Iran

[angelburst29]

Russia urges Europe to take clearer position on Iran deal

FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (not pictured) attend a joint news conference at Petersberg mountain on the sidelines of the so-called Petersburg Dialogue to speak on the conflict in Ukraine and the future of arms control in Koenigswinter near Bonn, Germany, July 18, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay

BONN, Germany - July 18,2019 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged Europe on Thursday to be clearer in its position on the Iran nuclear deal that the United States quit last year.

Speaking in Germany at talks with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Lavrov also said Russia had growing concerns that the United States was backing away from nuclear arms control treaties.

Rouhani tells Macron Iran determined to 'leave all doors open' to save 2015 deal: TV

Iran is determined to "leave all doors open" to save its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, Iranian state TV quoted President Hassan Rouhani as saying in a telephone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.

Germany presses Iran to meet nuclear deal obligations

Germany and the other countries that remain party to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal expect Tehran to uphold its side of the accord, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, describing recent pronouncements by the Iranians as "unacceptable".

Comment: The situation in the Gulf - Strait of Hormuz ... just got a little bit more complicated. Iran had earlier come to the assistance of a disable vessel in the Gulf and had it towed ashore for repairs. Now, the Iranians are impounding the oil tanker for illegal oil smuggling. The vessel has not been named or the Flag identifying the Country.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards impound foreign ship in the Gulf: state TV

Iran's Revolutionary Guards has seized a foreign ship smuggling fuel in the Gulf, state television quoted Iran's elite force as saying in a statement on Thursday.

Britain says tanker seized by Iran was not British
Britain said on Thursday that a tanker seized by Iran on suspicion of smuggling fuel in the Gulf was not British-flagged.

U.S. demands Iran free seized ship, vows to protect Gulf oil lifeline

The United States on Thursday demanded Iran immediately release a vessel it seized in the Gulf and a U.S. military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels through the vital waterway.

Gibraltar had 'positive' meeting with Iran over seized Grace 1 tanker
Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo had a "constructive and positive" meeting with Iranian officials in London about the detained oil tanker Grace 1, Gibraltar said.

U.S. amphibious group patrols Arabian Sea as Iran tensions simmer

At a thumbs-up sign from a sailor, a U.S. Harrier fighter jet takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in the Arabian Sea as an oil tanker passes, a nautical mile away.

U.S. Navy searching for missing sailor in Arabian Sea: statement
The U.S. navy and other ships are conducting search and rescue operations for a missing U.S. sailor in the Arabian Sea, the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet said.

“The Sailor has been listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) after a reported man overboard incident onboard Abraham Lincoln while operating in the Arabian Sea, July 17,” a Fifth Fleet statement said, without giving the sailor’s name.

A Spanish and a Pakistani navy ship are assisting two U.S. navy ships in the search operation.

U.S. general says will work 'aggressively' to enable free passage in the Gulf

U.S. Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie said on Thursday it was talking to other countries about freedom of navigation in the Gulf and would work "aggressively" to find a solution to enable free passage.

Indian warships to stay longer in Persian Gulf, but won't join U.S. coalition

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.

Exclusive: U.S. Gulf maritime proposal not military coalition against Iran - Pentagon official

FILE PHOTO: A damaged Andrea Victory ship is seen off the Port of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, May 13, 2019. REUTERS/Satish Kumar

WASHINGTON - July 18, 2019 - The United States is not aiming to set up a military coalition against Iran with its new security initiative in the Gulf, but simply “shining a flashlight” in the region to deter attacks on commercial ships, a top Pentagon official told Reuters.

Kathryn Wheelbarger, who briefed NATO allies this week on the U.S. proposal, said it was less operational and more geared toward increasing surveillance capabilities.

“This is not a coalition against Iran ... If you were militarily confronting Iran, this is not the construct that you would use,” said Wheelbarger, one of the most senior policy officials at the Pentagon.

“The goal is to increase maritime domain awareness and surveillance capabilities in the region to dissuade malign action,” she said, offering the most detailed assessment to date of the progress of the plans and discussions with allies.

“Just shining a flashlight on something - that’s all we’re asking people to do, quite frankly.”

Comment: The "most detailed assessment to date" ... is shining a flashlight? (Just a short preview of the Intelligence running the show!)

Maybe, a real comprehensive assessment might be to detail the strategy behind the arm twisting, in trying to manipulate "a coalition" to carry out your plans? With the end-game geared towards taking over "complete control" of the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'Wishful thinking.'

