Will Reuters remind its readers that the head of a terror organization is announcing basic goods being delivered to Lebanon?  So, who controls Lebanon?  Certainly this hasn’t passed by the Reuters editors.  “Hezbollah says Iranian fuel oil ship to sail to Lebanon in hours,” Reuters, August 19, 2021.

“Iran: Government Mismanagement Compounds Covid-19 Crisis,” HRW, August 19, 2021.

Iran continues to stretch out the negotiating time while working on its bomb.  “Exclusive: Biden’s Iran envoy calls nuclear deal’s fate ‘one big question mark’,” Alexander Ward and Quint Forgey, Politico, August 19, 2021.

Emboldens Iran.  “Catastrophe in Afghanistan — for Afghans, Israel, the region… and for America,” David Horovitz, Times of Israel, August 19, 2021.  “As the Taliban retake power, the imminent 20th anniversary of 9/11 underlines the horrific consequences of the US failing to reckon with this region’s darkest forces.”

Notice in this fascinating article about oil and gas politics the power that Russia has against Iran.  “Iran’s Huge Caspian Gas Find Is A Geopolitical Gamechanger,” OilPrice.com, August 19, 2021.

“Why Iran Will Welcome the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan,” Shelly Kittleson, Foreign Policy, August 18, 2021.  “Tehran’s Shiite regime has strategic, economic, ideological, and ecological reasons for backing Sunni extremists.”

“With the United States out of Afghanistan, Iran will be able to give greater supplies of money and arms to the Taliban and al Qaeda — elements of support that these terrorists could use against the Afghan people and even to launch another attack on the West. The risks speak to a key reason why the U.S. should have stayed in Afghanistan.”  See “Iran benefits from Taliban takeover,” Jackson Richman, op-ed, Washington Examiner, August 18, 2021.

“US calls on Iran to halt ‘nuclear escalations’,” Al Jazeera, July 17, 2021.

“Iran accelerates enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade, IAEA says,” WHBL, August 17, 2021.

“Iran Is on the Path to Becoming a Forever Poor Country,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, August 17, 2021.

“Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan Extend Hands to Taliban Now in Control of Afghanistan,” Tom O’Connor, Newsweek, August 17, 2021.

“China and Iran will open a new chapter in their friendship, Chinese ambassador to Iran Chang Hua said Sunday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. … Noting that the two countries announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership in January 2016, the Chinese ambassador said high-level officials from the two sides have since engaged in-depth discussions on multiple occasions related to bolstering China-Iran relations. On the political front, mutual trust between the two countries has been enhanced, Chang said, adding that China and Iran firmly support each other on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, which has effectively consolidated the strategic trust between the two countries and steadfastly defended international equity and justice. Meanwhile, Chang said the two economies are highly complementary, and pragmatic cooperation has led to fruitful outcomes. China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for years, and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative continues to progress. In addition, exchanges between China and Iran in culture, education, media, publications, and tourism have expanded over the past 50 years, with increased mutual understanding between the two peoples, Chang said.”  See “Interview: China, Iran to open new chapter in bilateral relations, says envoy,” Xinhua, August 16, 2021.

“Tensions rise as Iranian dams cut off Iraqi water supplies,” DW, August 16, 2021.

“Iran Goes on the Offensive as the U.S. Retreats From Afghanistan and Elsewhere,” Jonathan Spyer, Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2021.

‘It’s a Catastrophe.’ Iranians Turn to Black Market for Vaccines as COVID-19 Deaths Hit New Highs,” Time, August 16, 2021.

“US ‘defeat’ in Afghanistan a chance for peace: Iran president,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, August 16, 2021.

“Afghanistan’s winners: Qatar, Russia, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, August 16, 2021.  “Most of these countries have hosted the Taliban or tacitly backed them.”

“Iran-North Korea Connection: Hezbollah Built Vast Underground Tunnel Network in Lebanon to Move Weapons, Combatants,” Sharon Wrobel, Algemeiner, August 16, 2021.

“Afghanistan Reveals All the President’s Weaknesses,” William McGurn, op-ed, Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2021.

“IAEA: Iran producing uranium metal, which can be used in nuclear bomb,” Times of Israel, August 16, 2021.  “UN nuclear watchdog says Tehran produced 200g of material enriched up to 20%, in further departure from deal.”

“Iran’s ‘hostage diplomacy’ traps foreign nationals,” Deutsche Welle, Egypt Independent, August 16, 2021.

A bad sign for where Lebanon continues to go—toward chaos induced by Iran.  “Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it will begin importing fuel from Iran,” WHBL, August 15, 2021.

“Iran reduces diplomatic staff in Kabul,” Tehran Times, August 15, 2021.

“Controversial German politician to head UN agency accused of helping Iran with tech linked to nuclear program,” Fox, August 15, 2021.

This is a subject worthy of a dissertation, to see how China and Russia have maintained distance from Iran and refused to let it join the SCO, and now to allow it in.  Granted, for their own purposes, but a signal that the East is acting on what was called by Samuel Huntington as the Clash of Civilizations.  See “Iran to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” Modern Diplomacy, August 14, 2021.

