Iran Nation or Cause

This may be the Ayatollah saying he will not negotiate over nuclear weapons.  “Iranian leader says he won’t accept demands by “bully countries” after Trump claim,” Axios, 3-8-25.

“Iran rejects Arab plan, calls for one-state solution in Gaza conflict,” JPost, 3-8-25.  Notice that Iran is rejecting Egypt and Saudi Arabia and all the League nations.  And note that Iran continues to call for Israel to expelled from the UN, which should be a red flag to the Secretary General.

It takes until the last line of the story to admit what the NYT should have led with, “monitoring Iran’s secretive moves to make atomic bombs.”  “Atomic Detectives Who Inspect Iran Sites Are Affected by Trump’s  Aid Freeze,” NYT, 3-8-25.

“Iran rejects Arab plan, calls for one-state solution in Gaza conflict,” JPost, 3-8-25.

It takes until the last line of the story to admit what the NYT should have led with, “monitoring Iran’s secretive moves to make atomic bombs.”  “Atomic Detectives Who Inspect Iran Sites Are Affected by Trump’s  Aid Freeze,” NYT, 3-8-25.

Big news.  “Trump Offers to Reopen Nuclear Talks in a Letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader,” NYT, 3-7-25.  Iran will “have to choose between curbing its fast-expanding program or losing it in a military attack.”  … “Now, the strategic environment has changed radically. The Justice Department has accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps of seeking to assassinate Mr. Trump last year; it issued indictments before Mr. Biden left office. Iran’s nuclear facilities are now exposed to attack, after Israel destroyed almost all of the air defenses protecting them in October. And Iran’s regional proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, are in no condition to threaten Israel with retaliation should the Iranian facilities come under attack. … Curiously, Mr. Pezeshkian has publicly distanced himself from Ayatollah Khamenei’s position. On Sunday, he told Parliament that he favored negotiations but had to abide by Ayatollah Khamenei’s decision. It was an unusually frank acknowledgment of the limits of the president’s power in Iran’s political system and an attempt to put the fallout of such a decision — more sanctions, worsening economy, military strikes on nuclear sites — on the ayatollah. “My position has been and will remain that I believe in negotiations, but now we have to follow the parameters set by the supreme leader,” Mr. Pezeshkian said.”

“Iran FM says no to nuclear talks with US under Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ policy,” Times of Israel, 3-7-25.

“Iran secures key gas transit route through Turkmenistan-Turkey deal – analysis,” JPost, 3-6-25.

“Iranian singer flogged 74 times after singing about hijab removal, lawyer says,” CNN, 3-6-25.

“Kremlin says Iran’s nuclear programme will be subject of future Russia-US talks,” Reuters, 3-5-25.

It is rarity because of the purpose of this blog, but this article is not directly about Iran.  It is about the freeing of Lebanon.  And begs the question of what Iran will do next regarding Hezbollah.  “State Department unfreezes $95 million in aid for the Lebanese army,” Axios, 3-4-25.  “The Aoun presidency is a historic opportunity to change the reality in Lebanon for the better,” a U.S. official told Axios. The new Lebanese government platform stated for the first time in years that only the Lebanese state and its armed forces are responsible for defending the country. It is a marked change from the previous governments, which said the state and “the resistance” — synonymous with Hezbollah — are responsible for defensing the country. State of play: As part of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, the Lebanese armed forces have been deployed to southern Lebanon, especially to areas where Hezbollah militants were positioned before the war.”  Likewise, look at this.  “Saudi Arabia to consider resuming Lebanon imports, lifting travel ban,” Al Jazeera, 3-4-25.

“Russian missile experts flew to Iran around the time of Tehran’s attacks on Israel,” Reuters, Times of Israel, 3-4-25.  Expands the definition of enabler.

“Iran looking to launch eastern terror front against Israel, Katz warns,” JPost, 3-3-24.

Having the president clearly identify the Supreme Leader as the policy decider is refreshing and doesn’t let the Leader pass the buck or blame others or triangulate, which he has for decades.  Someone has to be responsible, and this Leader has for too long tried to play the middle man and blame others for policy decisions.  Hey, while they’re at it, maybe an election for Leader would be a good thing!  Social science research indicates poor policies, poor outcomes, poor human rights, and poor people when country leaders are unaccountable and stay in power for long periods of time.  “Iran’s president says he backs US talks but aligns with Khamenei’s ban,” Iran International, 3-2-25.

