Two things to note here while Iran heats up the Middle East as negotiations for the JCPOA are offered.  First, the very large blue and white ship is a symbol of Israel (and belongs to an Israeli).  Iran by attacking this ship was attacking Israel.  Here’s what the PM has now said.  “Iran is the greatest enemy of Israel, I am determined to halt it. We are hitting it in the entire region.”  Second, Israel will respond.  Overnight it attacked targets in Syria.  There will be more.  See “Netanyahu accuses Iran of attacking Israeli-owned cargo ship,” Ilan Ben Zion, AP, March 1, 2021.  It is not normal when one country (Iran) wants negotiations that it (Iran) responds with attacks, thinking that the use of violence and the threat of more drives other countries to bargain.  This is the twisted state of logic and violence that is often seen in IRI foreign affairs.

Iran’s earlier agreement with the IAEA to allow snap inspections cannot be withdrawn and used as a negotiating tool.  “With Iran and U.S. at loggerheads over deal, U.N. nuclear agency chief warns inspections should not be used as a ‘bargaining chip’,” Loveday Morris, Washington Post, March 1, 2021.

While not a surprise, it is still noteworthy to see that Iran is watching targets.  That is offensive, not defensive, use of technology.  “The 60 Minutes report revealed new details about the timing of the evacuation, and how Iran tried to use commercially available satellite imagery to monitor the base.”  …  “They would have seen airplanes on the ground and people working,” said McKenzie. “I think they expected to destroy a number of U.S. aircraft and to kill a number of U.S. service members.”  In other words, when you target people with ballistic missiles, that is not a warning.  See “Report: Iran used commercial satellite images to monitor US forces before attack,” Nathan Strout, C4ISR.NET, March 1, 2021.

Note what the story doesn’t say—Who says Iran and Turkey have authority to assert themselves over part of Iraq?  “Iran and Turkey appear to be on collision course in Iraq – analysis,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, March 1, 2021.