Let's talk Iran - Feb 12, 2021
NUCLEAR
Iran Has Started Producing Uranium Metal, in Violation of 2015 Accords, IAEA Says
France, Germany & the UK condemn #Iran’s decision to produce uranium metal, which is in breach of commitments made by Tehran to the international community.
“We reiterate that Iran has no credible civilian justification for these activities, which are a key step in the development of a nuclear weapon." LINK
U.S. and Israeli national security advisers hold call on Iran
Israeli national security adviser Meir Ben Shabbat discussed Iran with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on a secure video call on Thursday, according to two Israeli officials. Thursday's call was the second between Sullivan and Ben Shabbat, but was much longer than the previous call and included several other officials on both sides, the Israeli officials say. LINK
Iranian Intelligence Minister’s Statement Unwittingly Invites International Scrutiny
Iran's spy chief recently acknowledged that if “pushed” by Western adversaries, the regime might actively pursue the development of a nuclear weapon, a remarkable departure from the regime’s longstanding position. LINK
HUMAN RIGHTS
Iran political prisoner writes letter to UNHCR head highlighting plight of political prisoners
In a letter addressing the UN Human Rights High Commissioner, political prisoner Arash Sadeqi protests forged cases in Iran against political prisoners, their deprivation of medical care & their exile to a city other than their hometown. LINK
Iran's use of ‘electric shocks’ on gay children is torture, says UN report
A UN report on widespread human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran contains shocking findings that the theocratic state imposed electric torture on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children. LINK
Suspected of cancer, Iranian political prisoner is denied medical treatment
Authorities in a prison in northwest Iran are depriving political prisoner Massoumeh Senobari of medical treatment. She has developed a cancerous mass in her breast while being interrogated under vicious torture. LINK
Prison authorities barred Afkari family from visiting their sons
Five months after the execution of wrestling champion/protester Navid Afkari, concerns have raised about the situation of his imprisoned brothers. Vahid & Habib are currently in solitary cells in the basement of Shiraz’s Adel Abad Prison in southwest Iran. LINK
UN Special Rapporteur’s Report Confirms Iran’s Deteriorating Human Rights Situation
The latest report by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran underlines a rising trend of human rights violations by the regime. The ongoing violations in Iran necessitate a joint international effort to hold the regime accountable. LINK
TERRORISM
Indian government upgrades probe into Israel embassy blast after Iran link
The Union home ministry on Tuesday handed over the probe into the blast near Israel embassy in Delhi to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). According to counter-terrorism officials in New Delhi, there is enough to suggest the involvement of Tehran in the blast. LINK
Marwan alAshqar: Hamas envoy to Libya attempted to smuggle missiles into Gaza
Iran-backed militant group Hamas used the chaos of Libya’s civil war to set up an arms-smuggling group that tried to funnel anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles to Gaza.
The group diverted arms intended for Libyan battlefields through Egypt and used middlemen and Hamas militants in Turkey and Qatar to circumvent an Israeli blockade on Gaza. LINK
Iranian Hackers Utilize ScreenConnect to Spy On UAE, Kuwait Government Agencies
UAE and Kuwait government agencies are targets of a new cyberespionage campaign potentially carried out by Iran threat actors, according to new research.
Attributing the operation to be the work of Static Kitten (aka MERCURY or MuddyWater), Anomali said the "objective of this activity is to install a remote management tool called ScreenConnect (acquired by ConnectWise 2015) with unique launch parameters that have custom properties," with malware samples and URLs masquerading as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Kuwait and the UAE National Council. LINK
Taking a closer look at Israel’s weapons wish list
Eyeing Iran and its terrorist proxies in Syria and Lebanon, Israel’s Cabinet approved on Feb. 7 an Israeli Air Force request to use U.S. foreign military financing and loans to fund approximately $9 billion worth of U.S. military aircraft and weapons. LINK
SANCTIONS
Analysis: Iran oil output faces race against time as U.S. sanctions linger
Iran’s oil reserves risk becoming stranded assets unless the new U.S. administration eases sanctions that have left the country lagging rivals in output capacity and losing a race against time as the transition to low carbon energy gathers pace. LINK
Front companies, forged documents and vessel spoofing: US takes aim at Iranian oil
US authorities say companies in #Iran are using forged shipping documents, vessel impersonation techniques and UAE-based front companies to circumvent sanctions and export oil. LINK