January 30, 2020.  Iran (and Turkey) now find themselves in the minority in the Middle East when it comes to their support of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.  In fact, amid impeachment, a major trade agreement with China, and a major trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, we shouldn’t lose sight that an amazing thing just happened—a plan for peace between Israel and a new Palestinian state, and supported by the countries of the Middle East (not counting Iran and Turkey).  These past two weeks have been so surprising and important, and may harbor a turn from the last ten years of growing world authoritarianism.  For the point about the other Middle East states not reacting loudly or violently to the announcement two days ago, see stories such as, “Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, UAE welcome Trump peace plan,” Omri Nahmias, Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2020.  Finally, we’ll see how Iran responds.  Based on the past 40 years, they won’t turn, and won’t release their support of terrorism.  Or at least cut back, yet.

“U.S. renews waivers on Iran nuclear work, but sanctions top Iran nuclear official,” Humeyra Pamuk and John Irish, Reuters, January 30, 2020.

January 30, 2020.  Iran abused the rule and role of INTERPOL and put out a red notice to arrest one of Iran’s most popular rappers, who was in Turkey, after he began criticizing the Iran government.  See “Iranian Rapper Detained in Turkey Faces Deportation,” Carlotta Gall, New York Times, January 30, 2020.

January 30, 2020.  For all those persons out there who didn’t know much about the Quds Force or its real activities (malign), including ordinary Iran people, here is a great story about how the Regime is finally lifting the veil on Quds and Soleimani. “Iranian Media Confirm Quds Force Involvement In Foreign Conflicts,” Golnaz Esfandiari, Radio Farda, January 30, 2020.  Here is part of the story:  “Concerning also are the images being released by the Supreme Leader’s office, including one in this story, about the slain Soleimani being embraced after death by Hussein, grandson of Muhammad, in essence thanking him for his murderous acts and embracing him in the Islamic heaven.  Here is part of the story:  “Iran’s hard-line establishment is trying to ensure through a state propaganda campaign that the foreign operations branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its assassinated commander are not forgotten.  Major General Qasem Soleimani -- the late commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force -- was targeted and killed by a U.S. air strike in Baghdad on January 3.  Since then, Tehran’s conservative clerics and hard-line media have been paying tribute to the memory of “Martyr Soleimani,” as he’s now referred to in Iran.  One apparent part of the campaign is a recent report published by the hard-line, semiofficial Fars News Agency -- which is affiliated with the IRGC.  It details some of the origins and operations of the once highly secretive Quds Force that Soleimani had commanded from 1998 until his death.  The two-part report focuses on the so-called “fighters without borders,” a term used by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to refer to the elite Quds Force and its work as the IRGC’s foreign-operations branch.  Significantly, the report outlines the secret involvement of the Quds Force in a series of foreign conflicts that Tehran previously has been discreet about.  Those conflicts include the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, described by Fars as the “first serious battlefield” of the Quds Force.  These also include conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and Syria.  Fars reported that the Quds Force has had “an impact” upon what it called “the axis of resistance” against Israel in countries that include Yemen.  successes,” said Afshon Ostovar, an assistant professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  “In order to make Soleimani’s legacy meaningful, they have to expose some of what he was involved in,” Ostovar told RFE/RL.  Ostovar concludes that the Fars report marks “an interesting turn for Iran and the IRGC because, just five years ago, some of this stuff was not acknowledged at all.”  It says the Quds Force countered the Taliban in Afghanistan during the 1990s and then worked against U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan after the collapse of the Taliban regime in late 2001.  It also claims that in 2008 during a three-week conflict between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the Quds Force provided militants from groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad with “rocket parts” that were smuggled through Sudan and Egypt.  The report also includes a rare admission that the Quds Force, widely credited in Iran with fighting Islamic State  extremists, helped Syrian President Bashar al-Assad suppress street protests against his government.  “With the coordination of Quds Force officials, experts from the [Iranian] police became involved in teaching and educating Syrian police in how to deal with street riots,” the report said.  “Some equipment” also was given to Syrian police to help control crowds of anti-Assad demonstrators, it says.  An online information campaign that boosted Soleimani’s profile during his life and contributed to his image as an Iranian national hero has continued since his death.”

“U.S. says first shipments of medicine to Iran delivered via Swiss humanitarian channel,” Michael Shields and Humeyra Pamuk, Reuters, January 30, 2020.

