Iran Revolutionary Guards Commander Gen. Hossein Salami (L) and Guards aerospace division commander Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh present a new drone called “Gaza”, May 22, 2021
UPDATE, APR 21:
The US has reinforced sanctions on Iran over its drone program, including support of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the US Treasury added companies and suppliers in Iran, China, and other countries to the sanctions list.
The US put more pressure on Iran’s Pardazan System Namad Arman, which has previously been sanctioned by the US, by citing its chief executive officer and the entity’s front companies and suppliers.
Three China-based suppliers, a Hong Kong-based company, a Malaysia-based front company, and an Iranian firm were cited.
Brian Nelson, the Undersecretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said:
The network sanctioned today has procured goods and technology for the Iranian government and its defense industry and UAV program.
Treasury will continue to enforce its sanctions against Iran’s military procurement efforts that contribute to regional insecurity and global instability.
ORIGINAL ENTRY, SEPT 9. 2022: The US has imposed sanctions on Iranian companies providing drones to Russia for Vladimir Putin’s faltering invasion of Ukraine.
The Treasury designated Tehran-based Safiran Airport Services for coordinaton of Russian military flights between Iran and Russia, including movement of drones, personnel and related equipment.
Three companies — Paravar Pars Company, Design and Manufacturing of Aircraft Engines, and Baharestan Kish Company — were designated over research, development, production, and procurement of Iranian drones.
Paravar Pars was cited for the reverse engineering of US and Israeli drones. Iran has developed unmanned aerial vehicles from a US RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance drone captured in 2011.
During a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “The Russian military is suffering from major supply shortages in Ukraine, in part because of sanctions and export controls, forcing Russia to turn to unreliable countries like Iran for supplies and equipment.”
He emphasized that the US will “hold to account” countries which support Russia in its invasion.
An “Iranian adviser to the government” and “two US administration officials” said last month that two types of drones were collected by Russian planes from an Iranian facility on August 19. They are part of a Russian order of hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The American officials added that the initial set of Iranian-supplied Mohajer-6 and Shahed-series drones have had mechanical and technical problems. An “allied security official” said, “There are a few bugs in the system. The Russians are not satisfied.”
The Russians are hoping the drones can be used for air-to-surface attacks, electronic warfare, and identification of targets.
See also Iran Delivers Drones to Russia for Moscow’s Troubled Ukraine Invasion
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia complained in the Security Council about the exposure of Moscow’s reliance on Iran for drones and North Korea for missiles and munitions.
“I would like to ask them now to either provide us with evidence or acknowledge that they are disseminating unreliable information,” Nebenzia said.
[Editor’s Note: So President Raisi “has final say” on any nuclear deal — but Iranian officials are holding secret talks with Western powers without his knowledge?
Hmm….]
Iran officials hold secret talks with West without Raisi’s knowledge: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-officials-secret-talks-west-without-raisi-knowledge
“Sources close to talks point to growing trend of Khamenei’s circle taking lead on foreign policy….According to the Iranian sources, who are close to the talks, the government of President Ebrahim Raisi was not informed of the dialogue, part of a growing trend that has seen figures close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei take the lead on foreign policy.
This article is from the same journal and indicates that the Leader is concerned about the lack of progress.
Iranian reformist analyst, Abbas Abdi, is adamant that Raisi has the final say on any nuclear deal: https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/1673285
“I have heard reliably that the responsibility of JCPOA has been delegated to Mr. Raisi. Therefore, the JCPOA responsibility rests with Mr. Raisi, whether he signs it or not.”
[Editor’s Note: An interesting claim from sources about Iran’s shift to hardline rejection of the nuclear discussions.
Of course, it does not say “the [Supreme] Leader was apparently out of the picture”, only that the rejection came through President Raisi — who would carry out any instructions that came from the Supreme Leader’s office.]
