“Iran sours on Russia after Moscow produces drones in massive new complex, report,” Ynet, 8-9-25.  Criss-cross double-cross seems to be the theme of the day.

“Iran vows to block Trump-brokered Caucasus corridor ‘with or without Russia’,” Iran International, 8-9-25.  See also “Iran and Russia stand to lose from US deal with Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Guardian, 8-9-25.

“Rift emerges between allies Russia and Iran over $1.75B weapons deal, Putin’s lack of support for Tehran,” NYPost, 8-9-25.  Intelligence officials think probably in Aug. 2025 that 90% of Shahed production is performed now inside Russia instead of Iran producing them at 200K, and that Russia can make them for 70K.  I would imagine that Ukraine will target the Russia drone factory in Alabuga shortly.

“Iran International’s Journalists Subjected To Transnational Repression Globally,” Forbes, 8-9-25.  “Over the past six weeks, Iranian authorities have intimidated and threatened 45 journalists and 315 of their family members. Iranian authorities are said to have threatened to kill these journalists and their relatives unless they stop working for Iran International by specific deadlines, which have all now passed.”  I believe these threats come from the top of the Regime.

“Oct. 7 was culmination of Tehran’s strategic plan, Khamenei website says,” Iran International, 8-9-25.  Uh oh, more evidence of Iran’s influence in what happened.

The Atlantic takes a chance here with painting an even bigger target on Mostafa Tajzadeh.  “The Man Who Could Unite Iran’s Opposition,” The Atlantic, 8-8-25.

Message to Iran from inside China.  Will either/both country be truly affected?  China can get oil from Saudi Arabia and other places.   “Sanctioning Facilitators of Iran Sanctions Circumvention and Political Oppression,” Press Statement, U.S. Embassy & Consulates in China, 8-8-25.

“Russia built a massive drone factory to pump out Iranian-designed drones. Now it’s leaving Tehran out in the cold,” CNN, 8-8-25.

“Iran Has Taken More U.S. Citizens Hostage. It’s Time to Shred the Regime’s Playbook,” Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 8-8-25.

“Man executed by Iran for nuclear espionage was nuclear scientist, state media say,” Reuters, 8-7-25.

“Iran-linked operatives may have entered US with Venezuelan passports – Daily Mail,” Iran International, 8-7-25.

“Iran’s war with Israel is only paused, Revolutionary Guards spymaster says,” Iran International, 8-7-25.

Still not out of the woods with Hezbollah.  If you study how terror groups end (as oppose to start), you’ll see it is difficult and can take years.  Especially when their sponsor (in this case Iran) eggs them on, or tells them what to do.  Or funds them.  Or trains them.  You get the idea.  “Iran Ally Rebuffs US With New War Threat,” Newsweek, 8-6-25.  Bottom line—we all have to support Lebanon in its quest to rid itself of the terror-army Hezbollah.

“Iran executes man convicted of giving Israel details of assassinated nuclear scientist,” Times of Israel, AFP, 8-6-25.

“Iran says it detained ‘sabotage cell’ linked to exiled opposition group,” AFP, Times of Israel, 8-5-25.

Tell the first Grand Ayatollah.  He will say hogwash.  “The Islamic Republic Was Never Inevitable,” Atlantic, 8-5-25.

Remember, there is no (extremely little) due process allowed in Iranian  courts.  “Couple detained in Iran allowed first call home,” BBC, 8-5-25.

Government mismanagement continues across the country.  Keep in mind they have all the natural gas and oil to have air cooling everywhere.  “Iran announces nationwide shutdowns amid extreme heat,” Iran International, 8-5-25.

“Covert Iran-Russia Talks on Nuclear Tech Revealed by Leaked Documents,” United24, 8-5-25.

The nightmare foreign policy of Iran’s hostage taking continues.  “British couple held in Iran moved to separate prisons heightening welfare concerns,” Guardian, 8-4-25.

How many times have they done this in the past 10 years?  “Iran moves to slash zeros from its plunging national currency,” AFP, 8-4-25.

“Iran struck key Israeli defense and research sites in June, official says,” Iran International, 8-4-25.

Build shelters!  But the government will not supply any funds.  “Iran issues new civil defense shelter directive amid warnings of renewed war,” Iran International, 8-2-25.

“Iran Is Holding at Least 4 American Citizens, Rights Groups and Families Say,” NYT, 8-2-25.  Two men and two women.  Hostage taking continues as a foreign policy.

“UK, US, France, 11 other nations condemn Iranian intelligence threats,” Reuters, 8-1-25.  “Britain and 13 allies including the United States and France condemned on Thursday what they called a surge in assassination, kidnapping and harassment plots by Iranian intelligence services targeting individuals in Europe and North America.”

He won’t go away.  But others are also now not “available.”  “Larijani set for top security role as Iran revives wartime Defense Council,” Iran International, 8-1-25.

Not some pro-Western outlet.  “UK, US and allies accuse Iran of cross-border assassination plots,” Al Jazeera, 7-31-25.

