Iran’s Shadow War Against Saudi Arabia Heats Up
Iran’s Shadow War Against Saudi Arabia Heats Up
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have launched a cascade of attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks
The U.S. and Iran are Already at War Online
The U.S. and Iran are Already at War Online
The U.S. and Iran are Already at War Online
When a U.S. Navy surveillance drone was shot down over the Strait of Hormuzon June 20, the U.S. blamed Iran. The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said his country was “ready for war,” and President Donald Trump responded by declaring that Iran had made a “very big mistake.” Around the world, observers worried that the two countries were headed for battle. In a sense, however, they were already at war.
Enemies Dare Not Attack Iran: IRGC General
Enemies Dare Not Attack Iran: IRGC General
Enemies Dare Not Attack Iran: IRGC General
The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Iran’s growing military power has prevented the enemies from taking any military action against the Islamic Republic
The US Exploration Drone has been Targeted by the Iranian Army Air Defense Force
Earlier this June, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Ayatollah Khamenei, added air defense to the troops of the Iranian Army and has turned the military’s defense into the 4th branch of the Army of Islamic Republic of Iran.
Air defense includes measures to deal with aerial bombardments, missile attacks, and bridges into the airspace, which in the classic armies of the world, is part of the air force and is a military task.
At the same time, he ordered a new base to be established, named the Khatam-ol-Anbia air defense station.
This new base will work alongside army headquarters and the central base of Khatam-ol-Anbia. But, unlike always, for the command of this new base, he did not go with his usual candidates from the Revolutionary Guard, and this time he chose General Musavi who, at the same time, is the chief commander of the Iranian Army.
According to this decree, all air defense activities, whether in the Iranian Army Air Defense Force or in the Revolutionary Guards Air Force, will be centered in this base and under command of General Musavi.
Also Read: Who Are the 8 Guards Commanders Sanctioned By U.S.
In fact, Khamenei has transferred the IRGC’s missile defense, and air defense activities, to the Iranian Army, with preservation of power.
On Thursday, June 20, at dawn, an American exploration drone was identified and targeted by the 3rd Khordad defensive system.
At first, the IRGC commander, in an interview broadcasted on state television, declared that this drone was sighted by the Iranian Army. (This interview was broadcast only once from the state television but, in the interviews and news that followed, the army’s role was not mentioned.)
Apart from this interview, which was obviously conducted so hastily, and even the TV presenter made a mistake in announcing the name of the IRGC aerospace force, there are other reasons that can put a light on the Iranian Army’s role in the drone downing incident.
-The Iranian armed forces now have 4 air defense systems.
-Hawk Missile System (MIM-23 Hawk), which is the oldest Iranian air defense system, is at the disposal of the Iranian Army.
-The S-300 missile system is at the disposal of the Revolutionary Guards.
-The Bavar missile system, known as Iranian S-300, is at the disposal of the Iranian Army.
Also Read: IRGC downplays risk of military conflict as Iran-US tensions flare
The 3rd Khordad Air Defense System, although constructed by the aerospace force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been completed with Sayyad-2 missiles and launchers that are at the disposal of the Iranian Army.
But contrary to the statements of the IRGC commanders, claiming the 3rd Khordad system to be a native product, this defense system is a montage of BUK-M1 and BUK-M2 systems, a copy of the Russian BUK system.
At the time when Russia wouldn’t deliver the S-300, this system was assembled to defend Iran nuclear bases. But in some maneuvers, such as Muhammad Rasul-allah exercises, this system showed weakness; because in the Russian BUK, 4 missiles were considered but the 3rd Khordad system had only three and couldn’t follow 4 targets at the same time.
In June, after the S-300s were delivered, the 3rd Khordad system was put aside and transferred to the army.
Now the IRGC has only the S-300 air defense systems, which are assigned to protect strategic and sensitive locations of Iran, such as nuclear plants, oil refineries and the capital.
This information shows that the US drone was downed by the system that IRGC claims to build, but the operation was conducted by the Iranian Army.
It seems that, by announcing the IRGC as the responsible force for downing the US drone, the Islamic Republic of Iran is trying to protect the army from plausible consequences, such as sanctions or even designation as a terrorist organization by the US.
US Exploration Drone US Exploration Drone US Exploration Drone US Exploration Drone US Exploration Drone US Exploration Drone
IRGC downplays risk of military conflict as Iran-US tensions flare
IRGC downplays risk of military conflict as Iran-US tensions flare
IRGC downplays risk of military conflict as Iran-US tensions flare
The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps downplayed the risk of military conflict with the United States. Speaking at a June 27 IRGC ceremony introducing new commanders, Ali Fadavi said, “Despite the passing of 30 years since the end of the war [with Iraq] … no one has dared fire at us during this time.” He added, “The military strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran has resulted in America and its allies not daring to fire one bullet at us
Iran FM Trades Strong Words with Trump
Iran FM Trades Strong Words with Trump
Iran FM Trades Strong Words with Trump
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s recent threats to Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the United States “is not in a position to obliterate Iran
Who Are the 8 Guards Commanders Sanctioned By U.S.
Who Are the 8 Guards Commanders Sanctioned By U.S.
Who are the eight Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders were among Iranian officials sanctioned by the United States on Monday June 24?
The IRGC, designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, controls a large part of Iran’s economy besides its main functions of suppressing calls for reforms in the country and furthering Khamenei’s regional ambitions in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury, while announcing the commander’s names said that they were involved in Iran’s provocative ballistic missile development plans, and sabotage of oil tankers in international waters among other mischiefs.
According to the Department of Treasury, these generals are on top of a structure that leads IRGC’s “destructive activities” in the region. The United States generally views IRGC as an element of instability in the region.
