The U.S. allows Afghanistan to import oil and fuel from Iran in a special concession exempting Afghanistan from sanctions against Iran.  We don’t know what triggered this fire yet, maybe from the Iranian side of the border post.  “500 vehicles in flames after fuel tanker explodes on Afghanistan-Iran border,” Jessie Yeung, CNN, February 13, 2021.

“Iran Journalist Gets 2 Years in Prison for Writing about Vice President’s Brother’s Corruption Case,” Michael Lipin and Ramin Haghjoo, VOA, February 13, 2021.

“Christians detained for their faith in Iran paid nearly £1m in bail in 2020,” Christianity Today, February 13, 2021.

A concerning visit from a leading figure to be the next Supreme Leader.  “What’s so popular about Iran judiciary chief’s visit to Iraq?,” Press TV, February 13, 2021.

“Iran’s Guard begins ground forces drill near Iraqi border,” AP, Military Times, February 12, 2021.

“Venezuela receives more airlifts of refinery materials from Iran,” Reuters, February 12, 2021.

“Iranian official arrested in Istanbul over dissident’s killing: sources,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, February 12, 2021.

“Russia Calls On Iran For ‘Restraint’ After New Nuclear Accord Violation,” RFE/RL, February 11, 2021.

“Russia, Iran compete for influence in Syria via private security companies,” Mohammed Hardan, Al Monitor, February 11, 2021.

“ADL: Iranian textbooks more anti-Semitic than ever,” Dan Lavie, Cleveland Jewish News, February 11, 2021.

“Iranian diplomat nabbed over dissident murder plot in Turkey,” Daily Sabah, February 11, 2021.

Remember where Hamas gets most of its weapons, etc.  “Israeli commander says Hamas has amassed vast arsenal,” Josef Federman, AP, February 11, 2021.

“Iran’s Economic Crisis – What Is the Cause?,” JubinKatiraie, Iran Focus, February 11, 2021.

“In letter to Putin, Khamenei says Iran ‘will not wait’,” Al Monitor, February 11, 2021.

“Intelligence Report Says Iran Amassing Capabilities to Attack US Allies in East Syria,” Asharq Al-Awsat, February 11, 2021.

“Russia-Iran cooperation poses challenges for US cyber strategy, global norms,” John Hardie and Annie Fixler, C4ISR, February 10, 2021.

There is no other original or confirmation reporting on this story.  “Iranian nuclear scientist killed by one-ton automated gun in Israeli hit: Jewish Chronicle,” Stephen Farrell, Reuters, February 10, 2021.  “The Iranian nuclear scientist assassinated near Tehran in November was killed by a one-ton gun smuggled into Iran in pieces by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, according to a report by The Jewish Chronicle on Wednesday. Citing intelligence sources, the British weekly said a team of more than 20 agents, including Israeli and Iranian nationals, carried out the ambush on scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh after eight months of surveillance. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the report, which was published on the website of the London-based newspaper. … Giving no further details of its sourcing, the world’s oldest Jewish newspaper said the Mossad mounted the automated gun on a Nissan pickup and that “the bespoke weapon, operated remotely by agents on the ground as they observed the target, was so heavy because it included a bomb that destroyed the evidence after the killing.” It said the attack was carried out “by Israel alone, without American involvement” but that U.S. officials were given some form of notice beforehand.”

“Socially-distanced Iran parades on wheels, not feet, to recall 1979 revolution,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, February 10, 2021.  “State television showed live footage of cars, motorcycles and bicycles moving through the streets of dozens of cities and towns where normally tens of thousands of people march at the annual event. Despite the switch to wheel-bound forms of parade, the ceremony’s sentiments remained unchanged. Participants waved Iranian flags and signs that read “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” – trademark slogans of the Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed Shah.”

“Iran’s Static Kitten Cyberespionage Group Actively Attacking Kuwait, UAE,” Anomali, February 10, 2021.

“Iran’s IRGC receives 340 new boats, some with drones,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, February 10, 2021.

