Hostage taking won’t stop until the U.S. takes greater means, i.e. Barbary Wars. “Our never-ending Iranian hostage nightmare,” Kate Woodsome, op-ed, Washington Post, July 21, 2021.
Like mercenaries. “‘Criminal contract hackers’: China, Iran, Russia enlist more high-tech gangsters for cyberattacks,” Ryan Lovelace, Washington Times, July 21, 2021.
“Exclusive: Is satellite footage of attacked Iran facility being blocked?,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, July 21, 2021.
“Water crisis protests continue in Iran, with chants in capital – reports,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, July 20, 2021.
“Iran’s Oil-Rich Khuzestan Hit By Fifth Night Of Protests Over Water Shortage,” RFE/RL, Radio Farda, July 20, 2021.
“Sudden Protest At Tehran Metro As Unrest Continues In Khuzestan,” Iran Interanational, July 20, 2021.
“Iran orders week-long shutdown in Tehran amid fifth COVID wave,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, July 20, 2021.
“Iran intensifies attacks on US bases in Syria to win nuclear negotiations,” Enab Baladi, July 20, 2021.
“After Rocket Fire Israel’s Bennet Says Iran Has Taken Lebanon Hostage,” Iran International, July 20, 2021.
The JCPOA may be dead in the water, and it is in Iran’s advantage to delay negotiations. This is one of the reasons the Trump Administration wanted to end the agreement. “Iran’s Security Council rejects draft nuclear deal with U.S., spokesman says,” Barak Ravid, Axios, July 20, 2021.
“Iran Sponsors and Foments Anti-Semitism, but Its People Embrace Israel,” Victoria Coates and Ellie Cohanim, op-ed, Newsweek, July 20, 2021.
“Iranian Terror Comes to America,” Navid Mohebbi and Cameron Khansarinia, op-ed, Wall Street Journal, July 20, 2021. There will be dangerous consequences if Biden doesn’t respond strongly to the kidnapping plot.
Hooray! This is exactly the right thing to do. And let’s see if the NYT follows the WSJ’s lead. “U.S. Weighs New Sanctions on Iran’s Oil Sales to China if Nuclear Talks Fail,” Benoit Faucon and Ian Talley, Wall Street Journal, July 19, 2021. And notice this key paragraph—“ United Against Nuclear Iran, a New York group that campaigns against Tehran’s nuclear program, says the number of foreign vessels involved in transporting the country’s oil has risen to 123 from 70 in November 2020. Almost half of such vessels are now flagged in Panama, which had deregistered ships involved with Iranian oil under pressure from the Trump administration, according to the group.”
“Iran slams top European court’s ruling on hijab,” Dilan Sirwan, Rudaw, July 19, 2021.
“Iran’s “vaccine tourists” sleeping on streets of Yerevan after tightening of rules,” bne IntelIiNews, July 19, 2021.
“The IRGC’s recently-acquired responsibility for securing nuclear sites may change the Iran-Israel escalation pattern and intra-regime dynamics,” Critical Threats, July 19, 2021.
“Iran: UAE responsible for regional instability over Israel ties,” MEMO, July 19, 2021.
“Iran restricts access to nuclear data until sanctions are lifted,” Peter Millard and Jonathan Tirone, World Oil, July 19, 2021.
“Two Iranian Warships Spotted Near English Channel,” H.I. Sutton, USNI News, July 18, 2021.
“US drone strikes truck in Syria used by Iran-backed militia,” AP, Times of Israel, July 18, 2021.
“Wang says China willing to work with Iran to counter unilateralism,” Tehran Times, July 18, 2021.
That means anti-U.S. “China, Iran vow joint effort against unilateralism, bullying behaviors,” CGTN, July 18, 2021.
Now it’s official. But Deputy FM Abbas Araqchi had the temerity to say, “We’re in a transition period as a democratic transfer of power is underway in our capital.” See “Nuclear talks must wait for new Iranian president, official says,” Axios, July 17, 2021.
It is a little hard to know reality when only dealing with open source media, but it appears the U.S. has gained some sort of agreement from Iran to release hostages unconditionally and as a form of humanitarian action. But now Iran won’t. “US hits Iran for delay in nuclear and prisoner swap talks,” Matthew Lee, 104.5 WOKV, July 17, 2021.
