Iran Seizes Tanker as Tensions Between Iran and U.S. Remain High
Iran Seizes Tanker as Tensions Between Iran and U.S. Remain High
Three Women Sentenced To 55 Years For Defying Compulsory Hijab In Iran
Three Women Sentenced To 55 Years For Defying Compulsory Hijab In Iran
Three Women Sentenced To 55 Years For Defying Compulsory Hijab In Iran
Three women held in custody for “disrespecting compulsory hijab,” or the so-called Islamic dress code, have been sentenced to a total of 55 years and six months.
UK warship commander says Iran trying ‘to test’ Britain in Gulf
UK warship commander says Iran trying ‘to test’ Britain in Gulf
UK warship commander says Iran trying ‘to test’ Britain in Gulf
The commander of a British warship accompanying UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions with Iran said Wednesday that Tehran appeared to be testing the Royal Navy’s resolve.
IRAN SAYS IT WILL EXPAND MILITARY TIES WITH RUSSIA, HOLD JOINT DRILLS AS U.S. TRIES TO BUILD RIVAL COALITION
IRAN SAYS IT WILL EXPAND MILITARY TIES WITH RUSSIA, HOLD JOINT DRILLS AS U.S. TRIES TO BUILD RIVAL COALITION
IRAN SAYS IT WILL EXPAND MILITARY TIES WITH RUSSIA, HOLD JOINT DRILLS AS U.S. TRIES TO BUILD RIVAL COALITION
The head of Iran’s navy has said he signed a document to expand ties with Russia, with whom his forces planned on conducting joint drills in the same tense waters that the United States sought to counter the Islamic Republic with international support.
Pompeo pledges ‘collective defense’ of shipping threatened by Iran
U.S. and European allies will cooperate to protect international shipping from threats posed by Iran, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“I am confident that we will all form a collective defense,” he told conservative radio host Ben Shapiro. “The United States is calling it our maritime security initiative, and we have asked countries from all across the world to participate in that to assist in the defense of the waterways through the Gulf and through the Straits of Hormuz.”
Western powers have been developing plans to escort vessels through the vital shipping lanes since last week, when Iranian forces seized a British-flagged tanker in apparent retaliation for the detention of an Iranian tanker that was ferrying oil to Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s regime. The prospect of a Western armada has drawn complaints from Iran, which test-fired a ballistic missile Thursday.
“My guess is that the Iranians will continue to try and impose costs on us, but I don’t think anyone should ever mistake the United States for having an absence of resolve under President Trump,” Pompeo said Thursday. “We are effectively and continuing to put increased pressure on Qasem Soleimani and the IRGC, his forces, as well as on the ayatollah.”
Iran has complained about the escorts, notably threatening “consequences” in response to the U.K.’s announcement of a plan to coordinate with other European nations to protect the shipping lanes.
“The U.K.’s proposal for a European force in the Strait of Hormuz could lead to unpredictable consequences [for London],” a military adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s clerical autocrat, said Wednesday in state-run media. “Our equation in the Strait of Hormuz is that either everyone enjoys full security or no one does.”
Pompeo pledges ‘collective defense’ of shipping threatened by Iran Pompeo pledges ‘collective defense’ of shipping threatened by Iran
Iranian Official Threatens American Bases in Region in Case US Decides on War, Qatari Media Claims
Tensions between Iran and the US in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated since the downing of American drone by Iranian forces over it purportedly violating the latter’s borders. Washington later claimed to have downed one or two Iranian drones that allegedly came too close to an American ship, although Tehran denies losing any aircraft.
Qatar-based channel Al Jazeera has quoted advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader and former Minister of Defence Hossein Dehghan as saying that all American military bases in the region will be targeted by Tehran, if the US decides to go to war with Iran. Dehghan further reportedly noted that Iran is not going to negotiate its missile programme with anyone, including US President Donald Trump.
The adviser also reportedly blasted the UAE for allegedly becoming a “US centre to strike Iran’s national security”, but added that the country has already sent a delegation to Iran to discuss “peace”.