“Tehran did not get the message and is back to business as usual. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News’ Bret Baier that Iran would continue to maintain its support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. And before meeting European leaders last week, he said it was important for them “to understand that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s position remains unshakable, and that our uranium enrichment will continue.” Tehran has resumed its taunts against Israel and, with help from China, is rebuilding the Russia-supplied air defense network destroyed by the Israeli air force — all under the protection of the Trump brokered ceasefire following Operation Midnight Hammer.”  See “Russia and Iran are on a collision course with Trump,” The Hill, 7-31-25.

A big money maker for Iran is finally addressed.  “US says sanctions hit Iran ‘shipping empire’ linked to top Tehran official,” Al Jazeera, 7-31-25.  And quote of the day:  “The Shamkhani family’s shipping empire highlights how the Iranian regime elites leverage their positions to accrue massive wealth and fund the regime’s dangerous behaviour,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.  “The new sanctions target 15 shipping firms, 52 vessels, 12 individuals and 53 entities involved in sanctions evasion in 17 countries, ranging from Panama to Italy to Hong Kong.”

“Free Speech Sees Rare Win in Iran,” Newsweek, 7-30-25.

How nice of Russia to protect Iran (and act for its own interests).  “Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that a pledge to avoid further strikes was a necessary condition for restarting cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been limited in its access to Iranian sites.” And “Iranian officials have warned they may leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if European powers, France, Germany and the UK, trigger the mechanism, which they have threatened to do by the end of August.”  Now why would a country like Iran which says it isn’t pursuing nuclear weapons threaten to leave the NPT?  See “Russia warns against new strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites,” Iran International, 7-30-25.

Really interesting.  “How the Snapback Mechanism Brings Back Sanctions on Iran?,” Iran Wire, 7-30-25. “As October 18, 2025, approaches – the tenth anniversary of the JCPOA and the deadline for deciding whether to terminate or extend UN Security Council Resolution 2231 – the snapback mechanism outlined in the resolution has once again drawn attention in Iran. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 was adopted after the JCPOA agreement was reached, and it annulled six previous Security Council resolutions regarding Iran’s nuclear program and most of the UN sanctions. However, it included a provision that if the Islamic Republic fails to comply with the JCPOA, the sanctions could quickly be reimposed. … How Does the Snapback Mechanism Work? Any of the current members of the JCPOA – France, the UK, Germany, China, and Russia – can invoke the snapback mechanism if they claim Iran has violated the agreement. … Four of the JCPOA member states that are permanent members of the UN Security Council can directly activate the mechanism. … In the Security Council’s vote on the resolution, veto power was removed following a proposal by Russia, meaning no country could block the draft resolution or prevent the return of sanctions on Iran using a veto. If a country uses its veto, it would effectively veto the continuation of sanctions relief for Iran, leading to the immediate reimposition of UN Security Council sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program. The continuation of sanctions relief can only be approved if nine votes in favor are achieved in the Security Council, with no permanent member vetoing it. In this mechanism, even abstentions by members are considered votes in favor. Given that at least one country with veto power has called for the return of sanctions, the reactivation of previous resolutions and the reimposition of sanctions on Iran using snapback is guaranteed. Members would have 10 days to reach an agreement on a draft resolution proposed by one of the Security Council members. If no agreement is reached, the president of the Security Council is obligated to draft a resolution confirming the continuation of international sanctions relief for Iran. Members would have a maximum of 30 days to announce their votes on the draft. If Security Council members cannot reach an agreement on the draft or an alternative, such as granting Iran additional time, by the end of the 30th day, the original letter submitted to the Security Council will automatically reinstate all previous resolutions and sanctions, and Iran’s status in the council will revert to what it was before the adoption of Resolution 2231. With the snapback mechanism, Resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, and the severe Resolution 1929, which called for military action to prevent Iran’s nuclear program, will once again become valid. After the snapback process is completed in the Security Council, which must be finalized by the end of the 30th day following the submission of the letter regarding Iran’s non-compliance with the JCPOA, there is a brief period before the sanctions are enforced. The exact timing for the reimposition of sanctions is outlined in Resolution 2231, which states that all UN member states will enforce sanctions on Iran simultaneously. At precisely 00:00 GMT, the Security Council resolutions and the sanctions they contain will be reactivated. From that moment, all Security Council members must enforce these resolutions, including inspecting ships, planes, and transport related to Iran if necessary, to prevent the transfer of materials that could support Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.”

Stealing from the Iranian people.  “Trump admin unveils largest-to-date Iran sanctions on oil ‘shipping empire’,” Al Monitor, 7-30-25.  “The sanctions target more than 115 individuals, entities and vessels that the Treasury Department has linked to a network transporting oil from Iran and Russia. … Through a network of oil tankers, container ships and front companies, the Treasury Department alleges that Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani is able to exert control over a significant portion of Iran’s crude oil exports, most often to buyers in China. Hossein Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, a key political adviser to Iran’s supreme leader who was sanctioned by the United States in 2020. Proceeds from the oil and petroleum sales benefit both the Shamkhani family and the Iranian regime.”

I’ve noted this several times since the 12 day war.  Iran is not backing down.  “Behind the curtain: Iran’s unseen influence on Gaza talks – analysis,” JPost, 7-30-25.