US Navy shoots down Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz – Trump

Shortly after entering the Persian Gulf, a US warship shot down an Iranian drone that had approached to within less than a kilometer, US President Donald Trump said at a White House press event.

www.rt.com

18 Jul, 2019

US may have shot down own drone in Persian Gulf, Iran says of Trump’s claim

Iran says it has not lost any unmanned aerial system, after President Donald Trump claimed a US warship had downed an Iranian drone.

www.presstv.com

Jul 19, 2019

https://twitter.com/x/status/1152081448704196611

Moscow on Reports of Downed Iranian Drone: Conflict Outbreak Possible in Persian Gulf

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow believes that any incidents are possible in the Persian Gulf region, given the high concentration of different forces there, and stresses the need to prevent a conflict outbreak, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister...

sputniknews.com

19.07.2019

IRGC Deputy Commander: American Forces under Intense Psychological Pressure in Persian Gulf
Jul 18, 2019

 

[Seato]

Iran seems to have seized another ship, which appears to be British.

Iran confiscates British tanker in Strait of Hormuz – IRGC

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has seized the British oil tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported. UK authorities said the tanker had ‘veered off course’ before capture.

The Stena Impero was headed to Saudi Arabia but left the international sea lanes and headed north towards the Iranian island of Qeshm, marine tracking data showed on Friday.

 

[angelburst29]

Iran seems to have seized another ship, which appears to be British.

Iran confiscates British tanker in Strait of Hormuz – IRGC

So, it was a British ship! Now, what is Britain going to do about the Iranian oil tanker, Grace 1 in the Port of Gibraltar? Looks like Iran has a bargaining tool? What makes the British position - even more embarrassing - it has three War ships "protecting it's interests" in the Gulf!

Iran says it seized British tanker, denies U.S. brought down drone

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they have captured a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz while Tehran and Washington disagreed about a U.S. assertion that its Navy had downed an Iranian drone nearby, further increasing tensions in the Gulf region.

Seized British-flagged tanker in Gulf had turned off its tracker, ignored warnings: IRNA
The British-flagged tanker seized by Iran's elite forces on Friday had turned off its tracker and ignored warnings from the Revolutionary Guards, Iran's state news agency IRNA quoted a military source as saying.

“The tanker had turned off its tracker and ignored several warnings by the Guards before being captured,” an unnamed military source told IRNA.

The same source told IRNA that the tanker’s violations also included sailing in the wrong direction in a shipping lane and ignoring directives.

Britain said it was urgently seeking information about the Stena Impero after the tanker, which had been heading to a port in Saudi Arabia, suddenly changed course after passing through the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf.

Second tanker in Gulf turns sharply towards Iran, Refinitiv data shows
A second oil tanker, the British-operated, Liberian-flagged Mesdar, turned sharply north towards Iran’s coast on Friday afternoon after passing westward through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf, according to Refinitiv tracking data.

The turn took place at about 1600 GMT, the data showed, about 40 minutes after a similar course shift by the Stena Impero tanker that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had captured.

There was no immediate word from the Guards about the second tanker or from the operator of the second tanker on what had prompted the change in direction along the vital international oil shipping route.

Trump says U.S. will talk to Britain after Iran seizes oil tanker
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would talk to the United Kingdom after Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it had seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf.

Iran's Guards say they will release images to disprove U.S. claim that drone shot down
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they would release images to disprove U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that the U.S. Navy has destroyed an Iranian drone in the Gulf, Iranian news agencies reported.

Britain says seizure of two vessels by Iran is unacceptable

Britain said Iran's seizure of a British-flagged vessel and a Liberian-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz was unacceptable and called for freedom of navigation in the Gulf.

Gibraltar extends detention of Iranian tanker for a month

Gibraltar was granted the power on Friday to detain Iran's Grace 1 oil tanker for another month, keeping the vessel at the center of a big-power quarrel between Iran and the United States and its allies.

I wonder what devious deeds Pompeo is up to now?

Pompeo says Iran needs to 'come to the table' for talks as tensions rise

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that the United States needed Iran to "come to the table" for negotiations, amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran in the Gulf that have impacted global oil markets.

 

[Windmill knight]

Iran seems to have seized another ship, which appears to be British.

Iran confiscates British tanker in Strait of Hormuz – IRGC

The article says:

Prior to the seizure, the tanker turned off its tracking device and had ignored warnings, Iranian military sources told state media.
“The reason behind the detention of the British tanker is that it did not adhere to the sea routes in the Strait of Hormuz, turned off the automatic identification system (AIS), polluted international waters and did not pay attention to the warnings of Iran,” the source said.

I wonder if the Iranians are offering excuses in order to grab the tanker in retaliation for the seizure of the one in Gibraltar, OR if the British tanker did do all of the above in order to provoke the Iranians into taking it. If the second, then that means that the West is actively seeking to escalate the situation.

 

[angelburst29]

I wonder if the Iranians are offering excuses in order to grab the tanker in retaliation for the seizure of the one in Gibraltar, OR if the British tanker did do all of the above in order to provoke the Iranians into taking it. If the second, then that means that the West is actively seeking to escalate the situation.