“UPDATE 3-U.S. lifts Iran sanctions on one unit of Chinese shipping giant COSCO,” Humeyra Pamuk and Timothy Gardner, Reuters, January 30, 2020.

“U.S. says first shipments of medicine to Iran delivered via Swiss humanitarian channel,” Michael Shields, Humeyra Pamuk, Reuters, January 30, 2020.

“The Reformist push for Rouhani's resignation,” Rohollah Faghihi, Al Monitor, January 30, 2020.

January 29, 2020.  Here is an example of taking a fake narrative and trying to spread it widely.  The lie was spread that he chief CIA agent overseeing U.S. efforts against Iran, including the killing/stopping of Quds Force General Soleimani, was on the crashed plane in Afghanistan.  “Iranian media: CIA agent behind Soleimani killing shot down in Afghanistan,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2020.  But see “US recovers remains from Afghanistan plane crash, verifying identities: Defense official,” Reuters, CNBC, January 28, 2020.

“Iran Hardliners Protest Against Zarif In Tehran,” Radio Farda, January 29, 2020.

“Iranian factory makes U.S. and Israeli flags to burn,” Reuters, January 29, 2020.

“Iranian Officials Slam Deal Of The Century, Call On 'All Muslims' To Confront It," Radio Farda, January 29, 2020.

“SaudiAir Defenses Thwarted Attack on Aramco,” Summer Said and Dion Nissenbaum, Wall Street Journal, January 29, 2020.

“Iran’s Khamenei says Trump's Middle East peace plan is doomed to fail,” Reuters, January 29, 2020.

“Iran vows to crush 'satanic' Trump plan and 'Jewishization' of Jerusalem,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2020.

“British correspondent with The Economist secretly detained in Iran for two months,” Josie Ensor, The Telegraph, January 29, 2020.

“Plane Crash Victims' Families Complain Of Harassment By Iranian Officials,” Radio Farda, January 29, 2020.

“Iran Lawmakers Sue Zarif, Plan Impeachment,” Alireza Taheri, Radio Farda, January 29, 2020.

January 28, 2020.  Smart.  The Iran-backed militias and parties are smart to say "I didn't do it" after they saw how Soleimani was held to account.   “Pro-Iran Parties in Iraq Distance Themselves from Latest US Embassy Attack,” Hamza Mustafa, Asharq Al-Awsat, January 28, 2020.

“Iran’s impending exit from the NPT: A new nuclear crisis,” Kaveh Afrasiabi and Nader Entessar, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January 28, 2020.

“Iran Has A New Powerful Cruise Missile, But It Isn't All That It Seems,” Michael Peck, The National Interest, January 28, 2020.

“Iran’s air safety questioned after multiple flight incidents,” Al-Monitor, January 28, 2020.

“Iran president Rouhani urges huge election turnout,” Arabian Business, January 28, 2020.

“Iranians’ Angry Response to Plane Crash Cover-Up Widens Split in State Media,” Michael Lipin, VOA, January 28, 2020.

“Trapped in Iran—my summer as a guest of the Revolutionary Guards,” Economist, January 28, 2020.

“‘They wanted to believe in Khomeini’: Book shows how Iranian mullahs manipulated Western media and ‘secular left’ to win in 1979,” Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, January 28, 2020.

“U.S .Officials Blame Iran for Baghdad Embassy Attack, Say Mortars Were Used,” AP, Haaretz, January 28, 2020.

“Iran lawmakers call for debate on quitting nuclear arms treaty,” Reuters, January 28, 2020.

January 27, 2020.  I’m not against Prince Charles going to Iran, as long as he asks the Iranians in a public appearance there to release the following UK-related hostages:  Kylie Moore-Gilbert, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Morad Tahbaz, Kamal Foroughi, Aras Amiri, Kameel Ahmady, and Anousheh Ashouri.  So, we’ll see if the trip is for pleasure, history, the environment, or if an attempt is made to save the lives of hostages.  “Britain's Prince Charles wants to visit Iran: Sunday Times,” Reuters, January 25, 2020.  See “Iran’s ‘hostage diplomacy': All the known detainees with British links,” The Telegraph, October 5, 2019, for a list and description of these particular hostages.

“Iran's Zarif under fire for saying he’d negotiate with US,” Al-Monitor, January 27, 2020.

“Iran Prepares Site for Satellite Launch That U.S. Links to Ballistic Missiles,” USNWR, January 27, 2020.

“Israel's Channel 12 Says Iran Hackers Targeted Planes Of World Leaders Arriving For Holocaust Memorial,” Radio Farda, January 27, 2020.

