“Iran and Saudi Arabia hold joint naval exercise in Sea of Oman,” Times of Israel, 10-24-24. It appears from open sources that these short drills along with at least one Russian and Oman vessel were minor in reality, but the type of thing that allows communication, etc.
“Fire breaks out at Iranian power plant, Iranian media silent – report,” JPost, 10-24-24. Either mismanagement, or part of Israel’s retaliation.
An attempted assassination of the Israeli PM by “agents of Iran.” “Gallant at IAF base: After we strike in Iran, world will understand all our training,” Times of Israel, 10-23-24. Do I have to write what this means for the Supreme Leader?
“Why Is Israel Poised to Attack Iran?,” NYT, 10-23-24.
“Hezbollah confirms death of Nasrallah’s heir apparent,” BBC, 10-23-24. You read the headline, and then the story and really learn the connections with Iran. The IDF said “it killed Hashem Safieddine in a strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut. … Safieddine was head of the group’s executive council and was a cousin of its late secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air strike on the Lebanese capital on 27 September. … Hezbollah is a military, political and social organisation that wields considerable power in Lebanon. It is designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel as well as the US, the UK and other countries. Safieddine himself was designated a “global terrorist” by the US and Saudi Arabia in 2017. He undertook religious studies in Iran and his son was married to a daughter of Gen Qasem Soleimani, the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander who was killed in a 2020 US air strike in Iraq.”
“Iran, TZ seek to expand partnership in, petro-chemicals, tourism,” IPP Media, 10-22-24. Tanzania both facilitates Iran’s misadventures and mismanagement and the spread of the Shia Crescent and terrorism, either wittingly (through corruption) or unwittingly. There is still time to reverse, but Tanzania needs to come to the realization that other countries have. See also from yesterday’s news: “Tanzania and Iran Sign Seven MOUs for Cooperation in Various Sectors,” Chanzo, 10-21-24.
“Federal prosecutors charge Iranian Revolutionary Guards official in assassination plot on US soil,” CNN, 10-22-24. IRGC Brigadier General Ruhollah Bazghandi is at large; the three East European crime members are arrested. The plot was to kill journalist Masih Alinejad in NYC. “Alinejad posted on X Tuesday that “the revelation that the assassination plot against me in July 2022 was orchestrated by Ali Khamenei’s IRGC is a stark reminder of the brutal lengths to which the Islamic regime will go to silence dissidents, even those far beyond Iran’s borders.” She vowed to “continue advocating … for the rights of the Iranian people to secure democracy and free themselves from dictatorship, no matter the risks.” “Despite moving 21 times between safe houses, I have a message for @khamenei_ir,” Alinejad wrote, tagging Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the post. “Know this – the day of reckoning is coming, and no matter how far you run, justice will find you. Your regime will face accountability for the suffering it has inflicted. You may have driven me from my home, but now it is your turn to face the consequences of your crimes. Go to hell,” Alinejad wrote.”
“Israel arrests second group of alleged Iran spies,” BBC, 10-22-24.
“Iran insists its nuclear program is strictly peaceful but has accelerated its enrichment of uranium to up to 60 percent fissile purity, close to 90% of weapons-grade, a level of purity experts say has no practical use except to make a bomb.” Then, Iran insists that it can protect that nuclear weapons program under international law. That takes hutzpah. “Iran complains to UN watchdog, alleging Israeli threats to hit its nuclear sites,” Times of Israel, 10-21-24.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-complains-to-un-watchdog-alleging-israeli-threats-to-hit-its-nuclear-sites/
This is also an interesting article because on my Oct. 17 entry I wrote that Sinwar should have jumped at the chance when he had it. I wonder if Iran told him to stick it out, or if this was an Iran-free decision by Sinwar? Well, he signed his own death warrant. “Report: Sinwar was offered a chance to leave Gaza for Egypt during war, but refused,” Times of Israel, 10-21-24.
“Iran insists its nuclear program is strictly peaceful but has accelerated its enrichment of uranium to up to 60 percent fissile purity, close to 90% of weapons-grade, a level of purity experts say has no practical use except to make a bomb.” Then, Iran insists that it can protect that nuclear weapons program under international law. That takes hutzpah. “Iran complains to UN watchdog, alleging Israeli threats to hit its nuclear sites,” Times of Israel, 10-21-24.
“Misinterpret Iran’s signals of restraint at your peril,” The Hill, 10-20-24.
