“Iran announces emergency use of 2nd domestic COVID-19 vaccine,” Xinhua, June 30, 2021. The use of only home-grown meds, or those bought from Russia or China, continues to hamper the health of the population in Iran. It does not have to be this way if Iran would accept vaccines from the West.
Quote of the day. “Considering Iran’s nuclear history, if long-range ballistic missile tests, masquerading as satellite space launches, are left unaddressed in ongoing talks, a future Iranian ICBM threat is inevitable.” See “What Iran’s Failed Satellite Launch Likely Signals,” Peter Brookes, The Daily Signal, June 30, 2021.
“Lindsey Graham: ‘Never been more worried’ about potential war between Iran, Israel,” Fox, June 30, 2021.
“Iran’s Parliament Seeks Death Penalty for “Collaborating with Enemy States”,” Center for Human Rights in Iran, June 30, 2021.
“Iran Sentences Christian Converts Under New Sectarianism Law,” Persecution.org, June 30, 2021.
Apparently a farewell to long-serving FM Zarif, and an introduction to another hardliner, Ali Bagheri Kani, as the next foreign minister. He is an outspoken opponent of the 2015 JCPOA, IAEA, cooperation with the West, supporter of the nuclear program, etc. See “Iranian press review: Nuclear deal opponent tipped as new foreign minister,” Middle East Eye, June 30, 2021.
A very unusual article for the theme of this blog, but it really fits in. This story makes the point that being radical is no way to run a country long-term, it is bad for the country and its people, but also makes it easier for opponents to spy. “Former Iranian intelligence minister: ‘Mossad has penetrated the regime’,” Neta Bar, JNS, Israel Hayom, June 30, 2021.
“Iran Diplomacy Nerves Fray as Atomic Talks Run Into Summer,” Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg, June 30, 2021.
Quote of the Day. “Iran is not capable of fundamental reform in any Western sense under this regime.” This goes back to Kissinger’s famous statement. See “The real reason America has never found common ground with Iran,” Eric Mandel, op-ed, JNS, June 30, 2021. “The Iranian regime is a fundamentalist Twelver Shi’ite revolutionary movement of true believers whose mission is to spread their repressive understanding of Islam throughout the world, including among their Sunni brethren. They are as doctrinaire as ISIS in their beliefs, except the Iranians will soon have the capability to have nuclear weapons. Since 1979, many Republicans and most Democrats have not been able to deal with this complex reality. The Achilles’ heel of American foreign policy is the false belief that all nations, including those that are horrifically repressive and sponsors of terrorists, can be induced to choose a more conciliatory and less confrontational posture to the U.S. and its allies by Western reason and economic inducement. This comes despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary that our outreach has been interpreted as a weakness. Administrations from both parties have chosen to ignore the obvious because of our Western conceit, that we know how to manipulate this regime if we only bend enough, give enough money and show respect. The manipulation masters are the Iranians. Religiously sanctioned dissimulation, also known as Taqiyya, permits deception of one’s enemy. The Iranians’ patsies are their naïve Western nuclear negotiation counterparts. None of this is new. In 2006, Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute wrote, “It is dangerous to assume that both Washington and Tehran operate from the same set of ground rules. [Former Supreme Leader Sayyid Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini] spoke of the Shi’ite concept of taqiyah…the necessity to engage in such religiously sanctioned lying…If the Islamic Republic perceives itself as under threat, its leaders may not only feel compelled to lie but may also feel justified in so doing. From a religious and political perspective, the ends justify the means.” Iran is not capable of fundamental reform in any Western sense under this regime. The quicker we understand that, the more realistic will be our foreign policy. For President Biden and previous administrations from both parties, ignoring it is a prescription for national security nightmares.”
“Iran says executing child offenders not a rights violation,” Arab News, June 30, 2021.
Notice that it is not ALL foreign vessels, just SELECTED foreign vessels. “Foreign Vessels Should Leave Persian Gulf: Iran,” Kashmir Observer, June 30, 2021.