“Iran’s Supreme Messaging," Jason Brodsky, The Cipher Brief, January 27, 2020.

“Downing of jet in Iran reveals Islamic Republic’s wider woes,” Jon Gambrell, AP, January 27, 2020.

“Imagery Suggests Iran Is Preparing To Try To Launch A Satellite,” NPR, January 27, 2020.  See also “Iranian Minister: Iran is preparing a site for launching 'a satellite', not ‘a cover for ballistic missile development’,” Ross Burland, FXStreet, Reuters, January 27, 2020.

“Iran's Chief Judge Says 'We Will Meet' Soleimani's Killers, But Not For Talks,” Radio Farda, January 27, 2020.

January 27, 2020.  “Why chameleon cleric Muqtada al Sadr has abandoned Iraqi protesters for Iran,” Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner, January 27, 2020.  So why is al-Sadr switching sides (again)?  It probably partly because he sees an opportunity, partly because the lynchpin Soleimani is removed, and probably due to large amounts of financial corruption.  “In one of the latest developments in Iran's relations with Muqtada al-Sadr, "Following the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani and Hashd al-Sha'bi deputy head Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis in early January, Iran is following a new plan to strengthen its influence in Iraq in collaboration with Lebanon's Hezbollah," Fararu wrote, adding that Sadr will be one of the pillars of this new arrangement. The report says, "The reason for the change in Iran's policy about its relations with some Iraqi groups were the developments in Iraq during the past months, particularly the events that took place following the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani. During this period, some political figures who were close to Iran or were Iran's allies, including Nuri al-Maliki, Hadi Ameri and Massoud Barzani were not able to play an effective role in guiding or controlling developments in Iraq." They were also not able to play an effective part in the crisis about electing a new Prime Minister after Abd- al-Mahdi's resignation. "Not only these figures and some other groups were not able to shape the developments, but they also were another factor leading to the continuation of the protests," the report said.”  See “Iran Forming New Alliances In Iraq As Al-Sadr Realigns His Policy Toward Tehran,” Radio Farda, January 25, 2020.

January 26, 2020.  The NYT provides a helpful investigation into what happened during the three days of lying to the world by Iran about the downing of the commercial airplane, such as the Tehran airport (answerable to the IRGC) turning planeloads of unsuspecting travelers into human shields because they kept the airplanes arriving and departing when expecting the U.S. to maybe attack.  But the article fails in two large ways.  First, it does not explain why Pres. Rouhani refused to visit the crash site, just 30 miles outside of Tehran, during those three days.  He could have easily seen the truth with his own eyes.  Second, and most telling, the NYT correctly points out that the Supreme Leader was told the very first day that the plane had been shot down by the IRGC.  BUT the NYT does not discuss nor explain the Leader being the perpetuator of the lie.  NYT does point out that after three days the Leader tells the IRGC to make their announcement, but the NYT does not point out that the Leader is the keeper of the lie and directed that the truth not be told for as long as possible.  He would have allowed it to continue except for growing internal domestic pressure from the masses and from accurate information coming from the U.S. and the international community.  Finally, Pres. Rouhani had threatened to resign unless the IRGC revealed the shoot-down--the article does not explore how the Leader responded to this threat.  What was discussed on this behind multiple closed doors in Tehran?  See “Anatomy of a Lie: How Iran Covered Up the Downing of an Airliner,”  Farnaz Fassihi. New York Times, January 26, 2020.

January 26, 2020.  But what journalist Gilbert does not report was that it didn’t really matter that the President didn’t know—the Supreme Leader did know, from the first day.  A president in Iran has very little power—it is the Supreme Leader who is supreme, and he allowed the lie to go on for three days and would have allowed it to continue but for strong international growing questions and condemnation, and the Iranian people beginning to grow restless.  “Iran's military knew it accidentally shot down a passenger plane moments after it happened, and a stunning new report details how it was covered up — even from Iran's president,” Ben Gilbert, Business Insider, January 26, 2020.

“Three rockets hit US embassy in protest-hit Iraqi capital,” AFP, January 26, 2020.

“Iran Turns to Bitcoin Strategy to Dodge US Sanctions,” Asharq Al-Awsat, January 26, 2020.