Iran, Russia, Oman. “Joint naval exercise serves to increase Iran’s legitimacy – analysis,” JPost, 10-20-24.
This is out of left-field, but my theory is that with the heavy investing China is doing in Tanzania, and how the Tanzanian government will be caught up in that debt trap, that China has also encouraged or arranged or even forced Tanzania to also trade with Iran, because Iran needs trading partners. “Iran to establish tractor assembly plant in Tanzania,” Daily News, 10-19-24.
“Lebanon issues rare rebuke to Iran over ‘interference’,” Reuters, 10-18-24.
Iran has lost another proxy head. “IDF source confirms Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in Gaza,” I24, 10-17-24. He should have negotiated when he had the chance.
“Iran remembers Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a ‘martyr’ and ‘model for the youth and children’,” Fox, 10-17-24. No comments from me needed on this article.
The U.S. is bombing Iranian weapons used against international shipping. UN Sec. Gen., it is time to speak up against Iran. “US B-2 bombers strike Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen,” CNN, 10-17-24.
“Sinwar’s death will hurt Iran’s ‘axis of resistance’ – analysis,” JPost, 10-17-24.
“New details shed light on Israel’s stunning pager plot that ravaged Hezbollah,” I24, 10-16-24.
Weapons from Russia most likely through Iran. “Netanyahu says IDF found ‘state-of-the-art’ Russian arms in Hezbollah bases,” IDF, 10-16-24.
“Nilforoushan’s assassination shook Iran’s IRGC to its core, expert says,” JPost, 10-16-24. “The assassination of Abbas Nilforoushan, deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was a hefty blow to the Islamic regime in Tehran, as well as its regional proxies, Benny Sabti, an Iran researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), said in a Tuesday interview with Maariv. Nilforoushan was also the commander of the Quds Force in Lebanon, and was eliminated along with former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Dahieh, Beirut. Sabti began by saying, “This man was the head of operations in the Revolutionary Guards, and many missions, supplies, and budgets passed through his hands. The man was primarily responsible for everything that concerns us, approving budgets and transferring weapons to Syria and Lebanon, and indeed for maintaining all the activities of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations that operate mainly through connections with Syria.” … “He was one of the extremists. He was 14 when the revolution in Iran took place, and at that age, he enlisted in the Iran-Iraq war. He came from an extreme place and a very extreme city. The background in Iran is very important; when you grow up in an extreme environment, that’s how you continue your path,” he added. … Regarding Nilforoushan’s activities, Sabti said, “In recent years, in his role as head of operations, he contributed to Hezbollah’s anti-Israeli activities because he dealt with the approvals. He essentially had a hand in everything that happened in the Revolutionary Guards.” … It will take time to replace Nilforoushan …”
Somewhat helpful, describing some of the strategy and influence on Iran. But Iran still has to decide on its own, despite outside influence, if it will act as a normal country. “Russia’s Deliberately Unclear Strategy for Iran,” GPF, 10-14-24.
Iran’s technology killed 4 IDF soldiers. “How Hezbollah’s drone pierced Israel’s Iron Dome,” India Today, 10-14-24. “[T]he Mirsad-1 was a modified version of Iran’s Mohajer-2 drone. … Hezbollah is said to have an arsenal of around 2,000 drones….”
“Mystery fire in Tehran may be linked to nuclear capabilities,” Iran International, 10-14-24.
“Israeli Couple Charged With Aiding Iran, Including Plotting to Assassinate Public Figure,” Haaretz, 10-14-24.
“Iran’s top diplomat meets senior Houthi official in Oman: Ministry,” Al Arabiya, 10-14-24.
“Swedish PM urges EU to list Iran’s IRGC as terrorist organization,” Iran International, 10-14-24.
“Iran’s Nuclear Tipping Point,” Foreign Affairs, 10-14-24. But wait! The Islamic Republic of Iran, and its two ayatollahs, have always said its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes, and never for nuclear weapons. The current Supreme Leader has repeatedly said he has a fatwa (although he never shows the document) saying that if Iran pursued nuclear weapons that it is against the will of Allah. So, … if Iran is now pursuing a weapons program, shouldn’t the worlds’ countries and the United Nations say Iran is not telling the truth?
These talks are just to distract, anyway. “Iran halts indirect talks with US as region tensions escalate,” JPost, 10-14-24.
