Big news.  See “UN Security Council votes against lifting Iran ‘snapback’ sanctions,” PBS, 9-20-25.  See also “Iran Loses ‘Snap-Back’ Vote in a Landslide,” WSJ, 9-19-25.  The full editorial.  “Iran still isn’t serious about giving up the remains of its nuclear-weapons program. The consequence on Friday was the clinching of “snap-back” United Nations sanctions, set to take effect on Sept. 28. The Iranian regime has only itself to blame. The foreign ministers of the U.K., France and Germany offered in late July to extend the sanctions deadline in exchange for common-sense steps: Resume U.N. nuclear inspections and U.S. nuclear talks. Iran didn’t respond for a month, snubbed U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, and threatened the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief. On Aug. 28 the European powers triggered what’s known as the snap-back mechanism. This started a 30-day countdown to the reimposition of sanctions lifted by Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal. These include an arms embargo, a ban on nuclear enrichment, and a ban on tests and transfers of ballistic missiles. As part of the countdown, a U.N. Security Council resolution had to be introduced proposing to save the sanctions relief. This way Iran would have one last chance to comply and get the sanctions called off, but the resolution could be vetoed if it didn’t. In the end, a veto wasn’t necessary. The resolution failed 9–4 on Friday, with two abstentions. Only Algeria, China, Pakistan and Russia voted to shield Iran from the sanctions. Iranian intransigence had antagonized the rest. Tehran now has only a week left to make real concessions before Sept. 28 arrives. So far it doesn’t seem interested. This week Iran’s regime asked the Europeans to cancel the snap-back and give up their leverage in exchange for mere promises ahead of negotiations. With IAEA inspectors sidelined, Iran also sought a U.S. guarantee that it would be allowed to extract its remaining stockpile of highly enriched uranium from under the rubble of its nuclear facilities. Nice try. Once in possession of that nuclear material, what if the Iranian regime decided not to dilute it as promised or squirreled some away? Tehran would be well on its way to nuclear weapons again. At present Iran can’t easily extract the highly enriched uranium without risking another U.S. or Israeli strike. The European powers have done well to see through Iran’s games. As IAEA reports from before the war in June laid bare, the regime has cheated for years on its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty commitments and then lied, stonewalled and covered up evidence. Iran had time to negotiate and blew it off. Now, if it wants a sanctions reprieve, let it return to compliance with its nuclear obligations. The only reason not to do so is to preserve the regime’s path to a nuclear weapon. After Israel exposed Iran’s vulnerability in June’s 12-day war, and President Trump sent the Air Force to remove all doubt, there’s less reason than ever to defer to Tehran. Now even the U.N. Security Council has rallied to the U.S. position: Zero Iranian enrichment, zero nuclear-capable missiles, full dismantlement.”

“Preparing for the End of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” National Interest, 9-19-25.

“Naturalized Iranian identified as key player in major drug trafficking network in Turkey,” Nordic Monitor, 9-18-25.

Marco Rubio is anything but “nonsense.”  “Iran Reacts to Rubio’s Nuclear Missiles Comments,” Newsweek, 9-18-25.

“Iran withdraws resolution to ban attacks on nuclear sites following U.S. pressure,” Newsweek, 9-18-25.

“Iran’s Perilous Path Back to Power:  Tehran Has Few Options, but the Best One Depends on China,” Foreign Affairs, 9-17-25.  While accurately describing Iran’s reliance on China to rebuild defenses in the short term, particularly regarding air, and Iran’s desire to rebuild proxy networks, this article makes no mention of what Iran should really try to do if it wants to become great and powerful in its region—to act as a normal country, not a revolutionary.  In the process, this article displays why Iran will continue to miss the mark for what it could be become, instead of remaining a pariah.

“U.S. Designates 4 ‘Iran-Aligned’ Militias in Iraq as Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” FDD, 9-17-25.  “The State Department designated four Iraq-based, “Iran-aligned” armed militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) on September 17. The groups are Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN), Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA), and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali (KIA), all of which were previously assigned the status of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.“ As the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran continues to provide support that enables these militias to plan, facilitate, or directly carry out attacks across Iraq,” the announcement stated, adding that the “groups have conducted attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and bases hosting U.S. and Coalition forces, typically using front names or proxy groups to obfuscate their involvement.” … All four designated groups are part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a coalition of Iran-aligned Shia Islamist armed militias that have launched attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, atrocities in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.”