He is partly a result of the haphazard form of governing in the IRI, power struggles, and part wily character.  “Iran’s vice-president Javad Zarif resigns, yet again,” Iran International, 3-2-25.  “Mohammad Javad Zarif, the architect of Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, resigned as Iran’s vice-president, state media reported Sunday, a few days after the country’s Supreme Leader voiced his opposition to holding talks with Washington. [after he had indicated Yes]. … Zarif’s resignation came after the Parliament ousted the Pezeshkian administration’s finance minister in a vote of no confidence, the IRGC-affiliated Fars News reported, citing two unnamed sources. … Many observers believed that Zarif joined the Pezeshkian administration to help negotiate another nuclear deal with world powers similar to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was scrapped by Donald Trump during his first term in office. … Zarif is no stranger to resignations, treating them almost like brief intermissions—having submitted five during his tenure under former President Hassan Rouhani. Last August, he resigned as Pezeshkian’s aide, but his departure was short-lived, as he returned as vice president for strategic affairs within a couple of weeks. In November, Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf joined hardliners in the parliament who had long been calling for Zarif’s dismissal over his son’s US citizenship. Ghalibaf called on Zarif to resign voluntarily as he, too, believed that Zarif’s appointment to the post was illegal. Led by the Paydari (Steadfastness) Party faction, ultra-hardliners in Parliament have refused to amend a 2020 law that prohibits appointing dual nationals or individuals whose spouses or children hold dual nationality to “sensitive positions” in the government. Hardliners argue the restriction applies to Zarif.”

Control and Theft.  “Iran Exploits Iraqi Financial System Through Complex Networks,” Kurdistan24, 3-1-25.

More ominous signs between these two countries.  “Explainer: How can Iran help South Africa advance its civilian nuclear program?,” Press TV, 3-1-25.

“Female singer arrested during live performance in Tehran,” Iran International, 2-28-25.

“Why Khamenei’s clerics look for the crescent moon on Friday,” Iran International, 2-28-25.  “Shia grand ayatollahs, both in Iran and abroad, traditionally insist that the crescent moon must be sighted with the naked eye for the observation to be considered valid. Yet, Khamenei and other grand ayatollahs allow the use of binoculars and other simple optical devices for moon-sighting, diverging from traditional Shia practice, which rejects modern astronomical calculations and advanced telescopes in determining the lunar calendar. Since becoming the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader in 1989, Khamenei has maintained a dedicated moon-sighting taskforce. Initially composed of 700 members in 150 groups, this year’s reports indicate that 100 groups have been deployed across the country. Taskforce members, primarily clerics well-versed in Islamic moon-sighting criteria, will repeat this process at the end of Ramadan to determine the holiday of Eid al-Fitr. … In recent years, there has reportedly been pressure on other grand ayatollahs to follow Khamenei’s lead on the matter of beginning and end of Ramadan to reinforce the Supreme Leader’s religious and political authority. While some people fast from dawn to dusk, others must be careful not to break the fasting month regulations, including a ban on eating, drinking, and smoking in all public spaces, including inside private vehicles, even if they are exempted from fasting by medical or other reasons. Law enforcement agencies strictly enforce these rules, with violators facing penalties ranging from 10 days to two months in prison or up to 74 lashes under Iran’s Islamic Penal Code. Restaurants, cafes, and street vendors are barred from serving customers before sunset. Businesses that fail to comply face serious consequences including temporary closure and cash fines. Some establishments have been allowed to discreetly offer take-away food over the last years. As in the past two years, Ramadan will partly coincide with the ancient Iranian New Year holidays—Norouz in Persian. This overlap occurs because Iran follows a solar calendar, while the Islamic calendar is lunar and approximately ten days shorter each year. In recent times, many ordinary Iranians have been deeply impacted by severe economic hardship. The overlap of Ramadan and Norouz is expected to further strain the hospitality industry and other businesses, many of which are already on the brink of bankruptcy due to a sharp decline in people’s ability to afford travel and dining out during the Norouz holidays.”

“Special report: 12 Baloch civilians killed by direct fire from Iran government forces in less than two months,” Hengaw, 2-27-25.

Perhaps anyone would impeached for Iran’s poor economy.  Perhaps the next minister will also be impeached, then the next.  “Impeachment Threat Grows for Iran’s Economy Minister Amid Rising Currency Turmoil,” NIAC, 2-27-25.

How many of these foiled attacks inside the U.S.?  A dozen in the past very recent years.  “Former Navy Sailor Plotted Attack on Behalf of Iran,” USIP Iran Primer, 2-27-25.

“Special report: 12 Baloch civilians killed by direct fire from Iran government forces in less than two months,” Hengaw, 2-27-25.

Five years is a long time.  “Secret negotiations lead to release of Dutch citizen held in Iran for five years,” NLTimes, 2-27-25.

“Iran’s government hits out at crypto again as currency freefalls,” Al Jazeera, 2-27-25.