Notice the details in this report:

Second tanker in Gulf turns sharply towards Iran, Refinitiv data shows
A second oil tanker, the British-operated, Liberian-flagged Mesdar, turned sharply north towards Iran’s coast on Friday afternoon after passing westward through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf, according to Refinitiv tracking data.

The turn took place at about 1600 GMT, the data showed, about 40 minutes after a similar course shift by the Stena Impero tanker that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had captured.

The information is being relayed by "Refinitiv tracking data". Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized the Stena Impero tanker.

40 minutes later - another British oil tanker, the Liberian-flagged Mesdar was tracked performing a similar course shift - turning sharply north towards Iran’s coast ... after passing westward through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf.

My impression is that - while the US is (falsely) accusing Iran for shooting down a drone, the British were performing "course shifts" after passing through the Strait of Hormuz - sailing in the wrong direction in a shipping lane provoking (bullying) Iran.

Britain says Iran seizes two oil tankers in Gulf, Iran says captured one
Britain said Iran seized two oil tankers in the Gulf on Friday and told Tehran to return the vessels or face consequences in the latest confrontation to ratchet up tension along a vital international oil shipping route.

Iran says it seized tanker after collision, UK calls move a 'hostile act'
Iran said on Saturday it had seized a British-flagged oil tanker because it was involved in an accident, an explanation Britain rejected, calling the move a "hostile act".

A spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier-General Ramezan Sharif, said Tehran had seized the ship in the Strait of Hormuz despite the “resistance and interference” of a British warship which had been escorting it.

Iran’s Fars news agency said the Guards had taken control of the Stena Impero on Friday after it collided with an Iranian fishing boat whose distress call it ignored.

The vessel, carrying no cargo, was taken to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. It would remain there with its 23 crew — 18 of them Indians — while the accident was investigated, Iranian news agencies quoted the head of Ports and Maritime Organisation in southern Hormozgan province, Allahmorad Afifipour, as saying.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency posted a video of the ship anchored at sea, its name clearly visible. Zarif told Britain’s Hunt that the ship must go through a legal process before it could be released, Iran’s INSA news agency reported.

The strait, between Iran and the Arabian peninsula, is the sole outlet for exports of the vast majority of Middle Eastern oil, and the seizure sent oil prices sharply higher. The United States, which tightened sanctions against Iran in May with the aim of halting its oil exports altogether, has been warning for months of an Iranian threat to shipping in the strait.

France, Germany and the European Union joined Britain in condemning the seizure.

Iran’s actions in the Persian Gulf meet international maritime law - foreign minister
July 20, 2019 - All actions of Iran in the Persian Gulf are in accordance with the international maritime law, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on Saturday.

"Unlike the piracy in the Strait of Gibraltar, our action in the Persian Gulf is to uphold int'l maritime rules," he wrote on Twitter. "As I said in NY, it is IRAN that guarantees the security of the Persian Gulf & the Strait of Hormuz. UK must cease being an accessory to #EconomicTerrorism of the US."

The IRNA agency reported on Friday that Iran's elite forces Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained a British tanker Stena Impero over the vessel's "violation of international rules." According to the IRGC, the tanker was escorted to the shore for inspections.

All 23 crew members of the Stena Impero tanker detained by the Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz are on board the vessel in Bandar Abbas, and they will remain there until the investigation is complete, the Fars agency informed on Saturday citing local officials.

Russian embassy in Iran confirms three Russian citizens onboard detained tanker
MOSCOW, July 20, 2019 - Russian diplomats in Iran have so far been unable to contact the three Russian citizens onboard the Stena Impero tanker detained by the Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Yes, there are three Russian citizens onboard the tanker: two second mechanics and one electrical mechanic. Currently, all crew members, 23 people, remain onboard the detained vessel until the corresponding procedures are over, according to the Iranian side," an embassy representative informed TASS on Saturday.

Crew of detained British tanker to remain on board until investigation is over — agency
July 20. All crew members of the British oil tanker Stena Impero, detained by the Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz are on board the vessel in Bandar Abbas, and they will remain there until the investigation is complete, the Fars agency informed on Saturday.
According to a local official, the British tanker "was involved in an incident" with an Iranian fishing boat, after which it was detained. "The tanker is in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, and all 23 members of the crew will remain on board until the investigation [of the incident] is over," the agency quotes the official as saying.

The IRNA agency reported on Friday that Iran's elite forces Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained a British tanker Stena Impero over the vessel's "violation of international rules." According to the IRGC, the tanker was escorted to the shore for inspections.

President and Chief Executive of Stena Bulk (the Swedish company that owns the vessel) Erik Hanell said that "there are 23 seafarers onboard of Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality." A spokesperson for Stena Bulk earlier told TASS that there are three Russian citizens on board the detained tanker.

