Ship and crew ransom repeated.  “Iran MP Says Unfreezing $7 Billion May Help Release of South Korean Tanker,” Reuters, January 29, 2021.  It appears that the only “environmental pollution” that is happening here is the taking hostage of people and ships.  It is not normal for countries to take hostages and use them as pawns in international relations—that is a special type of political pollution.

“Biden picks Rob Malley as envoy for Iran,” Dave Lawler and Barak Ravid, Axios, January 29, 2021.

Kenya has long been eyed as a place to expand.  “Iran ready to provide hi-tech expertise to Kenya,” Tehran Times, January 29, 2021.

“The United Nations human rights office on Friday condemned an alleged spree of 28 executions in Iran, including several prisoners from minority groups, and called on Tehran to halt the hanging of an ethnic Baluchi man.”  See “U.N. condemns Iran execution spree, worried about minorities,” Reuters, January 29, 2021.