Month: June 2024

“Could Zarif tilt Iran’s election toward longshot reformist Pezeshkian?,” Al Monitor, 6-21-24.

“Casey, Rubio to Panama: Stop Iran’s Illegal Oil Transport on Panamanian-flagged Ships,” Bob Casey for Senate Press Release, 6-21-24.  Great bipartisan work—”At Casey and Rubio’s urging, the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) made progress by opening investigations earlier this year into all ships suspected of transporting Iranian oil and has since removed at least 32 vessels from its registry.”

“UN reports 43% increase in executions in Iran over the past year,” Khaama Press, 6-21-24.

Look at the number of attacks and their length.  “Aggression by the Iran-backed Houthis continues unabated – analysis,” JPost, 6-21-24.

“Iran and Taliban discuss “joint action” against Israel,” FDD’s Long War Journal, 6-21-24.

Make sure you note the irony of this set of stories.  Iran says its military is not a terror organization.  Canada (finally) says it is.  Iran responds by threatening Canada.  Hmmm.  “Iran Warns Canada Of Consequences For Blacklisting IRGC,” Tasnim, 6-21-24.  Here’s from yesterday, “Iran’s Foreign Ministry Condemns Canada’s Designation of IRGC,” Iran International 6-20-24.

A great story—events like this don’t often make the news.  “Iran smuggles two planes out of Lithuania, bypassing sanctions,” BNS, 6-20-24.

“A major expansion underway inside Iran’s most heavily protected nuclear facility could soon triple the site’s production of enriched uranium and give Tehran new options for quickly assembling a nuclear arsenal if it chooses to, according to confidential documents and analysis by weapons experts.”  See “Iran Signals a Major Boost in Nuclear Program at Key Site,” WPost, Real Clear Defense, 6-20-24.

“Iran’s acting FM to arrive in Qatar to bolster regime’s influence,” JPost, 6-20-24.

“Deep Dive: Zarif leads push to return Iran’s presidency to Reformist hands,” Amwaj, 6-20-24.

“Christian convert in Iran sentenced to 15 years in prison,” Open Doors, 6-20-24.

This may be one of those times when calling something by its real name results in that group/body taking action against you.  “Unwise move: Iran says reserves right to give proper response to Canada’s blacklisting of IRGC,” Press TV, 6-20-24.

Easy to see this one coming.  And the move for house arrest has worked against several ex-presidents and other leaders in Iran over several years.  See “Movement Restrictions Imposed on Iran’s Ex-President Ahmadinejad,” Iran International, 6-20-24.

“Iran’s Nuclear Expansion Raises Concerns,” Iran News Update, 6-20-24.

Hey OilPrice.com, you are a reputable news site.  Fix your headline.  Instead of “Georgia Explores Closer Ties with Iran as Western Alliances Fray,” the headline should be Georgia Explores Closer Ties with Iran as it becomes more Authoritarian and Western Alliances as a Result Fray,” OilPrice.com, 6-20-24.

“Hamas and Iran Are Trying to Ignite Israel’s Eastern Fronts,” Washington Institute for New East Policy, 6-20-24.

73% don’t want to watch a debate.  “Survey Reveals Massive Disinterest in Iranian Presidential Debates,” Iran International, 6-20-24.

A lot of news on June 20, and most not positive.  “Russia, Iran inaugurate Rasht-Caspian Railway: What we know,” Al Monitor, 6-20-24.

“Meet the cleric dubbed ‘the phenomenon’ of Iran’s presidential race,” MEE, 6-20-24.

“Iran accelerates nuclear enrichment capacity,” Times of Israel, 6-19-24.  Well, this is it.  The final push.  “Iran plans to triple its uranium enrichment capacity at Fordow, situated deep within a mountain in north-central Iran. This expansion comes shortly after Iran notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intentions to upgrade the facility, which had ceased enrichment activities under the 2015 nuclear agreement but resumed operations following the U.S. withdrawal in 2018. The new construction involves the installation of nearly 1,400 advanced centrifuges over the next month, enhancing Iran’s capability to produce enriched uranium, which can be used both for civilian nuclear power and potentially for nuclear weapons with further refinement. The planned deployment includes newer-model IR-6 centrifuges, more efficient than the IR-1 models currently in use.”

