Iranian Weapons Warehouse Struck in Eastern Syria, Report Says
Iranian Weapons Warehouse Struck in Eastern Syria, Report Says
In Evading US Sanctions, Europe is Ignoring ‘Justice’ for the Iranian People
Six European have joined the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges, or Instex—a financial mechanism to evade US sanctions on Iran.
“As founding shareholders of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges, France, Germany and the United Kingdom warmly welcome the decision taken by the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, to join INSTEX as shareholders,” said France, the United Kingdom and Germany in a joint statement on Saturday.
The vehicle has not yet conducted any transactions.
The United States withdrew in May 2018 from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, reimposing sanctions lifted under it, along with enacting new financial penalties against Tehran.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs cried foul.
“With hundreds of innocent Iranians murdered during the latest round of protests rolling in their graves, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden could not have picked worse timing,” it said in a statement on Sunday.
It rhetorically asked, “We ask these European countries: What message are you sending to the Iranian people? Would it not be more effective and ethical to designate the regime officials responsible for the murder of innocent civilians? How is the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] to understand this gesture?”
“Europe continues to pretend that it’s serious about Iran and proliferation, but proves once again that it isn’t,” Danielle Pletka, senior vice president for foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, told JNS. “Overlooking Iranian malfeasance is a feature, not a glitch in Europe’s foreign policy.”
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations said in a statement: “At a time when the Ayatollahs’ abuse of the Iranian people is particularly egregious and the regime’s aggression in the region is increasingly flagrant, these countries joining INSTEX will essentially be seen as a green light for further atrocities. In their effort to rescue the [Iran nuclear deal], these countries are rewarding Iran’s destructive actions and enabling its quest for regional hegemony at all costs.”
Behnam Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told JNS that amid the latest protests in the Islamic Republic, Europe is looking the other way.
Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights
Iran wants to challenge western navies in Gulf with China and Russia
Iran’s Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi announced a joint naval drill with Russia and China, after the US and France have both planned maritime security initiatives in the Gulf.Iran
Iran thinks it is entering the big league in naval powers as its Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi announced a joint naval drill with Russia and China. It came as a deputy chief of the Chinese Joint Staff was in a meeting with Khanzadi, according to Iran’s Press TV.
What’s really behind the scenes of this is that Iran wants to show off after the US and France have both announced maritime security initiatives in the Gulf.
Iran is pushing a “Hormuz peace” plan called HOPE. Now Iran says its Maritime Security Belt drill will go ahead on December 27. Iran wants to work more closely with China. Having Russia on board is a win as well for Tehran. The problem for Tehran is that while China is an emerging naval behemoth and Russia is a historic naval power, Iran has a weak navy. Iran’s great naval “achievement” of the last years has been using fast boats to harass real navies. One US official said at a conference in February that the US could destroy Iran’s navy easily. In fact, Iran’s navy is bifurcated between the IRGC and the actual navy. The IRGC is the one that harasses Western governments. The actual navy doesn’t do much. But Iran has been showcasing new drones and other technology for its ships.
So Iran’s message is that it can play in the big league with the Russians and Chinese. That would be a big win for Iran as it faces the so-called “maximum pressure” campaign from the US. The US National Defense Strategy, conceived between 2015 and 2018, is seeking to shift toward confronting big or threatening countries like Iran, Russia, China and North Korea. This is supposed to get away from the counter-terror obsession of 2001-2015. Go big or go home is the name of the game in this strategy.
The US is going big at sea with a new $20 billion deal for submarines. China is looking to build its fourth aircraft carrier and recently ended US military port calls in Hong Kong as a message for the US to stop interfering. The US is spending $650 billion on defense while China is spending $250 billion. Russia has a new warship named the Gromky while it sent its advanced Admiral Gorshkov to Cuba this year.
Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights
Israel’s Netanyahu To Press Pompeo For More Pressure On Iran
Israel’s Netanyahu To Press Pompeo For More Pressure On Iran
Israel’s Netanyahu To Press Pompeo For More Pressure On Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Portugal to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and call for increased pressure on Iran.
