Iran Nation or Cause

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaaani said the Islamic Republic of Iran, while repeatedly opposing the war, has always supported political solutions to the Ukraine conflict. Kanaaani added Iran’s approach vai-a-vis the Ukraine war has not changed, and the repeated claims of sending ballistic missiles to Russia are made with specific political objectives of some Western states and are baseless.”  See “Iran says has never been part of Ukraine war, supports political solutions,” Iran Front Page, 9-8-24.

“Paris court charges couple in Iranian plot to kill Jews and Israelis,” Iran International, 9-8-24.

“Iran’s President Pezeshkian to visit Iraq in first foreign trip,” Al Arabiya, 9-8-24.

“US, UK spy chiefs warn of deepening Iran-Russia military links,” Bloomberg, Stars and Stripes, 9-8-24.  Dangerous for the region, world, and even Iran and Russia.

“U.S. Tells Allies Iran Has Sent Ballistic Missiles to Russia,” WSJ, 9-6-24.

When you are 8 foot one inch, and even sitting, and the net is just 3 foot 9 inches …   “World’s second-tallest man leads Iran into sitting volleyball gold medal match | NBC Sports,” NBC, 9-6-24.

“Iranian-linked websites set up targeting US minority, veteran voters,” Politico, 9-6-24.

Even with Iran providing short-range ballistic missiles to Russia to kill Ukrainians, and despite the BRICS alliance and relationship among a group of world actors that are acting in aggressive ways, they both retain their self-interests.  “Iran warns Russia against siding with Azerbaijan in border dispute,” Guardian, 9-6-24.

Iran allegedly hired a native of Pakistan, Asif Merchant, for $50,000, to shoot President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and former candidate Nikki Haley.  “Grassley releases new details of Iran-backed assassination plots against Trump, Biden and others,” Fox, 9-5-24.

“Iran’s Shadow Oil Trade: The Largest Global Share of Smuggling Vessels,” Iran News Update, 9-5-24.  This is the best one article I’ve seen on Iran’s ghost trade efforts and its scope—the largest smuggler in the world.  UANI says “Iran exported a total of 1.46 million bpd of oil last year. UANI identified 400 vessels involved in the secret transportation of Iranian oil.”

He is arguing that Iran is not changing.  “The man who predicted Hamas’s Iran-backed invasion of Israel,” Iran International, 9-5-24.

The hostage-taker gets taken hostage, and it cost $3 million.  “Iran pays millions in ransom to end massive cyberattack on banks, officials say,” Politico, 9-4-24.

I need someone to tell me what posting a “period” means.  See “An Iranian writer is sentenced to 12 years after tweeting a dot at the supreme leader,” NPR, 9-2-24.

“Ukraine Allies Expect Iran to Ship Missiles to Russia Imminently,” Bloomberg, 9-2-24.

Iran continues to give the Houthis lots of leash.  “US military says Yemen’s Houthis attacked two crude oil tankers in Red Sea,” Reuters, 9-2-24.

Force against Iran works.  It has now been some weeks, well over a month, and they still haven’t carried through with their threats against Israel.  “How US Surged Forces to Middle East To Keep Iran at Bay,” Newsweek, 8-28-24.  See also “Mapped: U.S. rushes warships to Middle East in show of force to Iran,” Axios, 8-28-24.  “The U.S. has positioned about 18 warships including two aircraft carriers in and around the Middle East as it seeks to deter Iran and its proxies from conducting attacks that could evolve into all-out war with Israel.”

How nice of the Houthis and Iran.  “Yemen’s Houthis will let salvage crews access oil tanker they set ablaze in Red Sea,” Reuters, 8-28-24.

The Supreme Leader himself has always veered between two sides of any topic, and of course this important topic—survival of himself and the purpose of the Regime.  “Iran’s supreme leader open to new negotiations with U.S. on Tehran’s nuclear weapons program,” PBS, 8-27-24.

“Greek-flagged oil tanker appears to be leaking oil, Pentagon says,” Reuters, 8-27-24.

“The battle over Iran’s terror financing,” Politico, 8-26-24.  “While the war in Gaza makes the headlines, Europe and the U.S. are worried about Hezbollah’s illicit financing.”

“IRGC-backed Iraqi militia plotted attacks against central Asian Jewish centers – report,” I24, 8-26-24.

Quote of the Day—H.R. “McMaster noted that every presidential administration has people who try to manipulate the president and said that if Trump were given smart advice, the president often made good decisions. One of those, in McMaster’s view, was withdrawing the United States from the nuclear treaty with Iran in the spring of 2018.  …  Iran, McMaster said, is now a real threat. particularly given that Biden has backed away from some of Trump’s policies. Saying Iran “is willing to expend every Arab life, every Palestinian life, every Lebanese life, in pursuit of its objective of destroying Israel,” McMaster said that the Iranian threat needs to be taken seriously. “I think,” McMaster said, “that the narrative that you constantly hear about turning down the temperature, escalation management, the reluctance, really, to confront Iran directly and impose costs on Iran, that actually gives Iran license to escalate on their own terms, with impunity.”  See “Former national security adviser says Trump can be manipulated with flattery,” Politico, 8-25-24.

Yes, Iran-backed.  “Iran-Backed Hezbollah Says It Launched Over 320 Katyusha Rockets At Israel,” NDTV, 8-25-24.

“Iran’s Guard leader reiterated pledge of ‘revenge’ against Israel shortly before planned Hezbollah attack,” Times of Israel, 8-25-24.

Another Quote of the Day, from Pres. Pezeshkian’s new FM Abbas Araqhchi.  Iran “will maintain the Islamic Republic’s strategic approach toward Latin American countries, particularly Venezuela,” an IRNA report noted.  See “Iran’s diplomatic efforts can achieve its goals without having to attack Israel – analysis,” JPost, 8-24-24.