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In response to Trump saying the nuclear crisis with Iran can be solved either by making a deal or ‘militarily,’ Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said that ‘Iran can retaliate and will definitely do so.’
Iran’s Khamenei Spurns US Talks Offer as UAE Envoy Delivers Trump Letter | Reuters
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected holding negotiations with the United States over a nuclear deal, as a letter was delivered from U.S. President Donald Trump calling for such talks. The letter was handed over to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Wednesday by Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates. While Araqchi and Gargash were meeting, Khamenei told a group of university students that Trump's offer for talks was “a deception,” state media reported. “When we know they won’t honour it, what's the point of negotiating? Therefore, the invitation to negotiate is a deception of public opinion,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by state media. Khamenei said he had not yet seen the letter. Khamenei said negotiating with the Trump administration, which he said had excessive demands, “will tighten the knot of sanctions and increase pressure on Iran.” “If we wanted to build nuclear weapons, the U.S. would not be able to stop it. We ourselves do not want it,” Khamenei said.
Iran’s Khamenei Threatens US with Military Action | Yedioth Ahronoth
Khamenei also issued a warning to Trump, saying, “The U.S. threatens military action, but that would not be a wise move because Iran would respond with a counterattack.”
UANI IN THE NEWS
The U.S. State and Treasury Departments announced sanctions on Wednesday against the Foxtrot network, which the agencies said is a criminal gang and drug-trafficking organization based in Sweden, which has coordinated attacks with Iran throughout Europe, including on Israelis and Jews. “Foxtrot has employed minors and criminals in Sweden on behalf of Iran’s regime to attack Israel’s interests and Jews,” stated Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran.
Trump Admin Withdraws Intelligence Job Offer to Anti-Israel Commentator | Jewish Insider
The Trump administration rescinded a job offer to anti-Israel commentator Daniel Davis to be deputy director of national intelligence for mission integration following Jewish Insider’s reporting on his anti-Israel views, and amid growing criticism of the selection from both sides of the aisle. Prior to the withdrawal of the job offer, Jason Brodsky, the policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran, called the pick “troubling” and said, “I don’t know what the Trump administration is thinking with this appointment.”
NUCLEAR DIPLOMACY & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
China Urges Diplomacy to Deal with Iran Nuclear Issue | Times of Israel
China is calling for a “diplomatic” resolution to the Iran nuclear issue as it prepared to host diplomats from Tehran and Moscow for talks in Beijing. “In the current situation, we believe that all parties should maintain calm and restraint to avoid escalating the Iran nuclear situation, or even walking towards confrontation and conflict,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning says. Beijing will host Russia and Iran for trilateral talks on Tehran’s nuclear program on Friday.
Don’t Trust Russia to Mediate the Iran Nuclear Deal | Jonathan Lord in Foreign Policy
This month, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to mediate a new nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran after reportedly being asked to by U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call in February. The White House should immediately abandon this unwise pursuit. Simply put, Russia’s shared interests with Iran make it an unsuitable mediator and will surely work to undermine America’s interests in the Middle East and those of America’s partners and allies. Long an arsonist in the Middle East, Washington should distrust Moscow’s attempt to don a firefighter’s helmet now.
Iran’s Top Envoy Says Direct US Talks Must Be on ‘Equal Footing’ | Bloomberg
Iran will only enter direct talks with the US when both countries are on an equal footing and the Trump administration stops its “pressure and threats” on the Islamic Republic, a top Iranian official said. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister and a former nuclear negotiator, made the comments in an interview printed in the state-run Iran newspaper on Thursday.
Iran Floats ‘New Idea’ to Resolve Nuclear Issues with IAEA | Iran International
A new idea has been proposed to resolve outstanding nuclear issues between Iran and UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
SANCTIONS, SHIPPING, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Britain Warns Iran Sanctions Could Be Reimposed as UN Security Council Meets | Reuters
Britain warned on Wednesday that it would trigger a return of U.N. sanctions on Iran, if needed, to prevent it from getting a nuclear weapon as the Security Council met to discuss Tehran's expansion of its stock of uranium close to weapons grade.
Trump Should Ratchet Up Pressure on Iran | Carine Hajjar in the Boston Globe
After four years of the Biden administration trying — and failing — to sweeten the world’s foremost sponsor of terror into good behavior, the Trump administration’s shift back to maximum pressure on Iran is a welcome change. . . . But just declaring maximum pressure doesn’t mean it will come about. Achieving the big picture comes down to honing the small details, which, so far, still need to be fleshed out.
PROTESTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Iran Arrests 4 Female Kurdish Activists After Women’s Day Events | VOA Kurdish
Iranian security forces have arrested four female Kurdish activists in Kurdistan province following International Women’s Day celebrations on March 8. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network confirmed the arrests. Rights groups and activists believe these arrests are part of a wider crackdown on Kurdish women.
‘I Was There to Try to Kill the Journalist,’ Gunman tells New York Court | Voice of America
A self-described member of a Russian organized crime group told a court on Tuesday that he tried to kill the Iranian American journalist and VOA host Masih Alinejad in New York in 2022. Khalid Mehdiyev told jurors that he was arrested in July 2022 in his car in Brooklyn while in possession of an AK-47 rifle and a ski mask. In his testimony Tuesday, Mehdiyev said he observed Alinejad during a seven-day stakeout outside her home. He tracked when she watered her flowers and where and when she bought coffee, he said. “I was there to try to kill the journalist. I know her as Masih,” Mehdiyev told jurors.
MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE MATTERS & PROXY WARS
Pro-Israel senators on both sides of the aisle emphasized the need for a military option to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program when asked on Tuesday about President Donald Trump’s outreach last week to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Tehran's Political Factions Attack President over Inaction | Iran International
Criticism of President Masoud Pezeshkian is no longer confined to his political rivals, whom he sought to appease by allocating many cabinet positions. Even the Reformist faction is growing frustrated with his lack of direction and inaction. In a YouTube debate on good governance, both Reformist commentator Payam Borazjani and hardline conservative figure Saeed Ajorlou criticized President Pezeshkian for inaction and inefficiency.
RUSSIA, UKRAINE, & IRAN
How Iran’s Support for Russia Could Tear the Country Apart | Telegraph
Iran’s continued support for Russia and its war in Ukraine has provoked unprecedented tensions at the heart of the Islamic regime, resulting in the sacking of one of Tehran’s most high-ranking officials. The removal of Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former Iranian foreign minister who negotiated his country’s controversial nuclear deal, from his position as vice-president this week is being blamed on the deepening rift between moderates and hardliners over Iran’s continued support for Russia.
Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire Opens Door for ‘Maximum Pressure’ on Iran | TradeWinds
A ceasefire in Ukraine could ratchet up the US maximum pressure campaign on Iran, according to Norwegian research company Rystad Energy. If the US-brokered peace deal between Russia and Ukraine holds, increased Russian oil flows and planned Opec production hikes could give Washington more latitude in trying to cut off Iran’s oil exports, Rystad geopolitical analysis head Jorge Leon said.