“US designates Iraq-based Iran-aligned militia group as terrorist organization,” Global Sanctions, 6-19-24.  “The US Department of State has designated (fact sheet) Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and its Secretary General Haydar Muzhir Ma’lak al-Sa’idi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under EO 13224. According to the State Dept, the group is an Iraq-based Iran-aligned militia part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq that has been involved in attacks on the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria, including the recent drone attack that killed 3 US soldiers at Tower 22 in Jordan in January 2024.”

Finally.  “Canada to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist group after years of pressure,” RCI, 6-19-24.

“Iran warns Hezbollah about Israel’s attempt to assassinate Nasrallah,” MEMO, 6-19-24.

“Hezbollah leader threatens Cyprus as tensions with Israel ramp up,” CNN, 6-19-24.

“In the eyes of the world: Iran’s image is in tatters once more – opinion,” JPost, 6-19-24.  Others do not see Iran as a regional power, partly due the government’s inability to find the location of the president’s plane crash, having to rely on Turkey.

“Qatar, Iran, and the Threat to the West,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 6-19-24.

These types of decisions by European governments (in this case Sweden) to enflame standards in Islamic countries are ill-advised.  The Swedish government should have never allowed itself to be a party to a homosexual engagement as soon as the hostage got off the plan from two years imprisonment in Iran.  “Swedish man released from Iran proposes to boyfriend upon landing,” AFP, Times of Israel, 6-18-24.

At least 50 attacks, and a major disruption by Iran of Red Sea shipping.  “Ship attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in fatal assault sinks in Red Sea,” Politico, AP, 6-18-24.

“U.S. and Israel assessing new intelligence about Iran nuclear models,” Axios, 6-18-24.

Iran has given an extra year in jail to Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi.  When will the world act to stop hostage taking?  “Iran hands Nobel winner fresh jail term – lawyer,” BBC, 6-18-24.

Zarif missed his chance.  Well, he’d never say it.  He wants oil, and to allow Iran to gain the ultimate weapon.  But in a surprise speech in favor of Pezeshkian’s proposed foreign policy, which calls for better ties with the West to end sanctions, he said Iran’s “ability to sell more oil since 2021 was solely due to US President Joe Biden loosening the sanctions.”  See “Zarif Makes Bold Entrance into Iran’s Presidential Campaign,” Iran International, 6-18-24.

Not the first time the Supreme Leader (in Iranian media) has implied a call for all-out war.  “Iran calls for collective action by Muslim states to stop Israeli genocidal war on Gaza,” Press TV, 6-17-24.

“Repairs completed to South Pars gas platform offshore Iran,” Offshore, 10-17-24.

“USCIRF Condemns Severe Medical Mistreatment of Imprisoned Gonabadi Sufi in Iran,” USCIRF, 6-17-24.

This issue won’t bring many people to the polls.  They know it doesn’t matter who wins with regard to this issue.  “Hijab Debate Heats Up in Iran’s Presidential Race,” Iran Wire, 6-17-24.

“Iran sees surging suicide rates among medical staff,” Ynet, 6-17-24.

Quote of the Day.  Candidate Amirhossein Hashemi, said, “Under this administration, we have eliminated food poverty completely.”  See “Iran Candidates’ Bold Claims Debunked,” Iran Wire, 6-17-24.

Edward Said wrong again, Samuel Huntington correct.  “The Iran-Israel War And The Clash Of Civilizations – Analysis,” Eurasia Review, 6-17-24.

Thank you NYT for highlighting that no other country (a cause, not a country) uses hostage diplomacy as much as Iran.  It is an enshrined strategy of dealing with other states.  “A Brief History of Iran’s Hostage Swapping,” NYT, 6-16-24.  Quote of the Day:  “And on Saturday Iran gained the release of its most prized target: the first Iranian official to be convicted of crimes against humanity. In the exchange, Sweden released Hamid Nouri, a former judiciary official who was serving a life sentence in Sweden for his role in the mass execution of 5,000 dissidents in 1988. In return, Iran freed two Swedish citizens: Johan Floderus, a diplomat for the European Union, and Saeed Azizi, a dual-national Iranian. Left behind was a third, a Swedish scientist who is a dual citizen, Ahmadreza Djalali, who has been jailed in Iran and sentenced to execution on murky charges of treason. Since the 1979 revolution, Iran has made detaining foreigners and dual citizens a centerpiece of its foreign policy, trading them for money and people.”  There is only one thing the NYT leaves out—the Supreme Leader timed these releases.  If you put them on a timeline, you will see what I mean.  They align with Iran’s national interests, and are almost predictable when they might occur.  Oh, there’s another aspect the NYT doesn’t cover—there are employees in the Leader’s bureaucracy (he has about 500 employees) whose job it is to keep track of all the hostages held in Iran’s prisons from various states, and to advise the Leader on when it may be time to use the bait and not let it rot too long.