Another story today on E versus W.  An under-reported story, how the Supreme Leader doomed his country months ago to many deaths by illogically blocking Western vaccines.  “Iran: Effects of Khamenei’s Vaccine Ban Still Worsening, Eight Months Later,” Mahmoud Hakamian, NCRI, August 14, 2021.

“Iran announces 6-day lockdown amid surge in COVID cases,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, August 14, 2021.

“Iranian intelligence plot reaches US soil — and should complicate negotiations,” Toby Dershowitz and Dylan Gresik, op-ed, The Hill, August 13, 2021.

“Iran Faces ‘Tsunami’ Of COVID-19 Infections, Deaths,” RFE/RL, August 13, 2021.

“Iran facing its deadliest coronavirus surge after banning import on US vaccines,” Guy Davies, ABC, August 12, 2021.

“Iran summons Russian and British envoys over Tehran Conference tweet,” Reuters, August 12, 2021.

“Iran President Picks Hawkish Diplomat to Lead Nuclear Talks,” Golnar Motevalli, Bloomberg, August 11, 2021.  No more FM Zarif sightings, at least in his official role.  Bon voyage.  Remember that the Regime is still bugging the phone.  Notice that the new FM, Hossein Amirabdollahian, is “close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as well as Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant movement.”  Winner.

“Iran: Security forces use ruthless force, mass arrests and torture to crush peaceful protests,” Amnesty International, August 11, 2021.

“How Iran’s Deadly Tanker Attack Is Linked to the Nuclear Deal,” Robert Satloff, FP, August 11, 2021.

Not surprising after two years, and because of his doing the will of the Regime.  “Iran judiciary rules in favor of notorious ex-prosecutor,” Al Monitor, August 11, 2021.

“Iran sending more weapons to Yemen’s Houthis amid cease-fire effort: Pentagon,” Al Monitor, August 11, 2021.

Two thoughts.  The CIA head and Mossad head are “up to the heads” in planning an appropriate and firm response to Iran’s drone attack against the ship off of Oman.  Second, both administrations (U.S., Israel) are now planning what to do stymie Iran’s race for the bomb.  Here’s a quote.  “Israel — along with Iran’s Arab Gulf opponents — have long opposed the JCPOA and are against its revival, and the Israeli government believes a key principle of the nuclear deal, which Burns helped to negotiate for the Obama administration, has now been shattered — namely, to keep Iran at least a year away from having the capacity to make a nuclear bomb. Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz told the U.N. Security Council that Iran has enough nuclear material to build a bomb in a few weeks. “Iran is only around 10 weeks away from acquiring weapons-grade materials necessary for a nuclear weapon,” he said.”  See “CIA Director in Israel as Biden Administration Mulls Interim Iran Deal,” Jamie Dettmer, VOA, August 10, 2021.

“The real ‘Iran deal’ should be with the people of Iran,” Rob Sobhani, op-ed, The Hill, August 10, 2021.  “[T]he Islamic Republic of Iran has been practicing systemic discrimination, corruption, environmental degradation and abuse of its citizenry for 42 years. For example, although most governments work hard to protect their citizens from the coronavirus, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, successor to Khomeini, is denying the import of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for the people of Iran. In short, for four decades dictators have put their knees on the collective peoples of Iran. By doing so, the Islamic regime has suffocated the nation. In1978, the Iranian economy was almost 40 percent larger than the economy of South Korea. Today, South Korea’s economy is more than four times the size of Iran’s — and the distance is widening. As for neighboring Turkey, its economy was about 20 percent smaller than Iran’s in 1978, but today it is twice as large, despite having little of the rich oil and gas resources of Iran. Clearly, this is colossal mismanagement and squandered potential — a fact that many Iranians likely understand. The key question facing President Biden is not whether to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or limit Iran’s nefarious activities. It is a far more fundamental question: Do the people of Iran deserve to live in peace and be free? Do they deserve to join the community of nations? Ronald Reagan’s historic speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, urging former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall,” is within the grasp of President Biden, who should demand: “Mr. Khamenei, take your knee off the necks of the innocent people of Iran.” Supporting the Iranian people in their quest for democracy, dignity and greater human rights should be the defining feature of U.S. policy.”

“Iranian official on trial in Sweden for war crimes tied to new president Raisi,” AFP, August 10, 2021.  “Hamid Noury is charged with murder for role in ordering mass executions of political dissidents in 1988, a purge Iran’s new leader is claimed to have led.”

“Two Kurdish Iranian journalists sentenced to 2.5 years in jail, 90 lashes,” Committee to Protect Journalists, August 10, 2021.

“Hezbollah Is an Iranian Strategic Tool,” Raphael Bouchnik-Chen, Algemeiner, August 10, 2021.

Although China befriends Iran, it also uses Iran for its own purposes, further teaching a lesson to the IRI.  “Chinese hackers disguised themselves as Iran to target Israel,” Patrick Howell O’Neill, Technology Review, August 10, 2021.

“Reduction of Iranian gas supplied to Iraq leads to power system loss–ministry,” Reuters, August 10, 2021.

Not a good idea.  “Creation of Russian-language TV channel discussed in Iran, Ambassador to Russia says,” TASS, August 10, 2021.