Michael Rubin reports at National Review that even amidst the emboldened opposition movement the Iranian regime is cracking down on religious minorities. Once again Christians, Jews, and Bahai’s are being singled out.

In recent days, anti-Bahai rhetoric and activities has increased. Over the past weekend, security forces arrested 13 young Baha'i in Tehran, ten of whom remain in prison. The daily Kayhan pretty much serves as the voice of the Supreme Leader, who appoints its editor. On Jan. 5, 2010, the newspaper's headline read, “The So-Called God-Loving Mousavi's Men Turned Out to be Baha'is and Terrorists.” So now, it appears, the government with the highest sanction will use religious hatred to justify its own repression of political opposition. The Baha'i International Community has issued a statement, here.

Rubin notes that the Obama administration has sent letters to the Supreme Leader although they are secret. He says, in recent days “the Obama administration seems to have begun to come around on issues of human rights in Iran, although there are surely still those inside the administration and State Department who believe that moral clarity hampers engagement.”

Of particular concern is John Limbert. Limbert is now deputy assistant secretary of state for Iran. Rubin reports that Limbert “served on a board of advisors for an organization that repeatedly threatened to sue Radio Free Europe, various Iranian television stations in Los Angeles, and Voice of America for airing criticism of Iran. The Washington Times and the Weekly Standard reported on Limbert’s questionable commitment to religious freedom and human rights in November.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that “U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon recently uncovered hundreds of pounds of explosive devices near the Israeli border.” Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev said the devices “were possibly industrially produced in Iran or Syria.” She added that the “types of explosives and the manner in which they were deployed” showed that Hezbollah planted them.