“Russia, Iranian health ministries sign cooperation plan for 2021-2022,” TASS, February 10, 2021.

“Iran produces uranium metal in violation of nuke deal — WSJ,” Times of Israel, February 10, 2021.

How does Iran try to hide some of their oil sales?  Here is a detailed description of complex efforts.  “Front companies, forged documents and vessel spoofing: US takes aim at Iranian oil,” John Basquill, Global Trade Review, February 10, 2021.

When the view is adopted that the Supreme Leader speaks for Allah, …  Thus, “the IRGC’s links with its proxies are rooted in a radicalized shared worldview, with these groups fully adopting Tehran’s ideology of Wilayat Al-Faqih, which grants Iran’s supreme leader absolute authority over Shiite Muslims. This fervent ideological and religious affiliation means that Tehran can expect undying dedication to its deadly causes from groups aligned with the IRGC.”  See “A new study on the Middle East takes the wraps off Iran’s militia doctrine,” Charlie Peters, Arab News, February 10, 2021.

“U.S. sells illicit Iranian fuel, another seized cargo on the way,” Timothy Gardner and Jonathan Saul, Reuters, February 10, 2021.

“IAEA: Iran has started producing uranium metal,” David Rising, AP, February 10, 2021.

“Iran issues rare threat to develop nuclear weapon if “pushed”,” CBS, February 9, 2021.  Three parts to this story—Iran reverses itself and threatens a nuclear weapon, the never seen nuclear fatwa is mentioned, and an inside conspirator in the killing of Fakhrizadeh.  It says in part, “Iran’s intelligence minister has warned the West that his country could push for a nuclear weapon if crippling international sanctions on Tehran remain in place, state television reported Tuesday. The remarks by Mahmoud Alavi mark a rare occasion that a government official says Iran could reverse the course of its nuclear program, which Tehran has long insisted is for peaceful purposes only.  A 1990s fatwa, or religious edict, by the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei states that nuclear weapons are forbidden. “Our nuclear program is peaceful and the fatwa by the supreme leader has forbidden nuclear weapons, but if they push Iran in that direction, then it wouldn’t be Iran’s fault but those who pushed it,” Alavi was quoted as saying. “If a cat is cornered, it may show a kind of behavior that a free cat would not,” he said, adding that Iran has no plans to move toward a nuclear weapon under current circumstances. … Following the killing last December of an Iranian scientist credited with spearheading the country’s disbanded military nuclear program, Iran’s parliament has approved a law to block international nuclear inspectors later this month — a serious violation of the accord. Alavi, the intelligence minister, was also quoted as saying that a member of the Iranian armed forces “facilitated” the killing of the scientist, which Iran has blamed on Israel. The minister did not expand on what he meant — and it was not clear if the soldier had carried out the explosion that killed the scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Israel, which has been suspected of killing Iranian nuclear scientists over the last decade, has repeatedly declined to comment on the attack. This was the first time that Iran acknowledged a member of its armed forces may have acted as an accomplice in the killing of Fakhrizadeh, who headed Iran’s so-called AMAD program, which Israel and the West have alleged was a military operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon.”

“Iran, N. Korea resumed missile collaboration in 2020: UN report,” France 24, February 9, 2021.

“Many Iranians Privately Reject State-Mandated Religious Conservatism,” James Dorsey, BESA Center, February 9, 2021.

“IDF intelligence: Iran at least two years from nuclear bomb,” Udi Shaham, Jerusalem Post, February 9, 2021.

“Iran Is Close To Getting An Atomic Bomb—But It Could Still Choose To Stop,” David Axe, Forbes, February 9, 2021.