British-flagged tanker detained by Iran is not carrying any cargo: ISNA
A British-flagged oil tanker detained by Iran was not carrying any cargo, the head of the Ports and Maritime Organization in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province said on Saturday, according to the ISNA news agency.

The 23 crew members of the ship may be interviewed on technical matters, Allahmorad Afifipour added.

“If necessary, and at the request of judicial authorities, the crew may be summoned for technical and specialist interviews,” ISNA quoted Afifipour as saying.

Detained British-flagged tanker must go through legal process: Iran foreign minister

The detained British-flagged tanker Stena Impero must go through a legal process because it violated maritime regulations, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt in a phone call on Saturday, the Iranian news agency ISNA reported.

Russian ambassador in Tehran holds talks with advisor to Iranian parliament speaker - MEHR
MOSCOW, July 20, 2019 - Russia’s Ambassador to Iran Levan Dzhagaryan held talks on Saturday with Hossein Amir Abdollahian, foreign affairs advisor to the Iranian parliament speaker, Iran’s Mehr news agency said.

The agency reported that the two men discussed bilateral relations, international issues and recent developments in the region, but did not elaborate.

UK's Hunt expresses 'extreme disappointment' to Iran's Zarif over seized tanker

British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and expressed his "extreme disappointment" over Iran's seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

 

[angelburst29]

According to Russian senator Washington is going to use the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

Strait of Hormuz incident gives US cause to expand military presence in region - Kosachev

MOSCOW, July 20, 2019 - The incident with the UK oil tanker detained by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz gives the US a pretext to expand its military presence in the region, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council's (upper house of parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev stated on Saturday.

"It is clear by now who is going to use the escalation of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and in the Middle East on the whole: Pentagon just approved the transfer of troops to Saudi Arabia. The US also announced the development of an international operation aimed to defend the navigation in the Middle East in light of recent events in the Persian Gulf region," he wrote on Facebook.

Kosachev added that the quick preparations of the Sentinel international coalition in the wake of the incident "confirm the assumption that the US was simply waiting for a pretext to expand its military presence in the region, and it finally arrived."

The IRNA agency reported on Friday that Iran's elite forces Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained a British tanker Stena Impero over the vessel's "violation of international rules." According to the IRGC, the tanker was escorted to the shore for inspections.

All 23 crew members of the Stena Impero tanker detained by the Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz are on board the vessel in Bandar Abbas, and they will remain there until the investigation is complete, the Fars agency informed on Saturday citing local officials.

The Russian Embassy in Iran confirmed that there are three Russian nationals currently onboard the ship, adding that so far it has been unable to contact them.


UK calls seizure of ship a 'hostile act'; Iran releases video of capture (Video)

Britain denounced the Iranian seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf as a "hostile act" on Saturday, rejecting Tehran's explanation that it had seized the vessel because it had been involved in an accident.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards posted a video online showing speedboats pulling up alongside the Stena Impero tanker, its name clearly visible.

Troops wearing ski masks and carrying machine guns rappelled to its deck from a helicopter, the same tactics used by British Royal Marines to seize an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar two weeks ago.

 

[Windmill knight]

Notice the details in this report:

Second tanker in Gulf turns sharply towards Iran, Refinitiv data shows

A second oil tanker, the British-operated, Liberian-flagged Mesdar, turned sharply north towards Iran’s coast on Friday afternoon after passing westward through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf, according to Refinitiv tracking data.

The turn took place at about 1600 GMT, the data showed, about 40 minutes after a similar course shift by the Stena Impero tanker that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had captured.

The information is being relayed by "Refinitiv tracking data". Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized the Stena Impero tanker.

40 minutes later - another British oil tanker, the Liberian-flagged Mesdar was tracked performing a similar course shift - turning sharply north towards Iran’s coast ... after passing westward through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf

Yes, the tankers changing course abruptly could be a clear provocation. But I was still wondering if there was a way to determine definitely whether those turns happened before or after the Iranians got to them. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if Iran had decided to go after them simply as retaliation - they had already warned they might. But I also wouldn't be surprised if they had been provoked on top of that.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'It's all about the money and oil: How much Saudis are willing to pay to the US for destroying Iran's position in the oil market? - If foreign nations leave Venezuela (wishful thinking), US would control its oil reserves then. Who is going to be the main player on the oil market?'

