“Iranian refugee on verge of medal after 3 taekwondo wins,” Greg Beacham, AP, July 25, 2021.

And I’m sure Khamenei and Raisi are not happy today.  “An Iranian defector beats an Iranian in taekwondo,” Tariq Panja, New York Times, July 25, 2021.

In more Olympics news, and somewhat frightening.  “Guards chief Hossein Salami also celebrated the win, the movement’s Sepahnews website reported, calling the shooter an “exuberant Guard of the Islamic revolution”.”  See “Iran hails Guards nurse’s golden shot in Tokyo,” AFP, July 25, 2021.  As a member of the IRGC, has Foroughi used his pistol skills against the Iranian people, or against others?  That seems to be the implication.  “Iranians blast Olympics for praising IRGC ‘terrorist’ who won gold medal,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, July 25, 2021.

“Israel said to warn US that Iran close to becoming nuclear threshold state,” Times of Israel, July 25, 2021.

“Russia marks Navy’s 325th anniversary, Iranian ship joins in,” AP, July 25, 2021.

“[T]here is a contingent of supposed peace activists, academics, and student groups that serve as an ideological backdoor for radical Middle Eastern extremism into the United States.”  See “Radical Exchange: How Turkey and Iran Infiltrate Young American Minds,” Eitan Fischberger and Yosef Kuperwasser, National Review, July 25, 2021.

“Iran to give harsh response to threats 40km off its borders,” Mehr, July 25, 2021.  40km is 25 miles.  On land, a violation of another state’s sovereignty.  At sea, a violation of international law since borders end at 12 miles.

“Domestic rivals in Iran blame each other over nuclear deal,” Daily Sabah, July 25, 2021.

“Iran’s Latest Nuclear Demand,” Editorial Board, Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2021.  Iran knows a U.S. president can’t allow the UN to dictate U.S. foreign policy—it is a proposal by Iran that is going nowhere.

“Iran’s ship Sahand will arrive in Russia for military parade,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, July 24, 2021.

Notice that Alinejad asked Sullivan to suspend the JCPOA talks.  “Jake Sullivan In Meeting With Iranian Activist Condemns Kidnapping Plot,” Iran International, July 24, 2021.

“Iran’s ship Sahand will arrive in Russia for military parade,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, July 24, 2021.

“Pro-Iranian Militia Commander Threatens Attacks Against US Forces Unless They Leave Iraq,” Edward Yeranian, VOA, July 24, 2021.

For those out there tracking this, here are 1,130,400 doses.  “Red crescent continues to import Covid-19 Vaccines‎,” Relief Web, July 24, 2021.

“Iran’s meddling in affairs of other countries threatens regional security: GCC chief,” Arab News, July 24, 2021.

“Hezbollah, Iranian militia commanders killed in Syria,” Tzvi Joffre, Jerusalem Post, July 24, 2021.

“Just how dangerous is Iran to the world?”, Eric Mandel, op-ed, The Hill, July 23, 2021.  This author agrees with this blog, that Iran is a revolutionary Islamist state.

Iran is establishing prisons as headquarters in some parts of Syria, to use the prisoners as human shields.  See “Iranian forces in Syria establish new prison in Raqqa,” Mohammed Hardan, Al Monitor, July 23, 2021.

“’Don’t Shoot!’: Protesters Brave Bullets As Demonstrations Shake Iran,” Ray Furlong, Radio Farda, July 23, 2021.

“Leader receives 2nd dose of Iranian-made COVID-19 vaccine,” Mehr, July 23, 2021.

“Iran’s ‘system is essentially water bankrupt,’ says environmental expert,” Kaveh Madani, The World, July 23, 2021.  The author is a senior fellow at Yale University and former deputy head of Iran’s Department of Environment

“Iran accused of using ‘unlawful force’ against water protesters,” Middle East Eye, July 23, 2021.

Consider this closely.  “A Chinese logistics firm [China Concord Petroleum Co.]has emerged as a central player in the supply of sanctioned oil from Iran and Venezuela, even after it was blacklisted by Washington two years ago for handling Iranian crude.”  China is a leading player in opposing the West’s legitimate/justified sanctions against the Iran and Venezuela regimes.  See  “Exclusive-China’s CCPC Takes Centre Stage in Iran, Venezuela Oil Trade-Sources,” Jonathan Saul, Chen Aizhu, and Marianna Parraga, Reuters, July 22, 2021.

“Iran opens new oil terminal in bid to bypa

ss crucial Strait of Hormuz for exports,” Amanda Macias, CNBC, July 22, 2021.

What could have caused this?  “Mobile internet disruptions seen in Iran amid water protests,” Jon Gambrell, AP, July 22, 2021.

“Iran’s Largest Warship, Frigate Now in the Baltic Sea Bound for Russia,” Sam LaGrone, USNI, July 22, 2021.

I don’t know much about this project, but the picture is definitely not from Iran—notice the clothing.  “After 10 years of preparation, Iran starts work on largest-ever science project,” Global Construction Review, July 22, 2021.

“Seven Iranian Baha’is Sentenced to Prison in Tehran and Yazd, Central Iran,” Iran Press Watch, July 22, 2021.

Hostage taking won’t stop until the U.S. takes greater means, i.e. Barbary Wars.  “Our never-ending Iranian hostage nightmare,” Kate Woodsome, op-ed, Washington Post, July 21, 2021.

Like mercenaries.  “‘Criminal contract hackers’: China, Iran, Russia enlist more high-tech gangsters for cyberattacks,” Ryan Lovelace, Washington Times, July 21, 2021.

“Exclusive: Is satellite footage of attacked Iran facility being blocked?,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, July 21, 2021.

“Water crisis protests continue in Iran, with chants in capital – reports,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, July 20, 2021.

