The principle of FIRST releasing hostages needs to be followed by the Biden Administration to hold Iran accountable.  Note what Xiyue Wang says about Malley and Rhodes and the import of stopping the human rights violation of hostage taking.  See “American Who Was Political Prisoner in Iran Slams Possible Appointment of Robert Malley as Special Envoy,” Algemeiner, January 24, 2021.

“Indonesian authorities said that they seized an Iranian tanker and Panamanian tanker suspected of carrying out the illegal transfer of oil in their country’s waters Sunday. The tankers — the Iranian-flagged MT Horse and the Panamanian-flagged MT Frea — were seized in waters off Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, said Wisnu Pramadita, a spokesman for the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency. He said the tankers are suspected of a variety of violations, including not displaying national flags, shutting off their identification systems, anchoring illegally as well as the illegal transfer fuel between ships and spilling oil. “Indonesia says it has seized Iranian and Panamanian tankers,” Edna Tarigan, AP, Click2Houston, January 24, 2021.

“Nukes, terror, Syria, Iraq, Hezbollah – Iran’s tentacles are spreading,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, January 24, 2021.  “Iran has often used the nuclear program to distract from its real desire: Regional hegemony.”

A country that was planning to use nuclear power for peaceful means or as a tool for regional hegemony would not have these conditions.  “Iran said to lay out 7 preconditions to US for renewal of nuclear deal,” Lazar Berman, Times of Israel, January 24, 2021.  “Iran will not accept a partial lifting of sanctions because Tehran considers the JCPOA an indivisible agreement. The report said that Iran would demand that the US implement all aspects of the deal, including the full lifting of sanctions, if it wants to re-enter the accords. Secondly, any disagreements over the accords must be discussed within the framework of the official negotiating committees. One of these anticipated disagreements is Tehran’s demand for compensation for financial losses it incurred due to the Trump administration’s exit from the deal, notably the financial impact of the sanctions. The third condition was said to be that Tehran will not accept linkage between the nuclear deal and other issues, including its missile program and activities throughout the Middle East. The fourth demand was reportedly that Iran will not accept any new members into the deal beyond the P5+1, including any Gulf Arab states. Fifthly, any issues involving other regional states must be discussed separately, and not as part of the nuclear talks. The sixth point was said to be that while Iran will not discuss its missile program, it is open to talking about regional arms control under the supervision of the United Nations and was said to be especially concerned about Israeli missiles and nuclear weapons. Finally, Iran will not accept a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, and insists on a UN referendum of Palestinians and Jewish Israelis on “land.” There were no further details given on the content of the potential referendum.”

“Iran, Armenia ink MOU on expansion of trade ties,” Tehran Times, January 24, 2021.

“Who Is Quds Force Chief Esmail Qaani?,” Erfan Fard, BESA, January 24, 2021.

“No, Twitter Did Not Suspend Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader,” Haaertz, January 24, 2021.

“Iran must prove it is serious before Gulf talks can begin,” Mohammed Al-Sulami, op-ed, Arab News, January 24, 2021.

“Trials of Locally-Made COVID-19 Vaccines to Start in Iran,” Ilham Karimli, Caspian News, January 24, 2021.

Mossad Chief “Cohen will present the following demands that Israel’s government believes must be incorporated, Channel 12 said: That Iran must halt the enriching of uranium; stop producing advanced centrifuges; cease supporting terror groups, foremost Lebanon’s Hezbollah; end its military presence in Iraq, Syria and Yemen; stop terror activity against Israeli targets overseas; and grant full access to the IAEA on all aspects of its nuclear program. Israel fears a revived deal under which Iran will be able to both continue enriching uranium and be granted financial relief that will enable the Islamist regime to repair the economy, the TV report said. It did not name sources for the story, but cited “messages” conveyed between the Biden administration and Israel.”  This is a good list for the West to work from for itself and the world.  And compare it to Iran’s seven negotiating demands.  See “TV: Mossad chief to meet Biden, set out terms for overhaul of Iran nuclear deal,” Times of Israel, January 23, 2021.

