The 7th consignment of the Sputnik vaccine (100,000 doses) has arrived in Iran.  They are beholden.  “Iran receives 7th consignment of Russian ‘Sputnik V’ COVID-19 vaccine,” Azernews, May 1, 2021.

Two stories today out of western Iran.  What is the common denominator?  Government in/action.  In the first article, they didn’t say what the “obstacles” were—but we can guess!  “Officials urge completion of gigantic theme park in western Iran,” Tehran Times, May 1, 2021.

In the second article, the people are hurt twice, by takings, then shootings (!) and arrests.  “Security forces arrest locals following protest over government land grabs in western Iran,” Iran HRM, May 1, 2021.

“Before the mullahs took the power in Iran, bribery was considered a shameful and immoral act, and only a few were doing it in secrecy, and if one day their secret was revealed, they would be severely punished and could no longer continue their life as a normal person and were faced with the hatred of the people and became infamous. But now it has become part of a series of ordinary and extraordinarily ordinary acts. In this way, many officials have acquired great wealth for themselves and their children and live the rest of their lives with complete well-being and affluence.”  See “Bribery in Iran; From Fawn Sheep to Gold Coins,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, May 1, 2021.

“Dozens of labor activists arrested at May Day gatherings in Iran,” Iran Focus, May 1, 2021.

“Top Iran negotiator: US sanctions on oil, banks would be lifted based an accords so far,” Ahramonline, May 1, 2021.

Well put.  “Zarif’s Leaked Audio Confirm Iran Regime’s Terrorism and Diplomacy Go Hand In Hand,” Mohammad Sadat Khansari, NCRI, May 1, 2021.

The devil will be in the details.  “Iran and U.S. Inch Toward Nuclear Deal With Sanctions Consensus,” Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg, May 1, 2021.