January 25, 2020.  Another example of Iran being willing to negotiate (per the FM, not the Supreme Leader), but only if the U.S. will change first.  Which means stopping sanctions.  “Iran's Zarif Says Tehran Still Willing to Negotiate With the U.S.,” AP, Haaretz, January 25, 2020.  The article says, “Iran is not ruling out negotiations with the United States even after an American drone strike that killed a top Iranian general, the country's foreign minister said in an interview released Saturday. Mohammed Javad Zarif told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine that he would “never rule out the possibility that people will change their approach and recognize the realities,” in an interview conducted Friday in Tehran. There has been growing tension between Washington and Tehran since in 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal with Iran. The U.S. has since re-imposed tough sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. But Zarif suggested Iran was still willing to talk, though reiterated his country's previous demand that first the U.S. would have to lift sanctions. “For us, it doesn’t matter who is sitting in the White House, what matters is how they behave,” he said, according to Der Spiegel. “The Trump administration can correct its past, lift the sanctions and come back to the negotiating table. We’re still at the negotiating table. They’re the ones who left.”

January 25, 2020.  “Iran has capacity to enrich uranium at any percentage: nuclear agency," Reuters, January 25, 2020.  Here is the story—“Iran has the capacity to enrich uranium at any percentage if Iranian authorities decide to do so, the deputy head of the country’s nuclear agency said in a report posted on its website on Saturday. “At the moment, if (Iranian authorities) make the decision, the Atomic Energy Organization, as the executor, will be able to enrich uranium at any percentage,” Ali Asghar Zarean said. Iran said earlier this month it would scrap limitations on enriching uranium, taking a further step back from commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers, but pledged to continue cooperating with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Since Iran took the latest step in reducing commitments to the accord, the country’s stock of uranium produced has passed 1,200 kilograms and it will quickly be added to the stock of enriched uranium, Zarean said.”

January 25, 2020.  Let’s think about this.  Iran complains that the U.S. turns away at Logan Airport a college student and puts them pack on a plane toward Tehran.  But these complaints of “inhuman” treatment come from a regime that shoots its own citizens point blank during protests, downs an airliner due killing almost 200 to incompetence, and jails its own citizens of minority religions and those of foreign nationality in Evin Prison.  Who is acting “inhuman” here?  On top of that, Abadi’s immediate family has close ties to the IRGC.  See “Iran condemns 'inhuman' US treatment of its nationals,” Al Jazeera, January 25, 2020.

“Iran arrests Kurdish journalist for not using ‘martyr’ to describe Soleimani: Report,” Kurdistan24, January 25, 2020.

“Families Of Downed Plane Victims In Canada Suing Iran's Leader And Military,” Radio Farda, January 25, 2020.

“How Demographics Could Spark Change in Iran,” Ilan Berman, The National Interest, January 25, 2020.

“Top US official on Iran says China’s oil purchases are ‘funding Iran’s terrorism’,” Owen Churchill, South China Morning Post, January 25, 2020.

“Report: Online site that pays Americans to write articles originates in Iran,” JNS, January 25, 2020.

January 25, 2020.  “Iran has stockpiled 1,200 kilograms, or about 2,600 pounds, which is well beyond what the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers allowed.”  See “Iran Says Its Enriched Uranium Stockpile Is Far Beyond Allowed Amount,” AP, New York Times, January 25, 2020.

January 24, 2020.  Another statement from a national figure that aligns with the stated message and purpose of this blog.  “Iran has to act like a ‘normal country’ if it wants to be treated like one, says Saudi foreign minister,” CNBC, January 24, 2020.  Adel al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that Iran has to change its behavior before Saudi Arabia would be willing to sit down and have a dialogue with them.  “The Iranians have to show good faith, the Iranians have to change their behavior and their policies.”  …  “They can’t give missiles to terrorist groups and they can’t attack facilities in other countries and expect the world to deal with them in a rational manner.  If they want to be treated as a normal country, they should act as one.  …  “They’re the ones who’ve attacked ships, they’re the ones who attacked oil facilities in the Kingdom.”

“Iranian student whose deportation spurred Dem outcry has family ties to IRGC, Hezbollah: DHS official,” Adam Shaw, Fox News, January 24, 2020.

“Iran’s regime sentences Christian convert to prison for “insulting Islam”,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, January 24, 2020.

January 24, 2020.  Systemic discrimination against religious minorities including Baha’is continues in Iran.  The Regime has removed the option for "other religions" from the new application forms for the Smart National ID cards. Thus, Baha'i citizens are being denied obtaining ID cards.  Article 13 of the Constitution states that "Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian Iranians are the only recognized religious minorities, who, within the limits of the law, are free to perform their religious rites and ceremonies, and to act according to their own canon in matters of personal affairs and religious education."  So, Baha’is are now a target, again.  See “Iran Eliminates 'Other Option' Of Religious Affiliation For Citizens' IDs,” Radio Farda, January 24, 2020.

