TOP STORIES
Iran, European Countries To Continue Talks Over Tehran's Nuclear Programme, Report Says | Reuters
Talks held in Geneva between Iran, Britain, France and Germany will see dialogue continue regarding Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, Iran's official news agency reported on Tuesday. "The talks were serious, frank, and constructive. We discussed ideas involving certain details in the sanctions-lifting and nuclear fields that are needed for a deal," Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister for international and legal affairs, wrote on X on Monday. "Sides concurred that negotiations should be resumed and to reach a deal, all parties should create and maintain the appropriate atmosphere. We agreed to continue our dialogue," he added. The talks held on Monday followed earlier discussions in November. At that time, an Iranian official told Reuters that finalising a roadmap with Europeans would "put the ball in the U.S. court to revive or kill the nuclear deal."
Iran Is Vulnerable To A Trumpian All-Out Economic Assault | The Economist
On November 25th the Elva, a tanker flagged in São Tomé and Príncipe, clandestinely picked up 2m barrels of Iranian crude off Malaysia’s coast. Sailing from there to north-east China, the vessel’s likely destination, usually takes two weeks at most. But not this time. On December 3rd, alleging the Elva had breached sanctions, America blacklisted the ship, exposing anyone dealing with it to punishment. Six weeks on it is still stranded less than 20km from where it collected its cargo. The Elva has company. Since October, when the Biden administration started cracking down on Iran-linked tankers, their crude deliveries to China, which buys nearly all of Iran’s oil, have shrunk by a quarter, to 1.3m barrels per day (b/d). At the same time, loadings from Iran have continued apace, in the hope of a change of circumstances.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Iranian counterpart this week for the signing of a broad partnership pact between Moscow and Tehran, the Kremlin said Monday. The agreement on “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the countries will be signed during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Moscow on Friday, the Kremlin said. It added that the leaders will discuss plans for expanding trade and cooperation in transport, logistics and humanitarian spheres along with “acute issues on the regional and international agenda.” Ukraine and the West have accused Tehran of providing Moscow with hundreds of exploding drones for use on the battlefield in Ukraine and helping launch their production in Russia.
UANI IN THE NEWS
German Citizen Nahid Taghavi Freed From Prison In Iran | The National
A German-Iranian woman jailed for more than four years in Tehran has been freed from prison and returned to Germany. Women's rights lawyer Nahid Taghavi was reunited with her daughter Mariam Claren in Germany after more than 1,500 days in custody in Iran. “It's over. Nahid is free,” Ms Claren wrote on social media. “My mother is finally home,” she said. “Words are not enough to describe our joy.” Ms Taghavi was arrested in Tehran in October 2020 and sentenced to 10 years and eight months on what her supporters said were spurious charges. Amnesty International described her as a political prisoner and said she was tortured and kept in isolation. […] During his first term Mr Trump pursued a “maximum pressure” policy towards Iran and withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal. In his second term he could push European powers to join him in a “multilateral maximum pressure” campaign, said Jason Brodsky of campaign group United Against Nuclear Iran.
Trump Should Threaten Iran Nuclear Program With Force, Advocacy Group Urges | Iran International
Donald Trump should threaten Iran with military force if it continues to advance its nuclear program, advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) said in a report on Monday. The recommendation by the hawkish privately funded group founded by former diplomats was one of several broad policy proposals for the incoming administration to confront and weaken Washington's main adversary in the Middle East. "President-elect Trump should use (a) policy speech to publicly outline in unambiguous terms that the U.S. will not hesitate to utilize military force to destroy Iran’s nuclear program if it takes steps to further advance its capabilities," UANI said. The UN nuclear watchdog said in December that Iran is accelerating its enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, closer to the roughly 90% level needed for a weapon.
Trump Urged To Reapply Maximum Pressure On Iran In New Strategic Blueprint | BTW 21 News
A new report shared with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team outlines a comprehensive strategy to counter the Iranian regime, calling for aggressive diplomatic, military, informational, and economic measures to curb Iran's destabilizing influence in the Middle East. The recommendations come as the incoming Trump administration prepares to take office just days away from the start of President-elect Trump’s second term. The report, titled "A 100 Day Plan for the Incoming Trump Administration on Iran", was compiled by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and highlights several key policy prescriptions aimed at putting pressure on the Iranian regime.
NUCLEAR DEAL & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
Iran, European Powers Hold 'Constructive' Nuclear Talks | France 24
It was the second round of such talks in less than two months, following a discreet meeting in Geneva last November between Tehran and the three European powers, Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3. Few details were revealed about the topics discussed Monday or even the venue of the talks, but both sides said they were "constructive" and that the parties agreed to carry them on. Iran's ISNA news agency reported that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi met "his counterparts from the E3". "They discussed issues of mutual interest, including negotiations for lifting sanctions, the nuclear issue and the worrying situation in the region," it added without elaborating.