“Iran summons Belgium envoy over sentencing of diplomat,” AP, Star Tribune, February 9, 2021.  “Iran has summoned Belgium’s ambassador in response to the 20-year prison sentence given an Iranian diplomat convicted of planning a thwarted bomb attack against an Iranian opposition group, state-run IRNA news agency reported Tuesday. Iran’s foreign ministry said the legal process, detention, trial and conviction of Assadollah Assadi, who worked as a diplomat in Iran’s embassy in Vienna, was in violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and are illegitimate. During the meeting with the Belgian ambassador, Iran’s foreign ministry urged Belgium’s government to immediately release Assadi. IRNA’s report said Iran’s foreign ministry also delivered a written objection to Belgium’s ambassador. Last week, a court in Antwerp sentenced Assadi, who had been identified as an undercover agent, to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of planning a thwarted bomb attack against exiled Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq in France. Assadi contested the charges and refused to testify during his trial last year, invoking his diplomatic status. He did not attend Thursday’s hearing at the Antwerp courthouse in which he was sentenced. The court rejected Assadi’s claim of diplomatic immunity saying he was on vacation at the time of his arrest — and not in Austria, where he was accredited. The case has infuriated Iran, whose foreign ministry claimed the legal process was influenced by a conspiracy designed by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq to destroy Iran-Europe relations.”

“Lebanon must be freed from Iranian tyranny,” Maria Maalouf, op-ed, Arab News, February 9, 2021.  In part, “The killing of political activist Luqman Salim last week epitomizes the agony of Lebanon as it seeks to retain its sovereignty against the hostile forces plotting to keep it in turmoil by perpetuating its never-ending political crises. Salim was a politician and a writer who sought to end the hardships of the Lebanese by emphasizing their unity. He pictured Lebanon as a nation taken hostage by the regional powers around it, especially Iran. Contrary to those who push for reform in Lebanon by appealing for help from outside powers, and in particular from Europe and the US, Salim established the responsibility of the people of Lebanon to organize themselves and take action to help improve their conditions.” … A chorus of voices condemned his killing. The most intriguing were the statements made by his sister, who accused Hezbollah of masterminding his kidnapping and assassination. She revealed that he frightened the group with his influential ideas. She added that her brother was an unarmed person fighting against a group of people who were launching rockets and were the cause of the explosion that devastated Beirut last year. She stated that her family has no confidence in the Lebanese judiciary and instead called for an international investigation to be conducted. … The problem for Lebanon is not only the assassination of a prominent political figure, but also the historical question of the suffering of all Lebanese people, as they have become the subjects of Hezbollah’s brutality. The entire discussion surrounding Salim’s killing is an elaboration of the idea of the hegemony of Iran in the Arab world. It is an explanation of the integral part of the strategy to turn Lebanon into a client state for the theocracy ruling Iran, using violence to eliminate opponents and establish a zone of terror in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.”

“IDF foils Iranian scheme to spark conflict on Israel-Syria border,”  Hanan Greenwood, Israel Hayom, February 9, 2021.

Any foreign hostages or Baha’i or Zoroastrians in the group?  “Iran Leader Grants Clemency to 3,840 Prisoners on Revolution Anniversary,” IFP, February 8, 2021.

With the FBI arrest of Iranian academic Kaveh Afrasiabi for failing to register as a foreign agent, it brings to mind allegations of other actors appearing to act in accord with Iran’s positions on regime opposition and anti-sanction, such as the National Iranian American Council and Trita Parsi.  “An Arrest in the US Shows the Islamic Republic’s Influence in the West,” Ardavan Khoshnood, BESA, February 8, 2021.  See also “Iran’s Emboldened U.S. Lobby,” Michael Rubin, Commentary, March 20, 2017.

This statement by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, speaking of Iran, Russia, and China, speaks volumes.  “We must stand next to each other and [cooperate] in all directions: from environment, sociology, culture, and bilateral relations, to politics, defense and security,” the Iranian speaker added.  See “Iran’s Khamenei thanked Putin for Russia’s position on JCPoA,” TASS, February 8, 2021.

The International Observatory for Human Rights has produced a 29-min. documentary “Iran’s high stakes game of hostage diplomacy.”  The link to the documentary is included in this article.  Remember, Iran does hostage taking because it works—they get a prisoner swap or cash or a political deal.  See “Human rights group releases documentary on Iran’s hostage-taking,” Arab News, February 8, 2021.

