Let's talk Iran - Jan. 28, 2021
Nuclear
Don’t Fall for Iran Regime’s Nuclear Blackmail
History has shown that caving in to a bully’s demands only emboldens it. Tehran must be forced to abandon its nuclear weapons pursuit, end its missile ambitions, halt its sponsorship of terrorism, cease its menacing regional activities and end the killing of its own citizens. The only policy that can do that is one that prioritizes firmness and resolve. Such a policy’s best ally is the vast majority of the Iranian public.
The regime is at the weakest point in its history. It should not be given another cheap lifeline. LINK
Blinken: US Sanctions on Iran to Remain as Return to 2015 Nuclear Deal a 'Long Way' Off
Top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken has signaled that U.S. sanctions on Iran will remain in place for some time as Washington waits to see if Tehran verifiably stops violating a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers before potentially rejoining the deal that the prior U.S. administration quit. LINK
New U.S. secretary of state stands by demand Iran return to nuclear deal before U.S. does
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday stuck to his stance that Tehran must resume complying with the Iran nuclear deal before Washington, which abandoned the pact under former President Donald Trump, would do so. LINK
The United States Must Move Forward, Not Back, on Iran
The new administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has proposed for Iran and the United States to return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. But this prospect poses considerable risks to regional and even global security. A better approach, in our view, would be one that aims to reach a modest interim agreement, or “JCPOA minus,” after which talks would focus on achieving a more restrictive nuclear deal than the original, or “JCPOA plus.” LINK
Netanyahu doesn't want a fight with Biden over Iran — yet
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hoping to avoid an immediate clash with President Biden over Iran, will give dialogue a chance, Israeli officials say. However, Netanyahu’s willingness to engage with Biden and avoid confrontation could change quickly if he thinks it’s ineffective — or if he decides confrontation could help him in the March 23 elections. LINK
For Biden, Iran Presents a Tough Road From Promise to Policy
Biden’s national security team foresees a rocky road in persuading #Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and then pressing for a follow-on accord that sets tougher limits on its nuclear/missile programs & regional meddling. LINK
Iran says production of enriched uranium exceeds goals
Iran has exceeded 17 kilograms of 20% enriched uranium within a month’s time, state TV reported Thursday, moving its nuclear program closer to weapons-grade enrichment levels amid heightened tensions with the U.S. LINK
Terrorism
Online Panel – Experts discuss Iran’s state terrorism, EU policy on Tehran
A court in Belgium is scheduled to issue its ruling on terrorism charges against Assadollah Assadi, a diplomat-terrorist of Iran’s regime, and his accomplices on February 4. A cross-party panel of Former European policymakers and experts on Tehran’s use of terrorism are weighing in on this topic during a webinar on Thursday, discussing the message the European Union should send through its Iran policy and the consequences of adopting a weak stance. LINK
EU Must Adopt Punitive Measures Against Tehran in Assadollah Assadi’s Case
On February 4, a criminal court in Antwerp, Belgium, is supposed to issue its final sentence about Iran’s third counselor Assadollah Assadi in Vienna. On July 1, 2018, in a joint operation between European law enforcement, Assadi was arrested in the German state of Bayern for transferring and delivering 1lb of explosive material and a detonator to a terrorist couple in Luxemburg to attack a major gathering of Iranian dissidents in Paris. LINK
Tehran Doesn’t Limit Its Terrorism to a Single Bombing
A Belgian court will soon announce its verdict in the terrorism trial of Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi and his three accomplices, who all stand accused of taking part in a plot to blow up the 2018 Free Iran rally in France. LINK
Appeasing Iran’s Regime Further Endangers Global Security
With the new administration taking power in the United States, many of Iran’s apologists, parallel to the regime’s blackmailing campaign, hope to return to what they call “the golden era” of appeasement. With Iran’s increasing domestic and international malign activities, the world community should take a firm stand against the regime. LINK
Former Leading European Officials Demand Iran Diplomacy Be Downgraded
More than 20 former European foreign ministers and leading officials have issued a statement demanding that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif be held responsible for a bomb plot allegedly organized and planned in 2018 by an Iranian diplomat serving at Tehran’s embassy in Vienna. LINK
Europe should leave no quarter for Tehran’s terrorism: conference
In an online conference held on Thursday, a panel of European politicians discussed the ongoing trial of Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat who is charged with a bombing attempt against a gathering of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in France in 2018. LINK
Iran’s Lobby Arm
New York Times opinion writer arrested as alleged Iran agent, accused of writing ‘propaganda’ pieces
A New York Times opinion writer was arrested and charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Iranian government last week, The Algemeiner reported.
Kaveh Afrasiabi, a former political science professor and former adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiation team, has been accused of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). LINK
Human Rights
Prisoner of conscience Saba Kord Afshari violently relocated within Qarchak Prison
Prisoner of conscience Saba Kord Afshari was violently moved out of ward 8 of Qarchak Prison on Tuesday, January 26, and taken to ward 6 where dangerous inmates with common crimes are held. LINK
Saba Kord Afshari violently moved from Ward 8 of Qarchak to Ward 6
Saba Kord Afshari is serving a 24-year sentence for protesting the mandatory Hijab enforced on women by #Iran's regime. Guards caught her by the hair, dragged her out of the ward, & tied her hands in the back. Saba’s arms are badly bruised. LINK
On International Holocaust Day Let’s Not Forget Iran’s Human Rights Dossier
January 27 marked International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, one of the greatest crimes against humanity in mankind’s history. This crime was the direct result of the international community’s silence and appeasement policy. History has proved that appeasing genocidal regimes like the Nazis or the one in Iran only emboldens them to commit crimes against humanity. LINK
Iran’s Human Rights Abuses in 2020
Iran Human Rights Monitor has just produced its annual report on human rights abuses in Iran in 2020, pulling together these atrocious violations into a single, harrowing document. LINK
Political prisoner Mohammad Ashtiani almost suffocated in Central Prison of Karaj
Low oxygen levels in the blood of political prisoner Mohammad Ashtiani was leading to his suffocation due to lack of medical treatment. Despite the low oxygen level in his blood, prison authorities refrained from providing him medical care and taking him to the hospital. LINK
Protests
Iran’s State-Run Media Warn About Another Uprising
More than a dozen cities across Iran witnessed protests by retirees of social security on Tuesday. These rallies most importantly, show the society’s restiveness. LINK
IRGC announces formation of 300 new groups of “religious” patrols in Tehran
Iran's terrorist-designated IRGC announces formation of 300 new groups of “religious” patrols in Tehran as the regime escalates crackdown measures against a very restive nation. LINK
Iranian Media Admits to MEK Role in Sanctions and Protests
As infighting among Iran's regime grows, the state-run media is acknowledging that the opposition PMOI/MEK is playing a vital role in organizing the resistance against the regime, both by the Iranian people and the international community. LINK
Covid-19
Member of Iran’s COVID-19 Taskforce criticizes regime’s decision to use Russian vaccine
A member of Iran’s COVID-19 Taskforce criticized the regime’s decision to import Russian vaccines and said it was “unfortunate” for the people of Iran.
This came after Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on January 25 that the country hoped to begin purchases of the Gam-COVID-Vac, trade-named Sputnik V, and start joint production of the shot “in the near future”. LINK