Let's talk Iran - Feb 19, 2021
NUCLEAR
Biden Admin Says It Is Ready for Negotiations With Iran
Biden Admin Confirms It's Ready for Direct Talks with Iran -- Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the new admin is heading down a dangerous path: "Adopting the EU model of accommodation will guarantee Iran a path to a nuclear arsenal." LINK
Biden eases pressure on Iran as US announces readiness for nuclear talks
Interesting how Biden admin is being careful on Iran initiative:
-senior State Dept. official says first meeting would not be official
-FMs not participating
-US will not make any concessions to Iran
-purpose would be to revive diplomacy between the two LINK
IAEA finds uranium traces at 2 sites Iran barred it from, will rebuke Tehran: Reuters
The IAEA found uranium particles at two of #Iran's sites it inspected after months of stonewalling, diplomats say, and it is preparing to rebuke Tehran for failing to explain, possibly complicating U.S. efforts to revive nuclear diplomacy. LINK
Biden aides debate how, or if, to save original Iran deal
-Debates in Biden admin over more comprehensive #Iran deal
-Biden appears in no rush to return to it
-McGurk & Sullivan are more hawkish voices, more inclined for a bigger deal immediately
-Dems & Reps in DC, such as Sen. Menendez, demanding tough stance LINK
UK says Iran must come back into compliance with nuclear deal
“This is in Iran’s hands, they are the ones breaching the conditions of the JCPOA, they are the ones that can do something about this, and they should come back into compliance,” said James Cleverly, Britain’s junior foreign minister who covers the Middle East and North Africa. LINK
GOP Lawmakers Demand Investigation Into Iran’s Nuclear Violations
"The US cannot return to the days of sending pallets of cash to Iran’s leaders, supporting Iran’s pursuit of terrorism and allowing the regime to continue its nuclear buildup." LINK
Biden can’t negotiate with Iran as its proxies attack U.S. troops
"...if the Biden response is too weak, Iranian proxies in Iraq will be emboldened and claim even more space to maneuver." Letting aggressions continue is what made the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) vulnerable. LINK
Signaling a New Willingness to Talk, Biden Scrambles to Save Iran Nuclear Deal
DC politics weighing in on Iran policy:
Biden officials are "especially wary of alienating Republicans on Capitol Hill, whose votes are needed for more urgent priorities" & insist Tehran's deadline to halt inspections next week will not pressure them. LINK
Israel: US paving path to Iranian nuclear bomb with push to rejoin JCPOA
"Israel believes that going back to the old agreement will pave Iran’s path to a nuclear arsenal. Israel is in close contact with the United States on this matter," according to a statement released by the Israeli Prime Ministry Office. LINK
Iran To Further Breach Nuclear Deal
Iran has announced plans on Monday to further violate its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the Iranian Resistance says is perfectly in step with the mullahs’ nuclear extortion campaign. LINK
HUMAN RIGHTS
Iran: 10 Executions in Five Days
In the midst of domestic & international crises, the regime has stepped up torture & executions. In the face of popular outrage & protests, this regime will not survive even for a day without repression & execution. LINK
Man and woman accused of adultery sentenced to lashes in Tehran
The Tehran Criminal Court sentenced a man and woman to lashes on adultery charges. According to state-run media, the husband of the accused woman identified by her first name as Khoshchehreh filed a complaint against his wife one year ago. LINK
IRGC official says this terrorist org is preparing to crack down on protests
Iran’s security forces, namely the IRGC & the Basij killed at least 1,500 protesters & innocent bystanders in the course of just a few days back in November 2019. LINK
TERRORISM
Silence on Iranian Terror Case Reflects Dangerous Old Habits of European Foreign Policy
There is ample reason for the EU to reverse its former policy of appeasing Iran's regime. Doing so would allow Western powers to live up to their closely-held democratic ideals, by supporting pursuit of the same in the heart of the Middle East. LINK
Franco-Iranian, German citizens arrested in Iran - Le Figaro
US & Europe are sending appeasement signals to Iran while reports indicate a person with dual French/Iranian citizenship and a German national were arrested in Iran more than two weeks ago. The two individuals were arrested and detained before Feb. 4 as leverage in anticipation of the sentencing of Iranian diplomat Assadolah Assadi in Belgium that day. The diplomat was sentenced to 20 years in prison for planning to bomb an Iranian opposition rally in France in 2018. LINK
Aerial Attacks on Saudi Arabia Expose Vulnerability of U.S. Ally
Fixed-wing drones laden with explosives and launched from Iraq smashed into the main royal complex in the Saudi capital Riyadh in one such strike on Jan. 23, according to U.S. officials and other people familiar with the incident. LINK
Iran using Dutch data center for espionage: report
Security company Bitdefender and radio program Argos identified a server in a data center near Haarlem that they believe is being used by Iran to spy on political opponents. LINK
Republican lawmakers urge Biden to respond to assassination of Lebanese activist Slim
Republican lawmakers urged US President Joe Biden on Thursday to sanction those responsible for the recent assassination of prominent Lebanese activist Lokman Slim. The activist’s family had hinted that Iran-backed Hezbollah was behind the killing. LINK
Iran, Terrorism Finance, and Money Laundering: A Status Update Before FATF Meets Next Week
Iran’s place on the list of high-risk jurisdictions is merited until Tehran implements – without exemptions – its FATF action plan. This will require Iran’s recognition that access to the global financial system necessitates transparency as well as conduct that ensures that entities transacting with Tehran are not put at risk because of the regime’s systemic malign financial activities. LINK
DOMESTIC ISSUES
Iran: strategic elections or strategic impasse?
As the Iranian regime approaches the 2021 Presidential Election, Tehran’s strategic impasse becomes apparent more than ever. Khamenei seeks to impose more restrictions & oppressive measures against ordinary Iranian, a policy that can easily backfire. LINK
Iran: Misery index continues to rise as basic goods become more expensive
In recent years, Iran has been one of the top four countries in the world in terms of misery index, and after the three countries of Venezuela, Argentina and Zimbabwe, it is in fourth place and at its worst. LINK
Iran: Reasons for Power Outages and Air Pollution
Iran is among the wealthiest countries globally in terms of natural resources such as oil and gas. Iran has 18% of the world’s natural gas and produces 5% of the world’s natural gas. It also exports gas to its neighboring countries. Yet under the mullahs’ regime, Iranians have to experience constant power outages which the regime blames on lack of gas for power plants. LINK
Missed Future for Iran’s Children
Iran's officials have destroyed the lives of millions of children by spreading poverty and misery among citizens. Dropouts of school and child laborers, vendors, and garbage-collectors are seen in almost all of Iran’s provinces. LINK
