“France, UK and Germany say Iran deal could collapse on Russian demands,” Times of India, Reuters, March 12, 2022.
Iran is targeting Pompeo, Bolton, Hook, and who else? “US pays $2M a month to protect Pompeo, aide from Iran threat,” Matthew Lee, AP, March 12, 2022.
That the Elaph news site reported this is significant. IDF’s Kohavi and Qatar’s (!) Al Nabit discussing military cooperation because of Iran’s UAV Terrorism would not have been thought of a year or more in the past, but Iran’s refusal to moderate its action is driving even Qatar to consider joining a group of Gulf states and even with Israel taking action to protect themselves. See “Kohavi met Qatar military head in Bahrain to discuss cooperation, Iran UAVs – report,” Emanuel Fabian, Times of Israel, March 11, 2022.
“Iran Nuclear Talks Break Off Without a Deal,” Laurence Norman, Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2022.
“Why Iran and Hezbollah Are Quietly Applauding Putin’s War on Ukraine,” Jason Brodsky and David Daoud, op-ed, Haaretz, March 10, 2022.
The key quote—“Regional presence gives us strategic depth and more power. Why should we give it up? Scientific progress in the nuclear field is related to our future needs, and if we give that up, will anyone help us in the future?” he added. See “Khamenei: Iran won’t give up ‘defensive power, regional presence, nuclear progress’,” Times of Israel, March 10, 2022.
“Iran launches second military satellite amid nuclear deal talks,” Air Force Technology, March 9, 2022. The IRGC launched the Noor-II satellite for recon.
Pres. Biden, say it isn’t so. This money will be used for nefarious purposes. “Iran to Regain up to $130.5 Billion,” Carine Hajjar, National Review, March 9, 2022.
This is a step that the Administration should already be acting on. “Republicans Pushing To Bar Oil Imports From Iran,” Iran International, March 9, 2022.
“Iran tries to deliver arms via drone to Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” Seth Frantzman, Defense News, March 8, 2022.
In another article that is head scratching, the interest in Iran assassinating former U.S. officials is not dissuading our involvement in new JCPOA. They want to kill Pompeo, Bolton, and Hook. “U.S. intelligence shows Iran threats on U.S. soil, but Blinken and Schiff say this shouldn’t derail new nuclear deal,” Margaret Brennan, CBS, March 8, 2022.
Iran adjusting stance after Russia’s new demands at nuclear talks. “Supreme National Security Council says negotiators in Vienna will seek ‘creative ways’ to proceed as Moscow links efforts to save 2015 pact to US sanctions over Ukraine invasion,” Amir Vahdat and Jon Gambrell, Times of Israel, March 7, 2022.
“Blinken rejects Russian demand to not link sanctions with Iran deal,” AFP, March 6, 2022.
“Blinken rejects Russian demand to not link sanctions with Iran deal,” AFP, March 6, 2022.
This important JCPOA/nuclear weapons news is a reminder of the international relations theory of realism, and of the importance of the U.S. needing to stand firm for freedom (against Russia and Iran), and a reminder that it is difficult for countries to stick together who have motives that are less than (select your adjective) for their own people. This news is being carried by multiple news outlets. “Russia’s demand for US guarantees may stall nuclear talks, says Iran official,” Middle East Eye, March 5, 2022. But it is bigger than the negative actions by Russia against Ukraine. Both Russia and China are asking “for written guarantee from Washington that its trade, investment and military cooperation with Iran will not be hindered by US sanctions.”
We will believe it when we see it, as this claim is against years of practice by Iran. “Iran to answer UN nuclear questions as deal talks near end,” Philipp Jenne and Jon Gambrell, AP, Aspen Daily News, March 5, 2022. “Today, Tehran enriches uranium up to 60% purity — its highest level ever and a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90% and far greater than the nuclear deal’s 3.67% cap. Its stockpile of enriched uranium also continues to grow, worrying nuclear nonproliferation experts that Iran could be closer to the threshold of having enough material for an atomic weapon if it chose to pursue one.”
The type of story that some of us have seen often—the last minute request or revelation. “Iran Nuclear Deal Threatened by Russian Demands Over Ukraine Sanctions,” Wall Street Journal, March 5, 2022.
“Biden’s Dangerous Iran Deal,” National Review, March 4, 2022. “The problem then and now is the same — the JCPOA never prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, it allowed it to continue ballistic-missile development, and it ignored Iran’s status as the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism. The deal’s billions in sanctions relief (to say nothing of the ransom payments) have funded the brutality of the regime and its proxies.” … “One of the main failures of the original Iran deal was that even if the regime followed all of its provisions, it would remain on a long-term glide path to nuclear weapons, as the deal’s restrictions began to sunset within ten years of its 2016 implementation. But given Iran’s advancements since the original deal, Tehran is currently enriching uranium at up to 60 percent purity, producing uranium metal, and hiding stockpiles of fissile material from the IAEA. As a result, the Islamic Republic has a breakout time of under six months.” … “The original JCPOA capped enrichment at 3.67 percent. Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said that even if Vienna ends up again in a JCPOA-style deal, Iran will continue to enrich at up to 20 percent — the threshold for being considered highly enriched and a crucial hurdle in the path to nuclearization.”
“Iran, U.S. Close to Reviving Iranian Nuclear Deal,” Laurence Norman, Wall Street Journal, March 3, 2022. “U.S. and Iranian officials cautioned there was at least one big issue that still needed solving: Iran has been pushing for more sanctions relief if the nuclear deal is restored. In particular, it wants the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be taken off Washington’s most significant terror sanctions list, the Foreign Terrorist Organization.” This would be such a bad step by the Biden Administration—green lighting the IRGC to more easily do terrorism. A terrible decision.
Uh oh, a scorched launch pad. “Satellite photos show Iran had another failed space launch,” Jon Gambrell, AP, March 3, 2022.
“Iran releases activist who opposed Internet control bill,” Manistee News Advocate, March 3, 2022.