Never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.  “‘Ball still in Iran’s court,’ European powers say after nuclear issues call,” Al Jazeera, 9-17-25.

“Iran executes man it says spied for Israel, activists say false confession,” Al Jazeera, 9-17-25.

“Iran Update, September 15, 2025,” ISW, 9-15-25.

“Israel will face more rounds of fighting against Iran, warns Defense Ministry director,” Times of Israel, 9-15-25.

“Ex-IRGC chief cmdr. warns Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq,” QINA, 9-14-25.  This source would know.

“G7 and Allies Warn Iran Over “Unacceptable” Overseas Kidnap and Harassment Campaigns,” Kurdistan, 9-13-25.

Check other sources.  “Iran Has Never Requested S-400 System from Russia,” Wanaen, 9-13-25.

“G7 and Allies Warn Iran Over “Unacceptable” Overseas Kidnap and Harassment Campaigns,” Kurdistan, 9-13-25.

Check other sources.  “Iran Has Never Requested S-400 System from Russia,” Wanaen, 9-13-25.

“Treasury Sanctions Sudanese Islamist Actors to Counter Regional Instability and Support for Iran,” U.S. Treasury, 9-12-25.

And expel U.S. forces.  And close Al Udeid Air Base.  But consider the success rate of Iran’s missiles versus Israel’s attacks in the 12 Day War.  “Iranian lawmaker suggests Qatar host Revolutionary Guards missiles,” Iran International, 9-12-25.

“Iran Update, September 12, 2025,” ISW, 9-12-25.  “Iranian officials are using Israel’s September 9 strike in Doha, Qatar, to frame the United States as an unreliable security guarantor for Gulf states in an effort to break the nascent anti-Iran coalition in the region.”

He makes drones, that kill in Ukraine.  “US seizes nearly $600k in crypto from Iranian tied to IRGC drones,” Iran International, 9-12-25.  “Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi … is the founder and managing director of San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA), a company that manufactures navigation system modules, including the Sepehr Navigation System (SNS), used in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military drone program.”

“Iran-linked hacker group doxes journalists and amplifies leaked information through AI chatbots,” Government of Canada, 9-12-25.

“Several suspects detained by Israeli troops in southern Syria in recent months were in terror cells and operating on behalf of Iran’s Unit 840, a clandestine unit within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ elite Quds Force.”  See “IDF says it nabbed suspected terror cells working for Iran’s IRGC in Syria,” Times of Israel, 9-12-25.

“Iran Uses Fake Airlines to Dodge Nuclear Sanctions,” Iran Wire, 9-12-25.

“Exclusive: With Khamenei Unreachable, Iranian Officials Fear for His Health and the Regime,” Iran Wire, 9-12-25.

“Iran Update, September 11, 2025,” ISW, 9-11-25.  Nour News “described the Israel-Iran War as a turning point that demonstrated how global security is no longer guaranteed by international law. It claimed that international institutions tasked with preserving peace “proved powerless,” and that law has effectively been replaced by power. Nour News described this as a global transition from “law-based security” to “weapon-based security.”  Convenient.

The FM says.  “Iran says enriched uranium stockpile under rubble after US strikes,” Iran International, 9-11-25.

Ph.D. student hostage traded for Hezbollah member.  Equal trade?  “Israeli-Russian captive in Iraq Tsurkov was freed in exchange deal: Report,” Al Jazeera, 9-11-25.

“US offers $15 million reward over Iran’s Revolutionary Guards network,” Iran International, 9-11-25.

“Iran lawmaker calls Grossi a Mossad agent, urges arrest,” Iran International, 9-11-25.  Threats make it difficult for the IAEA to do its job.

“Iran’s global network of goons,” ABC, 9-10-25.

This of course is not by accident or “Mother Nature.”  It is the result of decades of mismanagement and overuse and corruption.  Will the story be widely spread by the media?  “Satellite Photos Show Middle East’s Largest Lake on Brink of Disappearing,” Newsweek, 9-10-25.