“Iran’s Oil-Rich Khuzestan Hit By Fifth Night Of Protests Over Water Shortage,” RFE/RL, Radio Farda, July 20, 2021.

“Sudden Protest At Tehran Metro As Unrest Continues In Khuzestan,” Iran Interanational, July 20, 2021.

“Iran orders week-long shutdown in Tehran amid fifth COVID wave,” KFGO, Thomson Reuters, July 20, 2021.

“Iran intensifies attacks on US bases in Syria to win nuclear negotiations,” Enab Baladi, July 20, 2021.

“After Rocket Fire Israel’s Bennet Says Iran Has Taken Lebanon Hostage,” Iran International, July 20, 2021.

The JCPOA may be dead in the water, and it is in Iran’s advantage to delay negotiations.  This is one of the reasons the Trump Administration wanted to end the agreement.  “Iran’s Security Council rejects draft nuclear deal with U.S., spokesman says,” Barak Ravid, Axios, July 20, 2021.

“Iran Sponsors and Foments Anti-Semitism, but Its People Embrace Israel,” Victoria Coates and Ellie Cohanim, op-ed, Newsweek, July 20, 2021.

“Iranian Terror Comes to America,” Navid Mohebbi and Cameron Khansarinia, op-ed, Wall Street Journal, July 20, 2021.  There will be dangerous consequences if Biden doesn’t respond strongly to the kidnapping plot.

Hooray!  This is exactly the right thing to do.  And let’s see if the NYT follows the WSJ’s lead.  “U.S. Weighs New Sanctions on Iran’s Oil Sales to China if Nuclear Talks Fail,” Benoit Faucon and Ian Talley, Wall Street Journal, July 19, 2021.  And notice this key paragraph—“ United Against Nuclear Iran, a New York group that campaigns against Tehran’s nuclear program, says the number of foreign vessels involved in transporting the country’s oil has risen to 123 from 70 in November 2020. Almost half of such vessels are now flagged in Panama, which had deregistered ships involved with Iranian oil under pressure from the Trump administration, according to the group.”

“Iran slams top European court’s ruling on hijab,” Dilan Sirwan, Rudaw, July 19, 2021.

“Iran’s “vaccine tourists” sleeping on streets of Yerevan after tightening of rules,” bne IntelIiNews, July 19, 2021.

“The IRGC’s recently-acquired responsibility for securing nuclear sites may change the Iran-Israel escalation pattern and intra-regime dynamics,” Critical Threats, July 19, 2021.

“Iran: UAE responsible for regional instability over Israel ties,” MEMO, July 19, 2021.

“Iran restricts access to nuclear data until sanctions are lifted,” Peter Millard and Jonathan Tirone, World Oil, July 19, 2021.

“Two Iranian Warships Spotted Near English Channel,” H.I. Sutton, USNI News, July 18, 2021.

“US drone strikes truck in Syria used by Iran-backed militia,” AP, Times of Israel, July 18, 2021.

“Wang says China willing to work with Iran to counter unilateralism,” Tehran Times, July 18, 2021.

That means anti-U.S.  “China, Iran vow joint effort against unilateralism, bullying behaviors,” CGTN, July 18, 2021.

Now it’s official.  But Deputy FM Abbas Araqchi had the temerity to say, “We’re in a transition period as a democratic transfer of power is underway in our capital.”  See “Nuclear talks must wait for new Iranian president, official says,” Axios, July 17, 2021.

It is a little hard to know reality when only dealing with open source media, but it appears the U.S. has gained some sort of agreement from Iran to release hostages unconditionally and as a form of humanitarian action.  But now Iran won’t.  “US hits Iran for delay in nuclear and prisoner swap talks,” Matthew Lee, 104.5 WOKV, July 17, 2021.

Senator Barrasso said that “Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and new President Ebrahim Raisi both have atrocious human rights records.”  See “Senate Republicans introduce a bill to impose sanctions on Iran,” Omri Nahmias, Jerusalem Post, July 17, 2021.

From the port at Jask.  “Iran Plans First Oil Export From Gulf of Oman Port Next Week,” Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg, July 17, 2021.

“Iran Billionaire Might Not Be Hanged If He Pays Debts To Government,” Iran International, July 17, 2021.

“Iranian Leaders Hail Nuke Deal’s Benefits, Signalling New Accord Is Nigh,” Zvi Bar’el, op-ed, Haaretz, July 16, 2021.

“Cristina Fernández de Kirchner demands dismissal of Iran-Memorandum of Understanding court case,” Buenos Aires Times, July 16, 2021.  Iran has yet to be held accountable for the two bombings in Argentina.

“While the Ayatollahs Hold Power, No Journalist Is Safe,” Shahin Mahmoudi, op-ed, Iran Focus, July 16, 2021.

“Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon if we dismantle its infrastructure,” Eddy Acevedo, op-ed, July 16, 2021.

“Oil workers strike in Iran,” Simon Pirani, Ecologist, July 16, 2021.

It has been a long time since an update was given, and the centrally reported numbers are always lower than the total of the regional statistics.  “The Health Ministry’s spokeswoman said on Friday that the pandemic has claimed 199 lives over the past 24 hours, and the overall death toll stands at 86,791.”  See “COVID Daily Deaths in Iran Close to 200,” Tasnim, July 16, 2021.

“Experts fear Iran will move in after US leaves Afghanistan,” Tara Kavaler, Media Line, Jerusalem Post, July 16, 2021.

“Iran Sentences Father Of Protester Killed In 2019 Protests to Prison, Exile,” Iran International, July 16, 2021.

“German Intelligence Says Hamburg Mosque Aimed At Islamic Revolution,” Iran International, July 16, 2021.