What?! “In March, the import volumes of Iranian crude reportedly totaled 33,000 barrels per day. That marks the first delivery of Iranian crude to the US since 1991.” Trying to entice the Regime back into compliance with the JCPOA? See “US reports it has imported sanctioned oil from Iran, a first after 30 years of sanctions,” Hellenic Shipping News, May 31, 2021. “The United States imported a rare cargo of 1.033 million barrels of Iranian crude in March despite sanctions on Iran’s energy sector, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed.” See “U.S. imports rare Iranian oil in March despite sanctions – EIA data,” Reuters, May 30, 2021. Ah, now it is apparent—the Biden Administration is not directly buying Iranian oil, but this influx is from the seizure of the Iranian tanker sailing to Venezuela. “U.S. records show Iran crude oil cargo landed in March, month after ship seizure,” Reuters, May 30, 2021. Finally, see “US sells off Iranian crude oil seized off coast of UAE,” Jon Gambrell, AP, May 31, 2021. “The U.S. has sold some 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil after seizing an oil tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, court documents and government statistics show. The Iranian crude oil showed up in new figures released over the weekend by the U.S. Energy Information Agency, raising the eyebrows of commodities traders as Tehran remains targeted by a series of American sanctions. The EIA figures included just over 1 million barrels of Iranian “crude oil imports” in March. The oil came from the MT Achilleas, a ship seized in February by the U.S. off the coast of the Emirati port city of Fujairah. U.S court documents allege the Achilleas was subject to forfeiture under American anti-terrorism statues as Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard tried to use it to sell crude oil to China. The U.S. has identified the Guard as a terrorist organization since the administration of former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors say shippers tried to disguise the shipment by labeling it as “Basra light crude” from neighboring Iraq. The U.S. government brought the Achilleas to Houston, Texas, where it sold the just over 2 million barrels of crude oil within it for $110 million, or at around $55 a barrel, court documents show. The money will be held in escrow amid a court case over it.”
“Iran and world powers resume ‘final round’ of nuclear deal talks,” Business Standard, May 31, 2021.
“The Iranian people are not just struggling against the coronavirus but also against the Velayat (clerical rule) Virus.” See “Iran and the Covid-19 crisis,” Firouz Daneshgari, Modern Diplomacy, May 31, 2021.
“Iran: Hamas already rebuilding Iran-backed rocket arsenal,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, May 31, 2021.
“Iran Nuclear-Fuel Production Plummets After Natanz Explosion,” Laurence Norman, Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2021.
“Pan-Gulf identity as an alternative to Iran’s Vilayat-e Faqih,” Mohammed Al-Sulami, Arab News, May 31, 2021.
One more reason not to treat with Iran. “UN watchdog: Access to key Iranian data lacking since Feb 23,” Kiyoko Metzler and David Rising, AP, May 31, 2021.
“70-Percent Increase in Price of Food in Iran,” Jubin Katiraie, Iran Focus, May 31, 2021.
“Can Hamas, an Iranian Proxy, Be Deterred?,” Farhad Rezaei, BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 2,058, May 31, 2021.
“Iran: Ebrahim Raisi, the Oppressor of Mashhad Protests,” Mahmoud Hamidi, Iran News Update, May 31, 2021.
“UN nuclear watchdog chides Iran over uranium enrichment,” DW, May 31, 2021.
“Iran warns Armenia to halt Araz River pollution,” AzerNews, May 31, 2021.
“Iran’s Virtually Uncontested Presidential Election Is a Precursor To Expanded Repression,” Mansoureh Galestan, NCRI, May 31, 2021.
“Women Share Stories Of Sexual Abuse In Iranian Prisons,” Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL, May 31, 2021.
“Iran fails to explain uranium traces found at several sites -IAEA report,” Francois Murphy, Reuters, May 31, 2021.
“Benjamin Briere: France condemns spying charge against tourist in Iran,” Tim Stickings, The National, May 31, 2021.