US Secretary of Defence Authorizes Military Personnel, Resource Deployment to Saudi Arabia

Earlier in the day, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud reportedly approved hosting of US troops in the kingdom in a bid to enhance security in the region.

sputniknews.com

20.07.2019

Cuba, Russia, China, Iran – Pompeo lists every nation that 'must leave' Venezuela, except one

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says foreign nations (Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba) must stay clear of Venezuela, so that the one foreign nation not on the list “can begin to do the work to rebuild that country.”

www.rt.com

20 Jul, 2019

Iran’s rial relatively stable despite tensions in Persian Gulf

Iran’s rial is still stable against dollar despite sanctions and a flare-up of tensions in the Persian Gulf.

www.presstv.com

Jul 20, 2019

 

[angelburst29]

Yes, the tankers changing course abruptly could be a clear provocation. But I was still wondering if there was a way to determine definitely whether those turns happened before or after the Iranians got to them. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if Iran had decided to go after them simply as retaliation - they had already warned they might. But I also wouldn't be surprised if they had been provoked on top of that.

It's my understanding that the Sterno Impero oil tanker turned sharply north - and proceeded to go in the opposite direction in a shipping lane (heading towards Iranian shores) when it collided with a Iranian fishing boat. After the accident, Iran seized the Sterno Impero.

Crew of detained British tanker to remain on board until investigation is over — agency
July 20. All crew members of the British oil tanker Stena Impero, detained by the Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz are on board the vessel in Bandar Abbas, and they will remain there until the investigation is complete, the Fars agency informed on Saturday.
According to a local official, the British tanker "was involved in an incident" with an Iranian fishing boat, after which it was detained. " "The tanker is in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, and all 23 members of the crew will remain on board until the investigation [of the incident] is over," the agency quotes the official as saying.

 

[thorbiorn]

Talking about Iran, its past and present over a cup of Iranian tea
Yesterday I spoke to an Iranian. I got from this conversation that there are Iranians who actually would not mind if the US bombed Iran. It is not because they do not like Iran - or so I think, but they were/are not happy with the Islamic revolution in 1978. The person I spoke to had for instance lost several classmates, because they either were executed or disappeared and complained there are still people who disappear and still some that are executed. Also the revolution was Islamic, and suppressed all other faith groups, like Christian, Bahai Zoroastrians. For some issues in this regard one can check the Wiki. From another who was a communist, I know they were also in big trouble. The source said many in Iran do not like religion, also young people as they have seen what comes of it, suppression, death and destruction. Here I am wondering if that was the plan all along. To press many people into a narrow box that few thinking minds would be able to stand and thereby press them into accepting atheism as the way out or inspire them to run away?

I tried to find the number of people executed per year in Iran and it is around 500 but was closer to 1000 in 2015. The murder rate is around 2 per 100,000. The person said there numbers are too low, because everything the government says is a lie. I could not argue against such a claim, but went about it in different way.

In Iran there are around 82 million people, so if we add the people executed to the number murdered we get around 3 per 100,000 and even if we double that we still only have 6, which in a world perspective is still on the low side. At least the US has 5 homicides per 100,000 and South Africa around 30. Apart from that I said that there are issues in Iran that could be done more about. It turned out that the amount of traffic casualties per 100,000 is above 20, which is very high, and neither the people nor the government can be happy with such a number which often strikes very randomly apart from all the people who do not die, but get handicapped for the rest of their lives. In this way one can look at more factors of death than just how many get executed or murdered.

I got the impression that a number (many?) exile Iranians believe everything that comes out of presstv.ir is a lie just because the government of Iran supports it or even controls it, and that on the contrary what the western medias like bbc,co.uk, tv5monde.com, jpost.com nytimes.com, cnn.com theguardian.co.uk have to say about Iran is so much more to be believed.

The present flag of Iran says Allahu Akbar 11 times:

The new flag resembles but is somewhat different from the old flag:

My source said many people prefer the old flag and don't like the new flag. I did not know the story of the new flag, but it is as old as the Iranian monarchie and if I compare the foreign policy of Iran with the symbols of the flag, I would venture to pint out that the old symbol reflects more clearly on what Iran really is and does, just like new clothes (a new flag) does not change the character of a person.

The US and its allies like the UK, France and Israel and their modern day variants of a medieval siege have done a job, although not yet completely successful job of putting Iran in a bind. The sanctions they initiate or grudgingly support help to split the country, raise the prices and put the people, also those outside of Iran up against themselves.

Looking back at the conversation, I am happy that it took place, it was about politics, about a country that I can relate to because I have met many people with roots in Iran. It was also a conversation about life and life choices and about the conflicts outside and inside that help to determine which direction is taken in the life of a person.

I began with mentioning Iranian tea, and it was good. Who know, perhaps one day there will be time for another cup

 

[angelburst29]

Add another conflict to the list ...

Iran says it arrests CIA spies, Gulf tensions simmer

FILE PHOTO - The Iranian flag flutters in front the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria July 10, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Iran announced on Monday it had captured 17 spies working for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and sentenced some of them to death, deepening a crisis between the Islamic Republic and the West.

Iranian state television published images that it said showed the CIA officers who had been in touch with the suspected spies.

