“Curbing Iran aggression is key to peace in the Middle East – opinion,” JPost, 2-25-24.  “The reason for training and financing the Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and similar extremist movements is the promotion of regional chaos, which simplifies taking over as much territory, influence, and resources as possible by Iran.”

“Japanese, Thai men charged in nuclear sale to Iran – US DOJ,” The Nation, 2-25-24.

“Vast majority of Iranians want a secular government, poll reveals,” Telegraph, 2-25-24.

“Iran’s Rising Misery Index: A Look at Economic Hardship Across Provinces,” Iran News Update, 2-25-24.

121 attacks by Iran against U.S. forces since Oct. 7.  “Missile attack:  Iran-backed groups attack US base in Deir Ezzor countryside,” Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 2-25-24.

Iran continues its attacks against shipping.  “U.S. and British Warplanes Again Strike Houthi-Linked Targets in Yemen,” NYT, 2-24-24.

“Iran’s IRGC Commander Calls For Israel’s Eradication,” Iran International, 2-24-24.

“Iran’s Russia envoy reveals new details of strategic bilateral deal,” Islamic Republic News Agency, 2-24-24.

“Major Concern for Middle-East: Iran completes first phase of Karun Nuclear Plant in Khuzestan province,” Times of India, 2-24-24.

“The Lies the United States and Media Told About Iran,” Fair Observer, Mehdi Alavi, 2-23-24.  This article would really be sad if it wasn’t so funny.  First, it never identifies the lies the U.S. has supposedly said about Iran.  Second, it is so ironic that the Kerman story is anything but what implied in this piece by Mr. Alavi.  The U.S. actually warned Iran about the ISIS bombers coming to Kerman!  The USG tried to save lives!  Iran chose to ignore our warning.  Finally, my point is also, for Mr. Alavi and others, is that I’m willing to post articles that allegedly cut across the grain of why I keep this news blog on Iran and explain why it is not a normal country.  But those articles need to stand on their own and provide evidence for their side.

“Iran was committing “gross violations” of UNSC resolution 1701, as well as violations of UNSC resolutions 2231 and 1540.”  See “’Running out of patience’: Iran is giving weapons to Hezbollah, Israel warns UNSC,” JPost, 2-23-24.

Considering the heavy coverage on this story (dozens of articles), that Iran can simply deny but not provide counterproof or directly address the transportation, quotes, photos, or any other types of evidence should be just one more indicator to Iran observers of the long-term veracity of the Regime and its spokespeople.  “Iran denies providing ballistic missiles to Russia,” Reuters, 2-23-24.

“Spanish ex-politician blames Iran for attack in which was shot,” Thomson Reuters, 2-23-24.

“Israel issues warning to UNSC over Iran’s weapon shipments to Hezbollah,” i24NEWS, 2-23-24.

“Iran has the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East. Now it’s sending them to Russia,” NBC, 2-23-24.

“Iran Convicted 44 Foreign-Based Journalists In Absentia, Leaked Document Reveals,” Iran International, 2-23-24.

“Leaked Documents Shed Light on How Iran’s Regime Evades International Sanctions,” Iran News Update, 2-23-24.

“Iran denies providing ballistic missiles to Russia,” Reuters, 2-23-24.

Remember, the military-unsophisticated Houthis have no ability to develop undersea weapons.  These all come from Iran.  “Houthis to step up Red Sea strikes, use ‘submarine weapons’, leader says,” Reuters, 2-22-24.

“Iran-Backed Houthis Prepare for Long Red Sea Battle With US,” Bloomberg, 2-22-24.

“Understanding Iran’s non-state network,” Asia Times, 2-22-24.

Six sources.  Wait and see how many sources Iran uses when it denies these missile transfer reports.  “Iran sends Russia hundreds of ballistic missiles, sources say,” Japan Times, 2-22-24.

“Iran’s Khamenei calls Israel a ‘cancerous tumor’ with assured ‘destruction’,” Al Arabiya, 2-22-24.

“Iran’s Ex-President Demands Reasons For Disqualification,” Iran International, 2-22-24.

“4 charged in transporting suspected Iranian-made weapons on boat intercepted by U.S.,” AP, NPR, 2-22-24.

“Iraq Foreign Minister:  We Need an Apology from Iran and Proof about ‘Mossad Base’,” MENA, 2-21-24.

