“Iran nuclear talks to resume in Vienna on Tuesday,” AP, February 7, 2022.
“’Honor-Killing’ In Iran Sparks Debate On Laws To Protect Women,” Maryam Sinaee, Iran International, February 7, 2002.
“Iran chief of staff: We’ll be one of the world’s largest arms exporters,” Jerusalem Post, February 7, 2022. “Iran will be one of the world’s largest arms exporters if US sanctions are lifted, claimed Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri on Monday.”
“Waived Iran sanctions allow redesign of Fordo plant, cooperation with Russia, China,” Times of Israel, February 6, 2022.
“Influential Iran Politician Asks Khamenei For Constitutional Change,” Iran International, February 6, 2022.
A curious story, but indicative of year to year government mismanagement. “Official Says Iran’s Government Doesn’t Know Exact Value Of Its Assets,” Iran International, February 6, 2022.
“Iran ‘society set to explode’ while Biden unfreezes $29 billion for regime,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, February 5, 2022. “Social discontent in Iran has risen by 300 percent in the past year according to an IRGC document.”
Nothing to see here folks, move along, move along. “Iran says US’s sanctions waiver is ‘not enough’ as clock winds down on nuclear talks,” Chloe Folmar, The Hill, February 5, 2022. So a good negotiating move by the U.S. should be to immediately withdraw the offer of lifting sanctions—don’t keep on giving more and more if you aren’t going to get anything, even a small reciprocal move by Iran.
Or just weeks. “Israel said to fear new Iran deal will leave breakout time at only a few months,” Times of Israel, February 5, 2022. “Original deal had envisioned keeping Tehran away from bomb for a year; ‘It is better to have a distance of a few months and not just weeks,’ US sources say.”
The Quds Force appears to be extending its reach. “Iran’s New Naval Militia Unit Increases It’s ‘Region Wide Export Of Terrorism’,” Oubai Shahbandar, Arab News, February 4, 2022.
“Biden administration restores sanctions waiver to Iran as talks in final phase,” Reuters, February 4, 2022. “The waiver, which was rescinded by the Trump administration in May 2020, had allowed Russian, Chinese and European companies to carry out non-proliferation work at Iranian nuclear sites.” This is a dangerous move, and won’t slow Iran’s movement toward a bomb.
This is going to get to the point where the other countries take even more action against Iran, and directly against it. “Five times Iran used Iraqi militias to conduct drone attacks – analysis,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2022. “Iran has recently established even closer ties with Iraqi militias and is now using them to attack Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other states.”
“Latest Update: Iran Pulls out of Bout at the Ballpark with Team USA,” Christopher Miller, TheOpenMat.com, February 4, 2022.
“Iran Wants Money, Not Exchange of Prisoners With US, Sources Say,” Michael Lipin, VOA, February 4, 2022.
Accurate position by this op-ed. The Supreme Leader and those at the top of the Regime will not agree to a revised JCPOA or any other agreement on their nuclear weapons program. “Missile attack on UAE shows Iran is unwilling to compromise,” David Gardner, op-ed, FT, February 3, 2022.
“Iran Plans to Work With China On Technology To Further Restrict Internet,” Maryam Sinaee, Iran International, February 3, 2022. And see “The best VPN for China 2022,” Adam Marshall, Tech Radar, January 6, 2022, which by implication means that the best VPNs for Iran are probably ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark.
It is up to Iran to turn its ship around and spend its efforts on moving its country forward and stopping threatening actions against its neighbors. But it hard for Iran to stop this because of the founding 1979 premises of its country. “Israel, Bahrain sign new defense memo in signal toward Iran,” Josef Federman, Yahoo, February 3, 2022.
The Empire strikes again. “According to the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy, the True Promise Brigades has ties to Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades, an Iran-backed group listed by the US as a “terrorist organisation”. The Washington-based think-tank also said the group could be under the direct control of Iran’s elite Quds Force.” See “Who is the shadowy Iraqi militia that attacked the UAE?,” Al Jazeera, February 3, 2022.
“Iran, Russia aid Venezuela in moving troops to Colombian border,” Reuters, Jerusalem Post, February 3, 2022.
It is helpful, even if for shock value, to publish on this blog what Iranian officials say. “In phone call with UAE FM, Amir-Abdollahian says Israel’s presence in region threat to all,” Press TV, February 3, 2022.
No surprise, this has always been my thought and a number of others. “Iran’s Lead Negotiator Says No Direct Talks With US In Vienna,” Tasnim News Agency, February 3, 2022.
