The National Interest Foundation Newsletter

Issue 92, April 15, 2021

Welcome to our NIF Newsletter. In this week’s headlines: Israel is attributed with an attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site amid multilateral global diplomacy efforts to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Biden administration restores millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Myanmar security forces kill more than 80 anti-coup protesters this past weekend as the military junta continues its ruthless crackdown, and a new report by an international watchdog organization rules that the Syrian regime used chemical weapons against civilians in 2018.

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Natanz Nuclear Site Attack

Iran’s Natanz Nuclear Site is Attacked Amid Multilateral Diplomacy Efforts to Revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

Israel has been attributed with an attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site amid multilateral global diplomacy efforts to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In an attempt to sabotage ongoing negotiations, a deliberately planned explosion instigated a power failure at the Natanz facility over the weekend which resulted in the destruction of the internal power system which supplies the uranium-enriching centrifuges at the site. Per their policy, Israel neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the attack, but unnamed American, Iranian, and Israeli sources verified that they were the perpetrators behind the incident. In recent weeks, momentum has grown toward reinitiating the JCPOA that regulated Iran’s nuclear activity. However, Israel has always been opposed to the nuclear deal and maintains that Iran was violating the terms of the agreement. President Biden is known to be an advocate of the JCPOA, and Israel has attempted to lobby him into a more aggressive stance regarding Iran. These efforts have largely been unsuccessful, as Biden seeks to re-engage the Iranian regime through diplomatic outreach. The Natanz attack was aimed at weakening Iran’s leverage while negotiating a return to the JCPOA, and it adds to a growing catalogue of Israeli aggression against Iran when diplomatic solutions are being discussed.

Restoration of Humanitarian Aid

Biden Administration Restores Millions of Dollars in Humanitarian Aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees

The Biden administration recently announced that it would be providing $235 million in U.S. aid to the Palestinians, including the restoration of millions of dollars in humanitarian assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The UNRWA offers health, education, and social services to Palestinian refugees and the United States had long been the largest single financial contributor to the agency until 2018, when the previous Trump administration decided to cut American funding. During the unveiling of this latest move, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined that the full aid package consists of $150 million to the UNRWA, $75 million in U.S. economic and development assistance, and $10 million for peace-building programs. The Trump era’s harmful and biased stances regarding the Israeli-Palestinian peace process alienated the latter and therefore the Biden administration’s policy reversal is part of its ongoing efforts to emphasize a commitment towards a more even-handed approach to the issue. As such, the plans for the resumption of aid have been widely praised by impartial observers as a positive step forward.

Myanmar Junta’s Continued Crackdown

Myanmar Security Forces Kill Over 80 Anti-Coup Protesters This Past Weekend as the Military Junta Continues Its Ruthless Crackdown

The military junta in Myanmar continues its ruthless crackdown against anti-coup and pro-democracy protesters, as security forces killed more than 80 people this past weekend in one of the latest disturbing developments there. According to a domestic monitoring group and news outlet, the lethal use of violence took place after troops fired on demonstrators with rifle grenades, resulting in dozens of fatalities. Former lawmakers who were ousted as a result of the February 1st military coup have urged the global community to increase its pressure on the junta, while analysts warn that the country stands on the verge of state failure and risks becoming ungovernable if the current situation persists. Meanwhile, rights groups estimate that over 700 civilians have been killed by security forces since Myanmar’s military seized power around two and a half months ago. This alarming figure consists of not only citizens who have merely participated in peaceful anti-coup protests, but also children and other family members who have died as a result of violent night raids carried out by the military.

Syrian Regime’s Use of Chemical Weapons

International Watchdog Organization’s New Report Finds that the Syrian Regime Used Chemical Weapons Against Civilians in 2018

A new report from an international watchdog has formally accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons in 2018. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) conducted a thorough investigation into claims made by the Syrian opposition that the Assad regime used chemical weapons shortly after a Russian warplane was shot down by rebels. The investigation included in-person interviews with eyewitnesses on the ground and digital examination of over 400 gigabytes of data. In conclusion, the OPCW ruled that Syrian government forces had dropped cylinders containing chlorine gas in eastern Saraqib, injuring dozens. The OPCW will now move to seek penalties for the Syrian government, including a possible referral to the United Nations Security Council.