“U.N. Envoy, Iran’s Zarif Discuss How to End War in Yemen,” Reuters, USNWR, February 8, 2021.

“Iranian Workers’ Salaries Don’t Reach the Poverty Line,” Mehdi Hosseini, Iran Focus, February 8, 2021.

“Dormant for Years, Iranian Cyber Sleeper Cell Awakens,” Omer Benjakob, Haaertz, Febreuary 8, 2021.

Why isn’t this international news?  “Iran and North Korea Resumed Cooperation on Missiles, UN Says,” David Wainer, Bloomberg, February 8, 2021.  “Iran and North Korea cooperated on long-range missile development projects last year, according to a confidential United Nations report that may pressure the Biden administration to respond to one of its first major geopolitical crises. “This resumed cooperation is said to have included the transfer of critical parts, with the most recent shipment associated with this relationship taking place in 2020,” an independent panel of experts monitoring sanctions on North Korea said in the report, citing a member state. Frequently on the fringes of international diplomacy, North Korea and Iran have long had a secretive, mutually beneficial relationship. The UN panel received information showing that Iran’s Shahid Haj Ali Movahed Research Center received “support and assistance” from North Korean missile specialists for a space launch vehicle, and that North Korea was involved in certain shipments to Iran.”

Don’t call it the Arabian Gulf.  “Iran protests to Russia’s use of fake name for Persian Gulf,” Mehr News, February 8, 2021.

“Iran ‘hides spyware in wallpaper, restaurant and games apps’,” Gordon Corera, BBC, February 8, 2021.

And Iran was warned.  “US warns Yemen’s Houthi rebels after terrorism delisting,” Matthew Lee, AP, February 8, 2021.

Best article today, and for some days seen on why authoritarian government mismanage and do not keep pace.  Part of it is due to corruption, part of it is due the nature of the regime involved—they don’t let people have freedom in business and in their lives.  This article is also not a product of the West—it is based on investigative reporting by Fars itself.  “Inside Iran’s failure to become a gas hub,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, February 7, 2021.

“Iran to start human trials on second local COVID vaccine,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, February 7, 2021.

Good, if Iran claims no knowledge, they won’t contest at court.  “Iran Claims No Knowledge of Oil Cargo U.S. Trying to Seize,” By Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg, February 7, 2021.

I am sensing the wheels are coming off some with regard to the Leader’s comments.  Already Zarif is having conversations about the JCPOA or whatever comes after it.  And already the Health Ministry ignored (at their peril?) the Leader’s directive to not take Western Covid meds and only take Russian or Chinese.  “U.S. must lift curbs before Iran rejoins deal: Khamenei cites ‘final’ stance,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, February 7, 2021.

“Iran cleric: People who are vaccinated for COVID have ‘become homosexuals’,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, February 7, 2021.

“European officials and people familiar with discussions in Washington say there is likely to be a series of carefully sequenced steps leading both sides back to compliance in parallel.”  See “Biden Won’t Lift Iran Sanctions to Bring Tehran Back to Negotiating Table,” Andrew Restuccia and Sune Engel Rasmussen, Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2021.

“Iran calls for UN response over Israeli military action threat,” Al Jazeera, February 7, 2021.  But Iran doesn’t mention its own many threats against Israel.

“The Iranians are also creative in how they take advantage of religious and cultural institutions and events in Iraq for intelligence purposes. Many of their Iraqi agents are, like Iranians, Shia Muslims, and so personal visits to Shia religious sites in Iraq provide the MOIS with good cover for their spy meetings.”  See “Spying on the U.S.:  How Iran Tried to Recruit Spies Against the U.S. in Iraq,” James Risen, Intercept, February 7, 2021.

