Slate posts this amazing article that not only points out that the Regime wants to totally ban or control all international internet services, but that foreign companies would have to place one employee in Iran who might (!) be taken hostage to enforce Iranian dictates!  You can’t make this stuff up, thank you Slate.  “Iran Aims to End Online Freedoms “for Good”, Sayeh Isfahani, Slate, August 9, 2021.

Let’s hope that no one falls for this, the loss of property and worse.  “New Judiciary Chief Says Iranians Abroad Can Return Without Fear,” Iran International, August 9, 2021.

This is a story that the UN and not enough media are covering—the Leader’s ban on meds is resulting in the death of many.  “Iran Medical Council Chief Blames Khamenei’s Vaccine Ban For Iran Covid Crisis,” Iran International, August 9, 2021.

“Iran’s water crisis could be a political earthquake,” Ilan Berman, op-ed, The Hill, August 9, 2021.

The President, (First) Vice President, and Chief of Staff are all sanctioned BEFORE taking office.  A first for Iran.  (for any country?)  See “Meet Iran’s New First Vice President And Chief Of Staff,” Iran International, August 9, 2021.

“Suspected Iran-backed forces copy tactics of Somali pirates,” Hellenic Shipping News, August 9, 2021.

“Iran says one person dying of COVID-19 every two minutes,” Reuters, August 9, 2021.

“Suspected Iran-backed forces copy tactics of Somali pirates,” Hellenic Shipping News, August 9, 2021.

Winner.  The head of the corrupt Setad, Mohammad Mokhber, was named as Raisi’s first vice president.  This is as clear a sign anyone could need that the crime racket knows as the Islamic Republic of Iran continues full steam ahead with its massive thefts (at least $95B) from its own people.  See “Raisi Chooses Head Of Sanctioned Iranian Conglomerate To Be His First Vice President,” RFE/RL, August 8, 2021.

“In Meeting With Top Israeli Officials, Bahraini Official Says Iran Behind Mideast Instability,” Jonathan Lis, Haaretz, August 8, 2021.

“A shadowy fight between Israel and Iran is at risk of becoming a bigger war.  Here’s how their militaries stack up,” Benjamin Brimelow, Insider, August 8, 2021.

“In Meeting With Top Israeli Officials, Bahraini Official Says Iran Behind Mideast Instability,” Jonathan Lis, Times of Israel, August 8, 2021.

“US watching as Iran quietly replaces Red Sea spy ship damaged in April attack,” Oren Liebermann, CNN, August 6, 2021.

“Iran ‘working systematically to build serious cyber-attack capabilities’,” Cleveland Jewish News, August 6, 2021.

First, this is news—“Mercer Street suffered an unsuccessful explosive drone attack the day before the fatal strike, on July 29, in which the drones crashed into the ocean near the ship, according to CENTCOM.”  Second, “Other Iranian officials have blamed Israel this week for being the primary source of instability in the region,”—but we can do the math—countries in the Middle East overwhelmingly say Iran is the main source of turmoil in the region, not Israel.  See “Here’s why CENTCOM thinks Iran was behind a fatal drone attack on a ship last month,” Geoff Ziezulewicz, Air Force Times, August 6, 2021.

“US and G7 blame Iran for deadly attack on tanker off Oman,” Lolita Baldor and Frank Jordans, Intelligencer, August 6, 2021.

“Iran-Linked Hackers Expand Arsenal With New Android Backdoor,” DA Loop, August 6, 2021.

“Iran’s hardline new president to be inaugurated amid stalled nuclear talks and hopes of Saudi détente,” Frederik Pleitgen and Claudia Otto, CNN, August 5, 2021.

In no other country of the world does this happen.  “Hamas, Islamic Jihad leaders arrive in Tehran for Iran president’s inauguration,” Aaron Boxerman, Times of Israel, August 5, 2021.

Tension of its own making.  “Iran Swears in New Hard-Line President Amid Regional Tension,” AP, August 5, 2021.

“Crew of tanker said to have thwarted Iranian hijackers by sabotaging the engines,” Times of Israel, AP, August 5, 2021.

