Let's talk Iran - Jan 25, 2021
My publications
Call to investigate Iran’s lobby groups in the U.S.
Iran’s regime has a network of apologists/lobbyists in the US influencing foreign policymakers. Kaveh Afrasiabi was recently arrested for acting as an agent of #Iran's regime. There are more. LINK
Nuclear
Policy Analyst: Iran Deal is ‘One of the Worst Deals’ in World History
Policy analyst Michael Johns says the Iran nuclear deal is “one of the worst deals” in world history and believes there would be no security benefit for the United States nor any improvement in human rights conditions for the Iranian people if the Biden administration rejoins the deal. LINK
Top Iranian Official Celebrates Biden’s Rumored Iran Envoy
A top Iranian official is celebrating President Joe Biden's rumored selection of Robert Malley as his envoy to Iran, offering praise for the new administration as it seeks to reenter the 2015 nuclear accord. LINK
To meet the Iran nuclear challenge, the IAEA must remain apolitical
World powers should not restore the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, but should hold the Islamic Republic accountable for violating its international nuclear non-proliferation obligations. The IAEA would better fulfill its mission and mandate by sticking to the crucial task of impartially investigating and reporting Tehran’s breaches of its non-proliferation obligations. LINK
Terrorism
Iran crumbling under Islamic fundamentalism
As the country with the second-largest gas and fourth-largest oil reserves in the world, Iran is a crumbling ruin, the legacy of 42 years of Islamic fundamentalism.
The theocratic dictatorship ruling Iran has been a disaster for its 80 million mainly young citizens, the majority of whom have known no other government. Young Iranians are predominantly secular and non-religious, but they are tech-savvy and envious of the freedoms they recognize in the West. LINK
Days Before Announcement of Assadi’s Verdict, Iran’s Regime Resorts to Conspiracy Theories
Days before a court in Belgium is to announce its verdict about Iran’s incarcerated diplomat-terrorist Assadollah Assadi on February 4, the regime’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs resorts to conspiracy theory and insisted on Assadi’s so-called “diplomatic immunity” and expressed the mullahs’ fear of Assadi’s highly possible condemnation. LINK
A New Iran Policy Should Confront Tehran’s Terrorism Targeting Dissidents Abroad
The Iranian regime’s behavior has not changed over the past 40 years. It has continued its malign activities, suppressing, torturing, and killing its own people while conducting terrorist acts and assassinations in foreign lands. If we do not stand up to this regime, the West and the United States are not off limits to a tyrannical dictatorship that knows no bounds. LINK
Sanctions
Biden, Congress Should Defend Terrorism Sanctions Imposed on Iran
Bipartisan support for terrorism sanctions targeting Iran goes back to 1984, when the United States first designated the Islamic Republic as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Since then, every U.S. president2 – Republican or Democrat – and Congress have taken steps to reaffirm U.S. policy opposing Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism and tying sanctions relief to Iran’s cessation of terror-related activities. LINK
Iran asks Indonesia to explain seizure of tanker accused of illegal oil transfer
DUBAI/JAKARTA (Reuters) - Iran has asked Indonesia to provide details about the seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday, a day after Jakarta said it had seized Iran and Panama-flagged tankers in its waters.
Indonesia said on Sunday its coast guard had seized the Iranian-flagged MT Horse and the Panamanian-flagged MT Freya vessels over suspected illegal oil transfer in the country’s waters. LINK
Human Rights
Iran's regime executes second wrestler within 5 months
The regime in Iran continues its killing spree in its confrontation against an increasingly restive nation. Calls on the international community are increasing to hold the mullahs accountable and ban them from global sporting competitions. LINK
Golrokh Iraee in Qarchak Prison after 43 days of interrogation
Golrokh Iraee is back in Qarchak Prison after 43 days of interrogation by the Intelligence of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at Ward 2A of Evin Prison in Tehran.
20 prison guards in Qarchak Prison raided ward 8 of Qarchak Prison on December 23, 2020, and violently removed political prisoner Golrokh Iraee to send her to the IRGC Intelligence Ward 2A in Tehran’s Evin Prison. LINK
UPDATE—Political prisoner Golrokh Iraee banished from Qarchak to Amol Prison
Political prisoner Golrokh Iraee has been banished to the Prison of Amol, in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, after returning to Qarchak Prison. She under interrogation by the Intelligence of the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for 43 days at Ward 2A of Evin Prison in Tehran. LINK
Tehran Continues Arbitrary Arrests and Human Rights Violations
The Iranian government has arrested at least 26 Kurdish citizens and activists from Kurdish cities or areas with a large Kurdish population in the past week. LINK
Ongoing Human Rights Violations in Iran Implores International Community to Act
The Iranian regime has increased its human rights abuses within the last few weeks, with its officials explicitly calling for more human rights abuses. The rising trend of human rights abuses sounds the alarm for the international community. LINK
Protests
Spiraling poverty in Iran adds to pressure on regime
Faramarz Tofighi, head of the wages committee of the Islamic Labor Council in Iran, tells the Financial Times: “If we cannot curb the widening gap between the rich and the poor, we shall see an explosion of resentment and depressed feelings in the society." LINK
Defenseless Residents of Iranshahr Attacked. Suppressive Forces Use Birdshot to Counter Rebellious Youth’s Resistance
On Sunday morning, January 24, 2021, the clerical regime’s repressive forces attacked and clashed with the local residents and shopkeepers in Kolahdooz region in Iranshahr (south east Iran) under the pretext of combatting smuggled fuel. In addition to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and the State Security Force, the plainclothes Intelligence Ministry agents also participated in assault. LINK
Locals demand drinking water, nurses protest low pay in Iran
Locals in a village in northwestern Iran held a gathering to demand drinking water while hospital nurses in a Tehran hospital demanded higher pay in recent protests. LINK
Iranian official warns of rise in child marriages following marriage loan bill approval
Following the approval of a parliamentary bill that would increase the amount of marriage loans for girls under 23 years of age, Iranian officials and activists warned child marriages would increase. Child marriage or marriage without the free and full consent of both spouses is a human rights violation and is not in line with several international agreements. LINK
Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Nine Rallies and Strikes on January 24
On January 24, Iranian citizens from different walks of life staged at least nine rallies and strikes, protesting the regime’s oppressive and plundering policies. LINK
Covid-19
Iranian Officials Lead Country to More COVID Deaths
At the beginning of January, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei banned the import of coronavirus vaccines from the U.S., UK, and even France, which resulted in the immediate cancellation of 150,000 doses donated by American philanthropists. The world should increase pressure on the autocratic government with the hope that this would ensure that the Iranian people are vaccinated quicker. LINK
Iranian regime operatives
Who is Ebrahim Khodabandeh?
Ebrahim Khodabandeh is an agent of the Iranian regime who, in the name of the director of the “Nejat Society” in Iran, professionally serves the as an Iranian regime Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) operative in suppressing and intimidating the families of opposition groups members. LINK