{"id":345,"date":"2020-02-18T11:47:46","date_gmt":"2020-02-18T17:47:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/coatesn\/?p=345"},"modified":"2020-02-18T23:49:45","modified_gmt":"2020-02-19T05:49:45","slug":"345","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/coatesn\/2020\/02\/18\/345\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a tough blog entry to make\u2014we want Iran\u2019s policies to change, and whether it is a R or D U.S. Administration you don\u2019t want side comments or future agreements or criticisms on foreign soil by U.S. senators, etc. including when they meet high officials of Iran.\u00a0 This blog entry is about the U.S.\u2014not Iran\u2014they are the government which others says needs to conform to international norms.\u00a0 So it is tough to turn my keyboard against U.S. senators when the focus should be on Iran and its actions.\u00a0 But this is a moment to also say that if the Regime was really interested in changing that it would not attempt to play American sides off against each other.\u00a0 Here is the list of Democrat senators who met with Zarif (they were attending the Munich Security Conference)\u00a0 Murphy of CT, Menendez of NJ, and Van Hollen of MD.\u00a0 But I am particularly concerned that former Secretary of State and former senator from MA John Kerry also attended\u2014he has met with Zarif several times, and since they were the two main architects of the JCPOA, which was dangerous for the world, I have to say that I turn very critical of this meeting.\u00a0 I can\u2019t think of a time when a past secretary of state has worked to undo a new administration\u2019s policy like this, and with multiple meetings with a country that considers itself at war with the U.S. and is the leader in state-sponsored terrorism.\u00a0 See \u201cPompeo: I Hope Secret Democrat Meeting With Iran Wasn\u2019t Meant To Undermine U.S. Foreign Policy,”<\/a> Tristan Justice, The Federalist, February 18, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cIran\u2019s Khamenei says voting in parliament election is a religious duty,\u201d<\/a> Reuters, February 18, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter Suleimani: Iran’s scramble to recover from general\u2019s death,\u201d<\/a> Martin Chulov and Dan Sabbagh, The Guardian, February 18, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cIran frees jailed German citizen in prisoner swap,\u201d<\/a> Al Jazeera, February 18, 2020.\u00a0 So, a German sentenced to three years for taking photographs in sensitive areas was released in exchange for a freed Iranian.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see if Germany did this with the approval of the U.S.<\/p>\n

\u201cInternational Watchdog To Review Iran’s Status On Anti-Terror, Money Laundering Laws,\u201d<\/a> Radio Farda, February 17, 2020.<\/p>\n

In a new letter to the Iran government, the international soccer body FIFA says Iranian females must be allowed to enter all stadiums across the country to watch men’s matches.\u00a0 The death last year of Sahar Khodayari, nicknamed the “Blue Girl” after the main color of her favorite team, restarted the debate over the ban barring Iranian women from attending men’s matches in various sports.\u00a0 Khodayari was arrested in March for attempting to enter a stadium to watch her favorite team play and was told by court officials she faced a six-month sentence behind bars. \u00a0Devastated, she poured gasoline on herself and set herself on fire, dying a few days later in hospital.\u00a0 This set off a national debate on the no-women policy.\u00a0 See \u201cFIFA Demands Iran Allow Women To Attend All Football Matches,<\/a>\u201d Radio Farda, February 18, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom Iran, Shiite Cleric Tries To Crush Iraq\u2019s Protest Movement,\u201d<\/a> Jane Arraf, NPR, February 17, 2020.<\/p>\n

Iran continues to influence politics in Afghanistan.\u00a0 Not surprising because it coincides with their geography, but also because of the expansion of the Revolution, and due to the threat from the east of the U.S. presence.\u00a0 \u201cWhy the Taliban Won\u2019t Cut Ties with Iran,\u201d<\/a> Kashif Hussain, The Diplomat, February 15, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Iranian Elections: Who’s Running, Who’s Not, Who’s Been Barred,\u201d<\/a> Frud Bezhan, RFE\/RL, February 17, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlackouts Caused By Shortage Of Natural Gas, Iran Officials Say,\u201d<\/a> Radio Farda, February 17, 2020.<\/p>\n

A really good article on the power and politics of the Assembly of Experts, who select and (supposedly) oversee the Supreme Leader.\u00a0 \u201cIran\u2019s most powerful hardline clerics to reunite in Assembly of Experts election,\u201d<\/a> Rohollah Faghihi, Al Monitor, February 18, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cIran’s lies reach new levels of mendacity,\u201d<\/a> Struan Stevenson, UPI, February 18, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Is Iran’s Deadliest Missile (And It Could Someday Carry a Nuclear Weapon),\u201d<\/a> David Axe, The National Interest, February 17, 2020.<\/p>\n

This story is worth posting, but take a look at the picture from Getty selected\u2014I had not noticed before (but now I\u2019ll be on the lookout) the large national flags scattered around Tehran.\u00a0 How many do you see?\u00a0 I counted six.\u00a0 These are identical, and are undoubtedly put up by the Regime for their own purposes.\u00a0 I wonder how many other large cities in Iran have these government-sanctioned (and nationalistic) markers?\u00a0 See \u201cIran-linked hackers use VPN exploits in far-flung spying campaign,\u201d<\/a> Sean Lyngaas, Cyberscoop, February 18, 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh voter turnout expected in Iran towns, villages,\u201d<\/a> Al Jazeera, February 18, 2020.\u00a0 But not in the large cities\u2014only in rural areas.\u00a0 At least that\u2019s the prediction.\u00a0 What happens if in rural areas persons do not show to vote in numbers similar to past elections?\u00a0 This story also reminds us that the Parliament elections are Friday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is a tough blog entry to make\u2014we want Iran\u2019s policies to change, and whether it is a R or D U.S. Administration you don\u2019t want side comments or future agreements or criticisms on foreign soil by U.S. senators, etc. including when they meet high officials of Iran.\u00a0 This blog entry is about the U.S.\u2014not … <\/p>\n

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