Month: August 2021

“Iran and Saudi Arabia expected to resume direct talks soon,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, August 31, 2021.

“Iran Test-Fires Domestic Missile System,” Orkhan Jalilov, Caspian News, August 31, 2021.

It is not surprising, and this decision was made by Iran over a year ago, shortly after the plane was shot down.  “Families Say Top Iran Officials Have Immunity Over Downed Airliner,” Iran International, August 31, 2021.

“Iran plans to hold 4th round of talks with Saudi Arabia,” i24, Reuters, August 31, 2021.

“Gulf Sky: ‘Our ship was hijacked and taken to Iran’,” Joshua Cheetham, BBC, August 31, 2021.

One of those stories that let’s us all know that Iran is not serious about negotiating.  It would be funny if what is at stake wasn’t so serious.  “Iran Appoints New Atomic Energy Chief With No Nuclear Expertise,” RFE/RL, August 30, 2021.  “Mohammad Eslami, who previously served as housing and transport minister, will lead the civilian Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. He replaces U.S. educated scientist Ali Akbar Salehi, a former foreign minister and longtime head of the atomic agency who played a crucial role in diplomacy that led to the now-moribund 2015 nuclear accord with world powers.”  But wait, it gets better.  “Iran taps UN-sanctioned minister as new chief of nuclear agency,” AP, August 29, 2021.  So, on its surface Eslami is being appointed to simply do the Regime’s purposes in Vienna, not to really be able to understand and oversee a peaceful nuclear program.  What is he known for?  “In 2008, when Eslami served as head of Iran’s Defense Industries Training and Research Institute, the United Nations sanctioned him for “being engaged in, directly associated with or providing support for Iran’s proliferation sensitive nuclear activities or for the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems.” The UN linked the blacklisting to his “involvement in procurement of prohibited items, goods, equipment, materials and technology,” without elaborating.”  He is a sanctioned proliferator, not a public servant.

“Iran Continues Religious Persecution, Two Bahais Sentenced To Prison In Tehran,” Iran News Wire, August 30, 2021.

Iran Continues Religious Persecution, Two Bahais Sentenced To Prison In Tehran

“Where Iran Stands on the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan,” Ray Takeyh, CFR, August 30, 2021.

“Iran’s Bet on Autonomous Weapons,” Evan Omeed Lisman, op-ed, War on the Rocks, August 30, 2021.

“Israeli Analyst: Iran Entrenching Itself on Israel’s Border With the Syrian Golan,” Benjamin Kerstein, Algemeiner, August 29, 2021.

The continuing mismanagement and corruption of utilities and the environment.  “Iran’s Stark Winter Choice:  Electricity Or Breathable Air,” Iran International, August 29, 2021.

“Iran and the Taliban will continue to grow closer,” Peer Mudassir, Israel Hayom, August 29, 2021.

A good news story.  Even though Iran often and regularly acts as a revolutionary cause, there are a few times it has acted as a state willing to listen and negotiate.  See “Iraq brings together Mideast rivals in bid to ease tensions,” AP, August 28, 2021.  Arab heads of state met in Baghdad in the Green Zone “including archenemies Iran and Saudi Arabia held a rare meeting Saturday at a conference hosted by Iraq.  …  French President Emmanuel Macron also attended the Baghdad meeting.  Egypts el-Sissi, Jordan’s Abdullah, and Qatar’s Al Thani attended.  “Saudi Arabia was represented by its foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Iran with its foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.”  …  “Participants were expected to discuss a regional water crisis, the war in Yemen and a severe economic and political crisis in Lebanon that has brought the country to the point of collapse.”

Shamkhani, secretary of the NSC, knows that anything can be twisted into a threat, but that doesn’t qualify under international law.  “Biden ‘illegally threatened’ Iran, top security official says,” Reuters, Jerusalem Post, August 28, 2021.

“The resistance axis? Iran scores a pyrrhic victory in its cold war with Saudi Arabia,” Economist, August 28, 2021.

