Rare to call out the name of the person responsible and guiding the attack.  Israel again has good intel.  “Saeed Ara Jani, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ UAV Command, was behind the attack on the Israel-linked Mercer Street ship, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz told diplomats from UN Security Council member states on Wednesday.”  See “Iran’s Revolutionary Guard drone commander behind ship attack,” Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post, August 4, 2021.

“British navy group: Hijackers have left vessel off UAE coast,” Jon Gambrell and Isabel Debre, Daily Journal, August 4, 2021.

“Dismantle Iran Now,” Mordechai Kedar, BESA, August 4, 2021.

A lot of news today.  “Gantz: Iran 10 weeks away from amassing enough weapons-grade material for nuke,” Lazar Berman, Times of Israel, August 4, 2021.

“Will Raisi Grasp The Thorny Issue Of The International Financial Taskforce,” Iran International, August 4, 2021.  The new president himself and the Regime’s system is delaying as much as possible the inevitable–you can’t be a terrorist state and run terror money through your banks BUT also allow other countries to examine the books.  You can’t hide the funds you’re trying to use and to wash.

“Rubio, Padilla Introduce Legislation to Award Congressional Gold Medal to 52 Americans Detained During Iran Hostage Crisis,” Office of Senator Marco Rubio, Press Release, August 4, 2021.

“Iran backtracks on plans to release Zaghari-Ratcliffe as court sentences another Briton,” Ahmed Aboudouh, Independent, August 4, 2021.

“Incoming Iranian President Is Expected To Make U.S.-Iran Relations Even Tougher,” NPR, August 4, 2021.

Two more hostages with harsh sentences.  “Iran sentences two dual nationals to over 10 years in prison each –lawyer,” Reuters, August 4, 2021.

“Iran: Secret execution of young man arrested at 15 a cruel assault on child rights,” Amnesty International, August 4, 2021.

“33 years ago, I was in the same room with Iran’s new president when he voted to execute political prisoners,” Mahmoud Royaei, op-ed, WTHI, August 4, 2021.

Door closes again.  You have to really feel for those Americans that Iran is holding and even torturing as pawns.   “Iran official says Tehran to drop prisoner swap plans with U.S. – report,” Reuters, August 3, 2021.

How many ships can be droned?  Be hijacked?  This time, Iran took the Asphalt Princess.  “Possible vessel hijacking off Fujairah sparks new shipping risks, Iran tensions,” S&P Global, August 3, 2021.

A great, descriptive piece.  “Iran Uses Iraq To Tie Lebanon Into Massive Power Plan,” OilPrice.com, Yahoo, August 3, 2021.

“Social Media Harassment of Iran Researchers, Activists,” HRW, August 3, 2021.

Iran owes the U.S. tens of billions of dollars.  “US courts say Iran owes terrorism victims billions. That’s an obstacle to a new Iran nuclear deal,” Christopher Bidwell, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 3, 2021.

“Ship Seized in Gulf of Oman Amid Rising Tensions with Iran,” Benoit Faucon and Stephen Kalin, WSJ, August 3, 2021.

Figured Raisi’s strategy out by reading this story and having background knowledge from watching for several years now.  And I’m sure this is what many analysts are thinking, too.  Intimidation, Force, Kidnappings, Assassinations, Ship Attacks, Etc.  Iran will use Violence, not diplomacy or negotiation or normal interstate relations, to address the sanctions.  Blackmail seemingly is in their constitution, both written and psychological for the leaders.  See “Raisi and JCPOA: Lifting sanctions is top priority,” Tehran Times, August 3, 2021.

It was easy for the intelligence agencies and military to quickly determine Iran’s responsibility for the Mercer Street, “a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned ship managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime.”  The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and the U.S. Navy were escorting the Mercer Street.  See “U.S., U.K. and Israel say Iran attacked Israeli-managed tanker,” NBC, Reuters, By Reuters, August 2, 2021.

Read to see how this is not media but mouthpiece.  “Iran summons Romania ambassador,” Tehran Times, August 2, 2021.

“Russian envoy puts blame on Iran for nuke deal stalemate,” David Sands, Washington Times, August 2, 2021.

“A major concern since Iran froze out IAEA inspectors on May 24, and the negotiations mostly broke down shortly thereafter, has been the experience and scientific knowledge Tehran is achieving by continuing to enrich uranium at the 60% level and by continued use of advanced centrifuges such as the IR-4 and IR-6. According to the JCPOA, Iran was limited to enriching to 5% with at most a few dozen advanced centrifuges. The 60% enrichment level is two jumps up from the 5% level and considered only one step below the 90% weaponized level. Running hundreds of IR-4s and IR-6s is considered a major achievement that can allow Tehran to conceive of a more industrial-scale program that could eventually enrich sufficient uranium for a nuclear bomb within weeks.”  See “Top US Iran envoy having doubts about nuke deal,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, August 2, 2021.

411 deaths on Aug. 1.  “Iran records highest number of daily COVID cases in pandemic,” AP, August 2, 2021.

And this is AP.  “Outgoing Iran president says government not always truthful,” AP, August 1, 2021.

As the inauguration of Pres. Raisi is upcoming, it is only appropriate today to put on the blog this article—Force and Intimidation will be the coin of the realm.  “Middle East Newsletter: Ship Attack Precedes Iran Inauguration,” Gwen Ackerman, Bloomberg, August 1, 2021.

Here’s the point.  This article is about the UK.  Israel and the U.S have spoken.  Romania will soon.  But what about Oman, where the ship was attacked?  And what must Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq be thinking now about his neighbor?  “Britain believes Iran attacked Israeli-managed tanker off Oman,” Reuters, Financial Express, August 1, 2021.

