So the UK has to pay almost $500 million to get out two hostages. This is most likely a sign that a revised JCPOA has been agreed to. The huge amount of money is a sign that the West is giving in too much. See “Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ‘on way home’ to UK after 6 years’ detention in Iran, British lawmaker says,” Niamh Kennedy, Adam Pourahmadi, and Jack Guy, CNN, March 16, 2022.
It boggles the mind, but I’ll go a step further. If the U.S. is handing over millions and millions of sanctions relief, creating a short JCPOA time period, and allowing Russia and Iran to trade without sanctions penalty, I am flabbergasted. No terrorism relief, no regional meddling (which is so serious), what about drone attacks? What about missile attacks? And hostages? It appears the U.S. may be giving away the farm. Why is the U.S. afraid of Russia and Iran? And China? The rest of the world is in for a very rough decade. See “Russia says it has received US guarantees over Iran nuclear deal,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, March 15, 2022.
Iran has been preparing an army (really, an air force) of drones, for itself to threaten and increasingly use, and to give to Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, and other bad groups. This is an important reason that Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and others are binding themselves for security purposes to Israel. They are applauding this move today, and most likely knew ahead of it. “Iran blames Israel for destroying hundreds of Iranian drones – report,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, March 15, 2022.
Iran’s drone war (thousands being produced) made the mistake of having a number of its drones in one place at Kermanshah, and Israel took them out on behalf of several GCC countries and itself. The drone war is on, and Iran has responded with ballistic missiles against Erbil from where the Israel attack supposedly came. See “Israel decimated Iranian drone fleet in February airstrike inside Iran – report,” Times of Israel, March 15, 2022.
“Russia may do Biden a favor by killing the Iran deal,” Nahal Toosi and Stephanie Liechtenstein, Politico, March 14, 2022. “At least two members of the U.S. negotiating team have left in recent months over concerns about the talks’ direction. Ariane Tabatabai and Richard Nephew are political appointees, not career staffers, but are well-regarded experts on Iran. People familiar with the pair’s thinking said they thought the United States was leaning toward giving up too much in sanctions relief and that a restored deal would not be strong enough.”
Great article—both Russia and Iran are testing the U.S., seeing what they can get away with. “Did Russia empower Iran’s attack on Erbil? – analysis,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post,” March 13, 2022.
“France, UK and Germany say Iran deal could collapse on Russian demands,” Times of India, Reuters, March 12, 2022.
Iran is targeting Pompeo, Bolton, Hook, and who else? “US pays $2M a month to protect Pompeo, aide from Iran threat,” Matthew Lee, AP, March 12, 2022.
That the Elaph news site reported this is significant. IDF’s Kohavi and Qatar’s (!) Al Nabit discussing military cooperation because of Iran’s UAV Terrorism would not have been thought of a year or more in the past, but Iran’s refusal to moderate its action is driving even Qatar to consider joining a group of Gulf states and even with Israel taking action to protect themselves. See “Kohavi met Qatar military head in Bahrain to discuss cooperation, Iran UAVs – report,” Emanuel Fabian, Times of Israel, March 11, 2022.
“Iran Nuclear Talks Break Off Without a Deal,” Laurence Norman, Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2022.
“Why Iran and Hezbollah Are Quietly Applauding Putin’s War on Ukraine,” Jason Brodsky and David Daoud, op-ed, Haaretz, March 10, 2022.
The key quote—“Regional presence gives us strategic depth and more power. Why should we give it up? Scientific progress in the nuclear field is related to our future needs, and if we give that up, will anyone help us in the future?” he added. See “Khamenei: Iran won’t give up ‘defensive power, regional presence, nuclear progress’,” Times of Israel, March 10, 2022.
“Iran launches second military satellite amid nuclear deal talks,” Air Force Technology, March 9, 2022. The IRGC launched the Noor-II satellite for recon.
Pres. Biden, say it isn’t so. This money will be used for nefarious purposes. “Iran to Regain up to $130.5 Billion,” Carine Hajjar, National Review, March 9, 2022.
This is a step that the Administration should already be acting on. “Republicans Pushing To Bar Oil Imports From Iran,” Iran International, March 9, 2022.
“Iran tries to deliver arms via drone to Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” Seth Frantzman, Defense News, March 8, 2022.
In another article that is head scratching, the interest in Iran assassinating former U.S. officials is not dissuading our involvement in new JCPOA. They want to kill Pompeo, Bolton, and Hook. “U.S. intelligence shows Iran threats on U.S. soil, but Blinken and Schiff say this shouldn’t derail new nuclear deal,” Margaret Brennan, CBS, March 8, 2022.
Iran adjusting stance after Russia’s new demands at nuclear talks. “Supreme National Security Council says negotiators in Vienna will seek ‘creative ways’ to proceed as Moscow links efforts to save 2015 pact to US sanctions over Ukraine invasion,” Amir Vahdat and Jon Gambrell, Times of Israel, March 7, 2022.