Category Archives: Iran
| A Virus Altered the Face of Security in Iran
by Nicole Pasulka
For more than 30 years, the United States took widely publicized, drastic measures to hinder nuclear development in Iran. But amid sanctions and diplomatic efforts and under pressure from Israel, the U.S. government secretly launched an unprecedented weapon at Iran’s nuclear facilities.
| The Syria Proxy War against the Islamic State (ISIS) Has Reached its Climax. Military Escalation, Towards a US-NATO Sponsored Ground Invasion?
Michel Chossudovsky
Washington’s strategy consists in spearheading a broader regional war by inciting Turkey, Saudi Arabia as well as Israel to do the “dirty work for us”.
Until recently, Syrian Government Forces together with their allies (Russia, Iran, Hezbollah) have been confronting so-called “opposition rebels” largely composed of “moderate” terrorists and mercenaries, with US-NATO intelligence and special forces forces operating covertly within their ranks.
| Non-stop sanctions
On Saturday, the United States and five other global powers lifted sanctions on Iran after a report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog saying Tehran had fulfilled its commitments to cut back its nuclear program.
The removal of sanctions gives Iran access to funds ranging from $50 to $100 billion, according to senior U.S. administration officials.
The U.S. says Iran has removed two-thirds of its centrifuges to enrich uranium, shipped out more than 98 percent of its enriched uranium stockpile and will be subjected to unprecedented inspections and access to its nuclear program.
It looked like the nuclear deal would have a good impact on U.S.-Iran relations. The long and difficult diplomatic process to negotiate the Iran nuclear deal opened channels of communication for the first time in decades and new opportunities for the two nations to engage on other key matters, said senior administration officials. “After the nuclear deal was completed, the discussions between our governments accelerated,” said Obama, securing the U.S. detainees release as part of a prisoner swap on Saturday.
The historic engagement also led to the release of five Americans unjustly detained by Iran. The former detainees include Jason Rezaian, a journalist for The Washington Post; Saeed Abedini, an Idaho pastor held for more than three years; former Marine sergeant Amir Hekmati of Michigan held for more than four years; Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, and student Matthew Trevithick.
In exchange, the U.S. granted clemency to six Iranian-Americans and one Iranian awaiting trial on charges they violated U.S. trade sanctions against Iran.
But…
The same day the United States imposed sanctions on 11 companies and individuals for supplying Iran’s ballistic missile program.
“The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated 11 entities and individuals involved in procurement on behalf of Iran’s ballistic missile program. OFAC sanctioned Mabrooka Trading Co LLC (Mabrooka Trading) – based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – and its China- and UAE-based network that have been involved in procuring goods for Iran’s ballistic missile program. This network obfuscated the end user of sensitive goods for missile proliferation by using front companies in third countries to deceive foreign suppliers. Also designated today are five Iranian individuals who have worked to procure ballistic missile components for Iran. This action is consistent with the U.S. government’s commitment to continue targeting those who assist in Iran’s efforts to procure items for its ballistic missile program”, – press release informs. https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0322.aspx
The announcement of the new sanctions came hours after three Americans detained by Iran boarded a Swiss plane departing Tehran.
Ten US Marines have been released in Iran
The ten US Marines who had trespassed on Iran’s territorial waters and had been taken into Iranian custody have been released after Americans apologized for the incident.
The Public Relations Office of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the release on Wednesday.
Explainer: World reaction to Iran-Saudi hostilities
Diplomatic row between Mideast heavy weights has triggered various global responses – here’s what they’re saying:
Diplomatic tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran began with the kingdom’s execution of 47 people convicted of terrorism charges – including a prominent Shia cleric – and later saw attacks on Saudi diplomatic posts in the Islamic Republic.
