Let's talk Iran - March 25, 2021
A Tale of 2 Iranian Resistance Books — US Policy Implications
Protests shake the regime’s foundations and demonstrations are a significant step toward downfall of the regime ruling Iran. Therefore, so protestors deserve U.S. support. And no, that does not mean a new war. LINK
NUCLEAR
Longstanding Lack of Transparency Shows Iran Was Never Committed To Nuclear Deal
Arguing that Iran, with the world's second largest natural gas and fourth largest crude oil reserves, has a nuclear program for energy is simply naïve. LINK
Lawmakers Investigate State Department Over $1 Billion Ransom Payment to Iran
Republican foreign policy leaders in Congress are pressing Sec. Blinken to fully disclose the contents of secret talks with South Korea that are believed to have paved the way for that country to hand Iran $1 billion as part of a ransom payment. LINK
US senators push for broader Iran deal, not return to nuclear pact
Forty-three US senators, many of whom opposed the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, appealed to President Joe Biden on Thursday to work toward an international agreement that addresses issues beyond just Tehran's nuclear program. LINK
Why the world needs a firm Iran policy
"The world must show it is as courageous as the Iranian people, stand on the right side of history, and stand firm against the regime’s terrorism and human rights abuses." LINK
Iran must come clean on its nuclear deception
President Biden should deliver a clear message: There will be no sanctions relief for Iran without a full accounting. There should be no going back to a nuclear deal based on nuclear deception. LINK
Special Dollars for Dictators
The U.S. Treasury is attempting to avoid Congressional approval in new International Monetary Fund special aid, including for dictators. $4.5 billion will go to Iran’s regime in euros, yen or yuan. This sends a very weak signal from Washington to Tehran and will have dangerous consequences. LINK
TERRORISM
Iran-backed Houthis must decide if they are with or against Yemeni people: US
The State Department told Al Arabiya that it did not recognize Iran's ambassador to "the Houthis," which they claim is their envoy to Yemen
The answer is obvious. In the meantime, Washington needs to understand Tehran seeks to only wreak further havoc across the region. LINK
SANCTIONS
Follow the Oil: After Anchorage, China Will Make Iran Its Gas Station if America Turns a Blind Eye
If the United States is no longer rigorously enforcing sanctions, however, then Iran’s glut of deeply-discounted oil represents an attractive and ready source, and the PRC can groom the Islamic Republic to function as its gas station with impunity.
We know from bitter experience that the revenues from these sales will not be spent to improve the lives of the Iranian people, but will be funneled to terrorist proxies plotting to attack Americans and our allies from Lebanon to Yemen. LINK
China says will safeguard Iran oil deal, defend bilateral relations
Ministry spokesman Gao Feng told a news briefing that China has not receive notices of sanctions on Iranian oil from the Biden administration. LINK
HUMAN RIGHTS
JVMI Leads Successful Advocacy at Human Rights Council for UN Probe into Iran’s 1988 Massacre
Iran's regime executed over 30,000 political prisoners in the summer of 1988.
In February, JVMI and dozens of other international NGOs submitted a joint written statement to the Human Right Council appealing to High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet to support the launch of a UN inquiry into the 1988 massacre. The text of the written statement is available on the UN’s website. The NGOs welcomed a letter by seven UN Special Rapporteurs to the Iranian authorities, dated 3 September 2020, reiterating that the 1988 massacre could amount to “crimes against humanity” which warrant an “international investigation”. LINK
Iranian man awaiting amputation faces additional prison term and lashes
A man awaiting finger amputation in a northwestern Iran prison has been sentenced to additional four years in prison and 80 lashes on the charge of “insulting the warden of Urmia Central Prison” and “disrupting prison order”.
This is the ruthless regime ruling Iran that the U.S. and Europe wish to appease. LINK
Kurdish political prisoner denied furlough to attend daughter’s funeral
Furlough, temporary leave typically granted to prisoners in Iran for a variety of reasons, is routinely denied to political prisoners as a form of additional punishment. LINK
Iran Protests During Persian Calendar Year 1399 (2020 – March 2021)
During the Iranian calendar year of 1399 (March 2020 until March 2021), Iran witnessed thousands of anti-government protests by people from all walks of life across the country. LINK
