“Reza Karimi, the perpetrator of this sabotage… has been identified” by Iran’s intelligence ministry, state TV said. It said the suspect had fled Iran before last Sunday’s blast that the Islamic Republic has blamed on arch-foe Israel.”  See “Natanz nuclear site blast: Iranian State TV identifies man behind attack,” Tzvi Joffre and Yonah Jeremy Bob, Reuters, Jerusalem Post, April 17, 2021.

“Iran begins enriching uranium to 60 per cent, its highest level ever,” AP, South China Morning Press, April 17, 2021.

This is a shocking (but regular story).  Read it and consider the government’s policies and restrictions on all aspects of life in Iran.  “84 suicide attempts recorded in one day in capital Tehran,” Iran HRM, April 17, 2021.

A band of brothers.  “Iranian, Serbian foreign ministers meet in Tehran, sign cooperation document,” Tehran Times, April 17, 2021.

“How bad is Iran’s 60% enrichment threat? – analysis,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, April 16, 2021.

“The heroes I met fighting Iran’s brutal prison system,” Kylie Moore-Gilbert, op-ed, The National, April 16, 2021.

Remember, Iran said Israel’s story was total fabrication.  Remember, Iran said it does not have a nuclear weapons program.  Now Iran admits, in “the first public admission of the 2018 Mossad operation by an Iranian official. Momeen Rezaei, secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council that reports directly to the supreme leader, told Iran’s Mehr News on Wednesday that the country needs a major revamp of its security” in essence that exactly what Israel said was true—Iran held its plans secret to build a nuclear weapon.  See “Iranian official admits Israel swiped nuclear archive,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, April 15, 2021.

Pretty much an admission that domestic provision of Covid med is not possible by the IRI.  This will be enough (60M doses) for 30M citizens.  And to be delivered by year end—that is 9 months away!  A long time allowing surges and death to continue in Iran.  “Iran to purchase 60 million COVID-19 vaccines from Russia,” Amir Vahdat, April 15, 2021.

“The garbage mafia, by using working children and foreign nationals, homeless individuals, and deprived workers, has caused social harm.”  See “A Glance At Garbage Collecting Tragedy in Iran,” Shamsi Saadati, NCRI, April 15, 2021.

“Iran, world powers resume nuclear talks amid strains over enrichment, Natanz attack,” Francois Murphy, Parisa Hafezi, and John Irish, Reuters, April 15, 2021.

“Walking in a Minefield Without a Map: The Life of an Iranian Human Rights Lawyer,” Center for Human Rights in Iran, April 15, 2021.

The Ministry of Intelligence itself is luring citizens for kidnapping, etc.  “Be wary of online contacts, warns Israeli after Iran tries to lure him to UAE,” Michael Bachner, Times of Israel, April 14, 2021.

“Those women, they just can’t make soccer calls.  We better interrupt the international broadcast of that soccer game every time a woman referee is shown.”—Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei [satirical]  “Iran censors soccer match over 100 times due to woman referee,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 14, 2021.  Also see (or maybe not see, that is what the mullahs prefer) “Iranian TV slammed for interrupting football to prevent fans seeing female referee’s legs,” Arab News, April 14, 2021.

“Iran’s supreme leader: Vienna offers ‘not worth looking at’,” Jon Gambrell, AP, April 14, 2021.

“The alleged Israeli attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility targeted an electrical substation located 40 to 50 meters underground and damaged “thousands of centrifuges,” Iranian officials revealed in recent days. Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, told Iranian media on Monday that the attack hit an electrical substation located deep underground and managed to damage both the power distribution system and the cable leading to the centrifuges in order to cut power to them. The Iranian official stressed that such an operation takes years, saying “the design of the enemy was very beautiful.” Davani added that the substation was built underground in order to protect it from air and missile strikes, and that the attack was carried out either via cyber, sabotaged equipment or sabotage committed by agents. The Jerusalem Post has learned that the attack was carried out through an explosive device that was smuggled into the facility and detonated remotely. An intelligence official told The New York Times on Tuesday that the attack took out both the primary and backup electrical systems.”  See “Natanz attack hit 50 meters underground, destroyed most of the facility,” Tzvi Joffre and Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, April 13, 2021.

How interesting.  What are Russia and China telling Iran?  “This ‘reserves the right’ story about retaliation appears to be a dialing back of Iran’s claims it would retaliate.”  See “Day 3 after Natanz: Iran reiterates ‘right’ to retaliate,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, April 13, 2021.

FM Zarif appears.  “Israel made a ‘very bad gamble’ by sabotaging Iranian nuclear site: Zarif,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, April 13, 2021.