“Iran leader names another AMIA bombing suspect as official, angering Argentina,” Buenos Aires Times, August 27, 2021.  “Argentina’s government this week condemned the appointment of a second official in new Iran President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration wanted by Interpol in relation to the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires. The Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing Argentina’s “strongest condemnation” of the approval of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps leader Mohsen Rezaei as Iran’s vice-president for economic affairs. The news comes just two weeks after it emerged that Raisi – who ran against Rezaei in this year’s presidential election – had nominated Ahmad Vahidi, a former leader of the Quds, the powerful paramilitary arm of the Revolutionary Guard, for the post of interior minister. Both Vahidi and Rezai are wanted for their roles in the 1994 attack on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) community centre in Once, Buenos Aires City and face outstanding Interpol arrest warrants. According to a 2017 report in the case file, both men were Quds commanders and members of a group that evaluated proposals for the attack. The AMIA bombing, which killed 85 people and left more than 300 injured, is Argentina’s deadliest terrorist attack to date. Twenty-seven years after it occurred, the authors and perpetrators of the crime have still not been jailed.  On Wednesday, the government described the appointment of the Iranian officials as “an affront to the Argentine justice system and the victims of the brutal terrorist attack.”

What?!  Iran didn’t get the Chinese vaccines?  “Envoy Says Iran Was Hesitant To Order Chinese Covid Vaccines Last Year,” Iran International, August 27, 2021.

Instructive on the new FM.  “Iran’s Next Foreign Minister:  Will he change the course of Iranian foreign policy?,” Joshua Taylor, Watch Jerusalem, August 27, 2021.

Newest type of hostage.  “Afghan Airline Seeks Refuge In Iran For Its Planes,” Dominic Dudley, Forbes, August 26, 2021.  Although the planes had to be sent somewhere more palatable than under the control of Abdul Ghani Baradar, it is likely there will be more than a simple rental space agreement with Iran, not the first choice among airplane companies of the world for storage and maintenance needs.

“Toby Dershowitz, Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Strategy at the US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Jerusalem Post that “Iranian president [Ebrahim] Raisi has named Interpol red notice holder Mohsen  Rezae – wanted in connection with the murder of 85 Argentinians – as the Islamic Republic’s VP for Economic Affairs.”  …  “Dershowitz, who is a long-time analyst of the 1994 AMIA bombing,  added that “Iran is clearly seeking to normalize mass murder and is testing the will of the international community.”  See “Iran’s Raisi names wanted mass murderer of 85 Argentinians as VP for Economics,” Jerusalem Post, August 26, 2021.  “Iran is clearly seeking to normalize mass murder and is testing the will of the international community.”

“Fears grow in Iran as pandemic worsens,” Al Monitor, August 26, 2021

“Russia, Iran & China to Hold Joint Military Exercise In Persian Gulf,” Kashmir Observer, August 26, 2021.

“Gantz: Iran is two months away from nuclear bomb,” Tovah Lazaroff, Jerusalem Post, August 25, 2021.

“The US withdrawal has helped Tehran solve its most pressing problem.”  Correct.  It removes the U.S. from “next door.”  See “Iran is an immediate winner of the Taliban takeover,” David Patrikarakos, The Spectator, August 25, 2021.

Remember, Iran has locked the inspectors out.  It is a dangerous time.  “Nuclear Inspectors Seek to Plug Gaps Observing Iran’s Program,” Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, August 25, 2021.

“In a report seen last week by Reuters, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had accelerated uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade.”  …  Israel will propose to Pres. Biden an alliance between Israel and Arab states to counter Iran.  “Israel’s new leader to present Iran plan in first White Hose visit,” Jeffrey Heller and Matt Spetalnick, Euronews, Reuters, August 25, 2021.

Bad guys helping bad guys.  “Taliban Takeover Is a Boon for Cash-Strapped Iran,” Benoit Faucon and Ian Talley, Wall Street Journal, August 25, 2021.

stood, from open source reporting, that the rate was 3 to 4 times higher.  Here we have an insider, a prof of epidemiology at a major Iran university.  “Expert Says Iran Covid Deaths Seven Times Higher, As Blame Game Goes On,” Iran International, August 25, 2021.

There are two ways this can go down.  First, after the apology, the story goes away.  Second, after the apology, the head of Iran’s prisons will himself be punished, but not for the abuse, but for the leak which makes the Regime look bad.  Remember, the Leader and Regime already knew these abuses were on-going because they are key to keeping the Iran in power.  See “Iran’s prisons’ chief issues rare apology for human rights abuses after hacker leak,” i24NEWS, August 24, 2021.  “Mohammad Mehdi Hajmohammadi, the head of Iran’s prisons, apologized Tuesday for the documented attacks on inmates at the notorious Evin jail. “Regarding the pictures from Evin prison, I accept responsibility for such unacceptable behavior and pledge to try to prevent any repeat of these bitter events and to deal seriously with the wrongdoers,” Hajmohammadi announced on Twitter.”

