The principle of FIRST releasing hostages needs to be followed by the Biden Administration to hold Iran accountable. Note what Xiyue Wang says about Malley and Rhodes and the import of stopping the human rights violation of hostage taking. See “American Who Was Political Prisoner in Iran Slams Possible Appointment of Robert Malley as Special Envoy,” Algemeiner, January 24, 2021.
“Indonesian authorities said that they seized an Iranian tanker and Panamanian tanker suspected of carrying out the illegal transfer of oil in their country’s waters Sunday. The tankers — the Iranian-flagged MT Horse and the Panamanian-flagged MT Frea — were seized in waters off Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, said Wisnu Pramadita, a spokesman for the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency. He said the tankers are suspected of a variety of violations, including not displaying national flags, shutting off their identification systems, anchoring illegally as well as the illegal transfer fuel between ships and spilling oil. “Indonesia says it has seized Iranian and Panamanian tankers,” Edna Tarigan, AP, Click2Houston, January 24, 2021.
“Nukes, terror, Syria, Iraq, Hezbollah – Iran’s tentacles are spreading,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, January 24, 2021. “Iran has often used the nuclear program to distract from its real desire: Regional hegemony.”
A country that was planning to use nuclear power for peaceful means or as a tool for regional hegemony would not have these conditions. “Iran said to lay out 7 preconditions to US for renewal of nuclear deal,” Lazar Berman, Times of Israel, January 24, 2021. “Iran will not accept a partial lifting of sanctions because Tehran considers the JCPOA an indivisible agreement. The report said that Iran would demand that the US implement all aspects of the deal, including the full lifting of sanctions, if it wants to re-enter the accords. Secondly, any disagreements over the accords must be discussed within the framework of the official negotiating committees. One of these anticipated disagreements is Tehran’s demand for compensation for financial losses it incurred due to the Trump administration’s exit from the deal, notably the financial impact of the sanctions. The third condition was said to be that Tehran will not accept linkage between the nuclear deal and other issues, including its missile program and activities throughout the Middle East. The fourth demand was reportedly that Iran will not accept any new members into the deal beyond the P5+1, including any Gulf Arab states. Fifthly, any issues involving other regional states must be discussed separately, and not as part of the nuclear talks. The sixth point was said to be that while Iran will not discuss its missile program, it is open to talking about regional arms control under the supervision of the United Nations and was said to be especially concerned about Israeli missiles and nuclear weapons. Finally, Iran will not accept a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, and insists on a UN referendum of Palestinians and Jewish Israelis on “land.” There were no further details given on the content of the potential referendum.”
“Iran, Armenia ink MOU on expansion of trade ties,” Tehran Times, January 24, 2021.
“Who Is Quds Force Chief Esmail Qaani?,” Erfan Fard, BESA, January 24, 2021.
“No, Twitter Did Not Suspend Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader,” Haaertz, January 24, 2021.
“Iran must prove it is serious before Gulf talks can begin,” Mohammed Al-Sulami, op-ed, Arab News, January 24, 2021.
“Trials of Locally-Made COVID-19 Vaccines to Start in Iran,” Ilham Karimli, Caspian News, January 24, 2021.