A lot of news today.
“Iran is silent for a reason,” Israel Hayom, 2-6-24.
Another example of discrimination (and inferiority/martyrdom complex)baked into society, this time against Arabs instead of Jews. “Iran ‘surprised’ by choice of Arab referee in Asia soccer semifinal against Qatar,” Times of Israel, 2-6-24.
“Who is part of Iran’s regional armed network?,” PBS, 2-6-24.
Iran knows this. “Israel Privately Estimates as Many as 50 Hostages Could Be Dead,” WSJ, 2-6-24.
“Report in Sweden: Iran Planned to Kill Jews in the Country Using Agents Disguised as Refugees,” Haaretz, 2-6-24.
“Iran, Russia, China plan joint naval drill in coming weeks to bolster regional security,” Times of India, 2-6-24.
“Iran closer than ever to weaponizing uranium, building nuclear bomb – report,” JPost, 2-6-24. “A new report from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) is sounding the alarm on Iran’s closeness to going nuclear, upgrading its threat level to “Extreme Danger,” the highest of its six ratings, for the first time since the group began following the Iranian nuclear program in the 1990s. Since 2022, the report says, Iran’s ‘breakout’ time has been zero— that is to say, Iran “has more than enough… highly enriched uranium (HEU) to directly fashion a nuclear explosive.” Uranium itself is not the only component required to fashion a nuclear weapon, though it is by far the hardest to come by. “If Iran wanted to further enrich its 60 percent enriched uranium up to 90 percent weapon-grade uranium (WGU)… it could do so quickly,” the report says. “[Iran] can break out and produce enough weapon-grade enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon in a week,” it goes on, “using only a fraction of its 60 percent enriched uranium. This breakout could be difficult for inspectors to detect promptly, if Iran took steps to delay inspectors’ access.” Moreover, using its remaining stock of enriched uranium, the country “could have in total enough weapon-grade uranium for six weapons in one month, and after five months of producing weapon-grade uranium, it could have enough for twelve.” Although manufacturing the delivery system for the weapon itself could take longer, an accelerated program to develop a simple warhead delivered by ship or truck “could be accomplished in about six months,” signaling Iran’s nuclearization “either dramatically via an underground nuclear test or stealthily via leaks about its accomplishment.”’
“How US airstrikes will and won’t hurt Iran-backed militias,” Asia Times, 2-6-24.
“Iran suspected in plot to kill Swedish Jews – report,” AFP, 2-6-24. “Iranian couple posing as Afghani immigrants and reportedly working for IRGC were never charged but were reportedly deported in 2022.”
“Iran warns US not to target ship ‘providing intelligence to Houthis’,” Telegraph, 2-6-24.
“Iran govt welcomes Sudan’s request to restore bilateral relations,” Dabanga Sudan, 2-6-24.
“Why Iran is hard to intimidate,” Economist, 2-6-24.
“Despite U.S. airstrikes, Iran continues to arm its proxies,” NBC, 2-6-24.
The problem with Holt’s interview with the UN Ambassador from Iran is that, after the denial, Holt doesn’t present evidence to see, hold, or even rebut the Ambassador. The viewers only hear the blanket denial from Iran, which has been shown in hundreds of cases in the media over the past many years to be contradicted by facts on the ground. “Iran is not directing Houthis or other groups to launch attacks, Iran’s U.N. envoy says,” NBC, 2-6-24.
And the same for the claim that the Ambassador made equating Iran and its proxies to NATO. Mr. Holt could have quickly said that Art. 5 of the NATO Charter requires that an attack on one is an attack on all, and therefore Iran and its proxies are one. Or he could have said that the U.S. is the main country in NATO, and the others follow its lead–thus, the proxies follow Iran’s lead. This oversight and failure to hold accountable in reporting is a reminder of the coverage of the supposedly modern and normal ski facilities of North Korea, but it was instead using actors and fake ski clothing. (See “Inside North Korea: Lester Holt Reports From A Modern Ski Resort | NBC Nightly News,” NBC, 1-21-18). “Exclusive: Iran’s U.N. ambassador likens ties to militant groups to NATO alliance,” NBC, 2-6-24.
“Iran accelerates cyber ops against Israel from chaotic start,” Microsoft Blogs, 2-6-24.
For those claiming that Iran does not control its proxies, and they are really independent groups who are loosely associated with Iran’s general aims (i.e., “Iran’s Proxies Aren’t Really Proxies,” Time, 12-7-24, by Amal Saad, a lecturer at Cardiff University), here’s the most recent news flash, and a destruction of that argument. “IDF revealed over $150 Million transferred from Iran to Hamas,” i24, 2-6-24. “The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson revealed a significant development regarding the funding of Hamas, stating that more than $150 million was transferred from Iran to the militant group. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari disclosed this information on Tuesday evening, shedding light on the extent of financial support provided to Hamas by Iran. According to Hagari, the funds were utilized by Hamas to sustain its operations underground, emphasizing the group’s investment in fortifying its infrastructure beneath Gaza. He stated, “They invested this money to survive underground,” highlighting Hamas’ strategic use of financial resources to maintain its capabilities amid ongoing conflicts with Israel. Furthermore, Hagari underscored the global implications of Iran’s support for terrorism, describing it as a pressing concern that extends beyond the Middle East region. He emphasized the IDF’s efforts to share intelligence information with international partners to address this threat and called for verification of the reported financial transactions. The disclosure comes in the wake of recent military operations in Gaza, during which IDF soldiers uncovered significant amounts of cash intended for Hamas. Hagari revealed that IDF personnel located tables detailing payments to Hamas from Tehran between 2014 and 2020, providing further evidence of Iran’s financial backing for the militant group. In addition to the substantial funds transferred from Iran, IDF soldiers discovered bags filled with hundred-shekel bills destined for Hamas, as well as cash envelopes containing tens of thousands of dollars designated for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar himself.” If Hamas (and Sinwar) isn’t a proxy, then they can be sending cash the other way, right?!
See also “Images of the documents published by the IDF suggest the figure is, in total, $154 million provided by Iran to Sinwar [only documented from 2014-2020].” This quote is from “IDF discovers direct links between Iran and Hamas’s Sinwar in Gaza,” JPost, 2-6-24.
“DIA report confirms the Huthis’ use of Iranian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct attacks across the Middle East,” DIA Public Affairs, 2-6-24. This means that the Huthis are the people doing the shooting, but the missiles and drones come from Iran, and the orders to attack come from Iran, thus the Huthis are not just a proxy they are the true “middleman” in organized Iranian attacks with Iranian material using an actor who lives outside of Iran. Everything begins and ends with Iran.
Well-known Robin Wright delivers another article. “The U.S. Confronts Middle Eastern Militias but Not Iran’s Long Game,” New Yorker, 2-6-24.