January 24, 2020.  I will agree with Pres. Rouhani and some of the “reformers” that the Guardian Council’s striking of applicants for the upcoming Parliament elections is bad for democracy.  But Iran, of course, doesn’t have a democracy.  Here are two articles.  “High turnout in Feb. election will depend on competitive atmosphere: Rouhani,” Tehran Times, January 24, 2020, and “Iran’s Reformists Criticize Guardian Council for Disqualifying Election Candidates,” Asharq Al-Awsat, January 24, 2020.

“Is Deterrence Restored with Iran?,” Daniel Byman, Lawfare, Friday, January 24, 2020.

“EU Seeks More Time in Effort to Resolve Iran Nuclear Dispute,” AP, VOA, January 24, 2020.

January 23, 2020.  That’s the message—Stop Killing Americans.  The U.S. delivered the message again today, and we’ll see if Iran changes its actions.  “Top US Iran envoy: We will kill Soleimani’s successor if another American is murdered,” Alex Ward, Vox, January 23, 2020.

January 23, 2020.  The U.S. is moving to stop more Iranian oil sakes going directly to fund terrorism.  “The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned a network of companies helping Iran circumvent Washington’s sanctions selling products by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).  In a statement issued January 23, the Treasury said hundreds of millions of dollars of sanction-busting activities were traced to these companies, which repatriated revenues to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Qods force. The statement says that the proceeds enabled the Islamic Republic to finance "terrorist" proxies and activities throughout the Middle East.  “Iran’s petrochemical and petroleum sectors are primary sources of funding for the Iranian regime’s global terrorist activities and enable its persistent use of violence against its own people,” Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin is quoted as saying.”  Here is the story—“US Treasury Targets A Network Of Companies Breaking Iran Sanctions,” Radio Farda, January 23, 2020.

January 23, 2020.  “Iran-backed militias continue to wage attacks on American outposts in Iraq, according to senior U.S. officials. James Jeffrey, the Trump administration’s special representative for Syria engagement and special envoy for the global coalition to defeat ISIS, said the United States continues to experience targeted strikes by Iran-backed militia groups seeking to foment unrest in Iraq. In the weeks since U.S. forces killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Iran-backed militants have scaled down their attacks but continue to launch strikes at U.S. positions in the war-torn country, Jeffrey told reporters in a briefing. "In terms of attacks, we’ve seen a few shellings of coalition—or bases where coalition forces are located," Jeffrey said on Thursday. "Other than several at the American embassy compound a couple of days ago, they have been intermittent, the kind of thing that we have—or all been used to in our years in Iraq. Nothing like the very targeted, precise, 30-plus rocket attacks we were seeing in those 11 incidents that led up to our response last month, so—this month. So—well, last month and this month. But so for the moment, that front is fairly quiet." Asked if these attacks have been orchestrated by Iran, Jeffrey told reporters, "We think so."”  See “Iran-Backed Militias Continue Attacks on U.S. Outposts in Iraq,” Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, January 23, 2020.

“The crisis in Iran: An oppressive regime and its voiceless people,” Niki Kowsar, op-ed, The Middlebury Campus, January 23, 2020.

“Canada’s TSB says Iran has invited it to examine black boxes,” Rob Gillies, AP, January 23, 2020.

“Trump administration homing in on Iran-backed operations in Latin America,” Guy Taylor, The Washington Times, January 23, 2020.

“Iran: the unspoken battle to succeed Ayatollah Khamenei,” Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Financial Times, January 23, 2020.

“How Iran’s Military Outsources Its Cyber Threat Forces,” Dorothy Denning, The Conversation, NextGov, January 23, 2020.

January 23, 2020.  Another threat from Iran, now directed at American military in Kuwait.  As reported in Bloomberg, “Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the U.S. drone used to kill a top Iranian general in Baghdad took off from a military base in Kuwait, the semi-official Fars news agency reported, citing Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Guards’ aerospace force.”  Iran’s mentioning the base is a way of threatening that base, it is not simply reporting.  See “Iran Says Drone Used in Soleimani Strike Came From Kuwait,” Farah Elbahrawy and Golnar Motevalli, Bloomberg, January 23, 2020.