Rare to call out the name of the person responsible and guiding the attack.  Israel again has good intel.  “Saeed Ara Jani, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ UAV Command, was behind the attack on the Israel-linked Mercer Street ship, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz told diplomats from UN Security Council member states on Wednesday.”  See “Iran’s Revolutionary Guard drone commander behind ship attack,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, August 4, 2021.

“British navy group: Hijackers have left vessel off UAE coast,” Jon Gambrell and Isabel Debre, Daily Journal, August 4, 2021.

“Dismantle Iran Now,” Mordechai Kedar, BESA, August 4, 2021.

A lot of news today.  “Gantz: Iran 10 weeks away from amassing enough weapons-grade material for nuke,” Lazar Berman, Times of Israel, August 4, 2021.

“Will Raisi Grasp The Thorny Issue Of The International Financial Taskforce,” Iran International, August 4, 2021.  The new president himself and the Regime’s system is delaying as much as possible the inevitable–you can’t be a terrorist state and run terror money through your banks BUT also allow other countries to examine the books.  You can’t hide the funds you’re trying to use and to wash.

“Rubio, Padilla Introduce Legislation to Award Congressional Gold Medal to 52 Americans Detained During Iran Hostage Crisis,” Office of Senator Marco Rubio, Press Release, August 4, 2021.

“Iran backtracks on plans to release Zaghari-Ratcliffe as court sentences another Briton,” Ahmed Aboudouh, Independent, August 4, 2021.

“Incoming Iranian President Is Expected To Make U.S.-Iran Relations Even Tougher,” NPR, August 4, 2021.

Two more hostages with harsh sentences.  “Iran sentences two dual nationals to over 10 years in prison each –lawyer,” Reuters, August 4, 2021.

“Iran: Secret execution of young man arrested at 15 a cruel assault on child rights,” Amnesty International, August 4, 2021.

“33 years ago, I was in the same room with Iran’s new president when he voted to execute political prisoners,” Mahmoud Royaei, op-ed, WTHI, August 4, 2021.

Door closes again.  You have to really feel for those Americans that Iran is holding and even torturing as pawns.   “Iran official says Tehran to drop prisoner swap plans with U.S. – report,” Reuters, August 3, 2021.

How many ships can be droned?  Be hijacked?  This time, Iran took the Asphalt Princess.  “Possible vessel hijacking off Fujairah sparks new shipping risks, Iran tensions,” S&P Global, August 3, 2021.

A great, descriptive piece.  “Iran Uses Iraq To Tie Lebanon Into Massive Power Plan,” OilPrice.com, Yahoo, August 3, 2021.

“Social Media Harassment of Iran Researchers, Activists,” HRW, August 3, 2021.

Iran owes the U.S. tens of billions of dollars.  “US courts say Iran owes terrorism victims billions. That’s an obstacle to a new Iran nuclear deal,” Christopher Bidwell, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 3, 2021.

“Ship Seized in Gulf of Oman Amid Rising Tensions with Iran,” Benoit Faucon and Stephen Kalin, WSJ, August 3, 2021.

Figured Raisi’s strategy out by reading this story and having background knowledge from watching for several years now.  And I’m sure this is what many analysts are thinking, too.  Intimidation, Force, Kidnappings, Assassinations, Ship Attacks, Etc.  Iran will use Violence, not diplomacy or negotiation or normal interstate relations, to address the sanctions.  Blackmail seemingly is in their constitution, both written and psychological for the leaders.  See “Raisi and JCPOA: Lifting sanctions is top priority,” Tehran Times, August 3, 2021.

It was easy for the intelligence agencies and military to quickly determine Iran’s responsibility for the Mercer Street, “a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned ship managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime.”  The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and the U.S. Navy were escorting the Mercer Street.  See “U.S., U.K. and Israel say Iran attacked Israeli-managed tanker,” NBC, Reuters, By Reuters, August 2, 2021.

Read to see how this is not media but mouthpiece.  “Iran summons Romania ambassador,” Tehran Times, August 2, 2021.

“Russian envoy puts blame on Iran for nuke deal stalemate,” David Sands, Washington Times, August 2, 2021.

