Dismal domestic management and poor foreign policy result in this.  “Rouhani concluded by saying, “The public should maintain last year’s lifestyle for another year.”  Iran says it will vaccinate enough people by the end of 2021 to reach herd immunity. Officials reported the deaths of 82 patients on Saturday, the spokeswoman for the Health Ministry, Sima Sadat Lari, said, adding that the new deaths have taken the national toll to 60,594.”  See “Iran Bans Travel to Covid High-Risk Zones in New Year Holidays,” Financial Tribune, March 6, 2021.

“Iran must allow inspections,” Op-ed, Gulf News, March 6, 2021.

“Iran: Government’s $12-Billion Debt to Social Security Organization,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, March 6, 2021.

“Iranian firefighters contain fuel tanks blaze at Afghan border,” Reuters, March 6, 2021.

“Iran Doubles Down On Oil Industry Research And Development,” OilPrice.com, Felicity Bradstock, March 6, 2021.

“Olympic sponsors must withdraw support if Iran is not banned,” Benjamin Weinthal and Alireza Nader, op-ed, The Hill, March 6, 2021.

“Iranian militias claim to have active cells in Washington DC: Fox News,” Arab News, March 6, 2021.

Iran uses debts to its advantage.  “Iraq settles part of Iran energy dues,” Tehran Times, March 6, 2021.

“Restart Iran Policy by Stopping Tehran’s Influence Operations,” Ali Safavi, Modern Diplomacy, March 6, 2021.

“Iran displays latest offerings at New Delhi World Book Fair,” Tehran Times, March 6, 2021.

“Iran to Build Its Largest Oceanic Port in Sea of Oman: Minister,” IFP, March 6, 2021.

The appears on its face a rational decision by Iran.  “Iran, Pakistan agreed to set up 1st joint border marketplace,” Mehr, March 6, 2021.

A FM Zarif sighting.  “Iranian FM stresses nuclear accord not renegotiable,” MENAFN, March 6, 2021.

If Iran can’t get banned for this (executing its athletes, etc.), no one can.  “Olympic sponsors must withdraw support if Iran is not banned,” Benjamin Weinthal and Alireza Nader, op-eds, March 6, 2021.

“US Embassy in Baghdad warns of attacks from ‘Iran-supported groups’ in Iraq,” Al Monitor, March 5, 2021.

“Analysis: Iranian state textbooks incite terrorism,” David Andrew Weinburg, FDD’s Long War Journal, March 5, 2021.  “United States Government has routinely identified Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, going back to the 1980s and across successive American administrations.  Furthermore, Tehran’s efforts to export its revolution are widely known, as are its shameless promotion of antisemitic propaganda, such as cartoon contests to encourage Holocaust denial. But comparatively little attention has been paid to Iran’s incitement of hatred, extremism, and terrorism in its official government textbooks.  Whereas credible and comprehensive studies of incitement in the Saudi state curriculum have been published each one of the last five years, for example, the last such expert study of the Iranian curriculum was only published in 2016. For this reason, ADL (Anti-Defamation League) just published a new monograph that surveys Iran’s official textbooks from the 2020-21 school year, the full text of which is downloadable here from ADL’s website.”

“Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says airplane hijacking attempt thwarted,” AP, Times of Israel, March 5, 2021.

“Alert: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says authorities disrupted attempted hijacking of passenger jet in flight on Thursday,” The Wilton Bulletin, March 5, 2021.

Whack-a-Mole by the border patrol, no holds barred.  “U.N. condemns up to 23 killings in Iran’s border area with Pakistan,” Reuters, March 5, 2021.

Once again, hostage taking works.  Not the traditional taking of a person’s body, or not the holding of a ship or other property, but Iran’s holding the snap inspections hostage.  So France, Germany, and the UK decided to not push a resolution opposing Iran’s snap decision in exchange for Iran agreeing to sit down with the IAEA and discuss uranium particles found at several sites—something Iran was obligated to do anyway.  “Iran to meet with United Nations technical experts over uranium find,” AP, March 4, 2021.

“Biden Can’t Bring Peace to Yemen While Iran Keeps Sending Weapons,” Bradley Bowman and Katherine Zimmerman, Foreign Policy, March 4, 2021.

To make room for diplomacy they say, and not outside the norm of what countries do.  While some would prefer to keep all pressure on, to find the right incentive for Iran to do the same is not outside reason in international relations.  What will Iran do in response?  Diplomacy or violence?  “Western powers scrap plan for IAEA rebuke of Iran to make space for talks,” Francois Murphy and John Irish, Reuters, March 4, 2021.

“GCC chief urges Iran to halt supporting militias,” Arab News, March 4, 2021.

Berman argues that proxies/militias must be addressed first in considering re-joining the JCPOA.  (Others say release the hostages).  See “The Iran nuclear deal needs to be fixed and rewritten, not just revived,” Russell Berman, op-ed, The Hill, March 3, 2021.

