Iran

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A series of unconfirmed reports ...

Ex-Iranian President Ahmadinejad Alleged Arrested for Inciting Protest
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801071060580048-ex-iranian-prez-arrested-reports/

A series of unconfirmed reports allege that the former Iranian president had been detained and placed under house arrest following allegations that he either supported or incited unrest that has rocked the Middle Eastern nation since late December 2017.

Allegations were published Saturday by the London-based media outlet Al-Quds Al-Arabi citing what they termed "reliable sources in Tehran."

Ahmadinejad, while visiting the western Iranian city of Bushehr on December 28, was quoted by the news outlet stating that "Some of the current [Iranian] leaders live detached from the problems and concerns of the people, and do not know anything about the reality of society," cited by the Times of Israel.

The former Middle Eastern leader — in office 2005-2013 — is alleged by the newspaper to have implied that the current administration in Tehran is a government of "mismanagement" and that current Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's officials "believe that they own the land and that the people are an ignorant society," according to Timesofisrael.com.

A quick response by Rouhani's government has seen hundreds of protesters arrested and the creation of well-attended pro-government rallies in Tehran and other cities.

Government officials in Tehran have blamed the unrest on foreign meddling, particularly on US, Saudi Arabian, and Israeli actors.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) expressed gratitude to the Iranian people as well as the country’s security forces for foiling the enemies’ attempts to incite sedition in the Islamic Republic.

IRGC Thanks Iranian People, Security Forces for Countering New Sedition
http://english.almanar.com.lb/421540

In a statement released on Sunday, the IRGC praised the people, the Law Enforcement Force, the Basij (mobilization) Force and the intelligence forces of the country for preventing a new sedition and foiling the plots hatched against the Islamic Republic by “the US, Britain, the Zionist regime (of Israel), Al Saud, MKO terrorists and monarchists”.

The IRGC further described recent demonstrations held to condemn riots in the country as “a great epic” and said it proved that the grandeur of the Iranian nation is eternal.

Iranians have taken to the streets in several cities for a fifth straight day to express their faith in the Islamic establishment and condemn recent riots in some parts of the country.

Iranians Rally for 5th Day in Support of Islamic Establishment
http://english.almanar.com.lb/421507

The mass rallies on Sunday took place in the cities of Shahr-e Kord and Mahabad in western Iran despite heavy snowfall, as well as in the cities of Yazd and Qazvin.

The protesters held national flags and chanted pro-government slogans as they denounced the acts of sedition and violence in the country.

Over the past few days, Iranians have staged similar demonstrations across the country following scattered riots held in some towns and cities, which followed a series of peaceful protests over economic issues.

Law enforcement forces and ordinary people intervened to put an end to the violence after vandals and armed elements launched attacks on public property, mosques and police stations.

A police spokesman said on Sunday that a total of 20 people had been killed in the violence, adding the main plotters of the unrest had been identified and arrested.

Secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council, Mohsen Rezaei revealed on Saturday details of what he called latest events “scenario”, noting that the unrest which the Islamic Republic had witnessed last week was plotted by the United States in Kurdistan’s Erbil.

Iran’s Rezaei: US Plotted Latest Unrest in Erbil
http://english.almanar.com.lb/421298

“The scenario designed by MKO members, monarchists, and US put into practice in Iran in recent days was plotted months earlier in Erbil of Iraq,” said Rezaei, referring to Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization, branded as a terrorist organization in Iran.

“Some months ago the CIA head of Special Activities Division (SAD), held a meeting in Erbil with the Chief of staff of (former Iraqi dictator) Saddam Hussein’s son, Qusay, Saddam’s brother-in-law, Barzanis’ representative, MKO representatives, and Saudi Arabian agents,” the Iranian official raid in remarks carried by Mehr News Agency.

“In this meeting, the date and time for the operation was defined,” he added, “it was agreed to start in late December, using the cyber space, and to follow the scenario of toppling the establishment in January and February, with operation codenamed as ‘the Strategy of Resultive Convergence’,”
Rezaei added.

“They imagined they could usurp the control of all cities from the appointed officials to get to the second phase and import weapons into Iran to kill some civilians and then in the next phase US would table new anti-Iran sanctions in the UNSC through human rights committee to ease the way for entrance of MKO members,” he said, according to Mehr.

Russia on Friday requested closed-door talks ahead of a UN Security Council meeting called by the United States to discuss violent protests in Iran, diplomats said.

