Iran Nation or Cause

Iran is not able to keep this from happening.  Cut the losses and go.  But their taking was very much the intent of the Regime.  “Hamas expected to release 33 hostages in first phase of emerging ceasefire deal, Israeli officials say,” CNN, 1-14-25.

“Israel exposes Iranian plot to lure businessman to UAE,” 1-14-25.  “An Israeli citizen received messages allegedly from a Saudi news channel on Telegram, reaching out to him so he would travel to the UAE • Attempts were made to send malware to his phone.  …  Iran’s malicious operations are “accelerating.” He said that the agents display creativity, disguising their intentions with “business talk or academia and conferences, or medical representatives – and the aim is to bring these Israelis to third countries where the Iranians have infrastructure to harm Israelis.”

“Iran ‘never’ plotted to kill Trump during campaign, Iran’s president tells NBC News,” NBC, 1-14-25.  Quote of the Day:  “Asked about the reported plot against Trump outlined by U.S. authorities, Pezeshkian said: “This is another one of those schemes that Israel and other countries are designing to promote Iranophobia. … Iran has never attempted to nor does it plan to assassinate anyone.”  Hmmm.

“Iranian army takes delivery of 1,000 new drones,” Reuters, 1-13-25.

We will have to see what is in the (public parts of the) treaty.  “Russia, Iran to Sign ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ Treaty – Kremlin,” Moscow Times, AFP, 1-13-25.

Not a one-for-one, but a bad for a good.  Hostage taking works again.  “Italy releases Iranian national detained on terrorism charges, Tehran says,” Iran International, 1-12-25.

“Iran Update, January 12, 2025,” ISW, 1-12-25.

Iran won this one.  “Italy releases Iranian man wanted by U.S. over drone attack that killed 3 soldiers,” NPR, 1-12-25.

“California fire framed by Iranian media as an act of divine wrath,” Iran International, 1-11-25.  “A representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei also called the California fires “God’s revenge against the leaders of America” over what he called their complicity in Israel’s war in Gaza.”

The pictures of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami, including his review of underground missiles, prompts this story.  “Iran holding war games as it faces Israel tensions, Trump’s return,” JPost, 1-11-25.

A great WSJ story about how Iran’s oil is taken in by China, and how the tables are now turned with a U.S. president in office who will enforce oil sanctions.  “Iran Races to Sell Oil Stored in China,” WSJ, 1-11-25.  But check out the billboard picture in the story of Regime characters and allies; these figures need to repainted because they are now MIA.

Such a poor idea to move to the Makran region.  Or anywhere else.  “Iran’s plan to move capital south faces major challenges,” Iran International, 1-10-25.

We will probably never know why or how this happened.  Suspicious always.  “Swiss citizen found dead in Iranian prison,” Swiss Info, 1-10-25.

“Iran releases footage of underground missile base used in attack on Israel,” Iran International, 1-10-25.

“$50 billion to Syria vanished into thin air: Unrest in Iran grows over economic turmoil – interview,” JPost, 1-10-25.

Accurate.  “Fall of Assad ‘serious blow’ to Iranian axis, general says,” i24NEWS, 1-9-25.

I want to hear, and haven’t, what these cantons would work, and what Iran says in response.  “Israel mulls calling int’l conference to divide Syria into cantons – report,” i24, 1-9-25.

For the battlefield, targeting.  “Iran unveils new loitering drone, announces drone buildup,” Iran International, 1-9-25.

Actually, the story gets it wrong.  Ruhollah Khomeini was responsible.  “The Shah lost Iran not Jimmy Carter, aide says in eulogy,” Iran International, 1-9-25.

Don’t use too much of that ammo in practice, they probably think they need to store it up.  “Iran puts on show of force with war games ahead of Trump’s second term,” CBS, 1-9-25.

“Japanese crime leader pleads guilty to conspiring to sell nuclear materials to Iran,” NPR, AP, 1-9-25.  “The purported leader of a Japan-based crime syndicate pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges alleging that he conspired to traffic uranium and plutonium from Myanmar in the belief that Iran would use it for nuclear weapons. Takeshi Ebisawa, 60, of Japan, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court to weapons and narcotics trafficking charges that carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and the possibility of life behind bars. Sentencing was set for April 9. Prosecutors say Ebisawa didn’t know he was communicating in 2021 and 2022 with a confidential source for the Drug Enforcement Administration along with the source’s associate, who posed as an Iranian general. Ebisawa was arrested in April 2022 in Manhattan during a DEA sting. … Prosecutors said samples of the alleged nuclear materials were obtained and a U.S. federal lab found they contained uranium, thorium and plutonium, and that the “the isotope composition of the plutonium” was weapons-grade, meaning enough of it would be suitable for use in a nuclear weapon.”

“Iran faces another setback as US-backed Aoun elected Lebanese president,” Iran International, 1-9-25.  “His presidency, he added, would strive toward giving the state the exclusive right to carry arms, a statement likely aimed at Hezbollah and its vast array of weapons.”  Just think about that—Iran’s influence allowed a shadow army, Hezbollah, in a sovereign state.