Al Jazeera also quoted the adviser as cautioning other countries against changing the status of the Strait of Hormuz, saying that it would open up the path to dangerous confrontations. He namely brought up the UK’s initiative to form a European “maritime protection mission” as an example of a move that could lead to “unpredictable consequences”.
Dehghan reportedly argued that all countries must have the ability to safely sail and export oil through the Strait of Hormuz, which of late has become a flashpoint of tensions between Iran on the one side and the UK and US on the other.
The negative trend in US-Iranian relations started last year, but they aggravated further after Iranian air defences shot down an American drone after, as Tehran says, it violated the country’s border. The US planned a retaliatory strike in response but stopped short of launching it.
Iran-backed terrorist cells ‘ready to strike’ UK as tension escalates over seized oil tanker
Iran-backed terrorist cells could be deployed to launch attacks in the UK if the crisis between London and Tehran deepens, intelligence sources have warned.
Among senior intelligence officers, Iran ranks behind only Russia and China as the nation state posing the greatest threat to Britain’s national security and the seizure of the UK-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero will have intensified concerns in MI5 and MI6.
Intelligence agencies believe Iran has organised and funded sleeper terror cells across Europe including the UK and could greenlight attacks in response to a conflict in the Gulf.
The cells are operated by radicals linked to Hizbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
Counter-terror police disrupted a cell in 2015 that was caught stockpiling tonnes of explosive materials at businesses on the outskirts of London.
A source said: “Iran uses proxies and they have control of a network of individuals linked to Hizbollah.
“Iran has Hizbollah operatives in position to carry out a terrorist attack in the event of a conflict. That is the nature of the domestic threat Iran poses to the UK.”
MI5 and the Metropolitan Police are confident the 2015 raids severely disrupted Iran’s terror activities in the UK but cells are widespread in Europe.
The 2015 plot, whose existence was first disclosed by the Telegraph only last monthafter it had been kept hushed up by authorities, was described as “proper organised terrorism”. Another source said enough explosive materials were stored to do “a lot of damage”.
The London-based cell was not operating in isolation but part of an international Hizbollah plot to lay the groundwork for future attacks, according to well-placed sources.
Iran-backed terrorist cells ‘ready to strike’ UK as tension escalates Iran-backed terrorist cells ‘ready to strike’ UK as tension escalates Iran-backed terrorist cells ‘ready to strike’ UK as tension escalates iran briefing
Iran detains 17 citizens accused of spying for the CIA
Tehran, Iran(CNN) Iran has detained 17 Iranian citizens accused of acting as spies for the United States Central Intelligence Agency, according to the country’s Ministry of Intelligence.
An Intelligence Ministry document sent to CNN claims Iran had broken up a CIA spying ring and captured 17 suspects, all of whom confessed to acting as spies for the CIA.
“Defendants serving their sentences in prison mentioning tempting promises of CIA officers including emigration to USA, a proper job in America, and money,” the Intelligence Ministry document said. It added that the spy mission was to collect classified information “from substantial centers as well as intelligence/technical operations.”
The ministry said some of the 17 will be executed.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged caution in response to the announcement. Speaking on the Fox & Friends morning news show, he said: “The Iranian regime has a long history of lying … I would take with a significant grain of salt any Iranian assertion about actions they’ve taken.”
The announcement comes amid a standoff between Tehran and Western powers following President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran, and an accelerating series of recent maritime episodes, including Iran’s seizure of a UK-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.
Under the heading “Destiny of Spies,” Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said in the document: “Individuals who consciously and deliberately betrayed the country and refused to compensate for the losses have been handed over to the judiciary system. Others, who honestly cooperated with the security system and their remorsefulness have been proved, have been managed with intelligence direction against Americans.”
CNN has approached the CIA for comment.
Iran detains 17 citizens accused of spying for the CIA Iran detains 17 citizens accused of spying for the CIA iran brifing iran brifing iran brifing
Iran must pay a price for piracy
Iran must pay a price for piracy
Iran must pay a price for piracy
Something should be smoldering in the Strait of Hormuz very soon. That something should be an asset of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy — the mullah regime’s pirate operation.
A MYSTERIOUS DRONE ATTACKED ‘IRAN-BACKED MILITIA’ IN IRAQ