Persepolis is the most followed pro soccer team in Iran.  “Mehrdad Minavand, 45, and Ali Ansarian, 43, played professionally in Iran’s Pro League for Persepolis Football Club and were cherished by fans across the country. The former teammates are believed to have contracted the coronavirus when they co-hosted an online television special on the derby match between Persepolis FC and Esteghlal FC, according to Iran’s state news agency, IRNA.”  See “Two former Iranian national team footballers die from Covid-19 within a week of each other after appearing on a TV special aired online,” Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN, February 6, 2021.

“Iran Asks Madagascar To Help Protect Its Fishermen From Pirates,” Tasnim, February 6, 2021.

76 died Friday, officially.  “Iran reveals COVID-19 data for February 6,” MENAFN, February 6, 2021.

“Iran U.N. Inspectors Find Radioactive Traces, Raising Fresh Concerns,” Lawrence Norman, Wall Street Journal, February 5, 2019. “United Nations inspectors have found new evidence of undeclared nuclear activities in Iran, according to three diplomats briefed on the discovery, raising new questions about the scope of the country’s atomic ambitions. Samples taken from two sites during inspections in the fall by the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency contained traces of radioactive material, the diplomats said, that could indicate Iran has undertaken work on nuclear weapons, based on where it was found. The diplomats said they didn’t know the exact nature of what was found. Last year, Iran blocked IAEA inspectors from checking the sites involved for seven months, leading to a standoff. Tehran has long denied that it has sought to make an atomic bomb and said all of its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes such as power generation and health care. … The IAEA listed in a report in June questions it was asking Iran to clarify on a range of work that could be used for nuclear weapons. One suspicion was Iranian drilling of a uranium metal disc that could be used to create material for a neutron initiator, experts say, a key component of a nuclear weapon. A second suspicion was that nuclear material had been introduced at a site where Iran may have tested high explosives that can be used to detonate a nuclear weapon. … All the suspected activities took place in the early 2000s or earlier, according to the agency. Two of the sites were razed years ago. Another site was sanitized by Iran in 2019, the IAEA reported. The IAEA said it has not ruled out that materials from this nuclear work have been used more recently. “The discovery of radioactive material at these sites would indicate that Iran does indeed have undeclared nuclear material, despite its denials,” said David Albright, a former weapons inspector and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington. “It would indicate that Iran did have a nuclear weapons program in the past, likely leading the IAEA to call for access to more sites and more explanations from Iran.”

This criminal procedure followed is odd as the public was excluded from sentencing arguments.  “California millionaires sentenced for violating Iranian sanctions with auto parts manufacturing business,” Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, February 5, 2021.

“Iran Is Rich, So Why Are People Selling Their Organs to Survive?,” Pejman Amiri, Iran News Update, February 5, 2021.

“Iran arrests journalist Reza Taleshian Jelodarzadeh,” Committee to Protect Journalists, February 5, 2021.

And in Sudan.  “Report: Ethiopia arrests 16 in an Iranian cell planning attack on UAE embassy,” Times of Israel, February 5, 2021.

Uh oh.  This is why security services are on alert for violent retribution from Iran.  “Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh issued a statement on Thursday saying that Iran strongly condemns the 20-year jail term issued by a court in the Belgian city of Antwerp against the Iranian diplomat. “As we have repeatedly announced earlier, all the procedures that have so far been taken against the diplomat, including his arrest, the case brought against him or the conviction, were all unlawful and amounted to blatant violation of international law, especially the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will never recognize it,” Khatibzadeh asserted.”  See “Iran ‘strongly’ condemns Belgian court’s ruling against Iranian diplomat,” Tehran Times, February 5, 2021.

The main point of this blog appears again in the news—Iran has been refusing to act as a “normal” country, and instead a Revolution (a dangerous one at that).  The article below begins with the subtitle—“Iran’s use of diplomats to plan terror attacks is very unusual – most countries do not use diplomats to plan terror attacks.”  See “Belgian conviction of Iran diplomat for bomb plot is a milestone,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2021.

