Quote of the Day: “Esthers of the world, rise up,” Hooman Khalili. See “New Jerusalem mural memorializes Iranian ‘Women Memorial Warriors’,” Jerusalem Post, 12-21-23.
“UK convicts man for spying on Iran opposition TV station in terror plot,” AFP, 12-21-23. London prosecutors say Chechnya-born Austrian national flew from Vienna to gather ‘hostile reconnaissance’ on building used by Persian-language channel Iran International.”
“Pro-Iran militias launch 60 attacks on U.S. bases in Syria to avenge Gaza conflict: monitor,” Xinhua, 12-21-23.
“Iranian reporter gets 6 months for questioning official explanation of teen’s death,” AFP, 12-21-23.
“The Unfulfilled Commitment to Rare Disease Patients in Iran,” Iran News Update, 12-21-23.
“Double-Agent Reveals IRGC Plot To Kill Iran International TV Anchors,” Iran International, 12-21-23. “The IRGC was plotting to assassinate two Iran International television anchors in London in 2022 amid Iranian anti-government protests, UK’s ITV has revealed. The plan was foiled because the man hired to do the job turned out to be a ‘double-agent’ working for a western intelligence agency. He would relay all information to his handler and has now shared some details with ITV. Based on irrefutable evidence –seen and verified by ITV and multiple officials– the plot was commissioned and signed off by Mohammad Reza Ansari, the IRGC commander in charge of assassinations outside Iran. Ansari is the ‘mastermind’ behind failed plots to assassinate former US officials Mike Pompeo and John Bolton –for which he’s been sanctioned by the US treasury. He is based in Syria and is reported to have links with the family of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. According to ITV, Ansari hired and directed the hitman (Ismail) through another Assad associate, Mohammad Abd al-Razek Kanafani, requiring him first to use a car bomb and then a ‘quiet’ way to kill his targets: “simply stab [them] with a kitchen knife.” … Ismail, a people-smuggler turned IRGC operative and then double-agent, was promised $200,000, a new identity and safe passage to Iran via Syria.”
“Israel-Hamas war: Will Iran escalate or manage the Gaza war? – analysis,” Jerusalem Post, 12-21-23.