A message for Oman, and of course a message for the U.S.  “Another Iran Message for Biden,” Editorial, Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2021.

“’Iranian regime feels it has divine intervention helping it’,” Yaakov Lappin , Israel Hayom, August 1, 2021.  The Islamic republic is pursuing long-term nuclear goals and feels that events are generally moving in favor of its vision of the “Shiite revival,” warns Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall, an expert on Iranian strategic issues.

“Report: Iran building new uranium enrichment facility in Natanz,” Dan Arkin, Israel Defense, August 1, 2021.  “Artificial intelligence and machine learning enable the tracking of what is being done at the nuclear sites in Iran, even underground.”

“Lebanon is sliding back to the Stone Age, and Iran couldn’t be happier about it,” Avi Issacharoff, op-ed, Times of Israel, August 1, 2021.

“Iranian sharpshooter Olympian should be arrested, not given gold medal – opinion,” Abraham Cooper, Jerusalem Post, August 1, 2021.  “Iran’s olympian sharpshooter honed his craft during Syria’s civil war – where civilians, mostly women and children, were often put in the crosshairs of live bullets. He shouldn’t be rewarded.”  Uh oh.  “Like other members of the Basij militia, a US-designated foreign terrorist group affiliated with Iran’s International Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Foroughi honed his craft during Syria’s civil war – where Syrian civilians, mostly women and children, were often, and intentionally, put in the crosshairs of live bullets.  Foroughi isn’t ashamed of his service to the Iranian regime, nor is anyone even trying to hide it. Iran boasted of his service on state TV where Foroughi actually declared that the greatest honor in life was to fight on behalf of Iran’s genocidal, Holocaust-denying leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.”  Sounds like he was a sniper.  He certainly shot Syrians.

Kamikaze drones used against crew sleeping quarters!  Two sailors killed, one British, one Romanian.  “Israeli-linked tanker attacked by sophisticated Iranian drones,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, July 31, 2021.

I’d agree with this, too.  When Israel hacked Iran’s national rail service and published the phone number of the Supreme Leader’s office for persons to call for assistance or complaints, it was pretty funny, but the Leader wasn’t amused.  “TV: Israel believes Iran struck ship in response to cyberattack on train system,” Times of Israel, July 31, 2021.

Don’t let them get MTV.  “Iranian Minister of Defense (MoD) said that enemies of the country are trying to destroy sublime values and culture of the Islamic Revolution using thousands of satellite networks, etc. without any restrictions.”  See “Enemies trying to destroy Iran’s values, culture,” Mehr, July 31, 2021.

“A Glance at IRGC’s Devastating Impact on Iran’s Water and Electricity,” Mohammad Sadat Khansari, NCRI, July 31, 2021.

“Iranian based in Canada accused of exporting equipment that can be used to ‘measure nuclear fissile material’,” Paul Best, Fox News, July 31, 2021.

“Germany signals growing impatience with Iran on nuclear deal,” AP, July 30, 2021.

“The assault represented the worst-known maritime violence so far in regional attacks on shipping since 2019.”  See “Ship tied to Israeli billionaire attacked off Oman, 2 killed,” Jon Gambrell, AP, July 30, 2021.

“Iran’s alarmingly mismanaged zoos,” Yasin Orooji1 and Hassan Karimi-Maleh, Science, July 30, 2021.

The Biden Administration is coming around to the Trump Administration’s position on Iran.   “Blinken says Iran negotiating process cannot go on indefinitely,” Reuters, July 29, 2021.  And see “U.S. Plans Sanctions Against Iran’s Drones and Guided Missiles,” Ian Talley and Benoit Faucon, Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2021.

“Iran Outlaws Bitcoin Mining Amid Power Shortage Crisis,” Matthew De Saro, Yahoo Finance, July 29, 2021.

“Iran: Deadly Repression of Khuzestan Protests,” HRW, July 29, 2021.

“Gantz to BBC in Persian: Iran close to enrichment for nuclear weapon,” Jerusalem Post, July 28, 2021.

“Iranian defector Saeid Mollaei dedicates silver medal judo win to Israel,” Washington Examiner, Yahoo News, July 28, 2021.  This is an amazing story, of Irian defector Saeid Mollaei who now competes for Mongolia, told by the Regime that he could not compete against Jews and against Israelis.  He showed them.

“Leaked Iranian Intel Sheds Light on Proxy War With Israel,” Omer Benjakob, Haaretz, July 28, 2021.

“Rights Organization Says Iran Killed Or Abducted 540 People Abroad,” Iran Interantional, July 28, 2012.

“Cuba says Iran to start producing one of its COVID-19 vaccines,” Sarah Marsh, Reuters, July 28, 2021.

“Iran hits new COVID infection record for 2nd straight day,” AP, July 27, 2021.

“Iran’s crimes and acts of war will continue until Biden responds forcefully,” Clifford May, Washington Times, July 27, 2021.

“Secret Iran hacking plans against West revealed – report,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, July 27, 2021.

Jordan, one of the most important countries for peace in the Middle East, is under attack.  “Jordan has been attacked by Iranian-made drones – King Abdullah,” Tzvi Joffre and Tovah Lazaroff, Jerusalem Post, July 26, 2021.

Next comes gunfire against the protestors.  It will take the countries of the world, and the UN, to make a dent in the Regime’s treatment of its people.  “Iran Protests Reach Tehran, Videos Show Crowds Chanting for Fall of Regime,” David Brennan, Newsweek, July 26, 2021.

Hooray!  “After months of optimism, a return to the Iran nuke deal begins to look unlikely,” Lazar Berman, Times of Israel, July 26, 2021.  “The Islamic Republic’s demands, along with progress in its program, make a return to the JCPOA seem much more difficult than when Biden came into office.”