“Iranian Minister Defends Violent Arrest by Morality Police,” Iran International, 5-16-24.
“Iran Sentenced Young Jewish Man to Death,” Col Live, 5-16-24.
“Public Discontent in Iran Over Soaring Inflation, Corruption,” Iran Wire, 5-16-24.
“Iran switches to Friday, Saturday weekend,” Dawn, 5-16-24.
“Jordan foils Iranian plot to carry out sabotage operations with weapons,” Ammon, 5-15-24. “Reuters also quoted two Jordanian sources as saying that Jordan has foiled a suspected Iranian-led plot to smuggle weapons into the U.S.-allied kingdom to help opponents of the ruling monarchy carry out acts of sabotage. The weapons were sent by Iranian-backed militias in Syria to a cell of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan that has links to the military wing of Palestinian group Hamas, the people told Reuters. They said the plot’s aim was to destabilize Jordan, adding that the cache was seized when members of the cell were arrested in late March. … Another senior figure in Brotherhood, who also requested anonymity, told Reuters the arrested cell members had been recruited by Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri, who masterminded the Palestinian group’s operations in the West Bank from exile in Lebanon. Spokespeople for the Jordanian government and the U.S. Department of Defense declined to comment. A diplomat close to Tehran said the Iranian ambition to establish a proxy foothold in Jordan went back to Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards who was assassinated by the U.S. in 2020. Soleimani believed that given Jordan’s strong ties with the U.S. and the West, building up an allied group there capable of fighting Israel was crucial to Tehran’s strategic ascendancy in the region, the diplomat told Reuters.” See also “’Jordan thwarts Iranian plot to smuggle weapons across its territory,’ reports Reuters,” Roya, 5-15-24.
“Exclusive: US intelligence spotted Chinese, Iranian deepfakes in 2020 aimed at influencing US voters,” CNN, 5-15-24.
By intimidation and threats does Iran sometimes act, or make these claims without statements by the other state. “Iran is seeking closer ties to Egypt – analysis,” FDD, 5-15-24.
“‘A huge question’: IAEA chief alarmed by Iran’s talk of developing nuclear weapons,” Times of Israel, 5-15-24.
“Iran’s Drive to Build a Nuclear Bomb Is Gaining Momentum,” Newsweek, 5-15-24.
$3.7 Billion. “Iran Ex-minister Sentenced To Jail For Graft: State Media,” AFP, 5-15-24.
Alinejad has been the target of assassination by the Regime for her calls for human rights and opposing authoritarianism. “‘One Solution, Revolution,’ Iranian Dissident Tells Copenhagen Democracy Summit,” Iran International, 5-14-24.
“Israeli Insider Reveals Motivation Behind Last Month’s Strike in Iran,” Iran International, 5-14-24.
“US calls on Iran to halt unprecedented weapons transfers to Yemen’s Houthis for attacks on ships,” AP, 5-14-24.
“Iranian Director Mohammad Rasoulof ‘Chose Exile’ in Europe Following Prison Sentence,” Vulture, 5-13-24.
India is not as much a facilitator (i.e., China, Russia, Malaysia) as it is looking at for its own self-interest. “India to sign pact with Iran to manage Chabahar Port for 10 years today: Report,” Business Today, 5-13-24.
“Iran’s Overworked Nurses Face Exhaustion and Even Death,” Iran Wire, 5-13-24.
“The Attack on Iran’s IRGC Leaders in Damascus and the Iranian Attack on Israel: An Iranian View,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 5-12-24.
It is hard to believe the reports out of Washington on 5-12, that the U.S. will withhold intelligence if Israel invades broadly in Rafah. Already Pres. Biden and Sec. Blinken and NSA Sullivan are indefinitely holding smart bombs from being send to Israel to be used against the Iran-backed Hamas. What is instead accurate is what Sen. Tom Cotton, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, says regarding the State Department report “was very clear: there is no evidence that Israel is violating international law.” [speaking of whether Israel is using U.S. weapons against civilians]. He said Israel “is doing more than any military in history to prevent civilian casualties.” See “Blinken: Israel offensive on Rafah would not eliminate Hamas,” AFP, 5-12-24. That the Administration does not understand how the 1,200 killed in only half a day by Hamas compares with the 35,000 killed (about half of them Hamas) over seven months is also worth noting in light of Cotton’s broadly-accepted views.
