Month: January 2022

The very persons (the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation) dedicated to saving the Asiatic cheetahs were thrown in jail by the IRGC in 2019, just the latest poor move by the Regime regarding the environment.  “Iran Says Only 12 Asiatic Cheetahs Left In Country,” RFE/RL, January 10, 2022.

A rare but good step.  “Iran offers to assist India in food aid to Afghanistan,” Arvin Donley, WorldGrain.com, January 10, 2022.

“Soleimani’s death was a blow to Iran, but far from a fatal one,” Yoav Limor, JNS, January 10, 2022.

“Iran rules out prospect of an interim nuclear agreement in Vienna,” Times of Israel, AFP, January 10, 2022.

“China to host Iranian foreign minister amid US pressure over nuclear talks,” Laura Zhou, South China Morning Post, January 10, 2022.

Everybody’s got a uniform—see the picture.  “Iran Hosts Crucial Meeting Involving Afghan Rivals,” Ayaz Gul, VOA, January 10, 2022.

The answer?  Too close for comfort.  “How Close Is Iran to Getting a Nuclear Weapon?,” Colum Lynch, Foreign Policy, January 10, 2022.

“China Gorges On Cheap, Sanctioned Oil From Iran, Venezuela,” Bloomberg, January 10, 2022.

“Iran denies interim nuclear deal reached – report,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2022.  “Iran denied a report that it had reached a two-year interim agreement with world powers on Sunday. London-based Rai al-Youm reported that the sides completed a two-year deal in Vienna, by which the US would lift all sanctions placed on Iran by the Trump administration. In return, all of Iran’s advanced uranium would be transported to Russia. Russia would reportedly serve as the guarantor of the agreement, in that it would return the uranium to Iran in the event of the US leaving the deal as it did in 2018. … Negotiations continued on Tuesday, with the European delegations meeting with Iran’s chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani. Russia’s chief negotiator, Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov, said he “share[s] the assessment” by the Iranians that the sides are starting to overcome their differences on the matter of sanctions. … The talks in Vienna for Iran and the US to return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action are currently in their eighth round. That deal limited Iran’s nuclear program, while gradually lifting sanctions. In recent years, Iran has worked on developing uranium metal and enriching uranium to 60%, far beyond the JCPOA’s restrictions and closer than ever to weapons-grade uranium, which is enriched to 90%.”

“Doomed: The inside story of PS752’s final minutes over Iran and the decision to shoot it down,” Tom Blackwell, National Post, January 8, 2022.

“Iran’s ‘long terrorist arm’ in Germany ousted from Islamic group board,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, January 8, 2022.

“Statue of slain commander Soleimani torched in Iran hours after unveiling,” AFP, Times of Israel, January 7, 2022.

Notice two quotes from this story.  First, “The Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday that Iran has begun the process of paying the $150,000 compensation its government promised to victims’ families at the end of 2020, and will continue to hold court sessions with families present to bring to account the 10 unnamed people it has indicted.”  Second, “Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom said in a statement that Iran has explicitly told them it will not engage in group dialogue, so they are now determined to resolve the issue through international law.”  So the headline is deceiving—Iran won’t say who it has paid, nor is it paying enough, nor is it negotiating with the countries, nor will Iran say who it is prosecuting.  See “Iran says it has begun paying families over downed Ukraine plane,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, January 7, 2022.

I’m waiting to hear what kind of corruption or connection to Regime actions resulted in this.  “Sides have licenses withdrawn by Asian Football Confederation, with Gol Gohar Sirjan also missing out.  AFC says officials determined clubs ‘had not satisfied all of the mandatory criteria’.”  See “Asian Champions League: top Iran sides Persepolis and Esteghlal kicked out of competition,” Reuters, January 7, 2022.

Actually, no.  Unless SArabia does what Iran tells it to do.  “Iran ready to restore ties with Saudi Arabia ‘at any time,’ FM says,” Reuters , i24News, January 7, 2022.

A good way to influence others and build friendships.  “Iran displays missiles amid nuclear talks with world powers,” AP, January 7, 2022.  “State television says missiles in central Tehran are the same types as those used to strike US bases in Iraq after Soleimani killing.”

Spying on the civilian housing blocks and apartment floors by the IRGC.  Scary.  “Iran Aims To Set Up Basij Paramilitary Bases In 11,000 Neighborhoods,” Iran International, January 7, 2022.

“Iran wrestling chief, US green card holder, calls for a violent ‘Death to America’,” Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, January 6, 2022.

“Iran’s wrestling president says ‘Death to America’ before US match,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, January 6, 2022.

“Nuclear talks in Vienna onward, positive: Iran’s top negotiator,” Xinhua, January 6, 2022.

“Biden’s Moment of Truth in Iran,” Mark Dubowitz and Matthew Kroenig, op-ed, Wall Street Journal, January 6, 2022.