Smoking Gun.  And proof positive why Sudan’s recognition of Israel is so important.  “Islamic Jihad says late Iranian general Soleimani gave ‘direct orders’ in Gaza,” Times of Israel, January 23, 2021.  “A senior figure in the terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad said the organization received “direct orders” from the late Iranian Quds force commander Qassem Soleimani up until his assassination in a US airstrike last year, and that rockets supplied by the Iranians were used to attack Israel. Speaking during a December interview with the Iranian al-Alam TV, the secretary-general of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Ziyad al-Nakhaleh, said “nothing happened [in Gaza] without his direct orders and supervision,” according to a translation this week by the Middle East Media Research Institute. This came in addition to Soleimani’s efforts to supply the PIJ with modern missiles, and weapons, including those used to attack Israel’s economic and technological hub, Tel Aviv. “It was almost miraculous. It was very expensive in terms of technology, security, and capabilities” al-Nakhaleh said, adding “I can say that the missiles that [Soleimani] delivered to the Gaza Strip were the ones used to attack Tel Aviv. I can say that Hajj Qassem played a pivotal role in the fact that the Palestinians ventured to attack the capital of the Zionist entity.” The PIJ chief explained that Soleimani personally supervised and managed the transport of missiles in “complex operations” from Syria, to Sudan, to the Gaza Strip, adding that he personally visited Sudan to ensure the shipments were a success. In 2009, three airstrikes destroyed a convoy of trucks in western Sudan reportedly carrying long-range Iranian missiles to the Gaza Strip. A mysterious explosion in a weapons plant in Khartoum in 2012, which killed four people, was believed to be the result of an Israeli airstrike targeting arms destined for terror groups in Gaza. In 2014 a large explosion occurred in a Sudanese ammunition warehouse, in an alleged Israeli attack targeting weapons intended for Gaza. The local manufacturing of rockets in the Gaza Strip is also attributed to Soleimani’s guidance, according to al-Nakhaleh. “This is a great and important issue, and without a doubt played a role in strengthening the Palestinian resistance.” adding that, “[Soleimani] did not train [the Palestinians] himself, obviously, but he gave instructions to the experts who supervised these matters.” The Quds Force, headed by Soleimani until his assassination in January 2020, is one of five branches in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, designated a terrorist organization by the US. Hamas, the PIJ and several smaller terror factions held a joint military drill in December, during which several rockets were fired toward the sea, in an effort to send a “clear message to the Zionist enemy.” … Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, when it expelled its rival Fatah following a bloody struggle for control of the coastal enclave. Israel has fought three wars against terror groups in the Strip since Hamas took control of the area, along with dozens of smaller exchanges of fire.”

Pressure can work, whether from the U.S. or Israel (or Russia or China if they so choose).  “Iran’s Zarif open to oil, Gulf security contacts with U.S., not on Israel,” Reuters, January 23, 2021.

“Germany Investigates Spy Activity in Europe Linked to Former Iranian Diplomat,” Asharq al-Awsat, January 23, 2021.  “The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence has a network of agents in Europe that are managed with the help of Iranian embassies, and the misuse of diplomatic capabilities.”

“Iran Quranic Community to Pay Tribute to Imam Khomeini,” IGNA, January 23, 2021.

“Iran to begin COVID-19 vaccinations in coming weeks: President Rouhani,” Reuters, January 23, 2021.

“Iran, Russia Discuss Completion Of North-South Corridor,” Tasnim, January 23, 2021.

“Iran to start projects for constructing 2 major petrochemical complexes,” MENAFM, January 23, 2021.

“Maduro sent letter to Iran’s leader accrediting US fugitive,” Joshuar Goodman, AP, Star Tribune, January 22, 2021.  Think about it—Venezuela attempted to designate one of its terrorists to serve as a diplomat, directing them directly toward the Supreme Leader.  “Maduro sent letter to Iran’s leader accrediting US fugitive,” Joshua Goodman, AP, ABC, January 22, 2021.

Based on the very recent article in this blog, the UN disagrees with Iran.  “U.S. blocking Iran’s payment of overdue UN membership fees, Zarif says,” Tehran Times, January 22, 2021.

Should have done this years ago.  “Twitter permanently banned an account believed to be linked to Iran’s supreme leader Friday after it posted a threatening image that included former President Donald Trump. The account, @khamenei_site, was linked to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s website, The Associated Press reported.”  See “Twitter Bans Account Linked To Iran’s Supreme Leader,” Dustin Jones, NPR, AP, January 22, 2021.

