Let's talk Iran - April 8, 2022
Bipartisan opposition in the U.S. gains momentum against a bad deal with Iran
Democrats and Republicans alike are voicing more concerns over a deal that will merely put a temporary hold on the regime’s controversial nuclear program while failing to address all the regime's threats. LINK
Reducing Pressure on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Raises Risks for America
Deal or no deal with Iran, retaining and enforcing America’s most significant counterterrorism authority against the long arm of the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism remains in the national security interest of the United States. LINK
Exposed: The Russian Companies That Will Get Billions From New Iran Nuclear Deal
U.S.-government document shows Russia's top state companies stand to cash in when sanctions drop
Russia's state-controlled Rosatom energy firm and at least four of its major subsidiaries will receive sanctions waivers under a new accord so that they can complete nuclear projects in Iran worth more than $10 billion, according to the 2019 document, which details all the Russian entities involved in these projects. LINK
Iran, Russia Hold Trade Conference as They Ramp Up Efforts To Evade US Sanctions
At least 70 Iranian companies and 250 "big holding and influential Russian business people" attended the conference, according to a report in Iran's state-controlled media that signals an increase in ties between Tehran and Moscow. Both countries are suffering under the weight of U.S. sanctions and have moved closer to each other as part of a bid to establish a black-market hub that can evade these measures.
Iran's ambassador to Moscow said that more than 300 Russian businesses attended the conference in person and that many others followed virtually. The Iranian diplomat said the event signals that "the two countries of Iran and Russia will witness a leap in their bilateral relations." LINK
US-led Coalition In Iraq Downs Drone Targeting Base
"The attack comes after four US troops were hurt Thursday when rockets were fired at a base housing US forces in neighboring Syria's Deir Ezzor province."
Iran IRGC fingerprints all over these attacks. LINK
Men accused of impersonating federal agents being investigated for possible ties to Iranian intelligence
Investigators alleged Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 35, posed as various officers and employees of the U.S. government, including members of federal law enforcement agencies, since February 2020 and duped actual federal officers into believing their guise. They are each charged with one count of false impersonation of a federal officer and have yet to enter a plea.
Law enforcement sources told CBS News that investigators are looking into the possibility that the two suspects have ties to Iranian intelligence including to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the main enabler of Iran-backed terrorism, or the IRGC Quds force.
Reminder: Biden is considering delisting the IRGC from the State Dept's terror blacklist as a concession to Iran in relation to the deadlocked nuclear talks. LINK
Man posed as DHS worker, claimed ties to Pakistani intelligence, prosecutor says
One of two men accused of posing as federal law enforcement employees and ingratiating themselves with Secret Service agents had visas for travel to Iran and Pakistan, and told others that he had ties to Pakistan’s intelligence service, a federal prosecutor alleged Thursday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein said the government wanted Haider Ali and Arian Taherzadeh — who were arrested Wednesday on charges of impersonating federal law enforcement, specifically with the Department of Homeland Security — held in jail while they await trial, alleging that they posed a flight risk and possessed firearms. LINK
Feds: Secret Service members were 'compromised' by imposters posing as federal agents
Federal prosecutors argued Friday that two men charged with impersonating federal agents had "compromised" Secret Service members assigned to key security missions and raised more questions about the travel of one of the suspects to Iran shortly before his alleged involvement in the ruse. LINK
META DISRUPTS TWO IRANIAN THREAT GROUPS
"Meta has disrupted two separate cyberespionage groups from Iran that were using a variety of tactics on its platforms to target academics, activists, journalists and other victims."
"Meta said that the newly identified group from Iran was targeting companies in the energy, maritime, semiconductor, and telecom industries in several countries, including the United States, Israel, Russia, Canada, and others." LINK
Woman murdered by brother in ‘honor killing’ in NW Iran
Iran is one of four countries that have not acceded to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The regime’s laws are lax when it comes to “honor” killings. LINK
Iran: Four members of the Voice of Iranian Women summoned to serve prison time
Their charges include “assembly and collusion to commit a crime against national security,” “propaganda against the state,” and “committing a forbidden act” by removing their veils. LINK
Sharif University honor students unlawfully kept in “temporary detention”
More than two years after agents of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry arrested and tortured university students Ali Younesi and Amirhossein Moradi, their lawyer says that the continued “temporary detention” is “against the law” considering the charges brought against them. LINK
Iranian workers suffer from descending wages
Faramarz Tawfiqi (Chairman of the Wage Committee of the Supreme Council of Islamic Labor Councils) has conducted a study in this regard. Based on data from the International Monetary Fund in April 2021, he has compiled a list of wages of workers in different countries. According to the data of this international organization, Iran is ranked 160th. On top of the list is Switzerland, with a minimum wage of $6,153, Liechtenstein at $6,060, Monaco at $5,734, Luxembourg at $4,431, Tuvalu at $4,012, Australia at $3,744, and Singapore, seventh with a minimum wage of $3,732. Moving on the table, Palestine is ranked 66th with $827. The Maldives is ranked 72nd with $735; Congo is ranked 71st in Africa with $740, South Sudan is ranked 82nd with $586; and Guatemala is ranked 95th with $455. Iranian farmers are ranked 160th in the world, with a minimum monthly wage of $75. Tawfigi continues and says: Iran is ranked 160th, after Gambia and Afghanistan, which is ranked 139th. Libya, a country with many socio-economic challenges, is ranked higher than Iran. Iran ranks lower than its neighbor, Iraq as well. LINK