In a statement read on state television, the Ministry of Intelligence said 17 spies had been arrested in the 12 months to March 2019. Some have been sentenced to death, according to another report.

Such announcements are not unusual in Iran, and are often made for domestic consumption. But the timing suggests Tehran could harden its position in a standoff with Western powers which has raised fears of a direct military confrontation.

[...] Iran announced in June that it had broken up an alleged CIA spy ring but it was unclear whether Monday’s announcement was linked to the same case.

Pompeo dismisses Iran's announcement that it captured U.S. spies

FILE PHOTO - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a joint news conference with President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele at the Presidential House in San Salvador, El Salvador, July 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

WASHINGTON July 22, 2019 - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday dismissed Iran’s announcement it had captured 17 spies working for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and sentenced some to death.

Iran made the announcement in state media, saying the alleged spies had been arrested in the 12 months to March 2019. Such announcements are not unusual in Iran, but the timing has raised concerns that Tehran is hardening its position in its standoff with Western powers.

“The Iranian regime has a long history of lying ... I would take with a significant grain of salt any Iranian assertion about actions that they’ve taken,” Pompeo said in an interview with Fox News Channel.

Pompeo declined to comment about any specific cases, but added: “There’s a long list of Americans that we are working to get home from the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

In recent weeks, the United States has blamed Iran for a string of incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping alley in the oil trade bordering one coast of Iran. Iran has denied the accusations.

On Friday, Iran seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the strait. Tehran had previously warned it would retaliate after the Britain captured an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar.

Asked about any possible U.S. role in the tensions, Pompeo said, “The responsibility ... falls to the United Kingdom to take care of their ships.”

Iranian documentary purports to show CIA officers recruiting Iranian in UAE
An Iranian television documentary aired on Monday purported to show an officer of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruiting an Iranian man in the United Arab Emirates.

“Because there are so many intelligence officers in Dubai. It is very dangerous... Iranian intelligence,” a woman was shown telling an Iranian in the documentary about alleged CIA spying in Iran which was broadcast on state television.

The woman spoke Persian with an accent which appeared to be American.

Trump denies Iran arrested 17 people accused of being U.S. spies

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday categorically denied that Iran had arrested 17 people whom Tehran accused of being CIA spies and had sentenced some to death, calling the reports "totally false."

Release tanker and crew immediately, Britain tells Iran

Britain called on Iran on Monday to release a British-flagged tanker and its crew immediately, describing the seizure of the Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz as illegal.

All crew on British-flagged tanker are in good health: Iranian embassy in India

All crew members aboard the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, including Indian nationals, are in good health and still on the vessel, the Iran embassy in India said on Monday.

Saudi minister says Iran's actions are unacceptable

Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs on Sunday condemned Iran's seizure of a British flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and urged the international community to take action to deter such "unacceptable" behavior.

Qatar 'cautiously following' recent developments in Strait of Hormuz
Qatar said on Sunday it was "cautiously following" recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz and incidents affecting regional and international shipping lines.

Timeline: Iran's recent clashes with the West over Gulf shipping, nuclear plans

Tensions between Iran and the West have escalated since U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports took full effect in May and British naval forces seized an Iranian supertanker.

Britain weighs response to Iran Gulf crisis with few good options

Britain was weighing its next moves in the Gulf tanker crisis on Sunday, with few good options apparent as a recording emerged showing that the Iranian military defied a British warship when it boarded and seized a ship three days ago.

Factbox: Amano headed U.N. nuclear watchdog during turbulent period

U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Yukiya Amano has died, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Monday. He was 72.

Here are five facts about Amano.

- Amano, a gently-spoken Japanese diplomat, took over as head of the IAEA in 2009, replacing Egypt’s Mohamed ElBaradei, who had often clashed with U.S. officials over Iran.

- Amano was reappointed in 2017 to a third four-year term. His term had been due to run until Nov. 30, 2021, but diplomats said last week he was planning to step down early, in March next year, due to an unspecified illness.

- The IAEA’s responsibilities include policing restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities under Tehran’s 2015 deal with world powers. Amano often emphasized that his agency’s work is technical, not political, but the U.S. decision to quit the 2015 deal has added to already considerable political pressures on him and his agency. That decision has triggered a growing standoff between Tehran and Washington, which has re-imposed economic sanctions on Iran.

- Amano said the spread of atomic weapons and nuclear terrorism posed an increasing threat for the international community. “It is unlikely that this trend will ever be reversed, but rather it will continue to accelerate,” he said.

- Born in 1947 and a graduate of Tokyo University, Amano specialized in multilateral disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation posts and negotiations during more than three decades in Japan’s foreign service. He served as chairman of the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors in 2005-06 when the agency and ElBaradei were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Amano accepted the prize on behalf of the agency.