“Following Iranian authorities’ approval of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, health experts in Iran rejected the vaccine, saying that they would not use the jab for themselves and their family members. Last week, Iran’s Zarif announced that Tehran would import two million doses of Russia’s vaccine by 20 March. However, Minoo Mohraz, a member of Iran’s national coronavirus task force, immediately denounced the officials’ decision to buy the Russian vaccine. “It’s only because of Iranians’ bad luck that the government is going to import a vaccine from Russia,” Mohraz was quoted by the Jahane Sanat daily as saying. “I, as a healthcare professional, would not take Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine, because so far we don’t have any information about it,” she added. After Mohraz’s rejection of the Sputnik V vaccine, Hossein Ali Shahriari, head of Iranian parliament’s health committee, announced that he would likewise not take the vaccine made by Russia. Meanwhile, in a letter to President Hassan Rouhani, 98 members of Iran’s Medical Council, responsible for registration of all healthcare professionals in the country, urged the government to carry out more research before buying vaccines that are not approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).”  “Iran’s health professionals reject Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine,” Middle East Eye, February 4, 2021.

Terror conviction against Iran in Belgium.  “Iranian diplomat convicted of planning attack on opposition,” Samuel Petrequin, AP, February 4, 2021. “An Iranian diplomat identified as an undercover secret agent was convicted Thursday in Belgium of masterminding a thwarted bomb attack against an exiled Iranian opposition group in France and sentenced to 20 years in prison, a legal outcome that infuriated Tehran. A Belgian court rejected the Vienna-based official’s claim of diplomatic immunity. The official, Assadollah Assadi, contested the charges and refused to testify during his trial last year, invoking his diplomatic status. He did not attend Thursday’s hearing at the Antwerp courthouse. Prosecutors had requested the maximum prison sentence of 20 years on charges of attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group. Defense lawyer Dimitri De Beco said Assadi would likely decide to appeal the verdict and sentence. Three other defendants were also found guilty and received lengthy jail sentences after the court ruled that they belonged to the same network. During the trial, lawyers for the plaintiffs and representatives of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq opposition group, or MEK, claimed without offering evidence that the diplomat set up the attack on direct orders from Iran’s highest authorities. Tehran has denied having a hand in the plot. A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, condemned the court decisions and said Iran did not recognize the sentence because it considers the Belgian proceedings against Assadi to have been illegal. The court in Antwerp rejected Assadi’s claims of individual immunity and said the case did not violate state immunety principles since neither Iran nor an Iranian security service stood trial. In its ruling, it made clear Iran was not on trial, but insisted the quartet of defendants were members of a cell operating for Iran’s intelligence services gathering information about the opposition group to identify targets and set up an attack. Assadi’s conviction comes at a critical time and has the potential to embarrass his country as U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration weighs whether to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. Iran also said last month it expects Washington to lift economic sanctions that former President Donald Trump imposed on the country after pulling America out of the atomic deal in 2018. The European Union centered its reaction on Assadi specifically and did not draw in Iran as a nation. “The acts committed by this person are completely unacceptable. That’s a fact. The other aspect I can add is that the person in question is already on the EU counter-terrorism list,” said EU spokesman Peter Stano. The Belgian government said the ruling stood on its own, separated from diplomacy and international relations. “What matters is that today the justice system has ruled on facts of terrorism and made a clear statement about it. And it must be able to do that in complete independence. Otherwise, we no longer live in a constitutional state,” said Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne. On June 30, 2018, Belgian police officers tipped off by intelligence services about a possible attack against the annual meeting of the MEK, stopped a couple traveling in a Mercedes car. In their luggage, they found 550 grams of the unstable TATP explosive and a detonator. Belgium’s bomb disposal unit said the device was of professional quality. It could have caused a sizable explosion and panic in the crowd, estimated at 25,000 people, that had gathered that day in the French town of Villepinte, north of Paris. Among dozens of prominent guests at the rally that day were Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani; Newt Gingrich, former conservative speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Assadi was arrested a day later in Germany and transferred to Belgium. The court said since Assadi was on vacation at the time of his arrest — and not in Austria, where he was accredited — he was not entitled to immunity. A note from Belgium’s intelligence and security agency seen by The Associated Press identified him as an officer of Iran’s intelligence and security ministry who operated undercover at the Iranian Embassy in Austria. Belgium’s state security officers said he worked for the ministry’s so-called Department 312, the directorate for internal security, which is on a European Union list of organizations the EU regards as terrorist groups. Prosecutors identified Assadi as the alleged “operational commander” of the planned attack and accused him of recruiting the couple — Amir Saadouni and Nasimeh Naami — years earlier. Both were of Iranian heritage. Saadouni was sentenced to 15 years in prison while Naami received an 18-year prison term. According to the investigation, Assadi carried the explosives to Austria on a commercial flight from Iran and later handed the bomb over to the pair during a meeting at a Pizza Hut restaurant in Luxembourg. The ruling confirmed that the explosives were made and tested in Iran. The fourth defendant, Mehrdad Arefani, was sentenced to 17 years in prison.”

