There are two ways this can go down.  First, after the apology, the story goes away.  Second, after the apology, the head of Iran’s prisons will himself be punished, but not for the abuse, but for the leak which makes the Regime look bad.  Remember, the Leader and Regime already knew these abuses were on-going because they are key to keeping the Iran in power.  See “Iran’s prisons’ chief issues rare apology for human rights abuses after hacker leak,” i24NEWS, August 24, 2021.  “Mohammad Mehdi Hajmohammadi, the head of Iran’s prisons, apologized Tuesday for the documented attacks on inmates at the notorious Evin jail. “Regarding the pictures from Evin prison, I accept responsibility for such unacceptable behavior and pledge to try to prevent any repeat of these bitter events and to deal seriously with the wrongdoers,” Hajmohammadi announced on Twitter.”

Only good things can happen when you use bitcoin as the currency of the realm.  “Iran to Lift Bitcoin Mining Ban in September,” Bitcoin Magazine, August 24, 2021.

Meanwhile, across the border in Mashhad from everything happening in Afghanistan, ….  NPR has reported truth on this.  “Protests In Iran Over Power Cuts And Water Shortages Have Been Met With Violence,” Peter Kenyon, NPR, August 24, 2021.

“Iran: Ready to ship more fuel to Lebanon, despite US sanctions on exports,” JNS, August 24, 2021.

“Gaffs By Raisis’ Nominees — Making Lamborghinis Iran,” Iran International, August 24, 2021.

“China And Iran Zero-In On Oman’s Massive New Oil Storage Project,” OilPrice.com, August 24, 2021.

“Iran Eyes The Prospect Of Supplying Europe With Gas,” Pipeline Technology Journal, August 24, 2021.

“Iran Official Acknowledges Videos Of Evin Prison Abuse,” Iran International, August 24, 2021.

Very, very rare photographs.  But the stories have existed for years—Evin is where a person doesn’t want to do, and so many there are held without due process and as hostages.  “Leaked footage shows grim conditions in Iran’s Evin prison,” Technology, August 23, 2021.

“Iran resumes fuel exports to Afghanistan after Taliban request, union says,” Yahoo, August 23, 2021.

“How Iran Helped Houthis Expand Their Reach,” Thomas Juneau, op-ed, War on the Rocks, August 23, 2021.

Why the wait?  It’s been over a year.  “Iran, reportedly suffering its worst coronavirus wave yet, is negotiating with one or two European countries to purchase Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines, according to Alireza Raisi, spokesman for the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control.”  Only with the Leader’s permission, so they must be desperate with the highest daily totals from Covid yet recorded.  See “Iran ‘moves for western vaccines’ with country mired in worst virus wave yet,” bne IntelIiNews August 23, 2021.  “The newly elected hardline government led by President Ebrahim Raisi is under heavy pressure to broaden its sourcing of vaccines as the country is struggling with its fifth and most deadly wave of COVID-19. It is dominated by the Delta virus variant said by some experts to be three or four times as infectious as previous variants experienced in Iran.  Officials have attempted to rely on predominantly Chinese vaccines against coronavirus with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei having issued a warning that vaccines from the US and UK could be used in a conspiracy against Iran. But the supply of vaccines is by some accounts close to running out—with severe delays hitting deliveries of Chinese and Russian vaccines and the production of Iran’s domestically developed vaccine, COVIran Barekat.”

Great reporting—The map overwhelmingly shows why Lebanon and Israel, let alone the people of Syria, can see how Iran’s IRGC is only growing in Syria.  “In the two years since Russia, the US, Jordan and Israel signed a 2018 agreement promising to lessen Iran’s presence on the Syrian Golan heights, the Iranian military presence in southern Syria has more than doubled, and it is deployed in preparation for a future confrontation with Israel.  The report claims that from 2018-2021, the number of military bases and outposts of pro-Iranian militias and Hezbollah in southern Syria has increased from 40 to 88. It also reveals that bases of the Syrian Army, particularly the 90th Brigade deployed from southern Syrian to Damascus, serve as logistics backing for the pro-Iranian militias in the country.”  See “Iran has doubled forces on Israeli border since 2018, report claims,” Neta Bar, Israel Hayom, August 23, 2021.

Good article detailing corruption.  “Illicit Oil Exports Cost Iran Billions In Lost Revenues,” Iran International, August 23, 2021.

“Iran official on trial linked to terrorist who murdered Jews and Kurds,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, August 23, 2021.  “The International Criminal Police Organization issued an arrest warrant for Fallahian due to his role in the bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in 1994.”

“Russia, Iran and China to hold joint drills in Gulf –RIA,” WHBL, August 23, 2021.

“Iran urges Japan to release billions in blocked funds amid U.S. sanctions,” Reuters, August 22, 2021.  Behind the request is a threat—remember the attack on the two Japanese ships?  “Japan ship attacked near Strait of Hormuz, U.S. blames Iran,” Kyodo, June 13, 2019.

I don’t know yet if it was a suicide drone or recon drone.  Regardless, this one was deemed a threat.  “The US shot down Iranian drone in Syria – report,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, August 22, 2021.

“Iran’s Killers in Our Midst,” Roya Hakakian, The New York Review, August 22, 2021.  “When the FBI told me I was a target, I was shocked but not surprised. Even in US suburbs, the regime’s critics are not safe from its assassins.”

Iran already ships missiles/components to Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Gaza.  This announcement by the Defense Ministry sounds like an expansion, certainly resolution to the current acts and threats.  See “Iran says it is expanding defense beyond borders, will continue missile program,” Times of Israel, August 21, 2021.

“Iran Reports Increase In Child Marriages,” RFE/RL, August 20, 2021.

