Biden not trusted on secret Iran deal: Poll
52% said they don’t “trust” the administration to cut a deal that will prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
63% believe that providing Iran a path to building the weapons is a bigger threat to the U.S. than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (at 21%). LINK
After Ukraine invasion, U.S. should walk away from nuclear talks with Iran
The U.S. and its European allies must walk away from the talks now before a new agreement revives and strengthens Putin’s ally Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the dictator of Iran. LINK
Iran nearing nuclear bomb yardstick as enriched uranium stock grows
The stock of enriched uranium amassed by Iran in breach of its 2015 nuclear deal is growing to the point that its most highly-enriched material is most of the way to a common bomb yardstick, a report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog showed on Thursday.
The amount in the quarterly International Atomic Energy Agency report to member states seen by Reuters comes as negotiators at talks on salvaging the 2015 deal say they are in the final stretch. Western powers have warned time is running out before Iran's nuclear progress makes the talks pointless. LINK
Biden’s Coming Iran Deal Will Be Even Worse than Obama’s
What the U.S. is agreeing to in Vienna is a shorter and weaker agreement that provides even more sanctions relief in exchange for fewer restrictions. Biden’s version would lift U.S. terrorism sanctions on Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, and leave Tehran’s illicit nuclear infrastructure intact without first demanding a full accounting of Iran’s secret nuclear work. LINK
'We are close', UK envoy to Iran nuclear talks says as Europeans fly home
Despite the British diplomat's teasing Twitter post, two sources with direct knowledge said there was still no deal and European and Iranian officials said that Iran's lead negotiator, nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani was staying in Vienna. On Thursday, the chief Russian diplomat at the talks said he did not think they would now collapse and a ministerial meeting - typically where a deal would be blessed - was likely but he could not say if it would be on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. However, there are myriad pieces that must fall into place for a deal to come together. LINK
Iran foreign minister says nuclear deal subject to Tehran's red lines
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Friday the West’s “haste” to reach a nuclear deal “cannot prevent the observance of Iran’s red lines,” including economic guarantees.
Negotiations on reviving a 2015 Iran nuclear accord appear near a climax, amid talk of an imminent ministerial meeting. Such a meeting, said Amirabdollahian, “requires full compliance with the red lines.” LINK
The ayatollahs' men in Washington
Iranian human rights activist Heshmat Alavi translated the relevant portion of Zarif's memoir on his Twitter account. Zarif wrote that in 2014, the regime decided to send a copy of their draft agreement to the other negotiating teams through "an individual in contact with the US delegation and an active International Crisis Group (ICG) member." LINK
Russians Announce US-Iran Deal as Tanks Roll Across Europe
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador for Iran negotiations, announced on Thursday that a new nuclear deal with Iran will be announced within 24 to 48 hours, signaling the Biden administration's continued reliance on and cooperation with Moscow even as it wages a full-scale war in Ukraine.
The terms of the deal remain unknown as the Biden administration has sought to cut Congress out of the deal and prevent it from performing its legally mandated oversight. Under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, Congress must give its approval of any new agreement with Iran. While the Biden administration has promised to follow this law, Congress has not been presented with details of the deal or been asked to approve it before the United States signs.
"Russia's further invasion of Ukraine is reprehensible, but we can't lose sight of the next national security crisis as it forms before our eyes: The Biden administration is reportedly rushing to finalize a deal with Iran, brokered by Russia, that it does not want Congress to review, in violation of U.S. law," Rep. Michael McCaul (R., Texas), lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. LINK
Russia Involved in Plot To Help Iran Bust US Oil Sanctions
Sanctioned Russian tankers are carrying illicit Iranian oil, providing a fresh financial lifeline for Tehran and highlighting the fact that the Biden administration is looking away and refusing to enforce existing sanctions. LINK
Tehran’s support for the invasion of Ukraine backfires
After days of Iranian regime officials openly supporting the Russian war of occupation against Ukraine, regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei tried to soften his regime’s position and justify his support for a war that has been condemned worldwide.
In a speech, on Tuesday, March 1, Khamenei said, “I think that Ukraine is a victim of American policies. We are of course against the destruction of nations, the killing of people, and the destruction of the infrastructure of nations. We do not approve that.” LINK
War in Ukraine Revives “Resistance.” EU Should Cherish This Universal Value
European Council President Charles Michel said that the Council will not “escape” its responsibilities. Indeed, we shall not give in to the demands of dictators. The era of appeasement is over. And, most importantly, as the courageous Ukrainians are teaching us all, actions speak louder than words when it comes to protecting democratic values. It is high time that we stand for our European values of resistance and democracy and in parallel with backing Ukrainian independence, also support the Iranian people and their quest for freedom from tyranny. Such actions reinforce each other and ultimately strengthen a unified Europe. LINK
Iran says data center fire causes internet disruption
A fire in a government data center caused internet disruption for many users in Iran on Friday, an official said on Twitter. Mahdi Salem, Deputy Telecommunication Minister said that an “electrical connection” had caused the fire, but it was later repaired. Advocacy group NetBlocks said a major internet disruption had occurred, impacting Tehran and other regions. It was unclear to what extent Internet traffic was still affected later Friday. LINK
Iran’s children face dehydration, drought, air pollution and injustice
The corrupt and disarrayed regime in Tehran has pushed Iran to many interrelated political, social, and natural crises, including environmental degradation, unemployment and poverty, among other things. In Iran, due to the mismanagement of natural resources, sustainability is being hugely undermined in every aspect of environmental issues at the cost of future generations. The Iranian regime is facing unprecedented difficulties in maintaining its current infrastructure, housing, food, and educational facilities. The regime additionally is faced with everyday uprisings and protest actions of various sectors of the society demanding justice. LINK
Banishing into prison exile, additional punishment for peaceful activism in Iran
The Iranian regime’s judiciary has a documented history of banishing into prison exile those held for politically motivated reasons. By sending prisoners to exile, judicial authorities seek to isolate prisoners, and escalated pressure on them as a form of additional punishment. LINK
Let's talk Iran - March 4, 2022