“Iran exploiting Iraq to achieve its regional goals,” Majid Rafizadeh, op-ed, Arab News, January 23, 2020.

January 23, 2020.  I don’t cover Hamas and general terrorism news on this blog, but will make an exception here to highlight one issue—Iran’s support for the Sunni terror group Hamas, and how there is a conflict within Hamas as to how much power to allow the Regime to have over Hamas.  As far as outside observers can see, Iran still wants to have as much control over Hamas as it can.  The killing of Soleimani though is affecting this effort.  See “Report: Hamas Officials Lock Horns Over Leader Haniyeh’s Iran Visit,” Israel Hayom, JNS, January 23, 2020.

“Iran says plane crash investigation will be made public,” Al-Monitor, January 23, 2020.

“In 1987, U.S. Navy SEALs Took on Iran' s Mines, Who won?,” Sebastien Roblin, The National Interest, January 23, 2020.

January 23, 2020. “‘Blood money’: Iranian strategist suggests ransoming US hostages 'to solve the sanctions problem',” Spencer Neale, Washington Examiner, January 23, 2020.  Americans, stay away from visiting Iran for whatever reason.  Read this article, copied here in full.  “A top political strategist and Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps officer told supporters that Iran should kidnap hostages and ransom them back to the United States for "blood money." "Here's how the IRGC generates funds. The IRGC detains a spy like Jason Rezaian," Hassan Abbasi can be heard saying in a video that surfaced on Wednesday. "The U.S. pleads for him to be released, and we ask them to pay for him. Our government gets paid $1.7 billion to hand over this spy. By detaining one spy, the IRGC earns the $1-2 billion, which it was supposed to receive from the government budget." Rezaian is an Iranian American journalist who served as Tehran bureau chief for the Washington Post before he was arrested and convicted of espionage in a closed-door trial in Iran in 2015. He was released during President Barack Obama's tenure as part of a prisoner swap on Jan. 16, 2016, the same day that U.S. officials paid Iran $1.7 billion. Earlier this year, President Trump ordered two airstrikes that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al Muhandis after Iranian-backed militants surrounded the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on New Year's Eve. Abbasi, who was arrested in 2019 for criticizing Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi, claimed that Iran made $3 billion in "blood money" from Qatar due to Soleimani's death before illustrating how Iran could use hostage money to build out the country's infrastructure. "Now, after they killed the IRGC's Qassem Soleimani, our government received $3 billion as blood money for Qassem just from Qatar. The IRGC creates dams, roads, highways, and brings security to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and elsewhere," Abbasi said. "Do you want to solve the sanctions problem?" he continued. "Our naval forces should take 10 or 20 Americans as hostage every month. For each one of them, we should get $1 billion. If we get $1 billion per week, and the year has around 50 weeks. That’s at least $50 billion." Iran threatened to unleash Hezbollah attacks in Israel and Dubai if America further escalates tensions, but rhetoric between the countries has quieted in the weeks following several airstrikes exchanged by Iran and the U.S.”

January 22, 2020.  A reminder of what the Quds Force is all about.  Mohammad Hejazi led the IRGC forces in Lebanon and was responsible for working with Hezbollah to improve precision guidance.  See “New Quds Force deputy is Iran’s missile man in Lebanon,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, January 22, 2020.

January 22, 2020.  When you search for stories over the past few years about Iran calling for talks or Iran officials calling for discussion with Saudi Arabia they are usually short articles.  Only rarely is the reporter able to get additional quotes or probe deeper for more publishable information.  The actual calls from Regime officials are almost always calls for talks but conditioned on terms such as “respect” or “mutual respect”, with additional information showing that the Regime has positions it will keep but they are calling on the other party to bend.  “Iran calls on Saudi Arabia to work together to resolve issues: IRNA,” Reuters, January 22, 2020.

January 22, 2020.  These types of claims, that Iran will never seek nuclear weapons, are so easy to see through.  If the reporter will simply ask, “So why is Iran now dropping its restrictions on enrichment and speeding ahead?  On what domestic projects are they going to use this nuclear material?  Where are those publicly available plans and infrastructure begun to use that material?”  There is none.  See “Rouhani says Iran will never seek nuclear weapons,” Rebecca Klar, The Hill, January 22, 2020.

“Perennial repression, mourning, and despair consume Iran,” Masoud Mostajabi, IranSource, Atlantic Council, January 22, 2020.

