We’ll start Jan. 8 news/comments with one of Iran’s mouthpieces in the U.S., Seyed Hossein Mousavian (at Princeton)(many of us have long called for his dismissal, and let us make that call again—he should be removed, just as the Penn and Harvard presidents were). Notice his argument—that Israel and the U.S. have the duty to act. Iran does not. Since when does the aggressor get to say the attacked has to take all the next steps in order to find a remedy? Illogical and unfounded in successful diplomacy practice. See “War on Gaza: Only the US can stop a regional war by reigning in Israel,” MEE, 1-8-24.
“As Executions In Iran Surge, Finger Amputations Gain Pace,” Iran International, 1-8-24.
The presence of an Iranian IRGC naval vessel has raised alarm. “Red Sea Shipping Takes Another Blow From Iran,” FP, 1-8-24.
“ISIS was behind the Kerman attack. Iran still blames Israel and the United States, though,” Atlantic Council, 1-8-24.
“Canada, UK, Sweden and Ukraine launch dispute against Iran over downing of passenger plane,” Jurist, 1-8-24. These countries have started dispute settlement proceedings against Iran before the International Civil Aviation Organization, alleging the use of weapons (missiles) against flight PS752. They already filed a case against Iran at the World Court/International Court of Justice under the Montreal Convention.
“From Houthis to Hezbollah, a look at the Iran-allied groups rallying to arms around Middle East,” Stars & Stripes, AP, 1-8-24.
“Former Adviser To Khamenei’s Office Secretly Executed For Espionage,” Iran International, 1-8-24.
“How Iran Abandoned the PLO in Favor of Hamas,” Middle East Forum, 1-8-24. “Khamenei elaborated in his December 31, 1999 Friday prayers sermon. “Since my presidency [1981-89], I had this running argument with some Arab countries. I raised a point [about Israel’s rejection], but their governments said that they were not more Palestinian than the Palestinians! And they would go on to say that whatever the Palestinians wanted must be done.” For the Islamic Republic, Hamas then became the perfect anecdote. The group fulfilled an Iranian need. Born of the Muslim Brotherhood, it embraced a similar apocalyptic vision to the Islamic Republic, sectarian differences notwithstanding. Its charter stated its goal to be Israel’s elimination, not simply for Palestinian or Arab nationalist reasons, but for Islam itself. As the charter explained, “It is necessary to instill in the minds of the Muslim generations that the Palestinian problem is a religious problem, and should be dealt with on this basis.” Only three years after Arafat’s death, Hamas had become so powerful that it drove Fatah out of the Gaza Strip. Hamas’ victory, with Tehran’s encouragement, cemented the Islamist apocalyptic approach to Israel across the Islamic world. The Iranian bet on Hamas continues. While Hamas directed its October 7, 2023 terror attacks at Jews, empowering themselves in the eyes of West Bank Palestinians was an added motivation, especially as Palestinians maneuver to succeed the 88-year-old Mahmoud Abbas. The Israeli government is correct to demand the complete excision of Hamas from Gaza. The group shares an ideological bond with Iranian Islamists and marches in lockstep with them. Policymakers may debate whether Hamas is a full proxy, but this misses the point. Tehran does not need to command Hamas because the Iranian regime knows Hamas shares its goals. The cold war between Iran and the Arabs extends back decades, if not centuries. The Hamas-Fatah feud is not simply the result of an intra-Palestinian political dispute, but rather represents the Iran-Arab cold war on Palestinian turf. While many Arabs wanted to put the conflict with Israel to rest, Iran’s Islamists will continue to fight the Jewish state to the last Palestinian. Hamas is simply their latest agent.”
“Iran’s Dark Fleet: The High Cost of Clandestine Oil Exports,” OilPrice.com, 1-8-24.
“How Iranian tech empowers Houthi drone, missile attacks in the Red Sea,” C4ISR Net, 1-8-24.