Quote of the Day:  “With today’s extradition of Omarov, we have taken a significant step forward to hold Iranian actors accountable for their brazen plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen on American soil.”  Director of the F.B.I. Christopher Wray.  Second Quote of the Day:  “I’m joyful first for having been given a second life and I rejoice in the humiliation of Islamic Republic.  My adopted country has once again saved me from the murderous regime of my birth country Iran.”  Masih Alinejad, an American human rights activist from Brooklyn and critic of Iran.  See “Man Extradited to U.S. in Suspected Iranian Plot to Kill Activist,” NYT, 5-21-24.  They tried to assassinate Ms. Alinejad with an AK-47.

“Iran created a Frankenstein’s monster in the Middle East,” The Hill, 2-21-24.

“Iran’s Reformist Camp In Disarray Over Sham Elections,” Iran International, 2-21-24.

“Iran Invites IAEA Chief To Attend Conference In May,” AFP, 2-21-24.

That Iran identifies Israel and prepares further to attack it is because of the leaks from “Western” security officials reported several days ago.  As I wrote then on this blog, if this was the USG that authorized the leak to blame Israel, shame on us.  Israel has taken a beating and are being asked to do more in the war on terror than any country.  See “Iran says Israel is behind ‘plot’ against gas pipelines – report,” i24NEWS, 2-21-24.

“Iran and Sri Lanka commit to deepening bilateral relations,” JPost, 2-21-24.  Iran continues to try to find support from any country (including small ones).

This story will send shivers up the spine of those fearing a wider war, and is also a clear signal of what Israel may do because of Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons.  When last week Ali-Akbar Salehi (past head of Iran’s nuclear agency) said Iran now has everything needed to make a nuclear bomb, the IAF now releases this story that it is preparing its F-35s for possible attacks on Iran’s nuke sites.  See “Israel prepares F-35s for potential mission in Iran,” Shephard, 2-21-24.

The one person most likely not to be taken hostage when visiting Iran—the IAEA head.  “Iran dismisses plan by U.N. nuclear watchdog head to visit next month,” Thomson Reuters, 2-21-24.

“Iran sends Russia hundreds of ballistic missiles, sources say,” Reuters, 2-21-24.

“IntelBrief: Iran’s Battles are Fought Out in Syria,” Soufan Center, 2-21-24.

“Iran and Hezbollah Hackers Launch Attacks to Influence Israel-Hamas Narrative,” The Hacker News, 2-20-24.

“Iran’s nuclear enrichment exceeds commercial needs, says IAEA chief,” Japan Times, 2-20-24.

“Remember Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program?,” WSJ, 2-20-24.

“Jordan Increasingly Concerned About Iran Amid Activity Of Iran-Backed Militias On Its Northern Border,” MEMRI, 2-20-24.

Ships and crews still held hostage, for bartering by the Regime.  “Iran Released Filipino Seafarer from Seized Oil Tanker St. Nikolas,” Maritime Executive, 2-20-24.

“Crackdown on Diaspora Dissenters: Surge in Passport Seizures at Iranian Airports,” Iran Wire, 2-20-24.

“Iran’s IRGC equips ground troops with new homegrown drones,” Xinhua, 2-20-24.

Egypt doesn’t appreciate Iran’s assistance to the Houthis to partly close Bab el Mandab.  “Egypt’s Suez Canal revenue declines by almost half due to Red Sea tensions,” New Arab, 2-20-24.

“A Look Inside Iran’s Shadowy ‘Axis of Resistance’,” RFE/RL, 2-20-24.

“Does Iran already have nuclear weapons?,” Washington Times, 2-19-24.

“Exclusive-IAEA chief says Iran’s nuclear enrichment activity remains high,” Thomson Reuters, WHBL, 2-19-24.

“Iranian Women Activists Jailed for 15 Years,” Iran Wire, 2-19-24.

“[T]he U.S. seizure of the Emtrasur cargo plane has already had chilling effects on Conviasa’s operations. The Venezuelan airline has already cancelled its service to Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, keeping only its Mexico, Nicaragua, and Cuban routes in the region, alongside flights to Iran, Russia, and Syria.”  See “How the US can ground Iran’s ‘terrorist airlines’,” The Hill, 2-19-24.

“One-third of Christians arrested in Iran targeted for possessing multiple Bibles: report,” Christian Post Reporter, 2-19-24.