It is not normal country behavior to retaliate with force when it loses a court case.  “Intelligence officials fear revenge attacks from Iran after its diplomat was sentenced for trying to blow up a Paris rally,” Mitch Prothero, Insider, February 4, 2021.

“Iran Carries Out Surgical Strike Deep Inside Pakistan, Frees Two Soldiers: Reports,” Aanchal Nigam, Republic World, February 4, 2021.

So much interesting news on Feb. 4.  Here’s another.  “Iran may reverse fatwa banning nukes if Israel, US act dangerously: ex-official,” Times of Israel, February 4, 2021.  The problem is that Leader never issued a fatwa.  No one has ever seen it.  Such a document was never published or released.  Iranian officials have been saying this for years, to make the world think that Shia Islam does not allow a nuclear weapon.  But the fatwa has never been seen or read aloud.  Thus, it doesn’t exist.

“Iran Defends Hosting Taliban Delegation Despite Decades-Old Attacks In Afghanistan,” Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL, February 4, 2021.

Confusion in Iran you’ll see when you read the excerpt below.  “Iran receives its first batch of foreign coronavirus vaccine,” Amir Vahdat, AP, February 4, 2021.  “Iran on Thursday received its first batch of foreign-made coronavirus vaccines as the country struggles to stem the worst outbreak of the pandemic in the Middle East. The shipment consists of 500,000 doses of Russian-made Sputnik V vaccines which arrived at Tehran’s Imam Khomeieni International Airport from Moscow, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. Also Iranian state TV quoted Tehran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, as saying that Iran has ordered 5 million doses from Russia. The next batches are to arrive on Feb. 18 and Feb. 28, said Jalali. However, a report on the semi-official ISNA news agency appeared to contradict Jalali’s statement and the Fars report. ISNA quoted Mohammadreza Shanehsaz, head of Iran’s food and drug organization, as saying Thursday’s shipment included only 10,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. The conflicting reports could not be immediately reconciled. Shanehsaz also said that Iran had purchased 2 million dozes, not 5 million.”

“Russia, Iran Among Leading States Practicing Repression Abroad, Says Rights Watchdog,” RFE/RL, February 4, 2021.  The group says the Iranian regime has been linked to five assassinations or assassination attempts in three countries, and plots were thwarted in at least two others. The campaign targeted dissidents and journalists the authorities often labelled “terrorists.”

“Iran Expands Foreign Assassinations While Decrying U.S. Killings: Report,” David Brennan, Newsweek, February 4, 2021.  “The Freedom House non-profit released a report into what it called “transnational repression” on Wednesday, naming several authoritarian nations that have used a variety of tactics in recent years to intimidate and kill critics living beyond their borders. The report is based on 608 cases of direct, physical transnational repression since 2014 by at least 31 origin states. The cases took place in 79 countries, including the U.S. and other liberal democracies. Freedom House said some 3.5 million people had been affected by direct attacks or secondary tactics since 2014.”