Iran Overview: Striking Poses from Sanctions to Cyber-War to "Terrorism"

We closed last night by noting a couple of postures from the Iranian Government over its nuclear programme and supposed economic strength.

So while we look towards analysis of the significant developments in the political situation, we catch up this morning by noting some other poses and threats, beginning outside Iran.

US and Europe: We're Going to Get You

Following the UN resolution for tougher sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme, the Obama Administration has made the first public play of what it supposedly means. It has expanded US sanctions on Iran, imposing penalties on more than three dozen additional companies and individuals.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the new penalties were aimed at those who were helping Iran develop its nuclear and missile porgrammes and evade international sanctions.



"In the coming weeks we will continue to increase the financial pressure on Iran," Geithner said. "We will continuee to target Iran's support for terrorist organizations."

European Union governments have joined in with a draft statement, to be discussed at a summit today, that would not only enforce the UN sanctions by restricting "dual use” goods with potential military applications and imposing additional curbs on Iranian banks and shipping but also go further, targeting Iran’s oil and gas industries.

European penalties would affect “key sectors of the gas and oil industry with prohibition of new investment, technical assistance and transfers of technologies, equipment and services.”

Iran: We're Coming to Get You (on the Web)

Meanwhile in Tehran, Iranian officials were issuing yet another warning that they would most definitely catch anyone who dared use the Internet to oppose the regime.

Iran police chief Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam said a new "internet police" force was being created to "identify threats and remove them". The agency would be up and running "within the next couple of months," the security chief said, to deal with the "unique and serious threats are felt by users and the society" from the "relatively new" Internet. Ahmadi-Moghaddam continued, "Identifying these threats and removing them and passing new laws applicable in this space is part of an effort to prevent any harm."

The police chief's statement followed repeated declarations by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps of its Internet surveillance and sabotage operations to crush dissent.

"Don't Try and Get Us" --- Foreigners and Terrorists, Chapter 83

Iran, amidst more arrests before and after the first anniversary of the election, played up the allegation of foreign support of those seeking "regime change" by calling in the British Ambassador. The Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the message was, "The Islamic Republic of Iran demands a serious inquiry by the British government into this issue and a report of its findings."

The summoning of the Ambassador followed a Tuesday proclamation by Minister of Intelligence Heydar Moslehi that Iranian forces had broken up a plot to bomb Tehran squares on 12 June: ""Two terrorist teams of hypocrites [the People's Mojahedin of Iran] were identified and their key members were arrested."

Comments

[Catherine]

RE "ran police chief Esmail Ahmadi-Moghaddam said a new “internet police” force was being created to “identify threats and remove them”.

I think the regime's guidelines for any and all situations they're confronted with has become: "What would Stalin do?"

[Baz]

Catherine

That is why they run around all over the place - frantic. Because, Stalin didn't have the Internet or mobile phones with cameras - therefore they have no answer to their question. He kept everything that happened inside Russia under tight wraps - but Iran is on full display to the world, much to the Regimes chagrin.

Churchill said of Russia : "It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma;"

Iran is no riddle, mystery or enigma - although they try to be with all their "double speak" . They must really be frustrated.

Barry

[Catherine]

Hi Barry,
You're quite right about the frenzy caused by the fact that modern technology forces this repressive regime to operate in the open. Although I was actually referring more to the Stalinist approach of removing all threats - and seeing almost EVERYTHING as a threat - not the tools each historical period has had at its disposal (many of which actually haven't changed at all: hauling people away in the middle of the night, prison without trial, torture, disappearances, show trials, kangaroo courts, summary executions, going after the families of political prisoners/dissidents, censorship, creation of pro-regime brainwashing organisations for young people, persecution of minorities, spying on even one's own inner circle, etc).

[Catherine]

And I might add this one
Iran: We’re NOT Coming to Get You (at the airport)

Iran’s Parliament Plans to Vote on Travel Ban for some IAEA Inspectors
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of Foreign Relations and National Security Committee in the Iranian parliament, said Iran was going to deny entry to International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors who provided information to the media and other countries about Iran’s nuclear activities.
http://www.insideiran.org/media-analysis/iran%25E2%2580%2599s-parliament-plans-to-vote-on-travel-ban-for-some-iaea-inspectors/" rel="nofollow">http://www.insideiran.org/media-analysis/iran%E...

He-he. They're going to start treating IAEA inspectors like naughty Iranian citizens who are arrested for "talking to the foreign media".