Senator Barrasso said that “Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and new President Ebrahim Raisi both have atrocious human rights records.” See “Senate Republicans introduce a bill to impose sanctions on Iran,” Omri Nahmias, Jerusalem Post, July 17, 2021.
From the port at Jask. “Iran Plans First Oil Export From Gulf of Oman Port Next Week,” Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg, July 17, 2021.
“Iran Billionaire Might Not Be Hanged If He Pays Debts To Government,” Iran International, July 17, 2021.
“Iranian Leaders Hail Nuke Deal’s Benefits, Signalling New Accord Is Nigh,” Zvi Bar’el, op-ed, Haaretz, July 16, 2021.
“Cristina Fernández de Kirchner demands dismissal of Iran-Memorandum of Understanding court case,” Buenos Aires Times, July 16, 2021. Iran has yet to be held accountable for the two bombings in Argentina.
“While the Ayatollahs Hold Power, No Journalist Is Safe,” Shahin Mahmoudi, op-ed, Iran Focus, July 16, 2021.
“Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon if we dismantle its infrastructure,” Eddy Acevedo, op-ed, July 16, 2021.
“Oil workers strike in Iran,” Simon Pirani, Ecologist, July 16, 2021.
It has been a long time since an update was given, and the centrally reported numbers are always lower than the total of the regional statistics. “The Health Ministry’s spokeswoman said on Friday that the pandemic has claimed 199 lives over the past 24 hours, and the overall death toll stands at 86,791.” See “COVID Daily Deaths in Iran Close to 200,” Tasnim, July 16, 2021.
“Experts fear Iran will move in after US leaves Afghanistan,” Tara Kavaler, Media Line, Jerusalem Post, July 16, 2021.
“Iran Sentences Father Of Protester Killed In 2019 Protests to Prison, Exile,” Iran International, July 16, 2021.
“German Intelligence Says Hamburg Mosque Aimed At Islamic Revolution,” Iran International, July 16, 2021.
Not the news the World wanted—Iran is full-steam ahead now. “Iran nuclear talks will not resume until after Raisi takes office, US officials say,” Middle East Eye, July 15, 2021.
Sophisticated, fakes, up to no good. “Facebook said on Thursday it had taken down about 200 accounts run by a group of hackers in Iran as part of a cyber-spying operation that targeted mostly U.S. military personnel and people working at defense and aerospace companies.” See “Facebook says Iran-based hackers used site to target U.S. military personnel,” Elizabeth Culliford, WIN 98.5, July 15, 2021.
Because of the many actions of Iran, most recently the kidnapping from NYCity. “Biden administration should suspend nuclear negotiations with Iran in Vienna: Lieberman,” Fox Business, July 15, 2021.
In a similar vein—“At this point, Biden and his foreign-policy team have been presented with clear evidence that the basic assumption of the strategy—first put forward by Obama—that it is possible to do a deal with Iran that will somehow persuade it to behave, is based on a myth.” See “Iran’s Brooklyn terror plot is a crucial test for Biden,” Jonathan Tobin, JNS, July 14, 2021.
Another carrot. “40 Korean exporters to Iran get $70M in frozen money,” Esther Chung, Korea Joongang Daily, July 15, 2021.
“Authorities in Iran Cracking Down on Presence of Pet Dogs in Public,” Iran International, July 15, 2021.
They try to kidnap Americans today in NYC. They try to kidnap/kill Americans yesterday in Israel. “US court: Iran, Syria liable for deaths of Israeli couple in 2015 terror attack,” Times of Israel, JTA, July 15, 2021. “Eitam and Naama Henkin’s relatives sued the 2 countries for financing, arming Hamas; lawyer says ruling is 1st time Iran banks liable for foreign terror group killing of US citizen.”
An NPR story? This is not the type of story NPR carries, that reveals Iran’s techniques in attacking dissidents, and the fear and paranoia the Regime inflicts. And that gives the interviewee (Masih Alinejad) the opportunity to tell the NPR audience that Iran would have executed her. “The Journalist Iran Allegedly Sought To Kidnap Says She Would Have Been Killed,” NPR, July 15, 2021.
Facilitating Iran’s continued actions as a revolutionary cause, not as a normal state. “Top Russian, Chinese diplomats discuss information security, situation in Asia, Iran,” TASS, July 15, 2021.
