Let's talk Iran - October 12, 2021
Iranians are crying out for regime change, not nuclear power. The West should listen
Regime change in Iran by the people of Iran. While envoys from Western countries were busy expressing concerns about Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile programs at the 76th UN General Assembly session for countering WMDs (weapons of mass destruction), Mohammad Eslami, head of the regime’s Atomic Energy Organization, announced on Saturday that Iran has amassed more than 120 kilograms of 20 per cent enriched uranium.
Tehran’s strategic weapon isn’t nuclear nor ideological. It has been extortion all along. The West has tried too hard for too long to reason with this regime. It is time to try something new: hold the ruthless rulers of Iran to account, while reaching out to the people of Iran as they seek freedom. LINK
Fearing arrest, Ebrahim Raisi cancels trip to Scotland for COP26 conference, 2021 UN Climate Change
Iranian regime president Ebrahim Raisi will not be traveling to Scotland to attend an upcoming climate change conference hosted by the United Nations, the spokesperson of the foreign ministry announced on Monday.
The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) will be held in Glasgow from November 1 to November 12. LINK
EU cravenly capitulates to Russia and China - Britain must stand against them
Let us consider the example of our approach to foreign policy in the Middle East in general, and Iran in particular and our lack of definitive action over recent years.
Global Britain should now display the moral courage to call out the Iranian leadership for their crimes and insist that they be held accountable for the dreadful events of 1988. From there, we should “build back better” our foreign policy approach to rogue nations. LINK
“Defending the MEK meant certain death,” recalls a survivor of Iran’s 1988 massacre
During the summer of 1988 the mullahs’ regime in Iran carried out a horrific campaign of mass killings in prisons checkered throughout the country. Political prisoners from all walks of life were sent to the gallows in the hundreds, leading to the executions of more than 30,000 political prisoners. LINK
Nuclear Negotiators Close in on Date to Restart Iran Talks
"A top European official is expected to fly to Tehran as soon as this week to seek an agreement to restart nuclear talks between Iran and world powers after months of delays."
This weak posture from the West strengthens the regime in any future talks. LINK
Is the CIA Determined to Look Away from Iran?
"It’s dangerously unwise of the Biden administration to make bureaucratic moves that signal a softer line on the Iranian threat."
Reminder: Dictators thrive on weakness/appeasement. LINK
Iran on agenda in Israeli PM's visit to Putin
Israel's prime minister will fly to Sochi in Russia next week to meet President Vladimir Putin for talks including on Iran's nuclear program, Naftali Bennett's office said on Tuesday.
Rest assured Iran's role in Syria will also be on the agenda. LINK
More Hypocrisy From Biden Administration on Foreign Policy
Since removing the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen from the State Dept. list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, they have become ever more emboldened as they are propped up with funding and support from the world's leading fiscal sponsor of terrorism: The Islamic Republic of Iran.
Secretary Blinken: The time is now to stop playing games. The time is now to stop projecting weakness and to stop issuing statements.
The time is now to place the Houthis back on the State Department FTO list and to work with other U.S. agencies to increase sanctions on anyone directly or indirectly associated with the Houthis. LINK
Arab Coalition intercepts Houthi drone headed for Saudi Arabia’s Khamis Mushait
The Arab Coalition has intercepted and destroyed a booby-trapped drone launched by Iran-backed Houthis towards Saudi Arabia’s Khamis Mushait, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday. Since January, Yemen’s Houthis have increased their attacks on the Kingdom, launching several cross-border aerial attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Reminder: Biden's State Dept. lifted the terror designation off the Houthis. LINK
Pro-Iran groups denounce Iraq election as 'scam'
"Losses were booked by pro-Iranian Shiite parties with links to the armed groups that make up the paramilitary network known as Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation forces." LINK
Analysis-Iraqi voters spurn Iran's allies, but Tehran could still fight for clout
A Western diplomat said the leader of Iran’s Quds Force, Esmail Ghaani, was in Baghdad while the initial results were released, still seeking a way to keep Tehran’s allies in power.
“According to our information, Ghaani was attending a meeting with (Shi’ite militia parties) yesterday. They will do whatever they can to try to organise the biggest bloc - although that will also be very difficult with Sadr’s power,” the Western diplomat said. LINK
Political prisoner Mojgan Kavousi transferred to the notorious Kachouii Prison
Kavousi is a writer and a cultural activist who was arrested during the protests in November 2019 because of publishing anti-government posts in her Instagram account. Health and food conditions in this facility is one of the worst in Iran. Inmates in the overcrowded jail are literally disconnected with the outside world. LINK
September 2021 Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior Report
"This is the first covert influence operation we’ve disrupted in Iran that focused almost entirely inside the country and was run by individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“Iran: We removed 93 Facebook accounts, 14 Pages, 15 Groups and 194 Instagram accounts in Iran that targeted primarily domestic audiences in that country, particularly in the Lorestan province. We found this activity as part of our internal investigation into suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior in the region and linked it to individuals associated with the IRGC.” LINK
Iran-linked DEV-0343 targeting defense, GIS, and maritime sectors
"This activity likely supports the national interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran based on pattern-of-life analysis, extensive crossover in geographic and sectoral targeting with Iranian actors, and alignment of techniques and targets with another actor originating in Iran... Gaining access to commercial satellite imagery and proprietary shipping plans and logs could help Iran compensate for its developing satellite program. Given Iran’s past cyber and military attacks against shipping and maritime targets, Microsoft believes this activity increases the risk to companies in these sectors..." LINK