Iran Finally Admits it Slaughtered Protesters, Leaders Say Civilians Should be ‘Crucified’ for Revolting
Iran Finally Admits it Slaughtered Protesters, Leaders Say Civilians Should be ‘Crucified’ for Revolting
Iran Finally Admits it Slaughtered Protesters, Leaders Say Civilians Should be ‘Crucified’ for Revolting
The Iranian regime confirmed on state television Tuesday morning that security forces shot and killed what it described as “rioters” during protests that shook multiple cities across the Islamic Republic in recent weeks.
Iranian Agents Likely To Target US And European Assets
As the Iranian leaders are now feeling the pressure of the full sanctions on Iranian oil and the terror-designation of Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), they will try and shift much of the IRGC’s human resources and assets into Iranian intelligence service that operates under Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).
The developing scenarios in the Middle East and the last year’s thwarted Paris explosion plot suggest that MOIS operatives might be used against U.S. and European interests and assets globally, particularly in Western soil.
In fact, the thwarted Paris explosion plot is an ideal example of how far Iran is willing to go using its intelligence operatives.
For evaluating the threat against the Western interests and assets, it is first necessary to understand whether designating the IRGC as foreign terrorist organization (FTO) was enough to weaken Iran’s terror network globally?
With this terror-designation, only one element of Iran’s terror capability is checked. This move could work only if it is followed by several other measures in order to ensure incapacitating Iran’s terror activities completely.
One of such measures would be to curtail the finances, international mobility and, most importantly, the operational capabilities of other elements of the Iran’s terror network. Limiting the ability and scope of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) operatives, many of who operates via Iranian embassies across the world, could be the first step towards this end.
It is worth noting here that while Iran uses the IRGC to recruit, expand and spread its terrorist proxies primarily across the Middle East, it uses the MOIS for fulfilling its global agenda and for carrying-out hostility in other parts of the globe in cooperation with the IRGC.
On July 1, 2018, an Iranian diplomat, who was alleged by the U.S. and European officials of being the station chief of the MOIS, was arrested in Germany for his alleged involvement in a plot to bomb a huge rally of Iranian dissidents in Paris. He was later extradited to Belgium, where two others, who were suspected to be his associates in the planning, were detained.
Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights
Has Iran admitted it bombed Saudi Arabia’s Aramco as a message to Israel?
Iran has increasingly accepted responsibility for the September 14 attack on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, doing away with the pretense that it was an attack carried out by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The admission has been made in snippets and leaks, the way a regime like Tehran prefers to send a message.
Journalist Farid Ahmed Hassan, writing in Al-Watan in an article reprinted in Al-Ain media over the weekend, noted that a recent Reuters article points to a high-level leak from Iran that takes responsibility for the attack.
The early morning attack involved 25 drones and numerous cruise missiles. It was planned and aimed at key oil facilities where there would be no civilians present but would cause extensive damage to the facilities.
The attack was sophisticated, avoiding known air defenses and not triggering a response from Riyadh or the US. This was Iran’s gamble – strike at the heart of Saudi Arabia, and see what the response would be.
Reuters reported last week details from inside the planning rooms behind the attack. The group of planners “included the top echelons of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of the Iranian military whose portfolio includes missile development and covert operations.”
Maj.-Gen. Hossein Salami, leader of the IRGC, led the discussion, saying that it was time to “take out our swords and teach them [the US and its allies] a lesson.” Four people told Reuters this information, according to the report. Reuters also claimed that “hardliners” encouraged an attack on US forces directly. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved the operation only so long as it avoided hitting any civilians or Americans.
This is a convenient narrative that benefits Iran. It shows Tehran’s military prowess, as well as the way it calculates an operation. It continues the fiction that the regime has “hardliners” and appears to present the elderly Supreme Leader as a “moderate.” But wait a second. How is it possible that four people who were either at the meeting or directly had knowledge of it, told Western media about this? Could it be that the four people familiar with the meeting are all Western intelligence sources? Why would one need four Western intelligence sources in this case?
Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights
Iranians around the globe show solidarity for citizens suffering under homeland’s brutal regime
Iranians around the globe show solidarity for citizens suffering under homeland’s brutal regime
Iranians around the globe show solidarity for citizens suffering under homeland’s brutal regime
Iranians around the globe gathered for demonstrations meant to show support for their compatriots suffering in Iran.
Intensity of U.S. military visits shows urgency of Iran threat – analysis
So what is happening that is causing this parade of top US military officers to Israel? Seemingly, it is like McKenzie warned – Iran is up to something.
In 2012, the Obama administration wanted to try and stop Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities. As a result, and over a period of several months, every week or so, another top defense official would arrive in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for meetings with the IDF top brass and the prime minister. At the time, US officials called it “Bibi Sitting.”
This came to mind on Sunday when US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley landed in Israel for just a few hours to meet with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi.
His visit came just a week after US Air Force commander Gen. David Goldfein was in Israel, and two weeks after the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. Kenneth McKenzie was in town. In between, USAFE (United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa) Commander Gen. Jeffery L. Harrigian was also here.
Last Wednesday, Defense Minister Naftali Bennett spoke on the phone with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
But Bennett, who took on the role of Defense Minister from Netanyahu last week, did not meet with Milley. He was on Israel’s northern border along with Netanyahu, Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and the Head of the Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram sending a warning to Iran.
“Our message to those Iranian terror forces in Syria: You have nothing to look for here. You have nothing to try to establish. For everything you try to do here – you will encounter a strong, determined IDF that will hurt you. To Iran’s leaders, we say: Focus on your citizens, on improving their lives, and not on an unsuccessful attempt to harm Israeli citizens.”
McKenzie’s visit was particularly interesting. Israel is part of the US European Command (EUCOM) and his visit – one of just a handful by CENTCOM commanders over the years – shows a need for coordination amid growing threats in the region. Over the weekend, McKenzie warned that Iran was planning another large-scale attack in the Middle East, similar to the one it carried out against Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities in September.
Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights
Several Children Reported Killed During Iran’s November 2019 Protests
Credible reports say several children are among the protesters shot and killed after protests broke out on November 15 in more than 173 cities across Iran.
Numerous videos share on social media have appear to show Iranian regime’s use of lethal force against protesters during Iran’s November 2019 protests.
More than 450 people, including several children were indiscriminately shot and killed by the IRGC, Bassij, undercover intelligence agents and the police.
At least 4,000 people were shot and injured while more than 10,000 were arrested, many of them after they were shot. The final statistics could be far higher due to a 10-days news blackout imposed by the authorities through internet shutdown.
Nikta Esfandani was shot in the head by security forces on November 16, 2019, on Tehran’sSattar Khan Ave. The family of Nikta Esfandani looked for her for three days before they could receive her body. Regime’s officials told her family that since she was only 14 and was a kid, they would not ask for the cost of bullets. Born in April 2005, she was buried in Behesht-e Zahra cemetery on November 20, 2019.
Numerous videos share on social media have appear to show Iranian regime’s use of lethal force against protesters during Iran’s November 2019 protests.
More than 450 people, including several children were indiscriminately shot and killed by the IRGC, Bassij, undercover intelligence agents and the police.
At least 4,000 people were shot and injured while more than 10,000 were arrested, many of them after they were shot. The final statistics could be far higher due to a 10-days news blackout imposed by the authorities through internet shutdown.
Nikta Esfandani was shot in the head by security forces on November 16, 2019, on Tehran’sSattar Khan Ave. The family of Nikta Esfandani looked for her for three days before they could receive her body. Regime’s officials told her family that since she was only 14 and was a kid, they would not ask for the cost of bullets. Born in April 2005, she was buried in Behesht-e Zahra cemetery on November 20, 2019.
Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights