“Iran’s First Successful Military Space Launch Should Worry Israel,” Yossi Melman Haaretz, April 25, 2020. Here are some excerpts from the Haaretz story about the very concerning military program to place a satellite by Iran. “But it is the second stage that highlights the Islamic Republic’s technological progress – and military ambitions. It uses a solid propellant, the process of making which is more advanced than a liquid propellant. Its advantage lies in the fueling process. Like a car’s gas tank, it can take time to fill a rocket with liquid propellant. Within that time, enemy intelligence agencies could take notice. Solid propellant allows for quicker, more covert fueling.” Also, “There is also the notable fact that because the launcher was a mobile Shahab-3 adapted for a longer rocket, there was no launch umbilical tower – the tower of scaffolding frequently used to service a spacecraft on the launchpad – setting it apart from Iran’s past “civilian” launches.” Finally, a notable quote in the story from a missile expert. “The very act of launching a military satellite in the midst of the coronavirus crisis is a statement of self-confidence and perseverance by the Ayatollahs.”
As an example of “fake news” the Regime puts out, notice the headline then read the article. The Mayor of London did not say anything comparing the UK and Iran’s response to Covid-19, let alone that Iran is responding better than the UK. See “London Mayor Says Iran More Successful Than UK in Battling COVID-19,” IFP Media Wire, April 25, 2020. Acting under official license from Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Iran Front Page touts that it is one of the only private and independent Iranian news websites with English-speaking audiences. See https://ifpnews.com/about-us. IFP claims “This media group belongs to the private sector and works independently from all political parties and movements. By and large, IFP is trying to say that in Iran life goes on as normally as it can.”
I didn’t know that a story about Saudi Arabia solely would make my blog today. But of two countries that still use the barbaric and Sharia-based penalty of flogging, Saudi Arabia has announced it will cast it aside, and Iran continues to use it. See “Saudi Arabia abolishes flogging as punishment,” Al Jazeera, April 25, 2020. See also, “Iran imposes flogging on Christian convert for peaceful protest,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 23, 2020.
76 persons died officially in Iran on Friday. “Iran says coronavirus death toll rises by 76 to 5,650 – health ministry,” Reuters, Jerusalem Post, April 25, 2020.
“40 years since the U.S. military fiasco in Iranian desert,” Tehran Times, April 25, 2020.