The United States has previously sanctioned top IRGC commanders such as Qods Force’s Qassem Soleimani, former commander-in-chief Mohammad Ali Jafari and IRGC Intelligence Chief Hossein Taeb. But who are the 8 generals sanctioned on Monday and why are they important for military, economic and other reasons?
Amir Ali Hajizade, IRGC Aerospace Commander
Amir Ali Hajizadeh is the commander of IRGC Aerospace Force. He is a radical hardliner and an outspoken critic of President Hassan Rouhani’s administration. He is also the man in charge of Iran’s missile development program. He has been serving in this position for 10 years since 2009, meaning that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was also sanctioned on Monday, trusts him for the time being.
Hajizadeh is known for his staunch anti-U.S. remarks. He has always opposed the nuclear deal with the West (JCPOA). He has said that the main objective of Iran’s missile program is striking Israel.
IRGC Ground Force Commander Mohammad Pakpour
Mohammad Pakpour was on the list of Iranian commanders sanctioned by U.S. even before the 2015 nuclear deal. Like Hajizadeh, he was also appointed to his post in 2009 and is a highly decorated general. Khamenei awarded him a Victory medal.
He is one of the few IRGC generals with a good academic background and a Ph.D. degree in political geography. Unlike commanders such as Hajizadeh and Tangsiri, he has not been observed to trumpet anti-U.S. rhetoric.
He was subjected to U.S. sanctions before the JCPOA, but sanctions on him were lifted after the 2015 deal.
IRGC Naval Force Commander Alireza Tangsiri
Alireza Tangsiri is probably one of Khamenei’s most favorite commanders and one of the most radical IRGC officers. Khamenei appointed Tangsiri as the commander of IRGC in September 2018.
He is known for his staunch anti-U.S. views as well as his frequent anti-American speeches; and it is this aspect of his character that has made him popular at Khamenei’s headquarters.
Tangsiri has openly spoken about suicide missions against U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf. He has said he knows many individuals who can hit themselves, wrapped in explosives, on a U.S. ship.
He was involved in most of the cases of detaining U.S., UK, Canadian and Australian military personnel in the Persian Gulf.
During the past months, Tansiri has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Abbas Gholamshahi, IRGC Naval Commander, Bandar Abbas
Abbas Gholamshahi has been the commander of IRGC Navy’s first region in Bandar Abbas and in charge of defending the Strait of Hormuz since 2016.
He is a career naval officer and has served as the coordinating commander of IRGC Navy’s first region before being appointed to his current post. This is a post Tangsiri left to become the commander of the entire IRGC Navy.
Gholamshahi’s unit is the closest IRGC unit to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Ramzan Zirahi, IRGC Naval Commander, Bushehr
Ramzan Zirahi is the commander of IRGC Navy’s second region in the vicinity of the Bushehr nuclear power plant and has held this post since 2017.
The main mission of his unit is protecting the Kharg Island oil terminal and ensuring continued oil export from that terminal.
His unit was involved in detaining 10 U.S. sailors in 2016 near the Farsi Island and one of his officers was awarded a Victory Medal by Khamenei.
Yadollah Badin, IRGC Naval Commander, Mahshahr
Yadollah Badin is the commander of IRGC Navy’s 3rd region in Mahshahr, North of the Persian Gulf and has held this post since 2016.
The area under his command starts at Port Mahshahr and ends at the mouth of the river Arvad at the border with Iraq all along the southern boundaries of Iran’s Khouzestan Province.
Mansour Ravankar, IRGC Naval Commander, Asalouyeh
Mansour Ravankar has been the commander of IRGC Navy’s 4th region in Asalouyeh since 2016. The territory under his command spans from Bandar Abbas to Bushehr and is located between the first and second naval regions of the IRGC.
The region became particularly significant since 2019 when the Iranian government attached more importance to protecting the South Pars gas fields.
Ali Ozmaei, IRGC Naval Commander, Persian Gulf Islands
Ali Ozmaei, is the commander of IRGC Navy’s 5th region in the Persian Gulf area and in charge of the security of Lesser and Greater Tunbs and Abu Mousa Islands which are the subjects of a long standing dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
The islands were part of the IRGC Navy’s region one, but in 2012 they became a new region in order to allocate more resources to the protection of the Strait of Hormuz.
https://en.radiofarda.com/a/who-are-the-8-guards-commanders-sanctioned-by-u-s-/30019621.html
MP Boroujerdi: The presence of officials at mixed embassy parties is unacceptable
MP Boroujerdi: The presence of officials at mixed embassy parties is unacceptable
MP Boroujerdi: The presence of officials at mixed embassy parties is unacceptable
Iran Briefing / Last week, two parties were held at embassies based in Tehran:
Russian National Day, at the Russian embassy, and the Queen’s birthday party, at the British Embassy.
US Hits Iran with Cyberattack, Launches New Sanctions to Cripple Iran’s Economy
US Hits Iran with Cyberattack, Launches New Sanctions to Cripple Iran’s Economy
US Hits Iran with Cyberattack, Launches New Sanctions to Cripple Iran’s Economy
The US is waging cyberwar on Iran, attacking the regime’s military computers to block the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from firing missiles like the one that recently destroyed a US drone.
US-Iran crisis: Trump lashes out at ‘ignorant and insulting’ statement
US-Iran crisis: Trump lashes out at ‘ignorant and insulting’ statement
US-Iran crisis: Trump lashes out at ‘ignorant and insulting’ statement
Donald Trump has lashed out at the “ignorant and insulting statement” released by Iran after the US president announced fresh sanctions against the Middle Eastern nation