“Iran is asking for help to analyze the downed Ukraine Flight 752, but its refusal to hand over the black box means the full truth may never emerge,” Mitch Prothero, Business Insider, January 22, 2020.

January 21, 2020.  What does this story mean?  It is not just that Iran wants to be the first to examine the black box.  It means that Iran wants to alter the readouts and technical data so that Iran was not at fault in shooting down the Ukraine jet.  But from what I read elsewhere, Iran will not have the technical capability to pull this off.  See “Iran trying to analyze doomed Ukrainian jet's black box: report,” Justine Coleman, The Hill, January 19, 2020.

“Iran’s regime straining to cope with Soleimani’s absence,” Seth Frantzman, Jerusalem Post, January 21, 2020.

January 21, 2020.  “A U.S. envoy on Tuesday called an Iranian lawmaker’s offer of a $3 million reward to anyone who killed U.S. President Donald Trump “ridiculous” and said it pointed to the “terrorist underpinnings” of the Iranian government.  “It’s just ridiculous but it gives you a sense of the terrorist underpinnings of that regime and that regime needs to change its behavior,” Robert Wood, U.S. disarmament ambassador, told reporters in Geneva.””

“U.S. calls Iran's $3 million reward to kill Trump 'ridiculous',” Reuters, January 21, 2020.

“Iran continues to persecute Christians in violation of international law,” Donna Rachel Edmunds, Jerusalem Post,

January 21, 2020.

“Iranian lawmaker offers $3 million to anyone who kills Trump – report,” Toi Staff, Times of Israel, January 21, 2020.

January 21, 2020.  The Iranians are good holding hostages—citizens of other countries in Evin Prison, the black box from the Ukrainian plane, and the now the Non-Proliferation Treaty.  See “U.S. decries Iran threat to withdraw from global nuclear treaty,” Reuters, January 21, 2020.

“Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps is stretched too thin for multiple missions, new report says,” Russ Read, Washington Examiner, January 21, 2020.

“Trump's policy on Iran has worked inways that Obama's failed,” Farley Weiss, op-ed, AZCentral, January 21, 2020.

“Canada, Iran at odds over who should analyze downed plane's black boxes,” Alexander Cornwell and Babak Dehghanpisheh, Reuters, January 21, 2020.

“Iran is increasingly using missiles inits military operations — that's a problem,” Benham Ben Taleblu, op-ed, The Hill, January 21, 2020.

“Iran's Annual Inflation Remains Alarmingly High At 39 Percent,” Radio Farda, January 21, 2020.

“For Iran’s MIT, plane crash hit close to home,” Kourosh Ziabari, Asia Times, January 21, 2020.

January 21, 2020.  I wonder how many people realize how poorly religious minorities are treated?  “Although Iran's constitution nominally protects religious minorities, ex-Muslim converts are afforded no such protection and are considered enemies of the state.”  See “Iran continues to persecute Christians in violation of international law,” Donna Rachel Edmunds, Jerusalem Post, January 21, 2020.

“Iran Asks U.S., France for Equipment to Download Downed Plane's Black Boxes,” Reuters, New York Times, January 21, 2020.

“Iranian MP says Iran would be protected if it had nuclear arms,” ISNA, Reuters, January 21, 2020.

January 20, 2020.  The Iran government needs to speak with one voice on matters of importance such as the downing of the Kiev-bound Boeing 737 by the Russian Tor-M1 missiles launched by Iran.  Here is one clear message—let’s hope the Leader and President downward will agree.  “A Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed after taking off from the Iranian capital on Jan. 8 was downed by two short-range surface-to-air missiles, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said in a second preliminary investigation report.”  See “Iran Says Ukrainian Jet Was Downed by Two Short-Range Missiles,” Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg, January 20, 2020.

“Jailed British-Australian Kylie Moore-Gilbert rejected Iran's offer to work as a spy,” Ben Doherty, The Guardian, January 20, 2020.

“Iran’s Bid to Integrate With Globa lEconomy Coming to an End,” Marc Champion, Bloomberg, January 19, 2020.

“The Commander Who Was Behind A Bloody Massacre In Iran,” Morad Veisi, Radio Farda, January 20, 2020.

“Ukraine presses for return of Iran plane black boxes,” Pavel Polityuk, Reuters, January 20, 2020.

