“Kurdish Political Prisoner Executed In Iran,” Iran International, 1-23-24.
“The security forces killed hundreds of protesters and arrested thousands. Many of the detained were accused of “moharebeh,” a broad term that means waging a war on God and is typically punishable with death.” See “Iran Executes 23-Year-Old Man in Further Crackdown on Protests,” NYT, 1-23-24.
““US stages retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, officials say,” ABC, 1-23-24.
“The rise of Iran as a Middle East superpower,” The Straits Times, 1-23-24.
“Mohammad Ghobadlou: Iran executes protester with mental health condition,” BBC, 1-23-24.
“Since November, the Iranian-backed Houthis have launched at least 34 attacks on shipping through the waterways leading up to Egypt’s Suez Canal.” See “US Navy’s Mideast chief says Iran ‘very directly involved’ in Houthi attacks on ships,” 1-23-24.
It is IRGC and Lebanese Hezbollah who are aiding the Houthis in Yemen. But for … “Iranian Military Technology and Advisers Aid Houthi Attacks in Red Sea, Officials Say,” WSJ, 1-24-24. “Among other high-end gear, Iran has provided the Houthis with drone jammers and parts for long-range rockets and missiles. The Iranians and their Lebanese Hezbollah allies have sent advisers to Yemen to help the Houthis plan and launch their attacks. … Iran’s assistance to the Houthis is handled by some of the most elite officers in the Revolutionary Guard. The head of Tehran’s operations in the country is Abdolreza Shahlai, who once oversaw attacks on U.S. soldiers in Iraq, the Western security advisers and officials said. He is now wanted by Washington with a $15 million bounty. The Western security advisers and officials said that the transfer of ballistic-missile technologies and training is overseen by Unit 340, which trained Houthi personnel in Iran and Lebanon and is led by Hamid Fazeli, a former head of Iran’s space-rocket program.”
This story is not about China. It’s about Iran’s refusal to give a red light to the Houthis. “US asks China to urge Iran to curb Red Sea attacks by Houthis -FT,” Reuters, 1-23-24.
“Iran: 2 Detainees Executed, 11 Await Imminent Execution,” Human Rights Watch, 1-23-24.
Controlling access to the ballot, along with who is on the ballot, is a mark of dictatorship. “Iran’s Regime Effectively Ends Election Weeks Before Voting Day,” Iran International, 1-23-24. “Iran’s ruling hardliners have crushed the election hopes of reformists and moderates in the parliamentary vote on March 1 by disqualifying nearly all their candidates.”
Iran has allowed women and children to be targeted, in multiple places and times. And the Navy doesn’t fabricate Iran smuggling. “Iran’s top diplomat says risk of war in the Middle East ‘has gone up,’ blames US,” ABC, 1-23-24. FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says, “We consider Hamas a Palestinian liberation group that is standing against occupation,” Amir-Abdollahian said. “Of course, we never approved the killing of women and children, civilians anywhere in the world. We never support it.” He also says regarding the evidence provided over the years and currently from the Pentagon of Iran weapons smuggling is a fabrication. “Mostly, this is a TV show,” he asserted, even though the United Nations and other foreign governments have documented similar arms transfers from Iran.” The families of the SEALs know differently.