TOP STORIES
Iran Inches Toward Nuclear Weapons Capability, IAEA Chief Warns | Iran International
Iran has enough enriched uranium to produce several nuclear warheads and could do so within months, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said Tuesday at the Council on Foreign Relations. He added that Iran had previously “conducted research and even testing some of the necessary elements for (a) nuclear device,” and that the IAEA lacks “full confidence that they have disappeared completely.”
Marco Rubio on Iran, Deportations, and the State Department Shake-Up | Free Press
[Rubio said:] “If Iran wants a civil nuclear program, they can have one just like many other countries in the world have one, meaning they can import enriched material. Now, we’re not going to negotiate this in the press, we are not going to negotiate this publicly because it undermines negotiations, but there’s a pathway to a civil, peaceful nuclear program if they want one. But if they insist on enriching uranium themselves, then they will be the only country in the world that “doesn’t have a weapons program” but is enriching. I think that’s problematic.”
Iran, US to Hold Expert Level Talks on Saturday, Not Wednesday, Iran Ministry Says | Reuters
Expert level Iran-US talks that were supposed to take place on Wednesday will be moved to Saturday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Tuesday.
UANI IN THE NEWS
Debates Simmer in Washington over Trump’s Approach to Iran Nuclear Talks | Iran International
Debate is growing in Washington over talks with Iran, with hawkish Republicans urging against appeasing Iran’s theocratic rulers but some observers saying the mercurial president might have a historic shot at clinching a deal with Tehran. “In recent days, Republican Members of Congress have sent a letter to @POTUS, reiterating their call for dismantlement of #Iran’s entire nuclear program and that a JCPOA-like deal will not suffice.”—Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky)
Bangladesh Seizes VLGC Captain Nikolas Months After LPG Transfer Fire | Marine Insight
The Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) Captain Nikolas has been arrested by port authorities in Bangladesh following a major fire incident and a series of legal actions. According to shipping data, the Cook Islands-flagged Captain Nikolas (built in 1992) is owned by Folegandros Maritime, a single-ship company registered in Panama, and managed by Aspero Ship Management. Aspero Ship Management has previously been named by United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based watchdog, for operating vessels that transport Iranian LPG in violation of sanctions.
The White House’s National Security Council confirmed on Monday that it hired Merav Ceren, a national and economic security expert, as its Israel and Iran director, after critics, including antisemitic ones, said that Ceren has a conflict of interest due to her prior experience at the Israeli Defense Ministry. Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, wrote that “this is disgusting.” “Merav is an experienced professional. We’re lucky to have her in this role, and she wasn’t an official of Israel’s Defense Ministry. She did a fellowship there,” Brodsky wrote. “This may be controversial in Doha and Tehran, but it isn’t here. A former White House chief of staff served as a volunteer in the IDF as well. Take the antisemitism back in the gutter where it belongs.”
MAGA World Rallies to Hegseth’s Defense | POLITICO
Merav Ceren, her defenders say, was only a fellow at the Israeli Defense Ministry and has strong regional policy expertise and Republican bona fides. “Merav is an experienced professional, we’re lucky to have her in this role, and she wasn’t an official of Israel’s Defense Ministry. She did a fellowship there,” said Jason Brodsky, policy director at the advocacy group United Against a Nuclear Iran, in reaction to the news story. “Take the antisemitism back in the gutter where it belongs.”
According to the news reported by Asharq Al-Awsat from The Times, one of the top commanders of the IRGC, General Majid Hashemi Dana, hosted two directors of the aid organization, Seyyida Ummu Farwa and Ali Afi, during their visit to Tehran from London last year to organize “cultural programs.” The controversial meeting was uncovered by a US-based non-profit advocacy organization United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) as part of a monitoring and surveillance campaign against more than 30 UK-based entities suspected of having links to the Iranian regime.
During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing prior to the congressional recess, Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) questioned Claire Jungman, the Chief of Staff at United Against Nuclear Iran, about Iran’s use of cryptocurrency to avoid paying sanctions.
NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
Ahead of Core Discussions, US Demands Meet Iran’s Oversight Proposal | Israel Hayom
An international official commented on the upcoming “technical discussions” between Washington and Tehran, stating that the United States will reject Iran's proposal for Russian and Chinese oversight. The US is expected to demand the removal of advanced centrifuges, used for rapid enrichment, from Iranian territory.
Iran Says Nuclear Deal Possible ‘in the Short Term’ | The National
Iran has said it is looking to reach a nuclear deal in the near future as it prepares for a third round of indirect negotiations with the US on Saturday.
US-Iran Nuclear Talks Progressing 'Beyond Expectations' | Jerusalem Post
Nuclear talks with the United States are progressing “beyond expectations,” Iranian sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Tuesday. “Even the Iranian side has been surprised by the behavior of the US negotiator and the seriousness and urgency he has shown, as well as the fact that he has not yet put forward any impossible non-nuclear demands,” the sources said, adding that US demands regarding the nuclear issue were “not high, which has provided a strong incentive for the negotiations to move forward quickly.”