“Grand ayatollah warns against Iran’s Taliban approach,” Al Monitor, July 15, 2021.
FM Zarif makes an appearance! And he is such an “outgoing” person! And note he doesn’t mention hostages, missiles, terror, or human rights changes. Sounds like a winner of an agreement being negotiated. See “U.S. prepared to lift nearly all Iran sanctions, Zarif tells parliament,” Barak Ravid, Axios, Yahoo, July 14, 2021.
It is so ironic that countries who have interfered for decades in various ways to twist Cuba’s future and shorten the lives and freedoms of its people would try to warn off the beacon of liberty. I hope the world press points this out. “Iran, Syria denounce US ‘interference’ in Cuba amid unrest,” Adam Lucente, Al Monitor, July 14, 2021. See also “Iran denounces US ‘interference’ as Cuba rocked by rare protests,” AFP, Times of Israel, July 14, 2021.
“Iran Cracks Down On Water Protests,” Iran News Wire, July 14, 2021.
“Iran At Risk Of COVID-19 Fifth Wave As Homegrown Vaccine Campaign Stalls,” Neil Bowdler, Reuters, July 14, 2021.
Quote of the Day: “There’s really no government in the world that targets its critics overseas like the Iranian government. Since 1979, Iran has assassinated at least several dozen of its critics overseas.” Karim Sadjadpour. in “4 Iranian Nationals Charged For Alleged Plot To Kidnap Iranian-American Journalist,” Ryan Lucas, NPR, BBC, July 14, 2021. Will the media let the allegations go and not investigate? That is normally the pattern over the past several years.
Another Quote of the Day: “”The Lebanese state is collapsing. Like all the countries that Iran takes over and entrenches itself in, everything it touches is destroyed.” PM Naftali Bennett, in “PM: Lebanon is collapsing; everything Iran touches is destroyed,” Yoav Zitun, Ynet, July 14, 2021.
Iran will use this time (several weeks) to move closer to a nuclear device. “Exclusive-Iran not ready for nuclear talks until Raisi takes over –source,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, July 14, 2021.
And notice that Iran’s government response is to not address the allegations/facts, but simply to issue a disclaimer. This is their pattern over multiple years. And the press and most other countries do not hold them to account. “Iran says U.S. claim of kidnapping plot is ‘baseless, ridiculous’,” Reuters, July 14, 2021.
And “imaginary”? “Iran foreign ministry: Iran kidnap plot is ‘imaginary story’,” WAGM, July 14, 2021.
“Iran to continue defending Palestine: Raeisi,” Mehr, July 14, 2021.
This is the Regime the U.S. is negotiating with over the JCPOA the Trump Administration wisely left. “Four Iranians charged with plotting to kidnap author living in Brooklyn,” Pete Williams and Jonathan Dienst, NBC, July 13, 2021. Federal prosecutors have charged four Iranian intelligence operatives with plotting to kidnap a Brooklyn author and human rights activist. The four — Alireza Shavaroghi Farahani, Mahmoud Khazein, Kiya Sadeghi and Omid Noori, all living in Iran — are accused of conspiring to kidnap a Brooklyn journalist, author and human rights activist who has been critical of the Iranian regime. A fifth, Niloufar Bahadorifar, is accused of providing financial support. The author was not named in court documents, but Masih Alinejad told NBC News that she was the target. A law enforcement official familiar with the case also identified the author as Alinejad. “I’ve been targeted for a number of years but this is the first time that such an audacious plot has been hatched and foiled,” Alinejad said by email Tuesday night. In 2020, Alinejad wrote in The Washington Post that she learned of the Iranian regime’s intention to kidnap her. “It’s been a horrifying experience, but I can’t say that it’s been entirely unexpected. The regime has tried many forms of intimidation to silence me over the years,” she wrote. Prosecutors say the Iranian government directed followers to kidnap the author to get her back to Iran. Farahani is an Iranian intelligence official who lives in Iran, and Khazein, Sadeghi and Noori are Iranian intelligence assets who work for him, the Justice Department said. The charging documents say the men hired private investigators, by misrepresenting who they were and what they wanted, to surveil the author in Brooklyn during 2020 and 2021. Prosecutors said Farahni’s intelligence network also researched how to get the author out of New York. One of the four researched a service offering “military-style speedboats for self-operated maritime evacuation out of New York City, and maritime travel from New York to Venezuela, a country whose de facto government has friendly relations with Iran,” the Justice Department said. Bahadorifar lives in California. She was arrested on July 1 in that state, prosecutors said. She is not charged with participating in the kidnapping conspiracy. Alinejad said Tuesday that because Iranian intelligence agents were involved, she believes Iranian President Hassan Rouhani knew about and approved the plot. “The regime has jailed my brother and interrogated my family. Now, this plot. All to silence me,” she said. Alinejad fled Iran in 2009 and since 2014, has lived in New York, she wrote in The Washington Post. She has criticized the Iranian government’s human rights abuses and launched a campaign against dress codes for women including mandatory wearing of the hijab. In 2019, Alinejad’s brother was arrested by Iranian officials and sentenced to eight years in prison. Alinejad wrote that he was tortured and tried in secret without his lawyer present. U.S. prosecutors said in court documents that in at least the last two years, Iranian intelligence services have lured Iranian expatriates living in other countries to places where they could be captured, imprisoned in Iran and executed.