“Details remained scarce about what happened early Sunday at Natanz. The event was initially described only as a blackout in the electrical grid feeding above-ground workshops and underground enrichment halls — but later Iranian officials began referring to it as an attack. Israeli media, which has close ties with the military and intelligence services of that country, have described the sabotage as a cyberattack, without offering evidence or sourcing to support that. The extent of the damage at Natanz also remains unclear, though Iran’s Foreign Ministry has described it as damaging Iran’s first-generation IR-1 centrifuges, the workhorse of its nuclear program. A former Iranian Revolutionary Guard chief said Tuesday that the assault set off a fire while a civilian nuclear program spokesman mentioned a “possible minor explosion.” In remarks aired late Monday by state television. the former head of the country’s civilian nuclear arm offered his own description of the attack, calling its design “very beautiful.” The attack appeared to target both the power grid at Natanz, as well as the facility’s emergency backup power fed by separate batteries, Fereidoun Abbasi Davani said. Davani said a similar attack targeted Iran’s underground Fordo facility in 2012 with two explosions: one 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) away at a power station and the other at Fordo’s emergency battery system. “We had predicted that and we were using a separate power grid,” Davani said. “They hit but nothing happened for our machines.”  See “Iran warns sabotage affects Vienna talks over nuclear deal,” Jon Gambrell, AP, Daily Independent, April 13, 2021.

“Iran Says It Will Enrich Uranium to 60%, Highest Level Ever,” Jon Gambrell, AP, April 13, 2021.

Not everyday the Ayatollah calls and asks you to run for president.  Or tells you not to.  “This was reportedly at the request of current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.”  See “Iran: Grandson of first supreme leader drops presidential bid,” Tzvi Joffre, Jerusalem Post, April 13, 2021.

“Third Israeli-owned Ship Attacked Near UAE; Israeli Defense Sources Blame Iran,” Amos Harel. Jack Khoury, and Yaniv Kubovich, Haaretz, April 13, 2021.

“Iran urges closer defense cooperation with Russia,” Xinhua, April 13, 2021.

How often does Lavrov visit Jerusalem?  “Russia’s Lavrov visits Tehran amid escalating tensions with Israel over Iran nuclear deal,” France 24, April 13, 2021.

Yesterday it was “terrorism.”  Today it is a “crime against humanity.”  Iran is getting its terms mixed up—Iran’s nuclear weapons program is for terrorism and to conduct crimes against humans.  If other countries try to slow it down or stop it, that is a good thing.  We will find out how much disturbing the electricity altered Iran’s newly installed advanced centrifuges (not needed for peaceful production of domestic electricity or medical isotopes) or has put back Iran’s nuclear weapons program (six months?).  “Iran accuses Israel of attacking key nuclear site, calling it ‘crime against humanity’,” Shira Rubin and Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, April 12, 2021.

“Now Iran once again has trotted out the “hardliners” equation, claiming that if the U.S. doesn’t agree to a new deal, the hardliners might win an upcoming election. This is a talking point that Iran uses only in its discussions with the West; it doesn’t appear to ever mention hardliners in its own media or in talks with Russia, China and Turkey.”  See “China and Russia will keep Iran from building a bomb,” Seth Frantzman, op-ed, The Hill, April 12, 2021.

“Iraq remains the key cover through which Iran transports its oil to the rest of the world,” reported OilPrice.com in response to the pipeline announcement. “It will also provide another ‘cover’ route for Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil, which can then be shipped easily both West and East.” The pipeline “should also be read in terms of the overall strategy for the expansion of influence of Iran … not just across the Shia crescent of power in the Middle East but into eastern and northern Africa as well.”  See “Iran’s Pipeline Empire Targets Egypt,” Daniel Di Santo, The Trumpet, April 12, 2021.

“One Hundred Nurses Emigrate From Iran Each Month,” Sia Rajabi, Iran Focus, April 12, 2021.

“Iran Fabricates Claim that U.S. Blocked Vaccines from India,” Fatima Tlis, Polygraph.Info, April 12, 2021.

“The Natanz Blackout: Can the Iran Deal Talks Still Succeed?,” Ray Takeyh, Council on Foreign Relations, April 12, 2021.

“Iran’s June elections could consolidate hardline power before Khamenei succession,” IranElections2021, April 12, 2021.

SK needs to hold firm to not negotiating with kidnappers.  The headline also doesn’t track the story, which claims that SK has agreed to return Iran’s frozen assets “as soon as possible.”  “South Korea to return Iran’s frozen assets after ship’s release,” Elizabeth Shim, April 12, 2021.

Maybe the mystery of Fakhrizadeh’s death (was it gunmen, “remote-controlled machine gun,” weapons “controlled by satellite”) will be repeated by Iran—they really don’t know?  “Iran nuclear attack: Mystery surrounds nuclear sabotage at Natanz,” Gordon Corera, BBC, April 12, 2021.

In a twist, “Iran calls Natanz atomic site blackout ‘nuclear terrorism’,” Jon Gambrell, AP, April 11, 2021.

A real apologist academic won’t admit that the problem is that Iran is marching toward a nuclear weapon.  All they have to do is aim for a peaceful domestic program.  The U.S. is not the problem Mr. Mousavian.  BAS should call him out on this.  “Why a quick return to the Iran nuclear deal is needed to avoid a real nuclear crisis,” Seyed Hossein Mousavian, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, April 11, 2021.

“Analysis:  As Iran’s Election Nears, the Regime Is Trying to Figure Out What to Do With Social Media,” Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz, April 11, 2021.

