After attacking three fuel tanker trucks in the UAE, three killed.  “Entire UAE Within Houthis’ Reach, Minister Tells Iran Agency,” Maryam Sinaee, Iran International, January 17, 2022.  And see “Deadly Drone Strikes on UAE Raise Gulf Tensions, Roil Oil Market,” Mohammed Hatem, Dana Khraiche, and Zainab Fattah, Bloomberg, January 17, 2022.

“Iran: Poverty Increases As Regime Mismanages Economy,” Hamid Enayat, op-ed, Eurasia Review, January 17, 2022.

“Iran to pilot national cryptocurrency soon,” Tehran Times, January 17, 2022.

“Former Iran hostage Barry Rosen goes on hunger strike to campaign for prisoners in Tehran,” The National, January 17, 2022.

Remember, Iran says it is a country of peace.  And that it promises to never develop or possess nuclear weapons.  And that somehow the U.S. leaving the JCPOA forced (?) Iran to move out of the JCPOA and develop its nuclear program?  “In threat to Europe, Iran increases ballistic missile range,” Neta Bar, Israel Hayom, AP, January 17, 2022.

“Iran tries to turn Qassem Soleimani into a national hero,” Najmeh Bozorgmehr, FT, January 17, 2022.

“China and Iran Since the 25-Year Agreement: The Limits of Cooperation,” William Figueroa, The Diplomat, January 17, 2022.

“Putin to Host Iranian President Next Week for Talks – State TV,” Reuters, January 16, 2022.

Usually the media does not know about these types of dumping arrangements among countries.  There is real value in letting the public know what Putin and the Supreme Leader are doing here.  “Russian Lead-Tainted Wheat Gets License For Consumption In Iran,” Iran International, January 16, 2022.

Not smart during JCPOA talks.  Instead of a carrot for France, it is negotiation by intimidation/blackmail.  “Iran returns French academic to prison, saying she violated house arrest,” AFP, January 16, 2022.

“Twitter finally bans account linked Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei after posting Trump assassination video,” Tommy Taylor, Daily Mail, AFP, January 15, 2022.

The friends you keep.  “Denmark accuses Russia, China, Iran of espionage threat,” Jacob Gronholt-pedersen, Reuters, January 13, 2022.

Iran only gives up hostages in exchange for something valuable, here from the British.  We will learn what ransom was given by the U.K.  “Aras Amiri: Iran frees British Council employee accused of spying,” Guardian, January 12, 2022.

“US military links prolific hacking group to Iranian intelligence,” Sean Lyngaas, CNN, January 12, 2022.

“Iran sends French-Iranian academic back to jail at key point in nuclear talks,” AFP, January 12, 2022.

“Iran, US Lock Horns Over Sanctions Relief, Nuclear Curbs in Vienna Talks,” VOA, January 12, 2022.

$63M.  “US grants Iran sanctions exemption to South Korea,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, January 12, 2022.

“Iran, Venezuela, Sudan among 8 countries losing right to vote at UN over unpaid dues,” AFP, January 12, 2022.

A reminder of the lack of a free press in Iran.  “Hardliner Paper In Iran Slams Media For Interview On Downed Airliner,” Iran International, January 11, 2022.

Excellent descriptors, one of the few open source places I’ve seen these descriptions.  “Who’s on Iran’s current nuclear negotiating team? Some have controversial pasts,” Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Atlantic Council, January 11, 2022.

Not smart.  “Iranian Parents Take On Powerful Revolutionary Guard As They Seek Justice Over Jet’s Downing,” Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL, January 11, 2022.

“Iran to allow crypto payments for international trade: Report,” Coin Telegraph, January 11, 2022.

“Iran issues ‘sanctions’ on 52 US officials to match 52 hostages,” Daniel Greenfield, JNS, January 11, 2022.

“Iran Harassed, Intimidated Famil

es Of Downed Airliner Victims,” Iran International, January 11, 2022.

“Iran reveals ‘untold story’ of arming Palestinians in Gaza,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, January 11, 2022.  “Soleimani’s strategy “was able to multiply the power of the resistance against the Zionist regime” by arming them.”

“Expectations grow for a deal to emerge from Iran nuclear talks,” Lazar Berman, Times of Israel, January 11, 2022.

“Argentina protests Iranian suspect at Nicaragua event,” AP, Washington Post, January 11, 2022.