Russia Calls for Closed-door Talks ahead of UN Meeting on Iran
http://english.almanar.com.lb/420858

Moscow condemned Washington for interfering in Iranian affairs and opposed discussion of the demonstrations at the top UN body.

A former US army psychological warfare officer and counter-terrorism analyst described a recent UN Security Council meeting on Iran’s protests as a “sad attempt” by the US to continue to sell the “same old lies” to the UN.

UN Meeting A ‘Sad Attempt’ by US to Sell Same Old Lies to World: US Analyst
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/01/07/1620948/un-meeting-a-sad-attempt-by-us-to-sell-same-old-lies-to-world-us-analyst

“The UNSC urgent meeting that was called by the US is a sad attempt by US UN envoy Nikki Haley to continue to try and sell the same old lies to the United Nations, and scare them into action using propaganda,”

Bennett is a US Army Special Operations Officer (11th Psychological Operations Battalion, Civil Affairs-Psychological Operations Command), and a global psychological warfare-counterterrorism analyst, formerly with defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. He received a Direct Commission as an Officer, held a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (TS/SCI) security clearance, and worked in the highest levels of international counterterrorism in Washington DC and MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. He has developed and managed psychological warfare theories, products, and operations for US Special Operations Command, US Central Command, the State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and other government agencies.

The following is the full text of the interview. (At site.)

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly said that early learning of the English language paves the way for the West's "cultural invasion" of Iran.

Iran Bans English in Primary Schools - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801071060575104-iran-bans-english-primary-schools/

The head of the state-run High Education Council, Mehdi Navid-Adham, said to local TV on Sunday that English classes in primary schools are "against laws and regulations." He added that English was no longer part of the educational curriculum. High school students will keep learning English, the official added.

According to Mehdi Navid-Adham, primary schools will now focus on the Farsi language and classes of Iranian culture.

The news comes after an announcement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps regarding recent protests. The Revolutionary Guard declared that the demonstrations had been orchestrated with the help of external forces, including the United States and Britain, and had been successfully suppressed.

Earlier in January, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Gholam Ali Khoshroo said during an emergency UN Security Council meeting that Tehran had "hard evidence" proving protests were "directed from abroad." The meeting was called by the US, which has repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of cracking down on pro-democracy protesters.

Reports of the ban have already aroused reaction on social networks.

 

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Yossi Cohen, head of Israel’s national intelligence service, in a briefing on the security situation alluded to the country’s covert operations in Iran, saying that Mossad had “eyes and ears” on the ground in the Persian state.

Mossad Chief: Israel Has 'Eyes and Ears' on the Ground in Iran
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801101060634434-mossad-iran-israel-spy/

Cohen told Finance Ministry officials during a closed session in Jerusalem that Israel was keeping a close watch on the situation in Iran, not only from abroad, but also from within the Islamic Republic. "We have eyes and ears, even inside Iran," he said, without specifying.

Commenting on the recent wave of anti-government protests in Iran that started on December 28, 2017, Cohen said that while he did not believe the unrest was likely to topple the regime, he would be "very happy to see a social revolution" in the country. "I would, of course, be very happy to see a social revolution in Iran," Cohen said. "That's something that could perhaps happen in the future."

The Mossad chief admitted that Iran's economy has improved since the signing of the nuclear agreement with the US and other countries in 2015, but claimed that it has't significantly affected the lives of Iranian citizens and therefore they have taken to the streets to protest against unemployment, poverty, and the rising cost of living, as well as the policies of the country's government. "This reality is pushing people out into the streets, but one must temper expectations," Cohen said.

About 3,700 people have been detained during the demonstrations in several major cities in Iran, including Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Rasht, according to the country's lawmaker Mahmoud Sadeghi. At least 20 people have reportedly been killed during the protests.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities accused foreign countries, including the United States and Israel, of trying to destabilize the situation in Iran, saying that evidence provided by intelligence showed "there has been a triangle pattern activating these events".

"Once again, the nation tells the US, Britain, and those who seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran from abroad that 'you've failed, and you will fail in the future, too,'" Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on his Twitter page Tuesday.

Cohen's comments also come two months after an alleged Mossad agent was sentenced to death in Iran, after being found guilty of involvement in a string of assassinations of Iran's nuclear scientists, according to prosecutors.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said a tripartite plot was behind the recent violent unrest in some Iranian cities, stressing that a distinction should be made between legitimate demands of the people and acts of vandalism by a certain group.