January 20, 2020.  Remember, Iran greatly influences the Houthis in Yemen.  “At least 80 Yemeni soldiers attending prayers at a mosque were killed and 130 others injured in ballistic missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen reported Sunday.  The attack happened in the province of Marib on Saturday at a mosque at a military camp, in what Yemen’s President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi condemned as a “heinous” and “cowardly terrorist operation committed by the Houthis.””  See “80 soldiers killed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen,” CNN, Oklahoma News 4, January 19, 2020.

January 20, 2020.  Iran, through numerous authoritative voices, told us the revenge attacks against the U.S. were over.  I guess they weren’t leveling with us.  The new Quds Force leader Esmail Qaani is now on record.  “Iran’s new Quds leader vows ‘manly’ revenge for Soleimani killing,” January 20, 2020.

“The 'Oman File': Inside the Mossad's Alliance With Muscat, Israel's Window Into Iran,” Yossi Melman, The Hill, January 20, 2020.

January 20, 2020.  PM Zarif, on behalf of the Supreme Leader and IRGC, has made a serious threat to the U.S., the UN, and to the Middle East.  Iran is blackmailing the world, that it will back out of nuclear nonproliferation promises it has made if the UN examines whether Iran has violated its agreements under the JCPOA.  See “If nuclear issue is referred to U.N., Iran will pull out of the NPT: Iran foreign minister,” Reuters, January 20, 2020.

See also, “Iran says it will quit global nuclear treaty if case goes to U.N.,” Babak Dehghanpisheh, Reuters, January 20, 2020.

January 20, 2020.  I think this is fairly widely-known among Iran followers, but Iran refuses when convenient to recognize dual citizenship, most often in cases of hostage taking and criminality.  Now it is doing the same to try to avoid paying damages for the Canadians and other persons on the plane shot down by the IRGC.  “Iran considers dual nationals on downed Ukrainian plane to be Iranians – TV,” Reuters, Nasdaq, January 20, 2020.  Similar but with some additional information, “Iran Considers Dual Nationals оn Downed Ukrainian Plane to Be Iranians,” VOA, January 20, 2020.

“Iran's Foreign Minister Cancels Attendance at Davos Summit,” AP, New York Times, January 20, 2020.

January 19, 2020.  According to this story from Pakistan (not the Swiss Embassy in Tehran), “Addressing a meeting in Indian city of Mumbai, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran is ready to give proposals regarding security in the region. Zarif said Iran has also presented proposals on ways to establish peace in the Strait of Hormuz. Later, according to reports in international media, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Tehran wants de-escalation in the region. According to AFP, he said that the Iranians “did not want to escalate things.” Qureshi met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday, five days after seeing Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Qureshi said he understood that the Iranians "did not want to escalate things." "They don't want war, they don't want further bloodshed," Qureshi told reporters in Washington.”  See “Iran ready to talks with Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries: Javad Zarif,” Daily Pakistan, January 19, 2020.

January 19, 2020.  France has deployed a radar system on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast that faces the Persian Gulf to help the Kingdom protect its vital oil infrastructure, which was hit by attacks in September from Iran.  “France Helps Saudi Arabia Protect Oil Facilities From New Attacks,” Tsvetana Paraskova, OilPrice.com, January 17, 2020.

January 19, 2020.  Can’t keep their word.  Also, don’t want the world to know what happened to the plane according to the plane’s sensors.  “Denying previous report, Iran to examine downed plane’s black boxes itself,” Middle East Monitor, January 19, 2020; and “Iran reverses on sending doomed flight's black boxes to Ukraine,” AP, Washington Times, January 19, 2020.

“Influential Iranians break ranks with state after Ukrainian jet downing,” Saphora Smith, Michelle Gooden-Jones, and Dan De Luce, NBC, January 19, 2020.

January 19, 2020.  “These documents, if true, undermine the basis of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran deal, signed in 2015 by the US, Iran, France, the UK, Germany, China and Russia.”  See “Iranian nuclear weapon plans go back to 2002, secret documents reveal,” Yonah Jeremy Bob, Aaron Reich, Jerusalem Post, January 19, 2020.

January 19, 2020.  Whenever you hear “satellite test” in Iran media, think “ballistic missile test”, just like the ballistic missiles rained down in Iraq recently on U.S. troops.  See “After failed launch last year, Iran preparing to send satellites into space,” AP, January 19, 2020.

January 19, 2020.  Per Maloney, “The downing of a plane showed citizens what’s wrong with the Iranian government, but the regime has no plans to change.”  See “Iran’s Leaders Have a Problem They Can’t Fix,” Suzanne Maloney, The Atlantic, January 19, 2020.