 

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Russia believes that the idea of a security system in the Gulf may play a key role in consolidating political and diplomatic efforts in that region.

Russian Foreign Ministry calls for establishing Gulf security organization

Russian Foreign Ministry's office © Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

MOSCOW, July 23. /TASS/. Russia’s concept of collective security in the Gulf was presented by Russian president’s special envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov on Tuesday, as follows from the Russian foreign ministry press statement.

"In the context of Russia ideas about ways to stabilize the situation in the Gulf, it was stressed that a really inclusive regional security system may serve as a basis to ensure a worthy future for all nations of this strategically important part of the world. The key principles of the concept are a phased character, multilateralism and strict commitment to international law, first of all the United Nations Charter and its Security Council resolutions. The strategic goal set by the document is to create a comprehensive mechanism of collective security and cooperation in the Gulf that would involve all the countries of the region on the basis of equality," the ministry said.

Russia believes that the idea of a security system in the Gulf may play a key role in consolidating political and diplomatic efforts in that region. The concept envisages the implementation of a long-term plan of action to normalize the situation, strengthen stability and security, settle conflicts, outline benchmarks and parameters of a future post-crisis system and ways to implement tasks stemming from that. "Our initiative develops Russia’s proposals suggested in the late 1990s and undated in 2004 and 2007," the ministry noted.

Organization of a Conference:
Russia calls for the establishment of an initiative group to prepare an international conference on security and cooperation in the Gulf with eye of setting up an organization for these purposes.

"Practical steps towards the launch of a process of the establishment of a security system in the Gulf may begin with bilateral and multilateral consultations between the parties concerned, including regional and off-region states, the United Nations Security Council, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. These contacts will be geared to form an initiative group to prepare an international conference on security and cooperation in the Gulf. The group will be tasked to agree geographical limits of the future security system, its participants, the agenda, the level of representation, a venue for the future forum and to draft its resolutions, including on measures of security, trust and control," the document says.

"The central long-term task is to establish an organization for security and cooperation in the Gulf that, along with the Gulf nations, would include Russia, China, the United States, the European Union, India and other parties concerned as observers or associated members," the concept says.

Demilitarized Zones:
Apart from that, Russia calls on the world community to look at its initiative to establish demilitarized zones in the Gulf region.

"The Gulf countries and off-region nations should sign agreements on arms control envisaging, for instance, the establishment demilitarized zones, prohibiting all the parties to stockpile destabilizing arsenals of conventional arms, including anti-tank weapons, balanced reduction of arms by all the parties. Apart from that, they should sign agreements on fighting international terrorism, illegal arms trafficking and migration, drug trafficking and organized crime," the document says.

Russia also calls for non-deployment of permanent forces of off-region states in the Gulf area and establish ‘hotlines’ between the military.

"Russia suggests the following consideration on a package of security, trust and control measures as preliminary ideas that require further discussion. Concerning the situation in the Gulf, countries of that region and off-region nations should undertake mutual commitments of transparency in the military sphere (dialogue on military doctrines, sub-regional meetings of defense ministers, the establishment of hotlines, exchanges of notifications about military drills and flights of military aircraft, exchanges of observers, non-deployment of forces of off-regional states on the territories of the Gulf countries, exchange of information on weapons purchased and armed forces)," the document says.

In the context of strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime in the Middle East resting on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the concept calls on international players to take steps to free the region from weapons of mass destruction.

Europeans, China, Russia to meet Iran in Vienna on July 28

FILE PHOTO - The Iranian flag flutters in front the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria March 4, 2019. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China will meet Iran in Vienna on July 28 to discuss how to save the 2015 nuclear deal, the EU's foreign policy service said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The meeting has been convened at the request of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Iran, and will examine issues linked to the implementation of the JCPOA in all its aspects,” the statement said.

The Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal’s formal name, will be chaired by the EU foreign policy service’s Secretary General Helga Schmid.

Iran vows to secure Strait of Hormuz, urges diplomacy

Iran will secure the Strait of Hormuz and not allow any disturbance in shipping in the key oil transport waterway, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday during a visit to Paris, the state new agency IRNA reported.

Iran observes all U.S. ships in Gulf region: Iran navy chief

Iran observes all U.S. ships in the Gulf region and has an archive of images of their daily movements, the head of Iran's navy, Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, said on Tuesday, according to the Young Journalists Club news site.

Iran reassures Iraq over freedom of maritime navigation: ministry
Iran has reassured Iraq that there will be freedom of international maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq's oil ministry said on Tuesday.

Different countries to participate in patrolling Strait of Hormuz — Pompeo

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo© AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko/Pool

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo noted that the United States does not want war with Iran.

NEW YORK, July 23, 2019 - Countries from around the world will participate in a coalition that will patrol the Strait of Hormuz to ensure freedom of navigation in the region, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told WFTV-9 on Monday.

