“Iran accelerates nuclear enrichment capacity,” Times of Israel, 6-19-24. Well, this is it. The final push. “Iran plans to triple its uranium enrichment capacity at Fordow, situated deep within a mountain in north-central Iran. This expansion comes shortly after Iran notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intentions to upgrade the facility, which had ceased enrichment activities under the 2015 nuclear agreement but resumed operations following the U.S. withdrawal in 2018. The new construction involves the installation of nearly 1,400 advanced centrifuges over the next month, enhancing Iran’s capability to produce enriched uranium, which can be used both for civilian nuclear power and potentially for nuclear weapons with further refinement. The planned deployment includes newer-model IR-6 centrifuges, more efficient than the IR-1 models currently in use.”
“US designates Iraq-based Iran-aligned militia group as terrorist organization,” Global Sanctions, 6-19-24. “The US Department of State has designated (fact sheet) Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and its Secretary General Haydar Muzhir Ma’lak al-Sa’idi as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under EO 13224. According to the State Dept, the group is an Iraq-based Iran-aligned militia part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq that has been involved in attacks on the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria, including the recent drone attack that killed 3 US soldiers at Tower 22 in Jordan in January 2024.”
Finally. “Canada to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist group after years of pressure,” RCI, 6-19-24.
“Iran warns Hezbollah about Israel’s attempt to assassinate Nasrallah,” MEMO, 6-19-24.
“Hezbollah leader threatens Cyprus as tensions with Israel ramp up,” CNN, 6-19-24.
“In the eyes of the world: Iran’s image is in tatters once more – opinion,” JPost, 6-19-24. Others do not see Iran as a regional power, partly due the government’s inability to find the location of the president’s plane crash, having to rely on Turkey.
“Qatar, Iran, and the Threat to the West,” Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 6-19-24.