Let's talk Iran - March 11, 2021
NUCLEAR
The Iran Deal’s Inevitable Sequel
Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal “guaranteed Iran the money and technology it needs to build a bomb while putting Iran’s nuclear program under the protective umbrella of an international agreement guaranteed by the United States.” LINK
House members introduce bipartisan resolution condemning Iranian nuclear program
The resolution argues that #Iran’s continuing enrichment “is escalatory and intended to decrease breakout time to produce a nuclear weapon” and calls on Iran to “immediately reverse its decision… and abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.” It also notes that Iran is in violation of the decades-old Non-Proliferation Treaty — which does not give Iran any inherent right to enrich nuclear material. LINK
U.S. repeats it will not offer Iran unilateral incentives for talks
“We will not offer any unilateral gestures or incentives to induce the Iranians to come to the table. If the Iranians are under the impression that, absent any movement on their part to resume full compliance with the (nuclear deal), that we will offer favors or unilateral gestures, well that’s a misimpression,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. LINK
European Appeasement Must End Before Iran Causes Disaster at Home or Abroad
The nations of Europe share a long, shameful history of appeasing Iran’s theocratic regime. They have done so in the face of that regime’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, as by signing onto a weak agreement in 2015, which Iran was able to violate instantly and with impunity after deciding it was not accruing sufficient economic benefits from its erstwhile adversaries. They have done so in the face of rampant human rights abuses, even turning a blind eye to a massacre of some 30,000 Iranian political prisoners in the summer of 1988. And they have even done so in the face of terrorist activity that included threats to Western property, personnel, and vital interests. LINK
Impasse Over Iran Nuclear Talks Sets Off International Scramble to Save Accord
The demands for a broader accord to address other Iranian threats echoes the Trump administration’s goals of a pressure campaign against Tehran. But Mr. Biden’s pursuit to “lengthen and strengthen” the deal is also calculated to assuage Democratic critics of the 2015 accord. LINK
DOMESTIC UNREST
Iran: The next uprising will take the country by storm
Given the current circumstances in Iran, a new wave of protests is inevitable and the West is doomed to be surprised if it continues to follow the situation through lenses “Made in Iran” and by buying into the narrative coming from the pro–Iran regime lobby. LINK
Video report: 42 Years of Misogyny in Iran
TERRORISM
Houthis target civilians with missile in Marib as Yemeni army advances
Iran has backed the Houthis in their war against the Yemeni government, supplying the group with weapons, such as drones and missiles often used to target civilians. LINK
Israeli Strikes Target Iranian Oil Bound for Syria
Israel has targeted at least a dozen vessels bound for Syria & mostly carrying Iran's oil out of concern that petroleum profits are funding extremism in the Middle East, in a new front in the conflict between Israel and Iran. LINK
US Senate resolution calls to hold Assad regime accountable for war crimes
A bipartisan resolution has been submitted by a group of high-ranking senators, calling for a permanent US policy to maintain humanitarian support for the Syrian people while holding the Iran-backed Assad regime accountable for war crimes. LINK
Albania responds to Iranian regime’s baseless accusations against opposition PMOI/MEK in UN Session
On March 9, 2021, the issue of human right violations in Iran was discussed in the United Nations Human Rights Council. Dr. Illir Nezaj from the Albanian Embassy in Geneva representing Albania, expressed the his countrie’s concern about the human rights violations in Iran. He also made remarks in response the Iranian regime’s allegations that Albania is hosting terrorists. The same allegations against Albania is also expressed the Iranian regime’s agents in Albania. LINK