Month: December 2024

“Iran security chief says ‘new resistance’ against Israel to emerge in Syria,” New Arab, 12-31-24.

“Iran to unveil Pars-2 Satellite on Rev. victory anniversary,” Mehr, 12-31-24.

“Khamenei allows policy review to ease Iran’s trade restrictions,” Iran International, 12-31-24.  I’ll go ahead and post the entire story—Iran refuses to be transparent with its banking because it finances terror.  “Iran’s economy minister announced on Tuesday that the Supreme Leader has approved revisiting two critical international conventions required to ease banking restrictions resulting from Iran’s blacklisting by the money laundering watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Abdolnaser Hemmati wrote on X, “The president informed me that the Supreme Leader has approved revisiting the Palermo and CFT bills related to the FATF in the Expediency Discernment Council.”  The Expediency Discernment Council, which mediates disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council (a constitutional watchdog), became involved after parliament approved the legislation but the Guardian Council rejected the two bills concerning the Palermo and CFT conventions regulating money laundering and financing of terror groups.  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 member countries to safeguard the international financial system, influences banking policies in most countries and guides businesses aiming to protect their own integrity and reputations.  Iran’s status on the FATF blacklist has had a major impact on its international banking operations. The country remains on the list of high-risk countries with serious strategic deficiencies in countering money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.  Iran needs to finalize legislation enabling the enactment of two international conventions: the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention).  The dispute between the parliament and the Guardian Council was referred to the Expediency Council in 2019 for arbitration.  The Expediency Council has stalled the matter since then, neither approving nor rejecting the bills. The inaction is apparently due to objections from hardliners, such as the Chairman of the Expediency Council Sadeq Amoli Larijani, who argue that joining the conventions would harm Iran’s national security by exposing its dealings with regional Tehran-backed allies—precisely the activities these international agreements are designed to address.  “If you ask my personal opinion, Palermo and CFT are extremely detrimental to national security,” Larijani said in 2020.  Iran will remain on the FATF’s list of High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action until it fully implements its action plan, including ratifying the Palermo and CFT. Only then will the FATF consider next steps, such as suspending countermeasures.  The FATF says it remains concerned about the terrorist financing risk from Iran and its threat to the international financial system until these measures are implemented.  Even if Iran joins the FATF, more must be done to attract foreign investment, Mohammad Khazaei, Secretary-General of the Iranian Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), said earlier in the year.”

Quote of the Day:  Iran International’s Israel correspondent Babak Itzhaki.  “Itzhaki said he wasn’t surprised by the plot, telling the Israeli outlet, “This isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time they plan to kidnap me. They threaten all Iran International employees around the world. … We broadcast using about 15 satellites to Iran, no one can block us. Even the most remote villages, if they have a little dish they can watch us. They know that for real news they need to open Iran International. The [regime] sees this and they want to silence us,” he said.”  See “Tehran sought to lure Iranian-Israeli journalist to Turkey, kidnap him – report,” Times of Israel, 12-30-24.

Remember, this is a 25-year plan over many facets of relations.  The article recounts “youth, education, sports, science and technology, culture, tourism, ecological and environmental protection, health, radio and television, and deepen people-to-people, sub-national and sister-city exchanges.”  But it is oil, military, intelligence, etc.  In short, China believes it must have Iran in order to move forward with its own plans for domination.  “China, Iran agree to further implement comprehensive cooperation plan,” The State Council of China, 12-29-24.

“Italian journalist’s arrest in Iran alleged to be reprisal for detention of suspected arms dealer,” Guardian, 12-29-24.

“Protests break out in Tehran’s historic bazaar over inflation, rial devaluation,” Iran International, 12-29-24.

This is not a meeting with the Red Cross.  “Iran’s foreign minister lands in China amid regional and domestic turmoil,” Al Monitor, 12-28-24.

Israel has tried for years to warn Syria and diminish ties between this proxy and Iran’s bad use of its territory.  “Mossad chief was set to meet Assad in 2019 in bid to cut Syria-Iran ties — report,” Times of Israel, 12-28-24.

This blog will always read Iranian government media mouthpieces (or foreign empowering sources), and occasionally post their reports.  They provide crucial evidence, when contrasted against the free press that we rely on, of deception and what we prefer, reality.  “Iran seeks calm rather than chaos in Syria: FM,” Xinhua, 12-28-24.

To silence opponents.  Also, to raise some ransom cash (although this would be after three or four or five years in Evin Prison).  “Report: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard plotted to lure and kidnap Israeli journalist,” Ynet, 12-28-24.  “IranWire reported Saturday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) planned to kidnap Babak Eshaghi, an Israeli journalist working for the Saudi-funded opposition channel Iran International.”

