A headline capturing large corruption at the top of Iran’s decision-making pyramid. “Cargo Ship Reportedly Owned By Iran Security Chief Impounded In India,” Iran International, February 19, 2022. “A cargo ship reportedly belonging to the sons of Iran’s top security official Ali Shamkhani has been impounded in one of India’s ports. The container vessel, named Kabul, belongs to the Admiral Shipping Company that Iranian media said is owned by Hassan and Hossein Shamkhani, the sons of the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. ILNA news agency reported on Friday that an Indian court has ordered the seizure of the ship and cargos originating or destined to Iran about 10 days ago. The container ship is impounded on charges of possessing false documents.”
“Israel said readying for signing of ‘spectacularly bad’ Iran deal next week,” Times of Israel, February 18, 2022. “TV network cites Israeli security officials warning that revived agreement won’t take into account the nuclear gains Tehran has made since Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018.”… “Referring to a leaked draft of the imminent accord, the source said Iran will not be required to destroy its advanced centrifuges under the revived agreement. Tehran will have to reduce its uranium enrichment levels, but it has already developed the capability to enrich at high levels. It will also be required to cease producing uranium metal, a crucial component of the bomb-making process. However, the source noted that Iran now has the knowledge to be able to manufacture such materials in the future. In essence, it is an agreement that leaves Iran as a nuclear threshold state,” the network said, citing the security source. “[T]he Biden administration has told Israel that Trump enabled Iran to become a “nuclear threshold state” in terms of uranium production and that a failure to revive the old agreement — as Jerusalem is hoping — would leave Tehran weeks away from accumulating enough nuclear material needed for a bomb, rather than months away from the bomb under the terms of the deal.”
The Supreme Ayatollah has spoken. “Iran Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons, Needs Atomic Energy, Says Khamenei,” Reuters, Algemeiner, February 17, 2022.
“U.S. Firm’s Tanker Illicitly Traded Iran Oil, Advocacy Group Says,” Jon Gambrell, AP, Bloomberg, February 17, 2022.
“S.Korea, Iran hold talks on resuming oil trade, unfreezing funds,” Reuters, Jerusalem Post, February 16, 2022.
“Unprecedented migration of female nurses from Iran,” NCRI, February 16, 2022.
Quote of the Day. “It is not a question of weeks, it is a question of days,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. “They [Iran] have a very clear choice, either they unleash a serious crisis in the next days… or they accept an agreement that respects the interests of all the parties.” See “France warns Iran must accept nuclear deal within days or face ‘serious crisis’,” AFP, Times of Israel, February 16, 2022.
The new Natantz underground facility. “Why is no one talking about Iran digging a new unbombable nuke facility? – analysis,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, February 16, 2022.
“Iranians Slam Russian Envoy For Honoring A Controversial Predecessor,” Iran International, February 15, 2022. Allies in the purest sense, no.
“Pakistan, Iran to form joint working group on border issues,” Asad Hashim, Al Jazeera, February 15, 2022.
“The traders alleged that the Iranians flooded the Indian markets with their apples since the Gulf country cannot import to several European markets due to the sanctions by the United States.” See “Kashmir fumes as Iranian apple eats into ‘Little Iran’s’ fruit market,” La Prensa Latina, February 15, 2022.
The status of the Yemen (Iran-backed) war. “Challenging Iran’s struggle for power in Yemen,” Neville Teller, Jerusalem Post, February 15, 2022.
It is so rare that Iran gives up hostages that it is hard for us/me to be hopeful. “Iran Says Talks Over A Prisoner Swap ‘On The Agenda In Vienna’,” Iran International, February 14, 2022. “Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman [Saeed Khatibzadeh] said on Monday that a prisoner swap with the United States was on the agenda in parallel with the nuclear talks in Vienna. … This is the first time that an Iranian official says official talks over foreigners and dual nationals detained in Iran with the United States have been on the agenda in Vienna. … Iran is holding several Western prisoners in what human rights organizations have dubbed hostage diplomacy.”
“Iran’s 25-year pact with China sparks controversy in Tehran,” Mohammed Al-Sulami, Arab News, February 14, 2022. Beyond the general informative nature of this article, I’m including it here because the Iranian Parliament insists the 25-year Iran-China Strategic Cooperation Agreement treaty with China must be ratified, and that for now is nothing more than a memorandum of understanding. But we know the Supreme Leader could say otherwise.
“Leaked Audio File Renews Allegations Of Massive IRGC Corruption,” Maryam Sinaee, Iran International, February 13, 2022.
The statement is also significant because of who said it. “Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), made the remarks in a tweet a day after millions of Iranians celebrated the 43rd anniversary of the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.” See “Iran says peaceful nuke, defense capabilities irremovable options,” Xinhua, February 13, 2022.
“Iran unveils new drone in presence of defense chief,” IFP, February 12, 2022.
Iran attempts a soft attack against Israel and Turkey. “Iranian cell caught in plot to assassinate Israeli in Istanbul, media and target say,” Times of Israel, February 11, 2022. Eight spies arrested in plot to kill businessman Yair Geller, in retaliation for killing of Iran’s nuclear chief Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2020. Turkish intel worked with Mossad, moved Geller to safehouse. Geller is Israeli-Turkish businessman who lives in Istanbul and owns an engineering company specializing in aerospace technology. The article names the cell members. A ninth person, the squad’s leader in Iran (I think part of the Quds Force), was named as Iranian intelligence officer Yasin Taheremamkendi.
“Iran celebrates anniversary of Islamic revolution,” TASS, February 11, 2022.
This is the activist living in New York whom Iran tried to kidnap from the United States (and kill or imprison). “‘Hijab is the most visible symbol of oppression, we need to bring down this wall’: Watch what Iranian anti-hijab crusader Masih Alinejad had said,” OpIndia, February 10, 2022.
When I saw this headline, it occurred to me that my perspective on Iran’s drive has been from that of an American, and to protect Israel, and other allies of freedom (including a growing number of countries in the Middle East). But this headline of Phillips’ op-ed also made me think bigger than just a U.S. citizen or academic or etc., that this topic is really worth of any individual on the planet who cares about sovereignty, peace, development, trade, international relations, trade, you name it. We as individuals should be alert if the United States or Russia or China or anyone (i.e. North Korea, Pakistan) facilitates another country with proliferation. See “How America is helping Iran get a nuclear arsenal,” Melanie Phillips, op-ed, JNS, February 10, 2022.
“’A New International of Authoritarianism’: An Interview With Iran Scholar Abbas Milani,” Omid Memarian, Dawn Mena, February 10, 2022.