This is about defending SA from Iran.  “As November elections near in the US, Saudi Arabia works to finalize defense treaty,” JPost, 6-16-24.  The U.S. would defend Saudi Arabia if attacked, and SA would allow the U.S. to use Saudi territory and airspace.  There would be a civilian nuclear pact and weapons sales, and China could not build bases in SA.  It sounds like the U.S.-SA deal will come first, then SA-Isr recognition will accompany a Palestinian Plan.

The Supreme Leader, through the media, is pushing Ghalibaf, Pezeshkian and Jalili.  It think (remember the Iranian President is a passive position, malleable to the IRI’s wishes) that the Leader wants Ghalibaf/Qalibaf.  “Three Candidates Dominate Iran’s Presidential Elections,” Iran International, 6-16-24.

More than 150,000 missiles, and well-trained and real terrorist army.  Only constrained by Iran.  “Hezbollah bigger challenge than Hamas to Israel: ‘Crown jewel in the Iranian empire of terror’,” Fox, 6-16-24.

This is so true.  Iraq will not be Iraq until Iran is not Iran.  “U.S. Ambassador Nominee: ‘Iran-aligned Militias’ are ‘Primary Threat’ to Iraq; Will Strengthen U.S. Partnership with Kurdistan Region,” Kurdistan24, 6-16-24.

They have come to Lebanon from several countries.  “Israeli media: Taliban assures Iran of sending fighters to support Hezbollah,” Khaama Press, 6-16-24.

“Iran signs contracts worth $2bn to develop oil industry,” Iran Front Page, 6-16-24.

Low-level criminals pardoned, an annual event about the time of hajj.  “Iran pardons, commutes sentences of 2,654 prisoners on Eid al-Adha,” MEMO, 6-16-24.

Said v. Lewis, again.  “From the Iranian Mullah State to American Campuses: The Woke’s Failed History Lesson,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 6-16-24.

“Iran and Sweden to swap prisoners, including convicted war criminal,” The Hill, 6-15-24.

“Iran to launch two more satellites in near future,” Mehr, 6-15-24.

Thank you Barron’s highlighting those seized by Iran.  “The Europeans Still Held In Iran,” Barron’s, 6-15-24.

Bad news.  “Iran and Iraq reportedly discuss opening Hamas media office in Baghdad,” Times of Israel, 6-15-24.

“Iran Continues Importing Drone Parts Despite Sanctions,” Iran International, 6-15-24.

“Iran installing and starting cascades of advanced centrifuges as tensions high over nuclear program,” WPost, AP, 6-14-24.

“US Welcomes Iran’s Release of French Hostage; Calls on Tehran to End All Terrorism,” Kurdistan24, 6-14-24.

“Iranian Candidates’ Campaigns Fail to Invigorate Presidential Vote,” Iran International, 6-14-24.

“UN watchdog says Iran has activated new advanced centrifuges, plans to install more,” Times of Israel, 6-14-24.

Shamkhani is a long-time close advisor to the Supreme Leader.  “Iran’s Nuclear Point Man : We Won’t Bow to Pressure,” Iran International, 6-14-24.

“The Iranian ‘Godfather’ and his mafia-style sham elections – opinion,” JPost, 6-14-24.

“IRAN Update,” Institute for the Study of War, 6-14-24.

I’m not sure they understand AI.  Well, maybe they do when you read the story.  More good reporting from Iran International.  “Iran Seminary Urges Candidates to Use AI to Influence Voters,” Iran International, 6-14-24.

Don’t let the source (USG) fool you.  There are traditional media outlets carrying the same story.  “US Navy Faces Its Most Intense Combat Since World War II Against Yemen’s Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels,” Military.com, 6-14-24.  In short, does the world want to let Iran dictate world trade through Bab el Mandeb?  Does the world/Israel want seven months of missiles from Hezbollah to empty northern Israel of its towns?

“US says will turn up pressure on Iran if it doesn’t cooperate with UN nuclear watchdog,” Times of Israel, 6-14-24.

“Over 3 Million Child Laborers in Iran, Activist Warns,” Iran International, 6-13-24.

“Hardliners dominate Iran presidential candidates,” BBC, 6-10-24.