“Iran Steps Back from the Brink with UN Atomic Watchdog Deal,” Bloomberg, 9-10-25.

“Iran’s nomadic women fight for proper toilets, clean water,” DW, 9-10-25.

Notice what the IAEA says versus what Iran says.  “IAEA chief says new Iran deal to cover all facilities, including bombed sites,” Iran International, 9-10-25.  All sites.  Iran blinked.

“New ‘Trump’ Corridor Leaves Iran Scrambling to Preserve Influence in the South Caucasus,” Stimson, 9-10-25.  The article states “The new corridor would deprive Iran of lucrative transit fees and an important geopolitical lever over Azerbaijan, with which Tehran has often had tense relations in part because of Baku’s ties to Israel.”  But this article doesn’t talk about the main thing—the reason the Regime doesn’t like Azerbaijan is because of Azeris in its midst, living mainly in the north central region of Iran.  This ethnic group lives in both Iran and Azerbaijan.  And the Azeris don’t like the abuses of the Regime.

“Opinion: With Traditional Proxies Sidelined, Iran Sets Its Sights on Sudan,” Washington Jewish Week, 9-10-25.

“Iran condemns ‘extremely dangerous’ Israeli strike on Hamas in Qatar,” Iran International, 9-9-25.  The Regime is taking the tack that Israel is anti-diplomacy.  I think the term should be communication.  It is difficult to say diplomacy because that term connotes the types of interplay that states have, not states with terror groups.  Regardless, Iran is having flashbacks.

“Iran’s Triple Crisis: A Bankrupt State, Crumbling Infrastructure, and Endemic Corruption,” NCRI, 9-9-25.

“Iran and U.N. Watchdog Meet to Discuss Resuming Nuclear Inspections,” NYTimes, 9-9-25.  “Iran has not allowed inspections since its nuclear sites were bombed by Israel and the United States in June, but it hopes to stave off Western economic sanctions.”  Also of note, “Iran’s government spokeswoman, Fatemeh Mohajerani, said on Tuesday that officials “do not have access” to Iran’s enriched uranium, but did not elaborate. “It is located in a place where access is not available,” she was quoted as saying by Iran’s state news agency, IRNA. Her comments seemed to indicate Iran may itself be unable to reach those stockpiles, which some experts have speculated could be trapped in facilities underground since the U.S. and Israeli bombardment. Last month, Mr. Grossi told reporters that Iran would have no obligation to dig out any site for inspectors to gain access. But he said the I.A.E.A. has equipment that can detect nuclear material even without full access.”

Here’s the followup later today.  “Iran and U.N. Watchdog Reach Agreement to Resume Nuclear Inspections,” NYT, 9-9-25.  We don’t know details yet, but “I.A.E.A. inspectors have been unable to verify Iran’s near bomb-grade stockpile since the start of the war.”  And “Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, said in a statement released by Iranian state media that Tuesday’s agreement was reached in light of the “new situation following the United States illegal attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities.”  Note the claim of “peaceful.”  Finally, blackmail continues, as FM Araghchi “added that any agreement with the I.A.E.A would be voided should Iran again come under attack. “In the event of any hostile action against Iran, including the reinstatement of annulled U.N. Security Council resolutions, Iran will consider its cooperation with the agency to have come to an end.”

“Iran taps Doha to broker nuclear talks, signals flexibility on uranium stocks,” Iran International, 9-9-25.

“Inaccessible.”  See “Iran Releases Statement on Missing Nuclear Materials,” Newsweek, 9-9-25.

“Khamenei aide’s son warns of possible assassination plot against leader,” Iran International, 9-9-25.

“Iran, UN nuclear watchdog reach understanding on cooperation,” Al Monitor, 9-9-25.  But this article doesn’t tell us the terms of the agreement.  That’s almost completely useless news.

“Couple held in Iran in ‘dire’ situation, says son,” BBC, 9-9-25.  Sad but true.  Iran takes ordinary people hostage and abuses them and trades them like pawns.

“Assessing Defense Cooperation Between Iran and China in the Wake of the 12-Day War: MENA Defense Intelligence Digest,” Hudson, 9-9-25.