This is part of the ongoing efforts for independence in SE Iran.  “Suicide bomber kills police commander in southern Iran – media reports,” Reuters, 12-28-24.

I don’t normally have cause for citing news from Ireland regarding this blog’s purpose.  But with the public spat between Ireland and Israel, when you see the story below it starts to dawn that a longer issue has been happening out of known view.  It is important to encourage, in appropriate ways, autocratic regimes to move to openness.  Certainly not to implicitly back the world’s leader in terror and center of the Shia Crescent.  Ireland’s leadership needs to choose not to empower.  “Cost of reopening Irish Embassy in Iran tops €1.6m,” The Irish Times, 12-28-24.

“Power Outages Halt 50% of Iran’s Industrial Parks, Sparking Economic Concerns,” Iran Focus, 12-28-24.

“Analysis: Iran’s waning influence in the Arab world,” FDD’s Long War Journal, 12-28-24.

“Half of Iran’s industrial capacity halted by energy crisis,” Iran International, 12-28-24.

“Analysis: Iran’s waning influence in the Arab world,” Long War Journal, 12-28-24.

“A Comprehensive Strategy for Democratic Transition in Iran,” Middle East Forum, 12-27-24.

In and out of Iran, no one is safe.  862 known cases of extra judicial killings compiled by the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for human rights in Iran.  “’There once lived a person’: Inside the grim chronicle of Iran’s assassinations,” Iran International, 12-27-24.

“Structural Crises in Iran: Unmanageable Challenges and a Rift Between the People and the Regime,” Iran Focus, 12-27-24.

This is not the European Union.  “Iran gains observer status in Eurasian Economic Union,” Tehran Times, 12-27-24.

“Italy says Iran has detained journalist Cecilia Sala for a week, and it’s still not clear why,” CBS, 12-27-24.  See also “Italian journalist arrested in Iran and held in notorious Evin prison,” Financial Times, 12-27-24.

Iran continues the green light.  “Houthis vow to continue attacking Israel despite strikes on Yemen,” BBC, 12-27-24.

Not the first ISI president to say this.  Will he be the last?  “President Pezeshkian says Iran wants peace with region,” Iran International, 12-26-24.  The story has it right—“Pezeshkian’s call for diplomacy stands in contrast to the Supreme Leader’s persistent rejection of normalization with the West and Israel, suggesting that Iran’s pursuit of peace may remain contingent upon maintaining its ideological and geopolitical conflicts.”

“Iran Update, December 26, 2024,” Critical Threats, 12-26-24.  “Iran is also making remarks that risk stoking sectarian tension. Senior Iranian officials, including the supreme leader, have repeatedly suggested that the Syrian youth will “rise up” in Syria.[xiii] The Iranian supreme leader compared these “Syrian youth” to the Iraqi militia groups that systematically hunted down and killed Sunni civilians in Baghdad as part of a campaign of sectarian cleansing in Iraq.[xiv] Core HTS fighters from Jabhat al Nusra and al Qaeda in Iraq, like Shara, are intimately familiar with the Iraqi context and would presumably read “Syrian youth” as a much more sectarian call than it immediately appears. Sectarian Iranian remarks would provide an opening for Sunni sectarian elements in Syria to portray all Alawites and Shia as pro-Iranian proxies to justify a violent crackdown. Syrian Foreign Affairs Minister Asaad Hassan al Shaibani responded to these Iranian statements. He warned Iran against “spreading chaos in Syria” and stated that Syria will hold Iran “accountable for the repercussions of [its] latest remarks,” likely referring to ongoing rhetoric from senior Iranian officials suggesting that Syrian youth will “rise up” in Syria.”

Good news.  Lebanon has to pivot from Iran and Hezbollah’s influence and control.  “Lebanese army chief visits Saudi Arabia to discuss military cooperation,” AA, 12-26-24.

This headline is funny.  The only ones making this announcement are in the Crescent with the proxy the Houthis.  No other countries or groups agree.  “Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah denounce Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen,” Iran International, 12-26-28.

“After Assad’s fall, Iraq may break free from Iran’s grip,” Israel Hayom, 12-25-24.  Like Lebanon’s citizens, the people of Iraq are faced with the decision to go with Iran or go with freedom.  The same for Iraqi PM Sudani.  BTW, this article reports an appearance by Iraq’s Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the highest Shiite authority in country, who refused “to issue a religious ruling calling for the disarmament of the militias. The elderly Ayatollah refused the American request, and according to a report in Iran, he also recently declined to meet with a representative of the UN Secretary-General who sought to discuss the same issue.”  Sounds like Sistani, faced with the opportunity to break free from Iran, is choosing poorly.  I hope there’s not corruption involved.