“Iranian dissidents warn regime is creating proxy terrorist naval units to back Houthis in Yemen,” Adam Shaw, Fox News, February 3, 2022.
“U.S. Sees Iran’s Nuclear Program as Too Advanced to Restore Key Goal of 2015 Pact,” Laurence Norman, Wall Street Journal, February 3, 2022. “Terms of any new agreement are likely to leave Tehran in position to amass fuel for bomb in significantly less than a year, shorter than 2015 deal, officials say.”
“Lebanon will be “another Iran-dominated, corruption-riddled failed state” if critical steps are not taken soon to end government corruption in the country, tackle the economic challenges it is facing and address the “crippling” issue of Hezbollah’s violence. This is the conclusion of a report published on Tuesday by two leading Middle East think tanks based in Washington, the American Task Force on Lebanon and the Middle East Institute. To mark the occasion they hosted a webinar during which panelists discussed ways in which the report’s powerful conclusions might be implemented and order restored to Lebanon. A major part of the discussion focused on the role of Hezbollah, and participants noted that the outcome of the ongoing US negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program could have significant ramifications for Lebanon. … [The greatest] challenge is the continuing presence and power of Hezbollah as a non-state actor with allegiance to Iran.” See “Saving Lebanon can help prevent Iran’s web of terror from spreading in region, activists argue,” Ray Hanania, Arab News, February 2, 2022.
“Saving Lebanon Can Help Prevent Iran’s Web Of Terror From Spreading In Region,” Ray Hanania, op-ed, Arab News, February 2, 2022.
“US to send warship, fighter jets to UAE after missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthis,” AFP, Times of Israel, February 2, 2022.
If this occurs, the IRGC will crack down on citizens. “’State Of Explosion’: Leaked IRGC Document Warns Of Rising Discontent In Iran,” Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, February 2, 2022.
“Iran shifts centrifuge work away from site allegedly struck by Israel — UN watchdog,” AFP, February 1, 2022. “European diplomat says centrifuge plant at Karaj has been moved to ‘better protected’ facility in Isfahan; IAEA says cameras installed at new site.”
“Iran Sets New Record in Number Of Executions,” Hossein Beizayl, op-ed, Iran News Wire, February 1, 2022. “Terrified of protests and uprisings, the clerical regime has accelerated executions to instill an atmosphere of terror. Twelve prisoners were hanged on January 19 and 20, six each day, bringing to at least 45 the number of executions recorded in the past 30 days (the 10th month in the Persian calendar). On Thursday, January 20, Idris Gomshadzehi, a Baluch citizen, was executed in Zahedan Prison; Parviz Akbari-Rad, Jamaluddin Gorgich, and Dadshah Sarani were hanged in Zabul Prison; Ali Yazdani and Eshaq Mohammad Amin (an Afghan national) were hanged in Rasht and Isfahan prisons, respectively. On Wednesday, January 19, in an unprecedented act of barbarity, Juma Mohammadi from Izeh, was executed after 20 years in prison. A large crowd attended his funeral in Izeh and expressed revulsion towards the regime by firing bird shots. The same day, five other prisoners, Eqbal Mostofi and Houshang Khanmohammadi, were executed in Khorramabad, Hamed Manouchehri, Sobhan Shohani, and Mohammad Karimnejad were hanged in Ilam. According to VOA Persian, in 2020, the Islamic Republic of Iran ranked second with 246 executions, and according to Amnesty International, Iran, alone was responsible for half of all registered executions in the world in 2020. It is not only the number of executions that is appalling but also the nature of some of them. These executions have involved juveniles, women, and individuals from ethnic and religious minority groups, including Ahwazi Arabs, Kurds, and Sunnis. Although Iran has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran’s government has made no effort to alter the country’s Penal Code, which allows girls as young as nine to be executed.”
“Iran’s iconic tower flashes red for Chinese New Year,” Xinhua, February 1, 2022.
“Iran Says In talks With Russia, China Over New Airports,” Iran International, February 1, 2022.
“If there’s a poster child for a govt’s poor Covid response anywhere in the world, it’s Iran,” Jon Alterman, The Print, February, 1, 2022.
“Morocco-Iran Rift Surges As Tehran Sets Sights on Africa,” Issam Toutate, Morocco World News, February 1, 2022.
“Iranian tanker carrying condensate docks in Venezuela,” Regina Garcia Cano, AP, Titusville Herald, February 1, 2022.
“Next phase of China-Iran ties depends on nuclear talks,” Sabena Siddiqui, Al Monitor, February 1, 2022.
