Let's talk Iran - October 29, 2021
Mike Pence Says Joe Biden's Iran Nuclear Strategy Shows 'Weakness'
Former Vice President Mike Pence has claimed President Joe Biden's efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran risk encouraging more regional aggression by Tehran.
"Weakness arouses evil."
The summit—attended by figures including former Democratic senator Joe Lieberman and former Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway—was called to condemn Iran's "nuclear defiance, terrorism, regional meddling," and the role of Iran's conservative President Ebrahim Raisi in a 1988 massacre of Iranian political dissidents.
Pence condemned the "tyranny" of the Iranian government and dismissed Raisi as a "brutal mass murderer," suggesting his election was a "sign of the regime's growing desperation and vulnerability." LINK
Pence headlines Free Iran summit in DC denouncing Ebrahim Raisi
Members of the US foreign policy establishment met at Washington DC’s Hilton hotel for the Free Iran Summit 2021, a conference hosted by Iranian dissidents, where they called for popular revolution against Iran’s government.
The convention was headlined by former Vice President Mike Pence attended by top figures from both parties; former Sens Joe Lieberman and Robert Torricelli represented the Democratic Party’s conservative wing at the event.
Speakers at Thursday’s event, discussed the actions of Iran’s government including its support for militant groups in the Middle East, while Mr Pence himself touted the actions of the Trump administration to turn up the pressure on the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, especially the killing of Qassem Soleimani.
The former vice president toed a fine line in his prepared remarks, stressing that while the Iranian regime was at its weakest point in decades and should me met with maximum pushback from the Biden administration, any change to Iran’s government would come through popular means. He also denounced the newly-elected president of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, for his role in the killings of hundreds of Iranian dissidents over the past several decades. LINK
US political figures call for prosecution of Iranian president for crimes against humanity
Former vice president Mike Pence tells summit in Washington: ‘We must never remain silent in the face of evil. Many people attending today know well just how evil Ebrahim Raisi is.
National Council of Resistance of Iran’s president-elect said: ‘It is time for the international community to side with the people of Iran and their desire for change.
“Ebrahim Raisi must be removed from office by the people of Iran – and he must be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and genocide,” Mr Pence said.
“One of the biggest lies the ruling regime has sold the world is that there is no alternative to the status quo. But there is an alternative – a well-organised, fully prepared, perfectly qualified and popularly supported alternative called the MEK,” said the former vice president.
Pence: Iran's President Raisi 'Must be Prosecuted for Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide'
Speaking at the 2021 Free Iran Summit today in Washington, D.C., former Vice President Mike Pence, a Republican, said that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a prominent leader in the 1988 massacre of 30,000 Iranian political activists, "must be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and genocide."
"The recent selection of Ebrahim Raisi to serve as Iran's president, I believe is a sign of the regime's growing desperation and vulnerability," said Pence at the summit. LINK
In one notable moment during a moderated discussion with his former chief of staff, Marc Short, Mr Pence discussed the resistance to plans to withdraw the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, which the Trump administration pulled out of in 2018.
The former vice president quipped that it was “not an exaggeration” to say that nearly every major European ally and other world leaders had called the White House urging former president Donald Trump to stay in the deal, which he eventually declined to do.
Washington, D.C., summit calls for firm policy against Iran’s regime
Full report here - LINK
Treasury Sanctions Network and Individuals in Connection with Iran’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated members of a network of companies and individuals that have provided critical support to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programs of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its expeditionary unit, the IRGC Qods Force (IRGC-QF). LINK
Saudi Arabia recalls its ambassador to Lebanon, requests the departure of Lebanese envoy
Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Lebanon on Friday for consultations and requested the departure of Lebanon's envoy to the Kingdom during the next 48 hours. The Kingdom also banned all Lebanese imports into the country, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Reminder: Lebanon's government is under the influence of Iran-backed Hezbollah. LINK
Israeli officials believe Iran misleading world, wants to use talks to buy time
Israeli conventional wisdom is that the recent Iranian readiness to commence another round of talks is designed to cement gains in nuclear program so that deal would be reached at time and state of Iran's choice. LINK
Tehran’s Nuclear Extortion Grow Worse as EU Refuses To Act
The EU leadership has given Iran's regime ample reason to maintain that expectation, with foreign policy chief Josep Borrell even going so far as to undermine efforts that member states took to hold Tehran accountable for its nuclear extortion. LINK
Iran’s Government Fears Further Protests Following Gas Station Disruptions
Reports from state media indicated that on Tuesday, the sales of gasoline were disrupted at gas stations across Iran due to a massive cyberattack causing long queues and frustrated citizens. This incident comes just weeks before the anniversary of the major uprising that took place in November 2019. LINK
A victim of early marriage, Soheila Abedi to be executed in a month
Soheila Abedi, 32, a victim of early marriage, is sentenced to death for murdering her husband in 2015. She is in danger of being executed soon.
Soheila Abedi was married at age 15. She is presently detained in the Reform and Rehabilitation Center (women’s ward) of the Prison of Sanandaj, western Iran. LINK
Political prisoner Mehdi Darini self-immolated in Evin Prison to obtain his conditional release
Mr. Darini has served more than one-third of his 5-year prison sentence. His charges include “assembly and collusion against national security,” and “propaganda against the state.” Tehran’s Revolutionary Court initially sentenced Mehdi Darini to 11 years in prison of which five years will be implemented. LINK
Iran Cyber Police arrests 17 people in northern Iran for “promoting Western lifestyles”
They were detained for posting content that “promotes Western lifestyles” and for “publishing vulgar images and modeling ads," according to state media. LINK
Corrupt Family Appointments in Iran’s Government
Regime President Ebrahim Raisi has selected many of the regime’s new officials from people who have no experience in political and executive administration. LINK