"We are working to change the behavior of the leadership of the Islamic Republics of Iran. And we are building out a coalition that will patrol the Strait of Hormuz to keep those shipping lanes, those sea lanes open," Pompeo said. "There'll be nations from all around the world that participate in that. These are the deterrent activities," he added.

He noted that the United States does not want war with Iran. "We simply want them to stop engaging in terror activities around the world. They can't continue to build out their nuclear weapons program," he stressed.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said on Friday that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite military force of the Islamic Republic, seized the UK-flagged tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz for "the violations of international maritime regulations." According to the IRGC, the tanker was escorted towards the shore for further investigation.

Britain calls for European naval mission to counter Iran's 'piracy' (Excuse PLEASE ... what about Iran's Grace 1 ... ?)

Britain called on Monday for a European-led naval mission to ensure safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, days after Iran seized a British-flagged tanker in what London described as an act of "state piracy" in the strategic waterway.

France, Germany, Britain working on maritime 'observation' mission in Gulf: Le Drian

Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France was working with European capitals to improve maritime security in the Persian Gulf but stopped short of backing Britain's call for a naval mission to ensure safe shipping in the region.

Exclusive: Britain wins early European support for Hormuz naval mission

France, Italy and Denmark gave initial support for a British plan for a European-led naval mission to ensure safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, proposed after Iran's seizure of a British-flagged tanker, three senior EU diplomats said on Tuesday.

Ships urged to alert navies before sailing through Strait of Hormuz

Shipping associations have called on ship owners to inform Britain's navy of their movements before sailing into the Middle East Gulf and Strait of Hormuz because of the escalating international crisis in the region.

An international coalition to protect Gulf will bring insecurity: Iran vice president

An international coalition to protect the Gulf will bring insecurity, Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said on Tuesday, according to the IRIB news agency.

Iran warns West against starting conflict, says not looking for confrontation

Iran's foreign minister warned the West on Monday against "starting a conflict," saying it was not seeking confrontation after its military seized the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz last week.

 

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Different countries to participate in patrolling Strait of Hormuz — Pompeo

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo noted that the United States does not want war with Iran.

NEW YORK, July 23, 2019 - Countries from around the world will participate in a coalition that will patrol the Strait of Hormuz to ensure freedom of navigation in the region, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told WFTV-9 on Monday.

"We are working to change the behavior of the leadership of the Islamic Republics of Iran. And we are building out a coalition that will patrol the Strait of Hormuz to keep those shipping lanes, those sea lanes open," Pompeo said. "There'll be nations from all around the world that participate in that. These are the deterrent activities," he added.

Russia has not received any offers from the United States considering Washington's initiative to create an international coalition for patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said.

Moscow Says Received No Invitation to Join US' Coalition for Patrolling Strait of Hormuz

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has not received any offers from the United States considering Washington's initiative to create an international coalition for patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov...

sputniknews.com

23.07.2019

France’s Foreign Ministry Tells Iran to Return to JCPOA Compliance

The French foreign ministry told a senior Iranian envoy that Tehran had to return to compliance to the 2015 nuclear deal, taking steps to ensure the de-escalation of tensions in the Gulf.

sputniknews.com

24.07.2019

 

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Stena Bulk says spoke to seized tanker's crew, all are safe and well

All 23 crew on a British-flagged tanker seized last week by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz are safe and well, the vessel's Swedish operator Stena Bulk said on Wednesday after speaking to them.

Iran is ready to negotiate but not if negotiations mean surrender: Iran president

Iran is ready for "just" negotiations but not if they mean surrender, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, without saying what talks he had in mind.

UK has sent mediator to Iran to seek freeing of seized tanker: senior Iranían official

Britain has sent a mediator to Iran to discuss the freeing of a British-flagged tanker seized by the Islamic Republic last week, the head of the Supreme Leader's office said on Wednesday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news site.

Jazeera cites Iran official warning of confrontation if Hormuz status changed

Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV on Wednesday quoted the military adviser to Iran's supreme leader as saying that any change in the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran says it protects, would open the door to a dangerous confrontation.

U.S. military took defensive action against second Iranian drone last week

A U.S. Navy ship took defensive action against a second Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz last week, but did not see the drone go into the water, the U.S. military said on Tuesday.

Iran defense minister says no Iranian drone has been downed
No Iranian drone has been brought down, the ISNA news agency quoted Iran's Defense Minister Amir Hatami on Wednesday as saying, after the U.S. military said it taken action against two Iranian drones in the past week.

Too early to discuss German involvement in Hormuz naval mission: ministry
Germany is talking to Britain and France about the idea of a European-led naval mission to ensure safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz but it is too early to discuss how Berlin might take part, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.