“Europe Says Iran Creating ‘facts on the ground’ Amid Paused Nuclear Talks,” Iran International, August 20, 2021.

“Europe Says Iran Creating ‘facts on the ground’ Amid Paused Nuclear Talks,” Iran International, August 20, 2021.

Only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE recognized the Taliban the first time in power.  Now, who will do so?  To Iran’s credit, it never did (thinking pragmatically).  This time Saudi won’t, and certainly not UAE.  But will China?  It is a growing superpower and wants the resources of Afghanistan, and to oppose the U.S.  How will this play into Iran’s revolutionary regime desire to stay alive?  See “Who are the Taliban?,” BBC, August 19, 2021.  And see “Who Will Be the First Country to Recognize the Taliban?,” Margaret Besheer, VOA, August 20, 2021.

Will Reuters remind its readers that the head of a terror organization is announcing basic goods being delivered to Lebanon?  So, who controls Lebanon?  Certainly this hasn’t passed by the Reuters editors.  “Hezbollah says Iranian fuel oil ship to sail to Lebanon in hours,” Reuters, August 19, 2021.

“Iran: Government Mismanagement Compounds Covid-19 Crisis,” HRW, August 19, 2021.

Iran continues to stretch out the negotiating time while working on its bomb.  “Exclusive: Biden’s Iran envoy calls nuclear deal’s fate ‘one big question mark’,” Alexander Ward and Quint Forgey, Politico, August 19, 2021.

Emboldens Iran.  “Catastrophe in Afghanistan — for Afghans, Israel, the region… and for America,” David Horovitz, Times of Israel, August 19, 2021.  “As the Taliban retake power, the imminent 20th anniversary of 9/11 underlines the horrific consequences of the US failing to reckon with this region’s darkest forces.”

Notice in this fascinating article about oil and gas politics the power that Russia has against Iran.  “Iran’s Huge Caspian Gas Find Is A Geopolitical Gamechanger,” OilPrice.com, August 19, 2021.

“Why Iran Will Welcome the Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan,” Shelly Kittleson, Foreign Policy, August 18, 2021.  “Tehran’s Shiite regime has strategic, economic, ideological, and ecological reasons for backing Sunni extremists.”

“With the United States out of Afghanistan, Iran will be able to give greater supplies of money and arms to the Taliban and al Qaeda — elements of support that these terrorists could use against the Afghan people and even to launch another attack on the West. The risks speak to a key reason why the U.S. should have stayed in Afghanistan.”  See “Iran benefits from Taliban takeover,” Jackson Richman, op-ed, Washington Examiner, August 18, 2021.

“US calls on Iran to halt ‘nuclear escalations’,” Al Jazeera, July 17, 2021.

“Iran accelerates enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade, IAEA says,” WHBL, August 17, 2021.

“Iran Is on the Path to Becoming a Forever Poor Country,” Pooya Stone, Iran Focus, August 17, 2021.

“Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan Extend Hands to Taliban Now in Control of Afghanistan,” Tom O’Connor, Newsweek, August 17, 2021.

“China and Iran will open a new chapter in their friendship, Chinese ambassador to Iran Chang Hua said Sunday on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. … Noting that the two countries announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership in January 2016, the Chinese ambassador said high-level officials from the two sides have since engaged in-depth discussions on multiple occasions related to bolstering China-Iran relations. On the political front, mutual trust between the two countries has been enhanced, Chang said, adding that China and Iran firmly support each other on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, which has effectively consolidated the strategic trust between the two countries and steadfastly defended international equity and justice. Meanwhile, Chang said the two economies are highly complementary, and pragmatic cooperation has led to fruitful outcomes. China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for years, and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative continues to progress. In addition, exchanges between China and Iran in culture, education, media, publications, and tourism have expanded over the past 50 years, with increased mutual understanding between the two peoples, Chang said.”  See “Interview: China, Iran to open new chapter in bilateral relations, says envoy,” Xinhua, August 16, 2021.

“Tensions rise as Iranian dams cut off Iraqi water supplies,” DW, August 16, 2021.

“Iran Goes on the Offensive as the U.S. Retreats From Afghanistan and Elsewhere,” Jonathan Spyer, Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2021.

‘It’s a Catastrophe.’ Iranians Turn to Black Market for Vaccines as COVID-19 Deaths Hit New Highs,” Time, August 16, 2021.

“US ‘defeat’ in Afghanistan a chance for peace: Iran president,” Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera, August 16, 2021.

“Afghanistan’s winners: Qatar, Russia, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, August 16, 2021.  “Most of these countries have hosted the Taliban or tacitly backed them.”

“Iran-North Korea Connection: Hezbollah Built Vast Underground Tunnel Network in Lebanon to Move Weapons, Combatants,” Sharon Wrobel, Algemeiner, August 16, 2021.

“Afghanistan Reveals All the President’s Weaknesses,” William McGurn, op-ed, Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2021.

“IAEA: Iran producing uranium metal, which can be used in nuclear bomb,” Times of Israel, August 16, 2021.  “UN nuclear watchdog says Tehran produced 200g of material enriched up to 20%, in further departure from deal.”

“Iran’s ‘hostage diplomacy’ traps foreign nationals,” Deutsche Welle, Egypt Independent, August 16, 2021.

A bad sign for where Lebanon continues to go—toward chaos induced by Iran.  “Lebanon’s Hezbollah says it will begin importing fuel from Iran,” WHBL, August 15, 2021.

“Iran reduces diplomatic staff in Kabul,” Tehran Times, August 15, 2021.

“Controversial German politician to head UN agency accused of helping Iran with tech linked to nuclear program,” Fox, August 15, 2021.