Interesting (although unverified) report claiming Raisi backed out of signing a revived JCPOA: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-nuclear-deal-raisi-rouhani-convinced-reject-how
“The outgoing (Rouhani) government, the source said, offered to get the deal done and take any political flack that came with it, telling Raisi’s new administration that “the country and your government could reap the economic benefits of the JCPOA”……”Raisi initially accepted this offer and told them to finish the job in two or three meetings, but he later changed his mind,” the source recalled. Ali Bagheri Kani and Ali Hossein Taash, who are currently the chief nuclear negotiator and a senior figure in the Revolutionary Guard respectively, were unconvinced.”
A bill passed by the Majlis in the wake of the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh also seemed to prevent an agreement and Rouhani lamented that, “We could have revived hope by lifting the sanctions in February 2021, and even our conditions for lifting some non-nuclear sanctions were accepted, but the passing of the [nuclear bill] by the parliament prevented it.”
If this report is true, and not just embellished narrative, it is salient that the Leader was apparently out of the picture. The decision not to agree to a revival (or at least try and get a better deal) was made by the newly elected President and the Majlis.
[Editor’s Note: Commenter again fails to note that actors in the Iranian system, in this case rejecting the nuclear deal, are often acting at the behest of the Supreme Leader’s office.
We can pin this until he comes to this recognition.]
“An interesting claim from sources about Iran’s shift to hardline rejection of the nuclear discussions.”
It doesn’t say that the Raisi government rejected the JCPOA revival process, only the one apparently put forward by its predecessor. Iran has won notable concessions from the United States after months of talks. Raisi has made it clear he still wants a deal but with more guarantees and protections.
“Of course, it does not say “the [Supreme] Leader was apparently out of the picture”, only that the rejection came through President Raisi — who would carry out any instructions that came from the Supreme Leader’s office.”
That is not what the article states which is that two of Raisi’s own advisors balked and the Majlis set conditions that derailed the process. It doesn’t ,make any claim that the Leader’s office and advisors, such as Velayati, were involved. Had Hemmati won the election, we might have seen a different outcome. Likewise, in 2013, it is inconceivable that a Jalili administration would have agreed to the JCPOA had the SNSC chief won the election and Rouhani lost.
““[It is ironic] that a slogan, which has found newfound popularity in Iran as a message …”
And who created this condition? who suppressed people for forty four years. Who drove people to this point. Even a stooge like you must recognize it wasn’t pahlavi or israel.
Iran: Wife of Reza Pahlavi posts ‘women, life, freedom’ over image of Israeli soldier: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-israel-pahlavi-wife-posts-woman-life-freedom-soldier
“Although Reza Pahlavi has called for a “secular, democratic” Iran to replace the Islamic Republic, both he and his wife have publicly defended his father’s legacy. Seamus Malekafzali, an Iranian-American freelance journalist who writes on Middle East issues, told Middle East Eye that it was grimly ironic to see the heirs to the Pahlavi dynasty using a slogan founded by the Kurdish leftists, which they crushed so ruthlessly, and applying it positively to the Israeli army. “[It is ironic] that a slogan, which has found newfound popularity in Iran as a message not just against patriarchal impositions but against structural violence from the government, finds its way into a post supporting one of the most obvious and visible examples of structural violence from a government, the [Israeli army],” he said. A number of commentators have also noted the irony of Yasmine Pahlavi using a phrase that originated with a Kurdish political movement linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) armed group in reference to an Israeli soldier.”
Albania Accuses Iran Of Second Cyberattack Days After Severing Ties With Tehran Over First One
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-condemns-us-sanctions-cyberattack-albania/32027533.html
President Khatami still committed to the Islamic Republic and the reform movement: https://www.rouydad24.ir/fa/news/317384
Several Arrested In Western Iranian City During Water Protest
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-hamedan-arrests-water-protest/32024554.html
In a rich country like iran that is managed by mullahs thieves and murders people have to beg for water, and then they get arrested for it.