“Iran, Hezbollah Bolster Presence, Weapon Shipments Near Damascus, Syrian War Monitor Says,” Haaertz, January 2, 2022.  “Hezbollah are turning an old military base south of Damascus into a drone training and operations center to protect from Israeli strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.”

He will probably never see his wife and family again.  “Decorated Iranian powerlifter Amir Assadollahzadeh is seeking asylum in Norway since his November defection in order to avoid execution or torture in Iran for his refusal to sport a t-shirt of the late US and EU-designated terrorist Qasem Soleimani.”  See “Iran powerlifter defects to avoid wearing T-shirt of terrorist Soleimani,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, January 2, 2022.

Leave it to the Regime to flip the meaning of “terror” on its head—“Ahead of the second anniversary of the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, Iran has urged the United Nations to issue a resolution condemning the slaying of the country’s top anti-terror commander, reported PressTV.”  See “Iran Calls On UN To Issue Resolution Condemning Slaying Of General Qasem Soleimani,” Apoorva Kaul, Republic World, January 2, 2022.

As an example of posting on this blog opinions that differ from mine and my several years of observations regarding the Regime.  “The Case for Optimism on Iran in 2022 and Beyond,” Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, op-ed, Bourse & Bazaar, January 2, 2022.

But this story doesn’t mean Iran’s policies will change, it is instead pressure on the president to “fix it.”  See “Top Ayatollahs Tell President Iran Should End Isolation, Economic Crisis,” Iran International, January 2, 2021.

“Thousands rally in Iraq to mark 2020 killing of Iran general,” AFP, Jordan Times, January 2, 2022.

“Iran regime faces a difficult year,” Majid Rafizadeh, op-ed, Arab News, January 2, 2022.

“Jailed Iranian writer’s health deteriorates due to denial of medical care,” Iran HRM, January 2, 2022.

“Iran to add 10GW to renewable energy capacity,” Modern Diplomacy, January 2, 2022.