Only good things can happen when you use bitcoin as the currency of the realm.  “Iran to Lift Bitcoin Mining Ban in September,” Bitcoin Magazine, August 24, 2021.

Meanwhile, across the border in Mashhad from everything happening in Afghanistan, ….  NPR has reported truth on this.  “Protests In Iran Over Power Cuts And Water Shortages Have Been Met With Violence,” Peter Kenyon, NPR, August 24, 2021.

“Iran: Ready to ship more fuel to Lebanon, despite US sanctions on exports,” JNS, August 24, 2021.

“Gaffs By Raisis’ Nominees — Making Lamborghinis Iran,” Iran International, August 24, 2021.

“China And Iran Zero-In On Oman’s Massive New Oil Storage Project,” OilPrice.com, August 24, 2021.

“Iran Eyes The Prospect Of Supplying Europe With Gas,” Pipeline Technology Journal, August 24, 2021.

“Iran Official Acknowledges Videos Of Evin Prison Abuse,” Iran International, August 24, 2021.

Very, very rare photographs.  But the stories have existed for years—Evin is where a person doesn’t want to do, and so many there are held without due process and as hostages.  “Leaked footage shows grim conditions in Iran’s Evin prison,” Technology, August 23, 2021.

“Iran resumes fuel exports to Afghanistan after Taliban request, union says,” Yahoo, August 23, 2021.

“How Iran Helped Houthis Expand Their Reach,” Thomas Juneau, op-ed, War on the Rocks, August 23, 2021.

Why the wait?  It’s been over a year.  “Iran, reportedly suffering its worst coronavirus wave yet, is negotiating with one or two European countries to purchase Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines, according to Alireza Raisi, spokesman for the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control.”  Only with the Leader’s permission, so they must be desperate with the highest daily totals from Covid yet recorded.  See “Iran ‘moves for western vaccines’ with country mired in worst virus wave yet,” bne IntelIiNews August 23, 2021.  “The newly elected hardline government led by President Ebrahim Raisi is under heavy pressure to broaden its sourcing of vaccines as the country is struggling with its fifth and most deadly wave of COVID-19. It is dominated by the Delta virus variant said by some experts to be three or four times as infectious as previous variants experienced in Iran.  Officials have attempted to rely on predominantly Chinese vaccines against coronavirus with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei having issued a warning that vaccines from the US and UK could be used in a conspiracy against Iran. But the supply of vaccines is by some accounts close to running out—with severe delays hitting deliveries of Chinese and Russian vaccines and the production of Iran’s domestically developed vaccine, COVIran Barekat.”

Great reporting—The map overwhelmingly shows why Lebanon and Israel, let alone the people of Syria, can see how Iran’s IRGC is only growing in Syria.  “In the two years since Russia, the US, Jordan and Israel signed a 2018 agreement promising to lessen Iran’s presence on the Syrian Golan heights, the Iranian military presence in southern Syria has more than doubled, and it is deployed in preparation for a future confrontation with Israel.  The report claims that from 2018-2021, the number of military bases and outposts of pro-Iranian militias and Hezbollah in southern Syria has increased from 40 to 88. It also reveals that bases of the Syrian Army, particularly the 90th Brigade deployed from southern Syrian to Damascus, serve as logistics backing for the pro-Iranian militias in the country.”  See “Iran has doubled forces on Israeli border since 2018, report claims,” Neta Bar, Israel Hayom, August 23, 2021.

Good article detailing corruption.  “Illicit Oil Exports Cost Iran Billions In Lost Revenues,” Iran International, August 23, 2021.

“Iran official on trial linked to terrorist who murdered Jews and Kurds,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, August 23, 2021.  “The International Criminal Police Organization issued an arrest warrant for Fallahian due to his role in the bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in 1994.”

“Russia, Iran and China to hold joint drills in Gulf –RIA,” WHBL, August 23, 2021.

“Iran urges Japan to release billions in blocked funds amid U.S. sanctions,” Reuters, August 22, 2021.  Behind the request is a threat—remember the attack on the two Japanese ships?  “Japan ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz, U.S. blames Iran,” Kyodo, June 13, 2019.

I don’t know yet if it was a suicide drone or recon drone.  Regardless, this one was deemed a threat.  “The US shot down Iranian drone in Syria – report,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, August 22, 2021.

“Iran’s Killers in Our Midst,” Roya Hakakian, The New York Review, August 22, 2021.  “When the FBI told me I was a target, I was shocked but not surprised. Even in US suburbs, the regime’s critics are not safe from its assassins.”