The Biden administration reportedly also says it can give information on locations of secret tunnels in Gaza used by Hamas as an incentive to Israel not to enter Gaza’s southernmost city. What? And the Administration is said offering intel on Hamas leaders’ whereabouts if Israel drops its planned major Rafah op. What? Israel can’t respond to Hamas and Iran this way, nor would any other country. See “US said offering intel on Hamas leaders’ whereabouts if Israel drops major Rafah op,” Times of Israel, 5-12-24.
“How the Islamic revolution isolated Iran from the Muslim world,” India Times, 5-11-24.
“Islamic hardliners cement grip over Iran’s parliament after election runoff,” i24, 5-11-24. “The result, tallied with that of the previous vote in March, gives hardliners 233 of the 290 seats in Iran’s parliament; moderates and reformists were for the most part barred from running.”
“Canada’s Spy Agency Warns of Escalating Iranian Aggression in West,” Iran International, 5-10-24.
“5 Indian sailors released from Israeli-linked vessel seized by Iran,” India Today, 5-10-24.
“Coldplay and Sting call for release of Toomaj Salehi, Iranian rapper sentenced to death,” Guardian, 5-10-24.
Facilitating, can lead to dangerous relations and crime. Ship-to-Ship transfers occur in Malaysian waters. “Malaysia Will Not Recognize Unilateral Sanctions on Iran, Official Says,” The Diplomat, 5-10-24.
“Iran Deploys Drones, Surveillance to Enforce Hijab Rules,” Iran Wire, 5-10-24.
If you read one thing that explains how the Regime operates and why you can’t ultimately trust this government, here is the story that I’ve spoken of over time. The short version is that Iran says the Ayatollah has made a fatwa on this topic, but they never produce the fatwa. “The nuclear fatwa that wasn’t—how Iran sold the world a false narrative,” Iran Source, Atlantic Council, 5-9-24.
“Iran has launched a new crackdown on women defying its strict dress code,” NBC, 5-9-24.
“As Iran Scares the Middle East, At Home Its Regime Rots,” Economist, 5-9-24.
“FBI warns of efforts by China, Russia, Iran to influence election,” The Hill, 5-9-24.
“Iran says it will change nuclear doctrine and build bombs if existence threatened,” Times of Israel, 5-9-24. “Top Khamenei adviser Kamal Kharrazi says country will have ‘no choice’ in those circumstances, warns deterrence policy will change if Israel strikes nuclear facilities.”
“US Treasury official: Ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil in Malaysian waters pose safety risk [UPDATED],” Straits Times, 5-9-24.
“Restore Iran’s marshes to prevent dust storms,” Science, 5-9-24.
“MPs vote unanimously in support of designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist group,” 5-8-24.
“US Lawmakers Worry IRGC Accessed Classified Documents Through Malley,” Iran International, 5-8-24.
“France Denounces ‘State Hostage-Taking’ by Iran,” Iran International, 5-8-24.
“Iran Sentences Renowned Filmmaker To Flogging, Prison Sentence,” RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, 5-8-24.
“Iran’s dangerous new terror proxy: Sudan,” JNS, 5-7-24. “The Islamic Republic’s encirclement of Israel and control of the Red Sea are almost complete.”
“IAEA head decries ‘completely unsatisfactory’ cooperation after visit to Iran,” Times of Israel, 5-7-24. “Rafael Grossi says there is a ‘slowdown’ in implementation of deal between his nuclear watchdog and the Islamic Republic. … Iran has always denied any ambition to develop nuclear weapons capability, insisting its activities are entirely peaceful.”
“Iran’s capacity to move oil reliant on Malaysian providers, US official says,” Straits Times, 5-7-24.
“IAEA Still Discussing Implementation of Failed 2023 Agreement With Iran,” Iran International, 5-7-24.