“A major concern since Iran froze out IAEA inspectors on May 24, and the negotiations mostly broke down shortly thereafter, has been the experience and scientific knowledge Tehran is achieving by continuing to enrich uranium at the 60% level and by continued use of advanced centrifuges such as the IR-4 and IR-6. According to the JCPOA, Iran was limited to enriching to 5% with at most a few dozen advanced centrifuges. The 60% enrichment level is two jumps up from the 5% level and considered only one step below the 90% weaponized level. Running hundreds of IR-4s and IR-6s is considered a major achievement that can allow Tehran to conceive of a more industrial-scale program that could eventually enrich sufficient uranium for a nuclear bomb within weeks.”  See “Top US Iran envoy having doubts about nuke deal,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, August 2, 2021.

411 deaths on Aug. 1.  “Iran records highest number of daily COVID cases in pandemic,” AP, August 2, 2021.

And this is AP.  “Outgoing Iran president says government not always truthful,” AP, August 1, 2021.

As the inauguration of Pres. Raisi is upcoming, it is only appropriate today to put on the blog this article—Force and Intimidation will be the coin of the realm.  “Middle East Newsletter: Ship Attack Precedes Iran Inauguration,” Gwen Ackerman, Bloomberg, August 1, 2021.

Here’s the point.  This article is about the UK.  Israel and the U.S have spoken.  Romania will soon.  But what about Oman, where the ship was attacked?  And what must Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq be thinking now about his neighbor?  “Britain believes Iran attacked Israeli-managed tanker off Oman,” Reuters, Financial Express, August 1, 2021.

A message for Oman, and of course a message for the U.S.  “Another Iran Message for Biden,” Editorial, Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2021.

“’Iranian regime feels it has divine intervention helping it’,” Yaakov Lappin , Israel Hayom, August 1, 2021.  The Islamic republic is pursuing long-term nuclear goals and feels that events are generally moving in favor of its vision of the “Shiite revival,” warns Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall, an expert on Iranian strategic issues.

“Report: Iran building new uranium enrichment facility in Natanz,” Dan Arkin, Israel Defense, August 1, 2021.  “Artificial intelligence and machine learning enable the tracking of what is being done at the nuclear sites in Iran, even underground.”

“Lebanon is sliding back to the Stone Age, and Iran couldn’t be happier about it,” Avi Issacharoff, op-ed, Times of Israel, August 1, 2021.

“Iranian sharpshooter Olympian should be arrested, not given gold medal – opinion,” Abraham Cooper, Jerusalem Post, August 1, 2021.  “Iran’s olympian sharpshooter honed his craft during Syria’s civil war – where civilians, mostly women and children, were often put in the crosshairs of live bullets. He shouldn’t be rewarded.”  Uh oh.  “Like other members of the Basij militia, a US-designated foreign terrorist group affiliated with Iran’s International Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Foroughi honed his craft during Syria’s civil war – where Syrian civilians, mostly women and children, were often, and intentionally, put in the crosshairs of live bullets.  Foroughi isn’t ashamed of his service to the Iranian regime, nor is anyone even trying to hide it. Iran boasted of his service on state TV where Foroughi actually declared that the greatest honor in life was to fight on behalf of Iran’s genocidal, Holocaust-denying leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.”  Sounds like he was a sniper.  He certainly shot Syrians.

Kamikaze drones used against crew sleeping quarters!  Two sailors killed, one British, one Romanian.  “Israeli-linked tanker attacked by sophisticated Iranian drones,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, July 31, 2021.

I’d agree with this, too.  When Israel hacked Iran’s national rail service and published the phone number of the Supreme Leader’s office for persons to call for assistance or complaints, it was pretty funny, but the Leader wasn’t amused.  “TV: Israel believes Iran struck ship in response to cyberattack on train system,” Times of Israel, July 31, 2021.

Don’t let them get MTV.  “Iranian Minister of Defense (MoD) said that enemies of the country are trying to destroy sublime values and culture of the Islamic Revolution using thousands of satellite networks, etc. without any restrictions.”  See “Enemies trying to destroy Iran’s values, culture,” Mehr, July 31, 2021.

“A Glance at IRGC’s Devastating Impact on Iran’s Water and Electricity,” Mohammad Sadat Khansari, NCRI, July 31, 2021.

“Iranian based in Canada accused of exporting equipment that can be used to ‘measure nuclear fissile material’,” Paul Best, Fox News, July 31, 2021.