If true, the large oil spill “trail” against Israel will go up to the highest levels of the IRI.  We will have to see.  “… following a two-week investigation, the Environmental Protection Ministry found that the ship that leaked the crude oil, called the Emerald, was owned by a Libyan company and sailed from Iran to Syria. It departed Iran, turning off its automatic identification system (AIS) – which transmits its location to other ships in the area. It turned the AIS on as it went through the Suez Canal, and then off again as it approached Israel’s shores. The ship remained within tens of kilometers of Israel’s shores, within Israel’s economic waters, for nearly a full day, spilling large amounts of oil on February 1-2, with its AIS off. Then it continued on to Syria, where it turned on its transmitter, and it returned to Iran, turning off its AIS as it passed Israel. It is currently in Iran. The tar reached Israeli shores on February 17.”  See “Mediterranean oil spill is ‘eco-terrorism’ by Iran, Israel says,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, March 3, 2021.

But see the following article—it is not the consensus of the Israel intelligence community (yet) that Iran ordered this environmental act.  For example, it may have been an accident.  But, we would all acknowledge that if that much oil was spilled as the ship traveled north, and was only spilled along Israel’s coast and not from a leak while passing through the Canal, any claim of accident seems dubious.  See “Blaming Iran, environment minister calls oil spill ‘environmental terrorism’,” Times of Israel, March 3, 2021.

“Kimia Alizadeh, Iran’s only female Olympic medalist, hopes to compete as refugee in Tokyo,” Japan Times, March 3, 2021.

Smart.  “An Iranian Think Tank Recommends the Use of Cryptocurrencies to Circumvent Sanctions,” Terence Zimwara, Bitcoin.com, March 2, 2021.

“Iran: Militants attack Revolutionary Guard unit in southeast,” Isabel Debre, AP, Washington Post, March 2, 2021.

Apparently the Court of Arbitration for Sport made this decision based on one case only, and not Iran’s long-standing anti-Semitic policies.  The CAS did not like the 2019 indefinite suspension and returned the case to the disciplinary committee of judo’s governing body for a lesser penalty.  “Iran judo suspension over Israel policy lifted,” AP, March 2, 2021.  The media release is here.

“Iran’s Exports to Russia Double to Record High of $800m in 2020,” Financial Tribune, March 2, 2021.

Two things to note here while Iran heats up the Middle East as negotiations for the JCPOA are offered.  First, the very large blue and white ship is a symbol of Israel (and belongs to an Israeli).  Iran by attacking this ship was attacking Israel.  Here’s what the PM has now said.  “Iran is the greatest enemy of Israel, I am determined to halt it. We are hitting it in the entire region.”  Second, Israel will respond.  Overnight it attacked targets in Syria.  There will be more.  See “Netanyahu accuses Iran of attacking Israeli-owned cargo ship,” Ilan Ben Zion, AP, March 1, 2021.  It is not normal when one country (Iran) wants negotiations that it (Iran) responds with attacks, thinking that the use of violence and the threat of more drives other countries to bargain.  This is the twisted state of logic and violence that is often seen in IRI foreign affairs.

Iran’s earlier agreement with the IAEA to allow snap inspections cannot be withdrawn and used as a negotiating tool.  “With Iran and U.S. at loggerheads over deal, U.N. nuclear agency chief warns inspections should not be used as a ‘bargaining chip’,” Loveday Morris, Washington Post, March 1, 2021.

While not a surprise, it is still noteworthy to see that Iran is watching targets.  That is offensive, not defensive, use of technology.  “The 60 Minutes report revealed new details about the timing of the evacuation, and how Iran tried to use commercially available satellite imagery to monitor the base.”  …  “They would have seen airplanes on the ground and people working,” said McKenzie. “I think they expected to destroy a number of U.S. aircraft and to kill a number of U.S. service members.”  In other words, when you target people with ballistic missiles, that is not a warning.  See “Report: Iran used commercial satellite images to monitor US forces before attack,” Nathan Strout, C4ISR.NET, March 1, 2021.

Note what the story doesn’t say—Who says Iran and Turkey have authority to assert themselves over part of Iraq?  “Iran and Turkey appear to be on collision course in Iraq – analysis,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, March 1, 2021.

A good reminder of the war that Iran is conducting in its Revolution, every day, and in various ways.  “Twenty-four hours of Iran’s total war in Yemen, Iraq and Syria,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, February 28, 2021.

No one in the media, at least not IFP, challenges the concept that if in a multilateral treaty if one state leaves the treaty, whether a remaining state can begin breaching various portions of the treaty against the remaining states.  (the answer in international law is No).  “Iran Reduced Commitments after US Failed to Fulfil Obligations: VP,” Iran Front Page, February 28, 2021.

Iran wants more sanctions lifted in exchange for talking.  But they just won some sanctions relief from the U.S. through South Korea, though we are awaiting to hear the terms, it is at least 1B.  “Iran Rejects Offer of Direct U.S. Nuclear Talks, Senior Diplomats Say,” Laurence Norman and Michael Gordon, Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2021.

