Social and Political

gatestoneinstitute.org – It is, perhaps, more interesting to study the unintended consequences of this tragic saga. One such consequence is to bring war back into international conversation as a here-and-now reality. The idea that war could somehow be scripted out of the human story as were incest or slavery is exposed for what it is: a dangerous fantasy. This has …

Al-Arabia – A Farsi-language satellite news channel based in London long critical of Iran’s theocratic government said Saturday it had moved its broadcasts to Washington “to protect the safety of its journalists” after reportedly being targeted by Tehran. The alleged targeting of Iran International comes as Tehran also has long harassed members of the BBC’s Persian service for their work …

RFL/RE – Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, says he and other opposition activists attending the Munich Security Conference want to bring the demands of Iranians to the world. Pahlavi told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda that due to state pressure, critics in the Islamic republic cannot express themselves freely. “They want us to deliver their message to the world. …

RFL/RE — A German MP in the European Parliament said it is significant that for the first time Iran is not represented by its foreign minister at the Munich Security Conference but by other political figures who have a different vision for the future of Iran. Hannah Neumann, an MP in the Strasbourg-based Parliament who has been outspoken on Iran …

RFL/RE – Iran’s Education Minister Yusef Nuri says a special team in the Iranian capital has been tasked with investigating the poisoning of students in the central religious city of Qom. Nuri made the comments during a February 16 visit to the Shahid Beheshti hospital in Qom, where some of the students are being treated.Since last December, dozens of students, the majority …

Iranwire – Recent snowfall in Iran’s southwestern Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province has caused building collapses and road blockades, leaving thousands of people stranded in sub-zero temperatures. Despite the provincial authorities’ efforts to reopen roads and assist those affected, the situation remains highly critical for many residents of the provincial capital, Shahr-e-kurd, the city of Kohrang and nearby villages. Residents say …

Iranwire – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says Iranian authorities have arrested at least 95 journalists since the eruption of anti-government protests five months ago, and more than half of them, at least 48, had their devices seized. The number of device seizures is believed to be much higher, since Iranian security forces are known to intimidate witnesses to …

Iranwire – An Iranian news outlet affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council has confirmed a US media report that indirect negotiations under way between the United States and Iran on a possible prisoner swap. “With Washington’s request and Tehran’s agreement, indirect and productive negotiations have been conducted, but the finalization of the negotiated agreements requires their honesty and non-politicization,” …

gatestoneinstitute.org – The US Congress urgently needs to pass legislation introduced by the Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) that will “prohibit the Biden administration from waiving Congressional sanctions that prohibit cooperation on Iran’s nuclear program.” It is stunning that the Biden Administration is offering Iran’s mullahs sanction waivers for their nuclear program while the Iranian regime is openly getting closer to …

Al-Monitor – At least one Iranian drone targeted an Israeli-linked commercial shipping tanker in the Arabian Sea on Feb. 10, causing minor damage, a US military official familiar with the incident confirmed to Al-Monitor on Friday. The official said the United States believes Iran was behind the attack due to the drone’s point of origin and tracking data, but did not specify …