Iran Nuclear Chief Says Facilities Safe in Face of Military Threats | Iran International
The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said Tuesday that the country's nuclear sites are protected against threats, just weeks after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran if it did not agree to a new nuclear deal. “Good measures have been considered, and effective steps have been taken to fortify them," Mohammad Eslami said, speaking at an event marking the anniversary of the establishment of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“The Iran Deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into,” President Donald Trump declared in 2018 as he withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. He has always claimed that President Barack Obama’s nuclear agreement was terrible. And he has always been right. But if Trump lets Steve Witkoff, his special envoy, continue to negotiate with Iran along the current lines, he will end up with an agreement even weaker than the JCPOA. Witkoff is driving Trump on the road to Obamaland.
Trump’s Iran Strategy Is a Missed Opportunity | Dan Perry in the Hill
Rather than signaling a return to Obama-era frameworks or outsourcing military action to Israel, the United States should present Iran with an ultimatum: verifiable and irreversible total dismantling of its nuclear and weaponization programs—as well as an end to proxy militias which have sewn misery and chaos all over the region, from Yemen to Iraq to Syria and Lebanon. In exchange Iran might get sanctions relief and normalized trade. No sunset clauses. No ambiguity. No delays. And there must be a credible military threat behind it—otherwise the Iranian model is by obfuscate, inveigle and always be buying time with endless negotiation straight from the dynamics of the Persian bazaar. Therefore, a serious ultimatum must be backed by readiness to strike, decisively and surgically. The U.S. has the means for all this. Israel for only a part.
The proponents of a nuclear agreement in Iran say a deal is necessary because Iran already possesses necessary scientific knowledge which a military strike cannot undo. Such assumptions may not be valid, though; often, they do not affirm the policy prescriptions that follow. If Iran already has knowledge and duplicative and diverse facilities, does this mean only a diplomatic resolution can prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon? From a military perspective, if the United States, Israel, or other potential combatants are aware of secret sites, they can strike them. Iran’s nuclear knowledge can be reversed. Consider how much the assassination of chief scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh set back the Iranian program. What this suggests is that a military attack must be coupled with a campaign to remove Iran’s nuclear scientists, either by encouraging defection or, alternatively, by assassination. Iran’s scientists need to face a choice: defect or die.
Negotiations with Iran Betray Both Iran and America | Marziyeh Amirizadeh in the Christian Post
As an Iranian-born Christian who survived the brutality of Iran’s Evin Prison because of my faith, I’ve witnessed and suffered the Islamic regime’s cruelty firsthand. So, when I hear about the United States negotiating with Iran’s Islamic leaders, my heart aches for both my homeland and my adopted country, America. Negotiation with this regime is not just futile — it’s dangerous.
The first two weeks of Iran-US talks appeared to accelerate the drive for a deal. It wasn’t all a one-way street, though. Iran has lurched from optimism to trying to downplay expectations. Over the last several days, it has also sought to wait-and-see as it hedges on a deal by moving forward with increased ties with Russia and China. What’s important for Iran is that it should not be seen as “wanting” a deal too much. On the other side of the coin, it wants to strike while the iron is hot, as the Trump administration appears poised to push for diplomacy.
SANCTIONS, SHIPPING, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
US Issues Fresh Iran-Related Sanctions, Treasury Website Says | Reuters
The United States issued new sanctions on Tuesday targeting Iranian liquefied petroleum gas magnate Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh and his corporate network, the Treasury Department said, amid ongoing talks with Tehran on its nuclear program. Emamjomeh’s network is responsible for shipping hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian LPG and crude oil to foreign markets, Treasury said in a statement.
Iran Says New US Energy Sanctions Show ‘Lack of Goodwill’ in Iran-US Talks | Reuters
New U.S. sanctions against Iran's energy sector point to Washington's “lack of goodwill and seriousness” over dialogue with Tehran, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday ahead of Iran-U.S. nuclear talks this weekend. On Tuesday, Washington targeted an Iranian liquified petroleum gas, opens new tab magnate with sanctions, which fall within the scope of President Donald Trump's “maximum pressure” campaign and its objective to drive Iranian oil exports to zero.
Iran Authorities Seize Two Vessels Carrying ‘Smuggled Fuel’ in Gulf, Agency Reports | Reuters
Iranian Revolutionary Guards seized two Tanzanian-flagged vessels allegedly carrying “smuggled fuel” in the Gulf, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.
Iran Jails Tanker Crews for Five Years as It Seizes Two Extra Ships | TradeWinds
An Iranian court has fined and sentenced 34 seafarers from two overseas tankers as its crackdown against fuel smuggling continues. Press TV reported that the crew members were jailed for five years.
After Stealing $3.1B, Iranian Tycoon Wins $800M Railway Deal | Iran Wire
Babak Zanjani, Iran’s notorious embezzler who was sentenced to death in 2013 for pocketing 2.8 billion euros ($3.1 billion) of oil money, has now secured a $800 million contract with the Islamic Republic Railways.
PROTESTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
In Iran’s 2022–2023 “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising, women’s bodies quite literally became battlefields. Testimonies from survivors, shared despite stigma and fear, revealed harrowing abuses: women protesters were beaten, sexually assaulted, raped (including gang rape and rape with objects), stripped naked and tortured during their arrests, transfers and detention in both official and unofficial sites, and throughout interrogations
MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE MATTERS & PROXY WARS
The [Israeli] military has successfully held back the Iranian axis from smuggling weapons across the Israel-Jordan border into the West bank to flood the area with higher quality terror threats, IDF Col. Aviv Amir, commander of the Jordan Valley defenses, said on Tuesday at his outgoing ceremony, the Jerusalem Post has learned.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji summoned Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Amani, who was injured in the Israeli pager attack, after he made controversial remarks on Hezbollah disarmament; President Joseph Aoun insists weapons belong under state control, while Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem vows to resist disarmament, escalating political tensions in Lebanon.
Iran Envoy Says Hezbollah Disarmament Is Lebanon’s Call | Iran International
Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, said the decision on whether Hezbollah should disarm rests with the Lebanese government, days after he publicly criticized international disarmament efforts. . . . His comments come after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said last week that he hopes Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization by countries including the US, UK and EU, can be disarmed or brought under state control this year, following what he described as a significant weakening of the group during Israel’s recent military campaign.
After bringing death and destruction on the residents of the Gaza Strip, the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist group is now trying to drag Arab Israelis and Palestinians in east Jerusalem and the West Bank into a violent confrontation with Israel. The good news is that Hamas’ and Iran’s efforts to expand the bloodshed and violence to Israel’s Arab community and the Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem have so far been unsuccessful. The Arab Israelis and the Palestinians of the West Bank and Jerusalem see the death and destruction in the Gaza Strip and do not want to meet the same fate.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Court Aide Carried Out January Assassinations of Tehran Judges | Iran International
The man who shot dead two Iranian Supreme Court judges in a rare assassination of top officials in January has been identified as Farshid Asadi, a 31-year-old court service aide, a source familiar with the matter told Iran International. The two clerics were central figures in Iran's theocratic establishment who had handed down death sentences and other harsh punishments on dissidents for decades. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led their funerals.
RUSSIA, UKRAINE, & IRAN
Russia’s Putin Discussed Iran’s Nuclear Program with Leader of Oman, TASS Says | Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Iran’s nuclear program on Tuesday at talks with the visiting Sultan of Oman, state news agency TASS quoted a Kremlin official as saying.
EUROPE & IRAN
Iran Media Say France Detained Dual National over Pro-Palestinian Posts | Iran International
French authorities have arrested a dual Iranian-French national in Paris for expressing support for Palestine, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday. Mizan News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, reported that Shahin Hazamy was detained by French security forces on Tuesday. . . . French magazine Le Point confirmed through Hazamy’s lawyer that the arrest was based on accusations of “apologie du terrorisme,” a criminal charge under French law covering praise of terrorist acts. Hazamy remains in temporary detention while the case is under review by investigating judges. Posts on Hazamy’s Instagram account show support for Hezbollah and Palestinian factions backed by Tehran, as well as images taken during recent visits to Lebanon. He also voiced solidarity with Mahdieh Esfandiari, a 39-year-old Iranian translator living in Lyon who has been held since early March under similar charges.
CHINA & IRAN
Iran Briefs China on US Talks, Pushes to Fast-Track 25-Year Pact | Iran International
Iran briefed China on Tehran’s negotiations with Washington and called for accelerated implementation of the 25-year strategic cooperation pact, Iranian media reported Wednesday.
“The Islamic Republic is proceeding with diplomacy seriously and in good faith, despite bitter past experiences,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a meeting with China's First Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON, & IRAN
Trump Says Aligned with Netanyahu After Call on Iran, Trade | Bloomberg
“I’ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc.,” Trump said in a post to his Truth Social network. “The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue,” he added, without providing additional details on their conversation.
Trump Speaks to Netanyahu on Gaza Hostage Deal and Iran | Axios
President Trump spoke on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal and the nuclear talks with Iran, according to Israeli and U.S. officials.
No one questions the importance of transitioning to cloud technology. However, one of the [Israel Defense Forces’] initiatives in this area—a file management system called Click Portal—has troubling vulnerabilities. Many of the uploaded documents were internal weekly updates signed by Lieutenant Colonel M., the squadron commander. These documents included summaries of safety investigations and schedules for upcoming events, including classified ones such as briefings on combat readiness statuses ahead of a potential strike on Iran.
GULF STATES & IRAN
Iranian State TV Apologizes After Satirical Show Mocked Saudi Minister | Iran International
One of Iran’s state television channels, Nasim TV, has apologized for a satirical program that mocked a Saudi Arabian official, saying the incident was a negligent mistake and that disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible.
CENTRAL ASIA & IRAN
Iran and Tajikistan Sign Agreement to Enhance Security Cooperation | Jerusalem Post
Iran and Tajikistan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance security cooperation between the two countries, Iranian state media reported on January 23. This is important because it comes in the context of Iran increasing its ties to Central Asian countries. Iran has been doing more outreach to Tajikistan for the last half decade. In May 2022 Iran opened a drone factory in Tajikistan. Iran has also been exporting drones to Russia.