The words of Tehran Times, not mine.  “Iran’s missile attacks on Syria, Iraq and Pakistan are a sign of Iran’s power as a regional hegemon. In late 2023, the Pentagon accused Iran of a drone attack on an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean. Each of these attacks had its immediate justifications. But all these operations, which took place in a short period and a wide geographical radius, indicate a much more important event: the emergence of Iran as a Middle East superpower, which is no longer content with using only proxy militias. Iran is ready to use its armed forces to achieve its strategic goals.”  See “Iran has emerged as a superpower vis-a-vis America and Israel,” Tehran Times, 2-19-24.

“Iran claims to add two new ‘stealth’ ships to IRGC Navy,” JPost, 2-19-24.

This is not diplomacy, it is a directive.  “Iran Quds Force chief’s ‘diplomacy’ stalls attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria,” i24NEWS, 2-18-24.

Supplies, weapons, missiles, IRGC advisers—for ten years since the Obama/Biden administration.  “U.S. Middle East Commander Confirms That Iran Was Arming Houthis before Obama Nuclear Deal,” National Review, 2-18-24.

“Iranian Lawyer Jailed For Advocating For Protesters’ Families,” Iran International, 2-18-24.

A second jailed criticizer.  “Cleric Arrested In Iran’s Holy City For Criticizing Supreme Leader,” Iran International, 2-18-24.

“A Look at Iraq’s Competing Shiite Armed Factions and Parties, Many Iran-Aligned,” VOA, Reuters, 2-18-24.

“How Iran radicalised Yemen’s most tolerant tribe,” Spectator, 2-18-24.

“Gold for Drones: Massive Leak Reveals the Iranian Shahed Project in Russia,” Haaretz, 2-18-24.

“Iran: Anti-Veil Activist Must Serve Long Prison Sentence,” VOA, 2-17-24.

“Iran Claims Introduction Of New Missile Systems Amid Tensions,” Iran International, 2-17-24.

“Iran’s Regime is One of the Largest Exporters of Low-Cost Weapons,” Iran Focus, 2-17-24.

This is a blog about Iran, and how it chooses not to act as a normal country.  Two of the pressure points it faces are of course the U.S. and Israel.  So, if it was the USG that decided to betray Israel’s pressure against Iran (regarding the facts of this story), that is dastardly.  “Israel Was Behind Attacks on Major Gas Pipelines in Iran, Officials Say,” NYT, 2-16-24.  Here’s the troubling quote from Western officials (notice how the NYT doesn’t describe them but also describes them at the same time, one of these could be Jake Sullivan himself—“Israel carried out covert attacks on two major natural gas pipelines inside Iran this week, disrupting the flow of heat and cooking gas to provinces with millions of people, according to two Western officials and a military strategist affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps.”  And “The Western officials said Israel also caused a separate blast on Thursday inside a chemical factory on the outskirts of Tehran that rattled a neighborhood and sent plumes of smoke and fire into the air.”  Who is authorizing these releases?  Pres. Biden himself?  It would seem to go the highest officials since the relationship with Israel is so important, and the threat from Iran so striking.  But why not let Iran figure out on its own who did it? — “Energy experts estimated that the attacks on the pipelines, which each run for about 1,200 kilometers or 800 miles and carry 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, knocked out about 15 percent of Iran’s daily natural gas production, making them particularly sweeping assaults on the country’s critical infrastructure.”  Is the U.S. trying to control how Israel defends itself?  Is the U.S. trying to control how Israel approaches the peace deal with Hamas and the PA and with Arab states that SArabia as proposed?  Iran is the real danger, not Israel.  If we want Iran to act as a normal country, then the U.S. needs to do likewise.

“Iran Insists On Its Right To Block Borders With Afghanistan,” Iran International, 2-16-24.  A mighty big, expensive venture.  Won’t happen.  May be built in a few places.  “Iran intends to close its land borders,” Azer News, 2-16-24.

“US Cyberattack Hit 2 Iranian Military Ships in Red Sea,” VOA, 2-16-24.  Two ships, not one—“A source with knowledge of the cyberattack said an Iranian frigate was also targeted.”  Another interesting point—“A U.S. drone strike on February 7 in Baghdad killed a Kataib Hezbollah commander who the U.S. said was ‘responsible for directly planning and participating in attacks on U.S. forces in the region.’  There has not been an attack on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria or Jordan since February 4, according to the Pentagon.”