“Macron: Iran’s nuclear program leading world down ‘path of no return,” JNS, 1-8-25.

Notice this quote of the day, the Supreme Leader acknowledges the ongoing Shia revolution.  “Iran’s Supreme Leader hits out at advocates of talks with Trump,” Iran International, 1-8-25.  Khamenei said, “America had effectively taken control of this country, but we wrested it away. Their grudge against our nation and revolution is profound.”

“Iran pushes China to let it sell $1.7 billion worth of stranded oil, sources say,” Reuters, 1-8-25.

Interesting how the Leader says the U.S. must be out of Iraq, but he pointedly tells Iraq what to do.  “Khamenei asks Iraq to expel US, urges reinforcement of Iran-backed militants,” Iran International, 1-8-25.

“Iran says it postponed plan to send human to space,” Iran International, 1-7-25.

This, of course, is a blog about Iran and its Regime’s drive to be a revolutionary force, not a normal country.  This news story below is from Israel, and how Iran’s targeting it since 1979 may now be reversable, not in regime change, but in targeting the weapons that Iran uses.  How will respond?  Like a normal country?  See “Trump’s return creates opportunity to remove Iran threat, says blue-ribbon committee,” Times of Israel, 1-7-25.

“UN says Iran executed over 900 people in 2024, including dozens of women,” Reuters, 1-7-25.

“Iran Pulls Most Forces From Syria, in Blow to Tehran’s Regional Ambitions,” WSJ, 1-7-25.  Quote of the Day:  “Rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has said his forces’ swift defeat of Assad has “set the Iranian project in the region back by 40 years.””  The introduction reads, “Iranian forces have largely withdrawn from Syria following the Assad regime’s December collapse, according to U.S., European and Arab officials, in a significant blow to Tehran’s strategy for projecting power in the Middle East. The Iranian withdrawal marks the demise of a yearslong effort in which Tehran used Syria as a hub in its broader regional strategy of partnering with regimes and allied militias to spread influence and wage proxy war against the U.S. and Israel. Iranian-backed armed groups in Syria have launched attacks on U.S. forces and aided in attacks on Israel. Members of Iran’s elite Quds Force have now fled to Iran and the militia groups have disbanded, a senior U.S. official said. The Islamic Republic spent billions of dollars and sent thousands of military personnel and allied fighters to Syria after the Arab Spring uprising in 2011, to prop up the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Syria was Iran’s main state ally in the Middle East and a critical land bridge to Hezbollah—the most powerful militia in Tehran’s self-labeled “axis of resistance” alliance. Iran, already reeling from Israeli airstrikes on its assets and partners in the region, began withdrawing personnel during the dramatic 11-day collapse of the Assad regime’s military late last year. When rebels in Syria launched an offensive in November, Iran’s government was already frustrated with Assad, who had remained on the sidelines over the prior year during Tehran’s multifront conflict with Israel. Iran’s network in Syria once spanned the length of the country, from the east where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps helped transport weapons and fighters into the country, to Syria’s border with Lebanon, where it helped arm Hezbollah with weapons shipments.”

“Iran Update, January 6, 2025,” ISW Press, 1-6-25.

“The Iran Opportunity – Foreign Affairs,” Foreign Affairs, The CSS Point, 1-6-25.  It remains baffling why academics like Haass think Iran should retain its nuclear program.  They have all the oil and gas they ever need for energy.  Let’s require no nuclear project, it only tempts them.  In addition, Haass subtitles this article “What America Needs to Do to Achieve a Breakthrough”—what about what Iran needs to do?  Let’s remember who calls and acts out against “Satans.”

The subject of I.Q. and Iran don’t usually make this blog.  Considering the considerable “brain drain” fleeing out of the country for years, I question.  The article cites “the International IQ Test, updated on January 1,” which I will let someone else explore the validity of this story.  It is probably Regime propaganda.  “Iran ranks 2nd in Intl. IQ TEST 2024,” 1-5-25.

“Resistance Axis cannot be eliminated by weapons, martyrdom of leaders: Iran FM,” Press TV, 1-5-25.  Thanks to Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi, we see most recently that the Axis of Resistance is a “holy cause” “that cannot be destroyed by weapons and the martyrdom of its leaders.”  We also remember the problem that Iran has with former Pres. Trump’s killing of General Soleimani.  Note that Araghchi says publicly that the martyrdom of persons in the “Axis of Resistance” results “in the formation of an “indestructible” force throughout the region.”  He says the Axis is “a cause that cannot be eliminated by weapons. It is not dependent on a person and does not perish by the martyrdom of a commander and a leader.”  “The top Iranian diplomat also noted that the blood of martyrs is the main weapon of the resistance school of thought.”  Well, I thought that Axis meant to win by military victory.  If they want to win by martyrdom, let’s see how that works out.

“Su-35s in Iran: Reports suggest possible deployment by 2025,” Bulgarian Military, 1-5-25.