“You’ve got to at least admire the effort that was put into this. Iran’s supreme leader has threatened Donald Trump with assassination by posting a pretty high-quality drawing of a drone looming over the former president while he tarump teeing off with a drone shadow above him. It’s captioned with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s remarks from December, in which he said “Revenge is certain” over the Trump-ordered killing of top Iranian military commander General Qassem Soleimani last year. No action has been taken against the tweet yet, even though it seems likely to have broken any number of the social-media’s company’s rules.”  See “Iran’s Supreme Leader Posts Drawing of Drone Strike on Golfing Trump FORE!,” Jamie Ross, Daily Beast, January 22, 2021.

“Iran, China to Continue Fight Against Donald Trump, Officials as Private Citizens,” David Brennan, Newsweek, January 22, 2021.

“Iran starts on Qeshm bitumen plant,” Argus, January 22, 2021.

“Iran: 33 Executions in Iran in the Past Month Alone,” NCRI, January 22, 2021.

How do you sue yourself?  “Iran’s president to sue state TV after guest called him ‘opium user’,” Ahmed Vahdat, Telegraph, January 22, 2021.

“Arab Coalition thwarts two terrorist attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militia,” Saudi Gazette, January 22, 2021.

Makes you wonder who else is doing the same thing inside America, working with the Iran Mission to the UN (who just complained last week about restrictions placed by the U.s. on their movement—now we know more).  This is the second article on this topic, but I’m including it hear because of the picture with the FM.  “Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the U.S. branch of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the MEK’s parent organization, said the move to arrest Afrasiabi and hold him to account was  “welcome and long overdue”, but warned that there are more like him across the U.S. “Unfortunately, for the past three decades, the Iranian regime has been running an extensive network of agents and operatives, many of them U.S. persons, in clear violation of American law. The impunity with which Tehran has run its emissaries in the United States had emboldened them,” Jafarzadeh said.”  See “FBI Arrests Tehran’s Agent,” Iran Focus, January 22, 2021.

Note that the chief diplomat for Iran says nothing of hostages, terror, missiles, or human rights violations.  Or the nuclear weapon program.  But Iran wants the U.S. to move first, and to return to the troubled JCPOA.  “Iran Wants the Nuclear Deal It Made,” Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, January 22, 2021.

Iran’s nuclear weapons program and the JCPOA are very much part of the reason to create this blog, as regular readers know or if you select the tabs on the blog to read about its history.  Here is a story at the start of the Biden Administration laying out some of the difficulties of treating with Iran through the JCPOA—the authors say “ Reviving the JCPOA will ensure either the emergence of a nuclear Iran or a desperate war to stop it.”  See “The Case Against the Iran Deal,” Michael Oren and Yossi Klein Halevi, The Atlantic, January 21, 2021.

It’s not Iran’s responsibility, it is apparently the responsibility of the U.S.  Shirking responsibility for one’s actions.  “Iran’s Rouhani says “ball in U.S. court” over nuclear dispute,” Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, January 20, 2021.

“Iranian Rights Groups Call on Khamenei to Allow Purchase of U.S. and UK COVID-19 Vaccines,” Center for Human Rights in Iran, January 20, 2021.

Let’s compare how Kaveh Afrasiabi is treated during detention and how Iran treats hostages.  “Tehran Denounces ‘Hostage Taking’ After Iranian Accused Of Being Agent Arrested in U.S.,” RFE/RL, January 20, 2021.

FM is heading to Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, and Georgia.  “Iran’s Foreign Minister to visit Armenia next week,” Public Radio of Armenia, January 20, 2021.

Uh oh.  If you’re a political scientist who is on the Iran Government payroll, you should tell others who is paying your salary.  Otherwise you probably won’t be a supposedly unbiased commentator again or teach again at a college.  The other really interesting thing here is that the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of NY has emails from the defendant, Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, one of which is to Foreign Minister Javad Zarif himself about these payments.  See “Political Scientist Author Charged With Acting As An Unregistered Agent Of The Iranian Government,” Press Release, Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs, Tuesday, January 19, 2021.  The FM will, as is his practice, describe the email as a fabrication.  See also “Political scientist accused of secretly working for Iran,” Alanna Durkin Richer, AP, January 19, 2021.  This story reminds other political scientists about objectivity and openness and bias.

