Legislators opposed Rouhani's move as they believe it is a "clear violation" of a bill that was passed on December 2 that required the country to increase its nuclear activities if the Iran nuclear deal was not fully reinstated and sanctions imposed by the Trump administration were not removed.

Despite the legal requirement that the government strip away the broad authority the IAEA inspectors have thus far enjoyed if the deadline of 23 February is not met, Rouhani's deal with the UN bypasses that for the next few months.

As the inspectors won't be able to gather information themselves, Iran has agreed to record the monitoring data the UN would normally collect itself. If the US returns to the Iran nuclear deal, this will be handed over to UN inspectors. If US sanctions have not been removed within three months, however, all the data retained over that period by Iran will be destroyed.

With Iran's Supreme National Security Council claiming the deal with the IAEA is compliant with the law, and Iranian lawmakers arguing it's a violation of that law, the judiciary will now be asked to decide which is the correct legal position.

While it's not yet clear what punishment the legislature believes Rouhani should face, the MPs claim that, as "the aforementioned law recognizes the president as the person in charge of implementing it," he should face criminal charges if the judiciary agrees the new deal is illegal.

While the Ayatollah stressed that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, he argued "no one" could stop the country from having them if it wanted to - certainly not the US or "the Zionist clown" (i.e. Israel). Only "Islamic principles" prevent such an outcome, he continued, adding that Iran will not limit its uranium enrichment to 20 percent.

Gebru's termination kicked up a storm of controversy among Google employees well beyond Mitchell, prompting an open letter signed by no fewer than 2,695 Googlers and some 4,300 "academic, industry and civil society supporters" demanding the company explain its decision to fire the researcher.

"The termination is an act of retaliation against Dr. Gebru, and it heralds danger for people working for ethical and just AI - especially black people and people of color - across Google," the letter said.

• AOC does something useful: Calls for 'full investigation' into Cuomo nursing home scandal
• AOC claims she was killed in the capitol riots and is now a ghost
• AOC doubles down on 'terrifying' Capitol riot experience
• Congress holds taxpayer-funded group therapy session for AOC and pals, who were totally traumatized by Capitol raid
• AOC, a sitting member of Congress, weaponized her followers in an attempt to silence a free press
• AOC wasn't even in the Capitol building during her 'near death' experience

Feds Are Investigating Capitol Rioters' Connections to Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones and Political Operative Roger Stone: Report

Officials with the Department of Justice and the FBI are investigating the role right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and political operative Roger Stone played in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Washington Post reported Saturday.

Several people familiar with the investigation told the Post that authorities are looking into both the now-pardoned Trump advisor and the Infowars host as part of a wider examination of the Capitol rioters' "paths to radicalization." Although criminal charges against Stone and Jones have not been ruled out, it appears that the investigation may be particularly beneficial in helping prosecutors reveal the motivations and intentions of those charged in the insurrection.

...

According to the Post, video from the Capitol depicted Jones saying, "Let's not fight the police and give the system what they want." It later showed him apparently trying to trick rioters into leaving the Capitol building by telling them Trump was about to give another speech.

• In first test of Biden's stance on Israel - president rolls over
• Mossad chief to outline Israeli 'demands' to Biden for rejoining Iran nuclear deal
• Supply convoy for US troops in Iraq reportedly attacked - Biden 'under pressure' to stall Middle East withdrawal
• Biden admits ISIS is a creation of U.S. foreign policy used to destabilize Middle East
• Israel claims Iran will have enough enriched uranium for 1 nuke in 6 months, twice as long as Biden admin estimate
• Israel is 'anchor and foundation for democracy in the region' - Says Biden's pick for sec of state Tony Blinken