This tells you what you need to know about the temperature in Tehran.  “After backlash, Iran backs down from renaming Tehran street after Sinwar,” Iran International, 12-25-24.

Iran’s Regime can’t help itself.  But the Leader is rudderless without Syria in the Shia Crescent.  “Syria’s new rulers warn Tehran: Stop creating chaos,” Iran International, 12-24-24.  “Syria’s new foreign minister warned Iran to refrain from “spreading chaos” in Syria after a call by Iran’s ruler for Syria’s youth to rise up against the country’s new Sunni Islamist leaders. “Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people and the country’s sovereignty and security. We warn them from spreading chaos in Syria and we hold them accountable for the repercussions of the latest remarks,” Assad Hassan al-Shibani’s said on X. His remarks, made on Monday, are the most direct and public warning by Syria’s new rulers to Tehran since the fall of Tehran’s ally, President Bashar al-Assad. The reaction follows calls from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei On December 22, who said: “We predict that a strong and honorable movement will emerge in Syria, as the Syrian youth now have nothing to lose. “Their schools, universities, homes, and streets are unsafe, so they must stand resolutely against those who design and execute insecurity and overcome them with determination.” Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former rebel leader who now holds power in Syria, had previously criticized the Islamic Republic for its meddling in Syria by participating in the civil war since 2011, supporting the decades-long Assad dynasty. He blamed Iran’s military presence and its allied militias which supported Assad for the death and displacement of millions of Syrians. However, this is the first time Syria’s new officials have openly responded to remarks by Khamenei and other Iranian officials who oppose the group who deposed al-Assad in record time, and are now receiving international support. Iran sided with Assad in the early days of a popular movement in Syria demanding a change of government. Soon Tehran began deploying troops and fighters to defend the government against protesters and rebels. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians died in the ensuing 13-year civil war. … Last week, Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said Syria’s opposition had “set the Iranian project in the region back by 40 years,” signaling a major shift in Syria’s stance toward Iran.”

To curry favor.  Only a matter of time before the restrictions are reinstated.  “Iran lifts ban on WhatsApp and Google Play, state media says,” Reuters, 12-24-24.

This kind of attitude from the NYT continues to miss opportunities to lead Iran to change from being a revolutionary cause.  The NYT also blames the 2016 Trump administration of taking steps (leaving the JCPOA) that resulted in Iran’s reinstating its drive toward nuclear and pulling out of the deal’s requirements, but the NYT is wrong on this also.  Iran pulled out because Iran decided it needed the blackmail and the power.  Don’t believe this critique of the NYT?  Then consider this, this article equates the two countries presidents as being the decision makers, but everyone, everyone knows that the Iranian Supreme Leader is supreme and is the decision maker in the Regime.  In fact, the NYT doesn’t even mention the Supreme Leader, a real oversite.  See “Trump Will Confront a More Vulnerable but Determined Iran,” NYT, 12-24-24.

“Iran plagued by energy crisis partially caused by strikes attributed to Israel,” Times of Israel, 12-22-24.

“Iran uses D-8 economic summit to push anti-US, anti-Israel agenda – analysis,” JPost, 12-22-24.

“Sudden rumors of Iranian president’s resignation refuted,” Iran International, 12-22-24.

“Khamenei says Iran does not have or need proxy forces in Middle East,” AFP, Times of Israel, 12-22-24.  In the largest prevarication of the end of 2024, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “The Islamic Republic does not have a proxy force. Yemen fights because it has faith. Hezbollah fights because the power of faith draws it into the field. Hamas and [the Islamic] Jihad fight because their beliefs compel them to do so. They do not act as our proxy.  They [the Americans] keep saying that the Islamic Republic has lost its proxy forces in the region! This is another mistake.  If one day we want to take action, we do not need a proxy force.”  Let’s hear it for AFP and ToI, who responded as every other news source should have replied, writing, “Assad had long played a strategic role in Iran’s anti-Israel axis of resistance, particularly in facilitating the supply of weapons to Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. The axis of resistance also includes Hamas, the Houthis and smaller Shia militia groups in Iraq, all of which are united in their opposition to Israel and its main backer the United States.”

“Iran recruits children to attack Israeli targets in Europe – Bloomberg,” Iran International, 12-21-24.