Ukraine and a trio of other affected countries [Britain, Canada, and Sweden] on January 6 announced their abandonment of a two-year effort to negotiate with Tehran over reparations for a passenger airliner mistakenly shot down by Iran’s military in January 2020.  See “Ukraine, U.K., Canada, Sweden Announce New Tack On Reparations Over Airliner Downed By Iran,” RFE/RL, January 6, 2020.

“Chinese Company Found to be Selling Video Surveillance Systems to Iran; Product Line Includes “Ethnicity Tracking,” Accessories for Torture Chairs,” Scott Ikeda, CPO Magazine, January 6, 2022.

Interesting piece demonstrating that Iran was the impetus for creating SOCOM’s creation.  “A 1980s showdown with Iran was US Special Operations Command’s first test in combat,” Stavros Atlamazoglou, Business Insider, January 5, 2022.

The 127 were not named.  “Iran says it seeks to prosecute 127 people abroad over Soleimani killing,” Times of Israel, January 5, 2022.

“Iraqi and Syrian bases holding US troops attacked, but no American forces were killed,” Barbara Starr and Devan Cole, CNN, January 5, 2022.

This article highlights the hypocrisy central to the Regime’s staying in power.  “Father And Daughter: Controversy On Soleimani’s Death Anniversary,” Iran International, January 5, 2022.

“Iran: COVID-19 Death Toll Exceeds 495,300,” NCRI, January 5, 2022.

“CSW welcomes the news that Pastor Matthias Haghnejad and the Christians sentenced alongside him have been able to return home after spending nearly three years in prison,” CSW’s President and Founder Mervyn Thomas said. “However, they are still facing unfounded and excessive charges simply for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. They have committed no crimes, and we continue to call for their exoneration and to urge the Iranian authorities to end use of national security-related charges against members of the Christian community who are peaceably exercising practicing their faith,” Thomas concluded.  See “Nine Iranian Christians released from jail,” Ben Zion Gad, Jerusalem Post, January 5, 2022.

Excellent and detailed article about this next year’s Regime spending—military trumps health, etc.  “The Revealing Truth About How Iran Spends Its Money,” Mohammed Al-Sulami, op-ed, Arab News, January 4, 2022.

“Kurds arrested, executed in Iran’s Kurdish areas in December,” Rudaw, January 4, 2022.

“Lapid feuds on Twitter with Iran FM who said Israel ‘has no place in world’s future’,” Times of Israel, January 4, 2022.

A busy news day with multiple entries in this blog.  “Yemen rebels seize UAE ship; hackers hit Israeli newspaper,” Jon Gambrell, AP, January 3, 2022.

King Salman said, in his annual speech to the Shura Council, that “Tehran must warm up to its neighbours, end its support to terror groups.”  See “Iran urged to change ‘negative behaviour’,” Gulf News, January 3, 2022.

“Two years after Suleimani’s death, Iran fails to learn its lessons,” Editorial Opinion, The National, January 3, 2022.

The Regime can learn from its own statements against the Taliban.  “Iran refuses to recognize Taliban government until it is inclusive,” Times of India, January 3, 2022.

A Canadian court has awarded C$107m (£62m; $84m), plus interest, to the families of only six of the 176 people who died when their Ukraine Airlines flight was shot down by two missiles of the IRGC near Tehran in 2020.  The 176 included 55 Canadians and 35 permanent residents of Canada, and the relatives had filed a civil suit against Iran and several of its officials.   See “Canadian families win compensation over jet downed by Iran,” BBC, January 3, 2022.

“Attacks on U.S. Allies Raise Tensions on Anniversary of Killing of Iran’s Soleimani,” Jared Malsin, Wall Street Journal, January 3, 2022.

It wasn’t too many years ago that these types of public pronouncements would never have been made.  Now Iran is bold enough to allow them.  “Iran Funded Hamas Missiles With $70 Million, Haniyeh Says,” Iran International, January 3, 2022.

“Writer in Coma, Another Political Prisoner Dead after Unjust Imprisonment in Iran,” Center for Human Rights in Iran, January 3, 2022.

“Iran vows revenge for Soleimani killing if Trump, Pompeo not put on trial,” Reuters, January 3, 2022.  And Iran’s President Raisi said not only a trial but execution, so it doesn’t sound like a fair trial–par for the course for the prosecutor with the 1980s death panel.

“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.

Bandar Abbas is Iran’s main naval port—that is why China wants to be there.  “New Chinese Consulate Looks To Expand Foothold In Iran’s South,” Maryam Sinaee, Iran International, January 1, 2022.

He didn’t talk about the large number of fatalities in Iran.  “Enemies of Iran Succumbing to Coronavirus: IRGC Chief,” Tasnim, January 1, 2022.

“New Sinkhole Appears In Tehran As Sign Of Wider Crisis,” Iran International, January 1, 2022.