Not “in the news” today, but I’m posting this in the news section because it just came out, and is part of the long-standing historically unjustified position of the IRI to this day.  See “The Iran Coup That Never Dies,” RayTakeyh, Orbis, Winter Issue 2021, released January 19, 2021.  Here is the “Abstract:  The 1953 coup in Iran that toppled the nationalist Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq stands as one of the most controversial episodes of the Cold War. It is often referred to as the original sin where U.S. meddling poisoned relations between the two sides and even made the Islamist revolution of 1979 possible. But recent evidence suggests that America’s role in the coup was a minor one and the key actors determining the course of events were the Iranians themselves. It was Iranian generals, clerics and everyday citizens who put an end to Mossadeq’s premiership. All the Western lamentations aside, this was very much an Iranian affair.” See https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0030438720300697 for the article.

Iran leads the world by far in dues owed to the United Nations.  Diplomats who attend Iran-sponsored seminars and events in NYC need to remember this (peer pressure can have some affect).  Iran by far tops the list and needs to pay over $16 million.  See “UN chief says 9 African nations, Iran in arrears on UN dues,” Everything Lubbock, January 18, 2021.

And then they lost their vote.  “The UN charter calls for such a voting rights suspension for countries whose arrears equal or surpass the amount of the contributions due from them to UN coffers in the previous two years”  See “Iran, six other nations lose right to vote in UNGA over unpaid dues,” Business Standard, January 19, 2021.  Note the article records that Iran could not prove to the UN that it was incapable of paying, and that Iran’s blaming U.S. sanctions for blocking the Islamic Republic from paying its required contribution to the UN was also not convincing to the U.N.  Iran has the money.  “Iran, Turkey block rivals from joining U.N. disarmament talks,” Emma Farge, Reuters, January 19, 2021.

“Iran’s military kicked off a ground forces drill on Tuesday along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, state TV reported, the latest in a series of snap exercises that the country is holding amid escalating tensions over its nuclear program and Washington’s pressure campaign against Tehran. According to the report, commando units and airborne infantry were participating in the annual exercise, along with fighter jets, helicopters and military transport aircraft. Iran’s National Army chief Abdolrahim Mousavi was overseeing the drill.”  Not IRGC.  See “Iran Kicks Off Ground Forces Drill on Coast of Gulf of Oman,” Military.com, The Canadian Press, January 19, 2021.

“Iran Reportedly Seizes 45K Bitcoin Mining Machines After Closure of Illegal Operations,” Sebastian Sinclair, Yahoo Finance, January 18, 2021.  And a similar article reminding us that you reap what you sow—bitcoin production added to brownouts and blackouts.  “The Iranian police have confiscated some 45,000 bitcoin mining machines that were illegally using subsidized electricity.”  See “Iran Seizes Thousands Of Illicit Bitcoin Mining Machines,” January 18, 2021.

“Iran buys 16.8 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX: report,” Xinhua, January 18, 2021.

Notice how Russia seems to have Iran’s back in this article, only criticizing Israel for the conflict in Syria, and not asking anything of Iran.  This is one of the factors not resulting in Iran acting as a normal country.  See “Russia’s FM: Syria must not be an Israel-Iran battlefield,” Jerusalem Post, January 18, 2021.

It is fine for Al Thani to call for discussions, but will Qatar or Iran actually be willing to give anything up?  The basis for this call by Qatar is the recent partial reconciliation with Saudi Arabia in which Qatar gave up nothing according to media accounts.  “Qatar Says It’s Time Gulf Arabs Start Talks with Iran,” Simone Foxman, Bloomberg, January 18, 2021.

Remember, in every public statement and any negotiations, the first words from the U.S. representative each time should be “Release the Americans before anything else is discussed.  We’re waiting.”  Now Iranian-American Emad Shargi was summoned to a Tehran court Nov. 30 and informed he was convicted of espionage without a trial and sentenced to 10 years.  Three other Iranian-Americans are held hostage: Siamak Namazi, his aged father, Baquer, and Morad Tahbaz.  The hostage taking continues.  See “Iran jails U.S. businessman, possibly jeopardizing Biden’s plans for diplomacy with Tehran,” Dan De Luce, NBC, January 17, 2021.

This reads almost like a headline out of The Onion.  “Iran asks watchdog not to publish ‘unnecessary’ nuclear details,” AP, Stars and Stripes, January 17, 2021.

