Iran already ships missiles/components to Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Gaza. This announcement by the Defense Ministry sounds like an expansion, certainly resolution to the current acts and threats. See “Iran says it is expanding defense beyond borders, will continue missile program,” Times of Israel, August 21, 2021.
“Iran Reports Increase In Child Marriages,” RFE/RL, August 20, 2021.
“Europe Says Iran Creating ‘facts on the ground’ Amid Paused Nuclear Talks,” Iran International, August 20, 2021.
“Europe Says Iran Creating ‘facts on the ground’ Amid Paused Nuclear Talks,” Iran International, August 20, 2021.
Only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE recognized the Taliban the first time in power. Now, who will do so? To Iran’s credit, it never did (thinking pragmatically). This time Saudi won’t, and certainly not UAE. But will China? It is a growing superpower and wants the resources of Afghanistan, and to oppose the U.S. How will this play into Iran’s revolutionary regime desire to stay alive? See “Who are the Taliban?,” BBC, August 19, 2021. And see “Who Will Be the First Country to Recognize the Taliban?,” Margaret Besheer, VOA, August 20, 2021.
Will Reuters remind its readers that the head of a terror organization is announcing basic goods being delivered to Lebanon? So, who controls Lebanon? Certainly this hasn’t passed by the Reuters editors. “Hezbollah says Iranian fuel oil ship to sail to Lebanon in hours,” Reuters, August 19, 2021.
“Iran: Government Mismanagement Compounds Covid-19 Crisis,” HRW, August 19, 2021.
Iran continues to stretch out the negotiating time while working on its bomb. “Exclusive: Biden’s Iran envoy calls nuclear deal’s fate ‘one big question mark’,” Alexander Ward and Quint Forgey, Politico, August 19, 2021.
Emboldens Iran. “Catastrophe in Afghanistan — for Afghans, Israel, the region… and for America,” David Horovitz, Times of Israel, August 19, 2021. “As the Taliban retake power, the imminent 20th anniversary of 9/11 underlines the horrific consequences of the US failing to reckon with this region’s darkest forces.”
Notice in this fascinating article about oil and gas politics the power that Russia has against Iran. “Iran’s Huge Caspian Gas Find Is A Geopolitical Gamechanger,” OilPrice.com, August 19, 2021.
“Why Iran Will Welcome the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan,” Shelly Kittleson, Foreign Policy, August 18, 2021. “Tehran’s Shiite regime has strategic, economic, ideological, and ecological reasons for backing Sunni extremists.”
“With the United States out of Afghanistan, Iran will be able to give greater supplies of money and arms to the Taliban and al Qaeda — elements of support that these terrorists could use against the Afghan people and even to launch another attack on the West. The risks speak to a key reason why the U.S. should have stayed in Afghanistan.” See “Iran benefits from Taliban takeover,” Jackson Richman, op-ed, Washington Examiner, August 18, 2021.
“US calls on Iran to halt ‘nuclear escalations’,” Al Jazeera, July 17, 2021.
“Iran accelerates enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade, IAEA says,” WHBL, August 17, 2021.
“Iran Is on the Path to Becoming a Forever Poor Country,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, August 17, 2021.
“Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan Extend Hands to Taliban Now in Control of Afghanistan,” Tom O’Connor, Newsweek, August 17, 2021.
“China and Iran will open a new chapter in their friendship, Chinese ambassador to Iran Chang Hua said Sunday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. … Noting that the two countries announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership in January 2016, the Chinese ambassador said high-level officials from the two sides have since engaged in-depth discussions on multiple occasions related to bolstering China-Iran relations. On the political front, mutual trust between the two countries has been enhanced, Chang said, adding that China and Iran firmly support each other on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, which has effectively consolidated the strategic trust between the two countries and steadfastly defended international equity and justice. Meanwhile, Chang said the two economies are highly complementary, and pragmatic cooperation has led to fruitful outcomes. China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for years, and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative continues to progress. In addition, exchanges between China and Iran in culture, education, media, publications, and tourism have expanded over the past 50 years, with increased mutual understanding between the two peoples, Chang said.” See “Interview: China, Iran to open new chapter in bilateral relations, says envoy,” Xinhua, August 16, 2021.
“Tensions rise as Iranian dams cut off Iraqi water supplies,” DW, August 16, 2021.
“Iran Goes on the Offensive as the U.S. Retreats From Afghanistan and Elsewhere,” Jonathan Spyer, Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2021.
‘It’s a Catastrophe.’ Iranians Turn to Black Market for Vaccines as COVID-19 Deaths Hit New Highs,” Time, August 16, 2021.
“US ‘defeat’ in Afghanistan a chance for peace: Iran president,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, August 16, 2021.
“Afghanistan’s winners: Qatar, Russia, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, August 16, 2021. “Most of these countries have hosted the Taliban or tacitly backed them.”
“Iran-North Korea Connection: Hezbollah Built Vast Underground Tunnel Network in Lebanon to Move Weapons, Combatants,” Sharon Wrobel, Algemeiner, August 16, 2021.
“Afghanistan Reveals All the President’s Weaknesses,” William McGurn, op-ed, Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2021.
“IAEA: Iran producing uranium metal, which can be used in nuclear bomb,” Times of Israel, August 16, 2021. “UN nuclear watchdog says Tehran produced 200g of material enriched up to 20%, in further departure from deal.”
“Iran’s ‘hostage diplomacy’ traps foreign nationals,” Deutsche Welle, Egypt Independent, August 16, 2021.
A bad sign for where Lebanon continues to go—toward chaos induced by Iran. “Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it will begin importing fuel from Iran,” WHBL, August 15, 2021.
“Iran reduces diplomatic staff in Kabul,” Tehran Times, August 15, 2021.
“Controversial German politician to head UN agency accused of helping Iran with tech linked to nuclear program,” Fox, August 15, 2021.
This is a subject worthy of a dissertation, to see how China and Russia have maintained distance from Iran and refused to let it join the SCO, and now to allow it in. Granted, for their own purposes, but a signal that the East is acting on what was called by Samuel Huntington as the Clash of Civilizations. See “Iran to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” Modern Diplomacy, August 14, 2021.
Another story today on E versus W. An under-reported story, how the Supreme Leader doomed his country months ago to many deaths by illogically blocking Western vaccines. “Iran: Effects of Khamenei’s Vaccine Ban Still Worsening, Eight Months Later,” Mahmoud Hakamian, NCRI, August 14, 2021.
“Iran announces 6-day lockdown amid surge in COVID cases,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, August 14, 2021.
“Iranian intelligence plot reaches US soil — and should complicate negotiations,” Toby Dershowitz and Dylan Gresik, op-ed, The Hill, August 13, 2021.
“Iran Faces ‘Tsunami’ Of COVID-19 Infections, Deaths,” RFE/RL, August 13, 2021.
“Iran facing its deadliest coronavirus surge after banning import on US vaccines,” Guy Davies, ABC, August 12, 2021.
“Iran summons Russian and British envoys over Tehran Conference tweet,” Reuters, August 12, 2021.