Let's talk Iran - Jan 26, 2021
Nuclear
France: Iran must comply with nuclear deal pre-US return; Russia says opposite
Iran's regime must comply with the terms of the 2015 accord limiting its nuclear program in order to see the U.S. return to the deal, a French presidency official says. Tehran feeling cornered as Paris adopts position similar to Washington. LINK
Former Hostages Urge Biden Not to Deal with Iran Unless it Frees Other Americans
Two Americans and a U.S. permanent resident whom Washington says were held hostage by #Iran for years until it freed them during the term of former President Donald Trump have urged his successor Joe Biden not to make gestures toward Tehran until it frees other U.S. hostages. LINK
Iran: Biden won’t have infinite time to rejoin nuclear deal
Iran also said it expects Washington to swiftly lift crippling economic sanctions that former President Donald Trump imposed on the country after pulling America out of the atomic accord in 2018, as part of his maximum pressure against Iran. LINK
The Case Against the Iran Deal
Reviving the JCPOA will ensure either the emergence of a nuclear Iran or a desperate war to stop it.
“The JCPOA didn’t diminish the Iranian nuclear threat; it magnified it.” The Obama/Rhodes echo chamber pushed the narrative glorifying the 2015 nuclear deal that provided #Iran access to $152 billion in credit & cash, money that fueled terrorism. LINK
Biden is ignoring all the signs that Iran can’t be bribed out of its murderous ways
President Biden is eager to reengage with Iran and return to the nuclear deal. Yet the murderous regime has no interest in changing its ways. It is boosting its nuclear-weapon development and its network of deadly militias across the Middle East in its continued drive for hegemony. LINK
Israeli military chief warns of new plans to strike Iran
Israel’s military chief Tuesday warned the Biden administration against rejoining the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, even if it toughens its terms, adding he’s ordered his forces to step up preparations for possible offensive action against Iran during the coming year. LINK
What Zarif's words should tell President Biden about the JCPOA
Zarif offers insight into Iran’s strategy for handling the Biden administration: He denied there was going to be any JCPOA 2 and 3, meaning the regime will not negotiate any follow-on agreements to the 2015 nuclear deal (known by the acronym JCPOA) that limit Iran’s missile program and regional policies. LINK
Terrorism
Germany To Investigate Iran’s Diplomat-Terrorist Assadi’s Role in Orchestrating Terrorism and Espionage
A court in Antwerp, Belgium, is set to announce its verdict regarding Iran’s diplomat-terrorist Assadollah Assadi and his three accomplices for their foiled attempt to bomb an opposition rally in France in 2018. Now Assadi faces new charges and is the subject of an investigation by Germany’s authorities. LINK
Arrested Iranian diplomat runs a bigger network of spies in Europe, authorities believe
New evidence found in the case of the prosecution of Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian regime diplomat charged with plotting a terror attack against an annual gathering of the Iranian opposition in 2018, suggests he had been running a large network of spies and agents across Europe. LINK
Blast heard in Saudi capital Riyadh - Reuters correspondent
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces have carried out many cross-border attacks into Saudi using drones and missiles since a Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen early 2015 to restore the government the Houthis ousted from power.
Missile attacks and drone strikes claimed by Houthi forces have targeted civilian airports and oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, occasionally reaching Riyadh. LINK
U.S. Forces Expand Reach in Saudi Arabia
In the past year or more, the military has tested new ports and bases as options to use in the event of conflict with Iran. The U.S. military has been using an array of ports and air bases in Saudi Arabia’s western desert, developing basing options to use in the event of a conflict with Iran, according to the top American military commander in the region. LINK
U.N. report accuses Yemen government of money-laundering, Houthis of taking state revenue
The U.N. monitors reported "there is a growing body of evidence that shows that individuals or entities within the Islamic Republic of Iran are engaged in sending weapons and weapons components to the Houthis" in violation of a U.N. arms embargo. LINK
Human Rights
Iran Human Rights Monitor, 2020 Annual Report
In the past year Iranian people were deprived of their most basic rights due to the horrendous violations of human rights committed by the clerical regime ruling the country. LINK
Unprecedented Violations of Human Rights Against Iranian Baluchis
In recent weeks, Iranian Baluchis have faced unprecedented oppression by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and other repressive apparatuses. LINK
Five Arab political prisoners go on hunger strike in Shaiban Prison of Ahvaz
Five Arab political prisoners have started a hunger strike in Shaiban Prison of Ahvaz, capital of southwestern Iranian Province of Khuzestan. Jasem Heydari, Ali Khasraji, Hossein Seilavi, Ali Motiri, and Ali Mojaddam sewed their lips and started a hunger strike on Saturday, January 23. LINK
Political prisoner Akbar Bagheri in dire health, denied treatment
In Iran political prisoner Akbar Bagheri is detained in a Tehran prison. He is in dire need of treatment at a hospital, but the warden has prevented his hospitalization. The life and health of this prisoner is in danger. LINK
Iranian Officials Execute Another Wrestler
On Monday, January 25, the Iranian people and the international community were once again taken aback by the execution of 30-year-old wrestler Mehdi Ali Hosseini at Dezful Prison in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. The ayatollahs once again boasted their cruelty with this inhuman action. LINK
Iran executes another wrestler despite US, international outcry, reports say
Iran has executed another decorated wrestler this week despite international outcry and condemnation from the U.S. State Department, according to reports.
Mehdi Ali Hosseini was put to death at a prison in the city of Dezful on Monday, Al Arabiya reported, citing a local news outlet. A judiciary official there also confirmed the execution to the state-run ISNA News Agency. LINK
Iran sentences Iranian-American to prison on spying charges
Iran's judiciary announced that an Iranian-American has been sentenced to prison on spying charges. It did not name the man who was sentenced, but this development follows news that Emad Shargi had been sentenced to 10 years. LINK
Sanctions
U.S. Tries to Seize Oil Shipment It Says Came From Iran
The U.S. is trying to seize around 2 million barrels of what it thinks is Iranian oil, according to people familiar with the matter, in Washington’s latest attempt to block the Islamic Republic’s energy exports. LINK
Protests in Iran
Iranians Continue Protests; at Least Five Rallies and Strikes on January 25
On January 25, Iranians held at least five rallies, marches, and strikes, protesting the regime and state-run employers. In their protests, impoverished people pursued their inherent rights. LINK
Other
Sign of a Volcano Erupting in Iran
The Iranian society is growing more enraged at the regime by the day. Calls for overthrow, as indicated in the November 2019 uprising, are growing. LINK
Iran sentences Iranian-American to prison on spying charges
An Iranian-American has been sentenced to prison on spying charges, #Iran’s judiciary reported Tuesday, the latest dual national held in the country amid tensions with the West. LINK
Narcotics, one of the financial sources used by Soleimani & Iran's IRGC Quds Force
Mohammad Baghar Zolghadr, one of the long-standing commanders of the Ramazan military base belonging to the Terrorist Quds force and the current deputy of the judicial ministry said in an interview with the Tasnim News agency affiliated to the Quds Force of IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran) , on December 21, 2020 “Whenever the government had difficulty in funding a project, Ghasem Soleimani, used an alternative way to raise money and created his own resources. Now it’s not necessary to go into details of that. But he himself devised new sources of finance independent of the government”. LINK
Iranian Media: Officials Only Bring Poverty and Inflation to the People
On January 25, Iranian media outlets once again revealed the government’s weakness in fulfilling its strategic plans. For instance, while high-ranking officials cannot hide their enthusiasm for recent political developments in the United States, Kayhan daily—Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s mouthpiece—carried the title, “The Godfather has returned; Terror Squads… Ready.” LINK