Authoritarianism does not work. The government of Iran is no doubt watching their brother Cuba, surprised by the mass protests across the country this weekend. The people have reached the point of not being afraid of the country. “The order ‘To combat’ has been given,” said the President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel, trying to scare the hundreds of thousands of protesters home with the threat of police arrests. “Cuba’s Unrest Frames World’s Big Struggle: Dictators vs. Democracies,” Gerald Seib, Wall Street Journal, July 12, 2021.
“Chess champ Garry Kasparov speaks out against Iranian regime,” Christopher Hamill-Steward, Arab News, July 12, 2021.
Another way for the Regime to spy on their own citizens, from cradle to marriage to grave. “Iran unveils state-approved Islamic dating app to boost marriage,” AFP, Guardian, July 12, 2021.
They need to vote for a new Leader. “Water inflow into Iranian dams declines 47% yr/yr,” Tehran Times, Payvand, July 12, 2021.
Elliot Abrams is right. “Iran’s reserves fell in 2020 to a startlingly low $4 billion, suggesting that the “maximum pressure” campaign was succeeding.” They had fallen some 90%. See “Did the “Maximum Pressure” Campaign Against Iran Fail?,” Elliott Abrams, blog post, Council on Foreign Relations, July 12, 2021.
“Iranian Oil Executive Removed From U.S. Blacklist Holds Roles Linked to Iran’s Government,” Ian Taylor, WSJ, July 12, 2021.
“Armenia changes vaccination policy as Iranian vaccine tourists flock,” Karine Ghazaryan, Eurasian.net, July 12, 2021. “Iranians have been flooding into Armenia to get COVID vaccines, causing Tehran to complain and Yerevan to tighten the rules.”
“Iran Remains ‘A Stumbling Block’ To Cooperation On The Caspian,” Paul Goble, op-ed, Eurasia Review, July 12, 2021.
“Iran fumes over American, European support for opposition group at Berlin rally,” AP, Times of Israel, July 12, 2021.
“Iraq Accuses Iran of Violation by Cutting Off Water from Vital Rivers,” Iran International, July 12, 2021.
“Iranian woman’s suitcase sparked evacuation of Brussels airport,” Tzvi Joffre, Jerusalem Post, July 12, 2021.
“Bedouin Israeli millionaire charged with spying for Iran,” Judah Ari Gross, Times of Israel, July 12, 2021.
Surprised it got this far under the ayatollahs. “Iranian astronomers fear their ambitious observatory could become a ‘Third World telescope’,” Richard Stone, Science Magazine, July 12, 2021.
All other dating platforms except Hamdam (run by the government) are illegal. See “Iran unveils Islamic dating app to encourage marriage,” Al Jazeera, July 12, 2021.