“Russia, China, Iran Warn U.S. Must Not Intervene in Cuba,” Tom O’Connor, Newsweek, July 13, 2021.
“Iran: Call For Immediate Action To Prevent Execution Of Mehran Gharabaghi, Political Prisoner,” NCRI, July 13, 2021.
“Minister: Iraq resorts to UN to secure water rights from Iran,” MEMO, July 13, 2021.
“Iran, Sweden Weigh Plans for Settlement of Yemen Crisis,” Tasnim, July 13, 2021.
Preposterous. “Iran’s government spokesman Ali Rabiei confirmed the talks and said Tehran calls for the release of all Iranian prisoners, not just those held in the US. Iran “is ready to swap all political prisoners in exchange for freeing all Iranian prisoners across the world,” he told reporters at a televised press conference.” So, notice they want all Iranians, including those convicted of terror in Europe, released. Notice also they aren’t going to be limited from taking more hostages in the future. Again, Preposterous. See “Iran confirms prisoner exchange negotiations with US ongoing,” AFP, Times of Israel, July 13, 2021.
“On anniversary of Ghassemlou death, Iran’s Kurds warn of ‘terror’ under Raisi,” Dilan Sirwan, Rudaw, July 13, 2021.
Charming Kitten again. “Iranian hackers posed as British-based academic,” Gordon Corera, BBC, July 13, 2021.
“Talks with Iran will yield little,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, op-ed, Times Now News, July 13, 2021.
Iran claims the EU has no moral authority. Hmm. “Iran Dismisses NATO Chief’s Comments,” Tasnim, July, 13, 2021.
“The West Is Waiting on One Man to Determine the Fate of the Iran Nuke Deal,” Amos Harel, op-ed, Haaretz, July 13, 2021.
“Iranian commander urged escalation against US forces at Iraq meeting, sources say,” Reuters, July 13, 2021.
Both the IRGC and the executive branch maintain some control over the MOI. So how far up the chain of authority did the order come to kidnap Alinejad from NYC? And why is this not affecting the JCPOA talks? Alinejad is Iranian-American! “NYC journalist targeted by Iranian operatives in twisted kidnapping plot, feds say,” Ben Feuerherd and Bruce Golding, New York Post, Fox, July 13, 2021.
And another Quote of the Day: “U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said the four defendants charged in the kidnapping plot “monitored and planned to kidnap a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin who has been critical of the regime’s autocracy, and to forcibly take their intended victim to Iran, where the victim’s fate would have been uncertain at best.” … “Among this country’s most cherished freedoms is the right to speak one’s mind without fear of government reprisal. A U.S. citizen living in the United States must be able to advocate for human rights without being targeted by foreign intelligence operatives,” she added.” See “Feds charge 4 in Manhattan with plotting to kidnap a US journalist and human rights activist, 4 others,” Larry Neumeister, AP, The Morning call, July 13, 2021. See DOJ PR. See USAttorney PR.
“These Iranian hackers posed as academics in a bid to steal email passwords,” Danny Palmer, ZDNet, July 13, 2021.
Iran calls it “exchange of prisoners.” “Iran says it is holding talks on prisoner exchanges with U.S.,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, July 13, 2021.
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.