There’s good reason(s) to not let Iran’s diplomats have the same free reign that other countries’ diplomats have on U.S. soil.  And, under international law, host countries (and countries that host international forums) have every right and legal authority to limit such things as diplomatic travel due to national security, espionage, and worse.  This news article does not explain that or detail Iran’s past actions in NYC, D.C., etc.  “Iran warns Washington to stop “illegal actions” against diplomats on U.S. soil,” Xinhua, January 17, 2021.

“Iran fires long-range missiles into Indian Ocean in military drill – media,” Reuters, January 16, 2021.

One ballistic missile blew up on contact with the ocean just 20 miles from a cargo ship, exploding shrapnel widely.  “Iranian missiles land 100 miles from US aircraft carrier strike group in Indian Ocean,” Arab News, January 16, 2021.

To assist Shia in West African countries, but also to spread Revolution sympathy, etc.  “Iran’s Red Crescent chief visits health centers in Africa,” Mehr, January 16, 2021.

Official numbers are 96 died nationwide Friday.  “Iran reveals COVID-19 data for January 16,” MENAFA, January 16, 2021.

This won’t end up benefiting Kazakhstan.  “Official urges setting up Iran-Kazakhstan joint Security WG,” Mehr, January 16, 2021.

Setting aside that the Democrats decried Trump officials from talking to Russia before the president was sworn in, note the point about this story is that Biden’s officials have already begun talking with Iran on some sort of return to the 2015 JCPOA, and have updated Israel.  The Mossad chief Cohen was just in D.C. talking to Sec. Pompeo, and is mentioned in this article as having talks in D.C. about the Biden initial plans.  “Report: Biden team already holding talks with Iran on US return to nuclear deal,” Times of Israel, January 16, 2021.

“Iranian Redeployment in Iraq Behind Israel’s Alleged Syria Strike, Sources Say,” Yaniv Kubovich, Haaertz, January 16, 2021.

In the central dessert, a day after the at-sea short-range missile tests.  “Iran tests ballistic missiles, drones in military exercise, state TV says,” Reuters, January 15, 2021.

“Iran tests suicide drones that look similar to those used in Saudi attacks,” Jon Gambrell, AP, Defense News, January 15, 2021.

“Iran Deems Signal ‘Criminal Content,’ Removes From Local App Stores,” Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE/RL, January 15, 2021.

“‘Tactical cooperation’ marks Iran-al-Qeda ties, experts say,” The Arab Weekly, January 15, 2021.

An open message to Iran—Il Milano is where the Quds Force was to blow up the entire restaurant, including the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. several years ago.  So now this story—“Earlier this week, Israeli warplanes apparently targeted positions and arms depots of Iran-backed forces in Syria. At least 57 fighters were killed and dozens of others wounded. Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria is nothing new. But what is new about this episode is how those strikes were carried out. A senior U.S. intelligence official with knowledge of the attack told The Associated Press that the airstrikes were carried out with intelligence provided by the United States. The official said the strikes targeted a series of warehouses in Syria that were being used in a pipeline to store and stage Iranian weapons, as well as serving as a pipeline for components supporting Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. official, who requested anonymity to speak about the matter, said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed Tuesday’s airstrike with Yossi Cohen, chief of Israel’s spy agency Mossad, at a public meeting in the popular Washington restaurant Café Milano on Monday. This series of events is significant for two reasons. Not only is it a rare incidence of publicized cooperation between the two countries over choosing targets in Syria, but it comes at a fraught moment in U.S. foreign policy. American public cooperation with this latest Israeli airstrike came after a bitter presidential election, punctuated by a deadly siege of the Capitol and all while the incoming Biden transition team has complained of a lack of cooperation by Trump’s Pentagon. Pompeo on Tuesday accused Iran of having secret ties with the al-Qaida network and imposed new sanctions on several senior Iranian officials. Pompeo’s comments come just a week before the Trump administration leaves office and appeared aimed at Biden’s stated desire to resume negotiations with Iran over the 2015 nuclear deal. Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018. In a speech to the National Press Club just, Pompeo attacked Iran for alleged secret ties with al-Qaida, citing newly declassified intelligence suggesting Tehran harbored the group’s No. 2, Abu Muhammad al-Masri, who was killed in August, reportedly by Israeli agents.”  Fascinating.  See “In waning days, Trump shakes up CENTCOM to increase Arab-Israeli efforts against Iran,” Howard Altman, Military Times, January 15, 2021.