Stops Iran’s Africa Expansion,” Toms Dumpis, Morocco World News, April 3, 2021.

The plane crash that never goes away.  “Canada Preparing for New Talks With Iran on UIA Plane Crash,” Financial Tribune, April 3, 2021.

“Iran Daily Covid-19 Deaths Surpass 120 After Holidays,” Financial Tribune, April 3, 2021.

I can help them out—the U.S. already admitted to eliminating Soleimani.  “Joint Iran-Iraq committee to pursue Gen. Soleimani assassination,” Tehran Times, April 3, 2021.

“World powers and Iran to hold virtual nuclear talks on Friday,” AFP, April 2, 2021.

“US calls on Iran to release all American citizens wrongfully detained,” Arab News, April 2, 2021.

“U.S. and Iran say they’ll begin indirect talks on nuclear deal,” AP, Market Watch, April 2, 2021.

Not an April Fools joke.  But the U.S. is not invited.  “E.U. to chair meeting of world powers and Iran on U.S. rejoining nuclear deal,” Karen DeYoung, Washington Post, April 1, 2021.

Again, no April Fools joke.  See the sections/provisions in this article (not the least is submitting treaties to the Parliament for approval).  See “Iran-China Pact Violates Constitution,” Center for Human Rights in Iran, April 1, 2021.

“Iran has historically supported any militancy against pro-Western regimes, regardless of their religious or political orientation.”  In Morocco, that country twice in a decade “broke relations with Iran—the first time, in 2009, officially over an Iranian clerical official’s statement that Bahrain, the tiny Gulf kingdom, really belonged to Iran. In 2018, barely a year after Tehran had reopened its embassy, Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, publicly accused Iran of dispatching senior Hezbollah operatives and supplying weapons and training to the Polisario Front, a group Morocco is fighting over sovereignty in the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. Algeria, Morocco’s neighbor, backs Polisario. Beyond these spats, Morocco has accused Iran of efforts to spread its revolutionary brand of Shi’ism among Morocco’s predominantly Sunni population, something Iran has certainly done zealously across Western Africa and among Moroccan immigrants in northern Europe. There is little evidence these attempts have won significant backing in Morocco, but not for want of trying.”  See “Iran’s Mischief in Morocco Is a Problem,” Emanuele Ottolenghi, National Interest, April 1, 2021.

“Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi has made unusually direct comments criticizing the Hezbollah movement, accusing it of harming Lebanon by dragging it into regional conflicts.”  Al-Rahi is really addressing the Supreme Leader and Iran.  Hope he has good security.  See “Lebanese cleric steps up criticism of Hezbollah,” Najia Houssari, Arab News, April 1, 2021.

“Recently, officials announced  more than 90 percent of working families are below the poverty line. However, Iranian workers suffer from systematic discrimination, meaning the minimum monthly wage approved by the Parliament (Majlis) is 26.55 million rials [$106.20] while the poverty line has reached 100-130 million rials [$400-520]. In fact, it is forecasted that the current growing rate of prices, especially in foodstuff prices, has led the majority of Iran’s society to poor nutrition. Given the $400 poverty line and workers’ $106 monthly wage, Iranians have no solution except shrinking their food baskets, which may spark social protests in the upcoming months due to expanding public distrust and hatred against the government.”  See “Iranians Consume Red Meat Less Than Anywhere,” Sia Rajabi, Iran Focus, April 1, 2021.

This is according to a survey reported in Iranian media (Fars).  “More than 50,000 in Iran demand end to military conscription,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, April 1, 2021.

“Iran adds advanced machines enriching underground at Natanz: IAEA,” Francois Murphy, Reuters, April 1, 2021.

“The clause that could scupper the Iran nuclear accord,” James Dorsey, JNS, April 1, 2021.

“If Iran ‘can kill Navid Afkari who’s so beloved, they would kill anybody’,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 1, 2021.

“Pro-Iran militias divert billions of dues from Iraqi customs,” Arab Weekly, April 1, 2021.