Hmm.  One day later.  “On Saturday, Iran announced it had launched a chain of 164 IR-6 centrifuges at the plant, injecting them with uranium gas and beginning their rapid spinning. Officials also began testing the IR-9 centrifuge, which they say will enrich uranium 50 times faster than Iran’s first-generation centrifuges, the IR-1.”  So, either the Iranians didn’t do a good job of providing electricity, or something’s afoot.  “Power problem at Iran nuclear facility,” AAP Newswire, April 11 2021.

“Are Iran’s Gold Mines Under China’s Control? – OpEd,” Iran News Wire, April 10, 2021.

“Tehran’s famous bazaar to shut due to Covid,” MENAFN, April 10, 2021.

The NYT Editorial Board is wrong, by definition.  The sanctions were designed to get Iran back to the negotiating table.  And they have.  Not because Biden is in office (otherwise would have happened in January, just like releasing the hostages was put off until Reagan’s inauguration) but because the economic pressure and the lack of funding for the terror/Shia Arc pressure).  “‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran Has Failed,” Editorial Board, Opinion, New York Times, April 10, 2021.

“Official tells Iranian state TV that ‘accident’ strikes electrical distribution grid of Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility,” AP, April 10, 2021.

Reassuring news—the FM spokesman said ““extensive investigations” suggest that the Iranian-flagged oil tanker has not committed any violations.”  “Efforts Underway For Release Of Iranian Tanker Seized By Indonesia,” Tasnim, April 10, 2021.

FM Zarif is wrong, by definition.  Trump’s sanctions were Not Anti-JCPOA, because they were enacted after the U.S. left the JCPOA.  The U.S. was not bound by the JCPOA, and could do whatever it wanted with its own sanctions against Iran to try to convince it to give up its nuclear weapons program and other bad acts.  See “Zarif: All Trump sanctions were against Iran nuclear deal & must be removed,” Reuters, April 9, 2021.

“Report outlines how Iran smuggles arms to Hamas,” Adnan Abu Amer, Al Monitor, April 9, 2021.

One of many.  “In 1998, former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani opened a rally to commemorate Al-Quds (Jerusalem) day by labeling the fact that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust as “Zionist propaganda.””  See “Never forget Iran’s Holocaust denial,” Ellie Cohanim, Washington Examiner, April 9, 2021.

“3 Years Later, A Prisoner’s Family Still Awaits His Return From Iran,” Patrick Holmes, WSKG, April 8, 2021.

This is proof that Iran can act rational if it chooses—it has decided to release a hostage ship.  This is also proof that Iran takes things/ships hostage for ransom.  In this case, ask yourself what is Iran getting in exchange.  The article doesn’t say, but we can guarantee they have received something.  The ship sailed just hours ahead of further talks in Vienna between Iran and world powers over the JCPOA.  Remember also that “Iran had accused the MT Hankuk Chemi of polluting the waters in the crucial Strait of   Hormuz.”  But this was a flat out lie, and most countries did not call out Iran on this.  There was no environmental damage, only a taking.  “Iran frees South Korean ship it held amid dispute over funds,” Isabel Debre and Jon Gambrell, AP, YourBasin, April 8, 2021.

Notice this line—“Despite frosty relations in the past amid Dushanbe’s longstanding anxieties over Iran exporting the Islamic Revolution to its territory, the two Persian-speaking countries appear to be warming to each other as Turkey goes about firming Turkic ties among their neighbours.”  See “Persian-speaking Iran and Tajikistan boost defence relations,” bne IntelIiNews April 8, 2021.

Ah ha, some sort of promise.  “Iran frees South Korean ship, captain after promise to help with frozen funds,” Hyonhee Shin, Reuters, April 8, 2021.

Sounds like Trump’s sanctions are at fault.  “Furious calls are growing louder in Iran against the pandemic mismanagement after the country’s infection rates tripled in a matter of two days. According to official statistics April 8, all provincial capitals and over three-fourths of the country were mapped as red zones. The number of daily cases hit a record new high of 22,586, pushing beyond 2 million the entire population of those infected since the outbreak of the pandemic.”  See “Bitter blame game in Iran amid coronavirus ‘explosion’,” Al Monitor, April 8, 2021.

“A climber (who asked to remain anonymous) told Climbing that the local mountain in Isfahan, Kooh Sefid, has over 40 sport routes that have been used freely by both men and women until now. The incident occurred on the mountain during a canyoning class that was attended by both men and women in central Iran. Local Islamic fundamental extremists interrupted the group. When the group objected to the intrusion, they were beaten. IranWire reported that the Isfahan Mountaineering Board condemned the attack and offered legal assistance to the victims. However, following that, the Imam of the grand mosque in Dorche supported the attacker.”  See “Iran Bans Women Climbers From Local Crag,” Rebecca McPhee, ExplorersWeb, April 8, 2021.

Enablers in the Academy.  “Does Iran even need spies in academia?,” A.J. Caschetta, op-ed, The Hill, April 8, 2021.