Month: January 2025

“Iran’s Leader expresses condolences over martyrdom of two senior judges in Tehran,” Iran Front Page, 1-19-25.

Quote of the Day.  Let’s see how Iran responds.  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is urging President-elect Donald Trump to go after Iran with force. The target: Tehran’s nuclear program. The country is now a “de facto nuclear threshold state,” and Graham doesn’t believe diplomacy will stop Iran from eventually crossing the threshold. … “There’s a one in trillion chance you’ll degrade the Iranian nuclear program through diplomacy,” Graham told Margaret Brennan on Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “There’s a 90% chance you’ll degrade it through military action by Israel, supported by the United States. So the next topic I will be engaging in with President Trump is to take this moment in time to decimate the Iran nuclear program because they’re so exposed.” … “This is a religious Nazi regime,” Graham told Brennan. “They want to destroy the Jewish state. They want to purify Islam and drive us out of the Mideast. It would be like negotiating with Hitler. I am hoping there will be an effort by Israel to decimate the Iran nuclear program supported by the United States, and, if we don’t do that, it will be a historical mistake.”  See “Lindsey Graham wants military action against Iran’s nuclear program,” Politico, 1-19-25.

“Iran court sentences pop singer Tataloo to death for insulting Prophet Muhammad,” AFP, 1-19-25.

The value of life, which the Regime doesn’t understand.  But it tried to snuff out.  Israel lives on.  “Hostages Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher in IDF hands after 471 days | LIVE BLOG,” i24, 1-18-25.

We don’t know more at this point.  “Two Prominent Judges Are Shot Dead Outside Iran’s Supreme Court,” NYT, 1-18-25.  See also, “Gunman shoots dead 2 judges in Iran’s capital tied to 1988 mass executions,” AP, 1-18-25.

“What are Russia’s strategic treaties with Iran, North Korea and China?,” Reuters, 1-17-25.

“A call that could change history: Trump and Pezeshkian’s moment to forge peace,” The Hill, 1-17-25.  This blog has regularly called out Seyed Hossein Mousavian of Princeton as a shill for Iran.  In Mousavian’s call for the U.S. to come to peace, he does not address Iran, nuclear weapons program, oppression of women and minorities and political opponents, the “Axis of Resistance,” its destabilizing activities across the Middle East, the Shia Crescent, terrorism with a capital T, missiles, relationship with Russia and China, dedication to the destruction of Israel, closing of the strait by support for the Houthis, direction of Iran’s proxies, the assassination attempts, and it support for Hezbollah, among other topics.

“Russia and Iran move to strengthen military ties,” BBC, 1-17-25.  “Russia and Iran have agreed to closer military co-operation, in a move announced during a visit to Moscow by President Masoud Pezeshkian. The two countries signed a 20-year “strategic partnership” treaty, covering areas ranging from defence and technology to energy and trade. Iran already supplies drones to Russia, as well as, according to Western intelligence, ballistic missiles. Russia has cultivated closer ties with Iran, along with China and North Korea, since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. In the treaty, Russia and Iran pledged to consult and co-operate to deal with military and security threats, as well as taking part in joint military exercises on both their territories and beyond. They also agreed not to allow their territories to be used for actions that threatened the other side. Iran’s President Pezeshkian said the signing of the accord meant that Russia and Iran were entering a new chapter of relations. Trade between the two countries could be significantly enhanced by more co-operation in the energy sector. During a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country was considering building new nuclear power units in Iran. Moscow is also seeking to sell some of its surplus gas to Tehran. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the EU has significantly reduced imports of gas from Russia, spurring Moscow to sign up new customers. A planned gas pipeline from Russia to Iran, which the countries are negotiating, will be laid through the territory of Azerbaijan if realised, Interfax news agency reported on Friday, quoting Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev. Russia could eventually supply up to 55 billion cubic metres of gas per year to Iran, said Putin.”

“Iran [the IRGC] says Gaza ceasefire is a ‘victory’ for Palestinian resistance,” Reuters, 1-16-25.

“Iran-Russia Space Cooperation Deepens as Pezeshkian Visits Moscow,” Stimson, 1-16-25.

“Iraq wants Iran-backed factions to lay down weapons, foreign minister says,” Reuters, 1-16-25.

“Russia-Iran pact will not include mutual defence clause, TASS cites Iranian envoy,” Reuters, 1-16-25.

Iran didn’t have a choice, Hamas is too weak.  33 to be released in phases, more food into Gaza, other parts of deal not announced yet.  “Qatar announces historic ceasefire, hostage release between Israel and Hamas,” i24, 1-15-25.