“It was the largest ballistic missile attack against Americans ever. “It has never happened in history that a ground force has been exposed to 11 theater ballistic missiles.””  See “Who would live and who would die: The inside story of the Iranian attack on Al Asad Airbase,” David Martin and Mary Walsh, 60 Minutes, February 28, 2021.

“U.S. Says It Would Meet for Nuclear Talks With Iran, Other Powers,” Laurence Norman, Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2021.

Died on Feb. 27, officially.  But not reality.  “Iran health ministry says virus deaths cross 60,000 mark,” Arab News, February 28, 2021.

“Terrorism Ruling Presents Opportunity to Hold Tehran Accountable,” Ted Poe, op-ed, Townhall, February 27, 2021.

When there are large protests, the Regime turns off the internet so the people can’t organize and so the news can’t get out.  And so the shooting can occur.  “Internet disruption reported in southeast Iran amid unrest,” Isabel Debre, AP, February 27, 2021.  “This is Iran’s traditional response to any kind of protest,” Amir Rashidi from Miaan Group, a human rights organization that focuses on digital security in the Middle East, told The Associated Press on Saturday. “Shutting down the internet to block news and pictures getting out makes (authorities) feel more comfortable opening fire.”

At least 1B to be given to Iran by the new U.S. Administration.  What does the U.S. or the world get in return?  A SK ship taken hostage?  “US Agrees on Partial Release of Iran Assets in South Korea,” Financial Tribune, February 27, 2021.

This is part of what SK ship-hostage payment can buy.  “Iran Expects 250,000 Doses of Vaccine From China,” Asharq Al-Awsat, February 27, 2021.

“Israel stayed away from UAE arms fair ‘for fear Iran would target its delegates’,” Times of Israel, AP, February 27, 2021.

“Israel says initial assessment is Iran behind explosion on Israeli-owned ship,” Maayan Lubell, Reuters, February 27, 2021.

“U.S. targeted Iran-backed militias with seven 500-pound bombs,” David Martin, CBS, February 27, 2021.  This was in response to the Iranian militia attacks against Erbil and the Green Zone.

“US Agrees on Partial Release of Iran Assets in South Korea,” Financial Tribune, February 27, 2021.

Finally.  The U.S. tells Iran it can’t attack Erbil and fire rockets into the Baghdad Green Zone without penalty.  “EXCLUSIVE-U.S. carries out airstrike against Iranian-backed militia target in Syria, officials say,” Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart, Reuters, February 26, 2021.

Classy.  “Iran threatens to end deal with IAEA over U.S.-led push to criticize it,” Francois Murphy, Reuters, February 26, 2021.

“Explosion strikes Israeli-owned ship in Mideast amid tension,” Jon Gambrell and Isabel Debre, AP, February 26, 2021.  The MV Helios Ray, a roll-on roll-off vehicle cargo ship, had just exited the Strait of Hormuz on Friday when blasts causes two holes on port side and two holes on starboard, just above the waterline.  Sounds like limpet mines, which Iran has used in the past.

Notice that it is Brookings itself that says this.  “Biden’s decision to strike Iran’s proxies is a good start,” Ranj Alaaldin, Brookings, February 26, 2021.

“Non-Persian Mother Languages Treated as “National Security Threat” in Iran,” Center for Human Rights in Iran, February 26, 2021.

“Deadly Unrest Roils Iranian City,” Sune Engel Rasmussen and Aresu Eqbali, Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2021.

Again, a poor choice.  “Iran now holds two French nationals, possibly as bargaining chips for prisoner swaps, or to pressure European powers to grant sanctions relief.”  See “France confirms Iran has been holding tourist since May 2020,” RFI, February 25, 2021.

“Iran on Thursday said it was “unwarranted” for a United Nations investigator this week to point out inconsistencies in Iran’s explanation for the 2020 downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane. Agnes Callamard, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said Tuesday that while she had not found concrete evidence suggesting that the plane was intentionally targeted, Iran also did not provide enough evidence to prove the incident was accidental, Reuters reported. Callamard also said Iran had not responded to her requests for more detailed information on the incident.”  See “Iran: UN investigator’s comments on downing of Ukraine plane ‘unwarranted’,” Celine Castronuovo, The Hill, February 25, 2021.

These types of stories are too rare in the news.  If Iran used its public funds as other countries, we’d see more infrastructure construction.  “Iran opens key motorway to ease traffic in five provinces,” Press TV, February 25, 2021.

“The “Arab and Muslim Union for Supporting the Resistance” is a pro-Iranian international platform seeking to advance the goals of the resistance axis against the US, Israel and their allies, says Israeli researcher Dr. Michael Barak.”  See “Report: Iran quietly increasing its reach worldwide,” Dean Shmuel Elmas, Israel Hayom, February 25, 2021.