The very persons (the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation) dedicated to saving the Asiatic cheetahs were thrown in jail by the IRGC in 2019, just the latest poor move by the Regime regarding the environment.  “Iran Says Only 12 Asiatic Cheetahs Left In Country,” RFE/RL, January 10, 2022.

A rare but good step.  “Iran offers to assist India in food aid to Afghanistan,” Arvin Donley, WorldGrain.com, January 10, 2022.

“Soleimani’s death was a blow to Iran, but far from a fatal one,” Yoav Limor, JNS, January 10, 2022.

“Iran rules out prospect of an interim nuclear agreement in Vienna,” Times of Israel, AFP, January 10, 2022.

“China to host Iranian foreign minister amid US pressure over nuclear talks,” Laura Zhou, South China Morning Post, January 10, 2022.

Everybody’s got a uniform—see the picture.  “Iran Hosts Crucial Meeting Involving Afghan Rivals,” Ayaz Gul, VOA, January 10, 2022.

The answer?  Too close for comfort.  “How Close Is Iran to Getting a Nuclear Weapon?,” Colum Lynch, Foreign Policy, January 10, 2022.

“China Gorges On Cheap, Sanctioned Oil From Iran, Venezuela,” Bloomberg, January 10, 2022.

“Iran denies interim nuclear deal reached – report,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, January 9, 2022.  “Iran denied a report that it had reached a two-year interim agreement with world powers on Sunday. London-based Rai al-Youm reported that the sides completed a two-year deal in Vienna, by which the US would lift all sanctions placed on Iran by the Trump administration. In return, all of Iran’s advanced uranium would be transported to Russia. Russia would reportedly serve as the guarantor of the agreement, in that it would return the uranium to Iran in the event of the US leaving the deal as it did in 2018. … Negotiations continued on Tuesday, with the European delegations meeting with Iran’s chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani. Russia’s chief negotiator, Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov, said he “share[s] the assessment” by the Iranians that the sides are starting to overcome their differences on the matter of sanctions. … The talks in Vienna for Iran and the US to return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action are currently in their eighth round. That deal limited Iran’s nuclear program, while gradually lifting sanctions. In recent years, Iran has worked on developing uranium metal and enriching uranium to 60%, far beyond the JCPOA’s restrictions and closer than ever to weapons-grade uranium, which is enriched to 90%.”

“Doomed: The inside story of PS752’s final minutes over Iran and the decision to shoot it down,” Tom Blackwell, National Post, January 8, 2022.

“Iran’s ‘long terrorist arm’ in Germany ousted from Islamic group board,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, January 8, 2022.

“Statue of slain commander Soleimani torched in Iran hours after unveiling,” AFP, Times of Israel, January 7, 2022.

Notice two quotes from this story.  First, “The Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday that Iran has begun the process of paying the $150,000 compensation its government promised to victims’ families at the end of 2020, and will continue to hold court sessions with families present to bring to account the 10 unnamed people it has indicted.”  Second, “Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom said in a statement that Iran has explicitly told them it will not engage in group dialogue, so they are now determined to resolve the issue through international law.”  So the headline is deceiving—Iran won’t say who it has paid, nor is it paying enough, nor is it negotiating with the countries, nor will Iran say who it is prosecuting.  See “Iran says it has begun paying families over downed Ukraine plane,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, January 7, 2022.

I’m waiting to hear what kind of corruption or connection to Regime actions resulted in this.  “Sides have licenses withdrawn by Asian Football Confederation, with Gol Gohar Sirjan also missing out.  AFC says officials determined clubs ‘had not satisfied all of the mandatory criteria’.”  See “Asian Champions League: top Iran sides Persepolis and Esteghlal kicked out of competition,” Reuters, January 7, 2022.

Actually, no.  Unless SArabia does what Iran tells it to do.  “Iran ready to restore ties with Saudi Arabia ‘at any time,’ FM says,” Reuters , i24News, January 7, 2022.

A good way to influence others and build friendships.  “Iran displays missiles amid nuclear talks with world powers,” AP, January 7, 2022.  “State television says missiles in central Tehran are the same types as those used to strike US bases in Iraq after Soleimani killing.”

Spying on the civilian housing blocks and apartment floors by the IRGC.  Scary.  “Iran Aims To Set Up Basij Paramilitary Bases In 11,000 Neighborhoods,” Iran International, January 7, 2022.