Look, Zarif is back in the news!  If true, his statements are embarrassing to the ISI because they couldn’t spot it, nor the pagers.  Hey Zarif, why are those Western sanctions in place?  “Iranian VP accuses Israel of planting explosives in centrifuges,” i24, 1-15-25.

“Another Iranian terrorist attempt foiled in Azerbaijan,” i24, 1-15-25.  “Azerbaijan is a frequent location for IRGC attempts to carry out terrorist attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets, with the highly experienced local security service foiling most plots.  …  Azerbaijan is a preferable target for the IRGC due to its alliance with Israel. Most of the fuel in Israel comes from Azerbaijan, which also procures Israeli weapons, needed to guarantee its security from the hostile neighbors. In 2013 the now-late IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani created and named a special proxy organization for spreading Khomeinist ideology inside Azerbaijan, Hussainiyoun. Its purpose—to overthrow the secular Azerbaijani government, which Tehran calls a “Zionist proxy.””

“Iran president denies plot to kill Trump, calls for him to pursue peace,” Al Jazeera, 1-15-25.

“Tehran analyst foresees regional dynamics shifting in Iran’s favor,” Iran International, 1-15-25.

“Iran’s navy unveils its first signals intelligence ship,” Reuters, 1-15-25.

Iran wants Russia’s backing for the three disputed islands in the Persian Gulf.  “Iran Spurns Russia’s Crimea Annexation in New Strategic Treaty,” Newsweek, 1-15-25.

Iran is not able to keep this from happening.  Cut the losses and go.  But their taking was very much the intent of the Regime.  “Hamas expected to release 33 hostages in first phase of emerging ceasefire deal, Israeli officials say,” CNN, 1-14-25.

“Israel exposes Iranian plot to lure businessman to UAE,” 1-14-25.  “An Israeli citizen received messages allegedly from a Saudi news channel on Telegram, reaching out to him so he would travel to the UAE • Attempts were made to send malware to his phone.  …  Iran’s malicious operations are “accelerating.” He said that the agents display creativity, disguising their intentions with “business talk or academia and conferences, or medical representatives – and the aim is to bring these Israelis to third countries where the Iranians have infrastructure to harm Israelis.”

“Iran ‘never’ plotted to kill Trump during campaign, Iran’s president tells NBC News,” NBC, 1-14-25.  Quote of the Day:  “Asked about the reported plot against Trump outlined by U.S. authorities, Pezeshkian said: “This is another one of those schemes that Israel and other countries are designing to promote Iranophobia. … Iran has never attempted to nor does it plan to assassinate anyone.”  Hmmm.

“Iranian army takes delivery of 1,000 new drones,” Reuters, 1-13-25.

We will have to see what is in the (public parts of the) treaty.  “Russia, Iran to Sign ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ Treaty – Kremlin,” Moscow Times, AFP, 1-13-25.

Not a one-for-one, but a bad for a good.  Hostage taking works again.  “Italy releases Iranian national detained on terrorism charges, Tehran says,” Iran International, 1-12-25.

“Iran Update, January 12, 2025,” ISW, 1-12-25.

Iran won this one.  “Italy releases Iranian man wanted by U.S. over drone attack that killed 3 soldiers,” NPR, 1-12-25.

“California fire framed by Iranian media as an act of divine wrath,” Iran International, 1-11-25.  “A representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei also called the California fires “God’s revenge against the leaders of America” over what he called their complicity in Israel’s war in Gaza.”

The pictures of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami, including his review of underground missiles, prompts this story.  “Iran holding war games as it faces Israel tensions, Trump’s return,” JPost, 1-11-25.

A great WSJ story about how Iran’s oil is taken in by China, and how the tables are now turned with a U.S. president in office who will enforce oil sanctions.  “Iran Races to Sell Oil Stored in China,” WSJ, 1-11-25.  But check out the billboard picture in the story of Regime characters and allies; these figures need to repainted because they are now MIA.

Such a poor idea to move to the Makran region.  Or anywhere else.  “Iran’s plan to move capital south faces major challenges,” Iran International, 1-10-25.

We will probably never know why or how this happened.  Suspicious always.  “Swiss citizen found dead in Iranian prison,” Swiss Info, 1-10-25.

“Iran releases footage of underground missile base used in attack on Israel,” Iran International, 1-10-25.

“$50 billion to Syria vanished into thin air: Unrest in Iran grows over economic turmoil – interview,” JPost, 1-10-25.