European Powers Confront Iran's Nuclear Ambitions As Trump Presidency Looms | RFI
France, Britain and Germany are holding talks with Iran in Geneva this Monday over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, just a week before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office. They are the second round of talks over Iran's nuclear programme in less than two months, following a discreet meeting held in Switzerland in November between Tehran and the three European powers, known as the E3. Germany's foreign ministry has underlined: "These are not negotiations", while Iran has similarly emphasised that the talks are merely "consultations". According to Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, the discussions – scheduled over Monday and Tuesday – will cover a "wide range of topics ... The primary objective of these talks is to remove the sanctions [on Iran]".
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
Israel issues a warning to its citizens to be on high alert for increased attempts by Iran to lure them abroad in order to harm or kidnap them. In a statement, the National Security Council says Iranian forces are targeting Israelis online and trying to convince them to attend meetings abroad at which they will be attacked. Recently, the NSC says, an Israeli businessman was contacted by someone on Telegram posing as an employee of the Farsi version of the Al Arabiya news outlet and seeking to set up a meeting in Dubai to conduct an interview. After becoming suspicious, the businessman alerted the NSC, which discovered that the contact had infected his cellphone with malware to hack into his phone.
PROTESTS & HUMAN RIGHTS
Germany’s foreign minister on Monday welcomed the release of a German-Iranian rights activist from prison in Iran and her return to Germany. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on the social media platform X that it’s “a great moment of joy that Nahid Taghavi can finally embrace her family again.” Baerbock retweeted a post by Taghavi’s daughter, Mariam Claren, with a photo of herself hugging her mother, which said: “It’s over. Nahid is free! After more than 4 years as a political prisoner in the Islamic Republic of Iran my mother Nahid Taghavi was freed and is back in Germany.” The German Foreign Office expressed delight that Taghavi’s “time of suffering has come to an end and that she has been reunited with her family.”
RUSSIA, SYRIA, ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON & IRAN
At UN, Israel Accuses Hezbollah Of Trying To Rebuild With Iran's Help | Reuters
Lebanon's Hezbollah is trying "to regain strength and rearm with the assistance of Iran," Israel's U.N. ambassador told the Security Council on Monday, declaring that the militants remain a "serious threat" to Israel and regional stability. Updated U.S. intelligence last month - reported by Reuters - had warned that Iran-backed Hezbollah would likely try to rebuild its stockpiles and forces, posing a long-term threat to the U.S. and its regional allies. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a U.S.-brokered 60-day ceasefire - starting Nov. 27 - after more than a year of conflict. The terms require the Lebanese army to deploy into south Lebanon as Israeli troops and Hezbollah withdraw forces. Both sides have accused each other of violating the deal.
Iran Gets Major Drone Boost Amid Growing Tensions With Israel | Newsweek
The Iranian army has received a delivery of 1,000 drones on Monday amid growing tensions with Israel and the U.S, according to the semi-official outlet, Tasnim News Agency. The drones, with a range of more than 1,200 miles, are known for their "high destructive power, the ability to bypass defensive layers due to their low radar cross-section (RCS), and the capacity for sustained, autonomous flight without a need for external control," said the news agency. Newsweek reached out to the Trump transition team and the Iranian Mission to the United Nations for comment via email outside of business hours. Iran appears to be preparing for President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House and possible tightening sanctions on oil.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Iranian counterpart this week for the signing of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty between Moscow and Tehran, the Kremlin said Monday. Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will discuss plans for expanding trade and cooperation in transport, logistics and humanitarian spheres along with “acute issues on the regional and international agenda,” during a visit to Moscow Friday, Russia said. Ukraine and the West have accused Tehran of providing Moscow with hundreds of exploding drones for use on the battlefield in Ukraine and helping launch their production in Russia. The Iranian drone deliveries, which Moscow and Tehran have denied, have allowed for a barrage of long-range drone strikes on Ukraine’s infrastructure.
CHINA & IRAN
China’s Mega Refiners Rush For Oil To Avert Sanctions Disruption | Bloomberg
China’s state oil companies and large private refiners are snapping up crude cargoes from the Middle East and elsewhere, hastening preparation for potential disruption in fuel supply as tighter sanctions on Russia and Iran threaten to curb near-term crude flows. Companies including Cnooc, Shandong Yulong Petrochemical Co and Jiangsu Eastern Shenghong Co are sending out urgent inquiries to buy crude for prompt delivery, traders said on Tuesday, adding multiple grades were being considered, from the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. Cargoes for February are particularly in demand, they said. The move from some of China’s biggest oil buyers stems from concerns that small private refiners — already under pressure — could be forced to slash operating rates and cut back fuel output if they no longer have access to discounted Russian and Iranian crude.
MISCELLANEOUS
Imam Ridiculed By Sean Hannity Is Giving Benediction At Trump’s Inauguration | Jewish Insider
An imam who was previously ridiculed by Fox News host Sean Hannity for his refusal to acknowledge Hezbollah as a terrorist organization is among the religious leaders scheduled to deliver benedictions at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week. Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who leads Karbalaa, a prominent Islamic education center in Dearborn, Mich., was asked by Hannity in a 2007 Fox News interview whether Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. “First of all — first of all, Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization,” Al-Husainy replied. “And I’ve got nothing to do with that. But there is a biblical meaning of Hezbollah. It is in Judaism and Christianity and Islam meaning people of God and that means yes.”