Month: May 2025

This has happened repeatedly, against the reporters and facilities of Iran International.  The Leader and the Regime must fear this news outlet.  “Alleged Iranian spies charged with targeting UK-based journalists,” BBC, 5-17-25.

“Iran’s Khamenei launches blistering attack on Trump after Middle East visit,” Fox, 5-17-25.  Quote of the Day, Pres. Trump, “While you have been constructing the world’s tallest skyscrapers in Jeddah and Dubai, Tehran’s 1979 landmarks are collapsing into rubble.”

“Iran says it will continue nuclear talks with the U.S., shrugging off Trump’s threats,” NBC, AP, 5-17-25.

“Iran says no new nuclear proposal, disputing Trump: ‘Confusing and contradictory’ messaging,” The Hill, 5-16-25.

“Iran, Europe meet in Istanbul for nuclear talks as sanctions loom,” AFP, 5-16-25.

“Trump Says U.S., Iran Close to Nuclear Deal,” WSJ, 5-15-25.  “Trump cited a story published Thursday setting out Iran’s position on the talks.   …  an NBC interview with Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the interview, Shamkhani said that Tehran was ready to make concessions to secure a nuclear deal with Washington. However, he didn’t signal any change in Iran’s most important red line—an insistence that Tehran is able to continue enriching uranium. Trump and other top officials have said Iran shouldn’t have an enrichment program under a new nuclear deal. Shamkhani said Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons, scrap its stockpile of highly enriched, near weapons-grade uranium and agree to enrich uranium only at low levels of purity needed for a civilian peaceful program.”  And the U.S. would offer great sanctions relief.

“Top Iranian official says Tehran would forgo highly enriched uranium in nuclear deal with Trump,” NBC, 5-14-25.  Shamkhani is one of the few persons Supreme Leader  Khamenei trusts.

“Iran passes bill that could remove it from dirty money watchdog blacklist,” Reuters, JPost, 5-14-25.  “Iran has been on the blacklist of the Financial Action Task Force since 2020 because it did not comply to the organization’s standards on anti-terrorism financing.”  I don’t know if the bill will satisfy the FATF.  Iran has used its banking system for so long to fund terror and proxies.

“Trump tells Gulf leaders Iran must end support of proxies under nuclear deal,” AP, Times of Israel, 5-14-25.

“Trump appeals for Qatar’s help in persuading Iran to give up its nuclear program,” AP, 5-14-25.

“US issues sanctions to hit Iranian efforts to build ballistic missiles,” Reuters, 5-14-25.

“Iran rejects Trump’s negative portrayal of its regional role,” Reuters, 5-14-25.  No state backs up Iran’s statements about itself.

“Exclusive: Iran to send Russia launchers for short-range missiles, sources say,” Reuters, 5-10-25.  More deadly news for the citizens of Ukraine, from the Supreme Leader.  But this is a reminder—Iran says its armaments are not meant for Ukraine nor are they ending up there.  So why are ISI drones flying through eastern Ukraine?  They are shot down or explode, and there remnants remain.  They are there for anyone to see.

“Iran won’t give up on its ‘nuclear rights,’ FM says ahead of upcoming talks with US,” Reuters, 5-10-25.  There are no “nuclear rights” in international law.

“Iran, US to resume nuclear talks on Sunday after postponement,” Reuters, 5-9-25.

There are 8 Iranians it looks like who have been arrested.  And it was against Israel’s embassy in the UK, a target with huge implications.  And, true to form, Iran denies everything.  “Iranian terror suspects ‘targeted Israeli embassy in London’,” The Times, 5-8-25.  “Since January 2022, police and MI5 have disrupted more than 20 Tehran-linked assassination and kidnap plots in Britain against dissidents and media organisations.”

Apparently a chemical production company in Semnan Province.  “Iran’s hidden nuclear facility uncovered by satellite imagery – report,” Fox, 5-8-25.

“Trump says he’ll decide on name of ‘Persian Gulf’ on Middle East visit,” Al Jazeerz, 5-8-25.  “Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned the latest suggestions of a name change as “indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people”, and warned that such a move would “only bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life”.”  We’ll see.

“Israeli embassy in London ‘was target of alleged terror plot’,” Sky, 5-8-25.

“IRGC commander says Iran will open the ‘gates of hell’ if the US, Israel attack,” JPost, 5-8-25.

Lest there be any doubt that Iran controls the Houthis (money, missiles, arms, advisors, etc.)(and despite the claims of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei)—don’t attack the U.S., keep attacking Israel was the direction.  “Two Iranian officials, one from the foreign ministry and the other from the Revolutionary Guards, said that Iran had persuaded the Houthis to stop their attacks on US assets as part of the Omani [nuclear program] mediation efforts, The New York Times reported. Oman later revealed it had mediated the ceasefire deal, according to which neither side will target the other, including US vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.”  See “Reports: Iran pressed Houthis into truce with US to build ‘momentum’ in nuclear talks,” Times of Israel, 5-7-25.

“Reports: Iran pressed Houthis into truce with US to build ‘momentum’ in nuclear talks,” Times of Israel, 5-7-25.

Planned?  Inevitable.  And will continue.  “Power outage to hit Iran gov’t offices,” JPost, 5-7-25.

“Iran furious at Trump ‘renaming’ Persian Gulf ‘Arabian Gulf’,” New Arab, 5-7-25.

“Iran has ‘assassination list’, ex-US security adviser says – and reveals its most valued target,” Sky, 5-7-25.

Message to Iran.  “Israel says it has disabled Yemen’s main airport with airstrikes against rebels,” AP, 5-6-25.

Another message to Iran.  “Oman says it mediated a ceasefire between U.S., Yemen’s Houthis,” NBC, 5-6-25.  Pres. Trump announced that the Houthis had declared they will stop attacking the shipping lanes adjacent to Yemen, and that the U.S. will thus stop its bombing of the Houthis.

“Iran Update, May 6, 2025,” ISW Press, 5-6-25.

“Iranian arrested in UK over terror plot ‘very well connected’ to Tehran regime – report,” JPost, 5-6-25.

A story that won’t go away, Turkey helping Iran avoid U.S. sanctions.  “Turkish bank appeals Iran sanctions decision to US Supreme Court,” Reuters, 5-6-25.

“Netanyahu vows to retaliate against Houthis and Iran after missile attack,” Sky, 5-5-25.

“U.S. and Iran to Hold Nuclear Talks on Saturday,” NYT, 5-5-25.

“Reports: Arrested Iranian suspects may have been ‘hours away’ from ‘major attack’ on UK synagogue; no confirmation,” Times of Israel, 5-5-25.

“Iran denies ordering Houthi attacks, as Yemen group reports wave of US airstrikes,” Times of Israel, 5-5-25.

How much is Turkey acting in conjunction with Iran, or for its own purposes?  “Turkey accused of financing Hezbollah’s resurgence in Lebanon, sending planes loaded with cash,” Nordic Monitor, 5-5-25.