Let's talk Iran - April 13, 2021
Iran to begin enriching uranium at 60 percent purity
The announcement comes a day before Iran and world powers are scheduled to resume talks in Vienna, and two days after a new attack targeting the regime's uranium enrichment site at Natanz. LINK
Natanz attack hit 50 meters underground, destroyed most of the facility
The alleged Israeli attack on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility targeted an electrical substation located 40 to 50 meters underground and damaged "thousands of centrifuges," Iranian officials revealed in recent days. LINK
Analysts: Iran Nuclear Site Sabotage May Weaken Tehran’s Position in Indirect Talks with US
“Since the first-generation centrifuges are very sensitive and precise devices, it is likely that the sudden power outage damaged 5,000 of them and made them unusable.”
In a Sunday tweet, Israeli network Channel 13 defense correspondent Alon Ben-David said: “Without the ability to enrich at Natanz in the coming months, Iran is losing its means of pressure in negotiations. Through security and intelligence channels, American officials expressed satisfaction with the damage to the facility.” LINK
Attack in Iran Stirs Fears for Future of Nuclear Talks
Top Biden administration officials apparently were given no advance notice of the attack against the Iranian uranium-enrichment facility, according to people familiar with the situation. LINK
Iran Ignores Its Own Violations To Present One-Sided Narrative On Nuclear Deal
Western policies vis-a-vis Iran's regime should certainly be unified, but in pursuit of something better than the status quo, especially now that Iran has admitted to flouting the rules it agreed to five years ago.
Good read by former European Parliament Vice President Alejo Vidal-Quadras. LINK
TERRORISM
Israeli TV cites officials blaming Iran for attack on ship off UAE
Israel’s top-rated television news quoted unnamed Israeli officials as blaming Iran for an attack on an Israeli-owned ship off the United Arab Emirates’ coast on Tuesday.
There were no casualties in the attack, Channel 12 TV added. LINK
HUMAN RIGHTS
Iran: Two protesters sentenced to 13 years in prison
Iran's authorities have sentenced two protesters arrested during the November 2019 major anti-regime demonstrations to long prison terms. LINK
Iran MP implies China-Iran deal strengthens regime’s internet control
China will be helping Iran's regime "control" the internet as a part of their 25-year deal, according to an Iranian MP. Even though the full details of the 25-year China-Iran agreement have yet to be revealed, an Iranian MP said on April 11 that it was “important” for Iran to “control cyberspace” with the accord. LINK
Iran Hangs 17 Inmates in a Week, EU Sanctions Eight Human Rights Abusers
Iran has the world's highest number of executions per capita. Over 4,300 during the tenure of the "moderate" regime President Hassan Rouhani. LINK