Tripartite Plot Behind Recent Unrest in Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/01/09/1623647/tripartite-plot-behind-recent-unrest-in-iran-ayatollah-khamenei

“Clues and intelligence evidence show that these events (unrest in Iran) have been orchestrated (by enemies), and a triple party has been involved in bringing it about,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a gathering of people of Qom, held in Tehran on Tuesday.

The Leader referred to the US and Israel as one side of the triangle that masterminded the plot and worked on it for months, saying the plot was supposed to entail unrest in small cities that would spill into the capital.

On the second side of the tripartite plot stood a Persian Gulf wealthy state which financed the ploy, the Leader said, adding that the third party included lackeys of the terrorist Mojahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO) that had been prepared since months ago.

Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to two command bases the enemies had set up in the vicinity of Iran to coordinate and control the operation, saying one of the bases was tasked with handling the operation in the cyberspace, while the second one focused on directing the unrest.

“Both bases were being commanded by the Americans and Zionists,” the Leader added.

Rejecting claims that Iran is afraid of the US power, Ayatollah Khamenei made a reference to the past events and the way people kicked the US out of Iran in the 1970s and said Iran even forced the US to leave the entire region in recent years.

The Leader then hit back at the US officials for expressing concern about the events in Iran, saying Washington itself should be ashamed for US police’s killing of 800 American people over the past year.

The US government that resorted to any measure to suppress the Occupy Wall Street Uprising and killed people on any charge is in no position to voice concern for Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei added.

The US is clearly pursuing the objective of overthrowing the Islamic Republic, the Leader warned, saying unlike the previous US administrations, the current one has announced such a policy in an unabashed and overt manner.

Imam Khamenei then praised the Iranian nation for protecting the country and standing against hostile plots like a “strong dam”, citing the massive rallies held across Iran in condemnation of the riots and acts of vandalism and desecration.

The Leader finally called on Iranian officials and political activists to try to address the problems, saying correction of deficiencies would thwart the foreign propaganda campaign and prevent the US from harming the country.

In late December, peaceful protests over economic problems broke out in a number of Iranian cities, but the gatherings turned violent in some places when groups of participants, some of them armed, vandalized public property and launched attacks on police stations and government buildings.

Following the unrest, people held several demonstrations across the country to condemn the violent riots and acts of vandalism, and voice support for the Islamic Republic’s Establishment.

Security forces say many rioters arrested in the recent unrest have been trained by the MKO terrorists or had links with the Takfiri terrorist groups.

Iran’s foreign minister said the country has proposed the idea of a meeting with Britain, France and Germany to discuss the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and recent US attempts to ruin the multilateral nuclear agreement.

Iran Proposes Meeting with E3 on JCPOA
http://english.almanar.com.lb/421870

Given the significance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in current conditions and Washington’s “destructive policies” on the nuclear agreement, Iran has suggested holding a session with the three European members of the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) for consultation about the JCPOA, Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters on Monday.

He also dismissed speculation by some Western and Israeli media outlets about the upcoming meeting, stressing that it has nothing to do with Iran’s internal affairs or the recent unrest.

Zarif then pointed to an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the recent developments in Iran, held at the request of Washington, saying the UNSC’s support for the JCPOA and its refusal to comment on Iran’s domestic issues revealed that the new US administration has been isolated in the international community.

In a Friday meeting, Washington failed to spur the UN Security Council to act against Iran over the recent protests in the country, as most members described it as an internal issue outside the purview of the UNSC and voiced support for the JCPOA.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as E3+3) reached a conclusion over the text of the JCPOA in July 2015 and implemented it in January 2016.

Under the agreement, certain limits have been put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all nuclear-related bans against Tehran.

In all of its reports since coming into force of the JCPOA, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran as well as the Islamic Republic’s commitment to the nuclear deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif goes to Moscow on Wednesday to hold talks with his Russian counterpart before a trip to Brussels for a meeting with European diplomats on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

Iran’s Zarif to Visit Moscow ahead of EU Trip on JCPOA
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/01/10/1623949/iran-s-zarif-to-visit-moscow-ahead-of-eu-trip-on-jcpoa

Bahram Qassemi announced that Foreign Minister Zarif is going to visit Moscow on Wednesday as part of the regular ministerial consultations with Russia, particularly about the JCPOA, the nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

He also noted that Zarif will then fly to Brussels on Thursday at the invitation of European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini to hold a meeting with the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany to discuss the latest developments regarding the JCPOA.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as E3+3) reached a conclusion over the text of the JCPOA in July 2015 and implemented it in January 2016.

Under the agreement, certain limits have been put on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all nuclear-related bans against Tehran.

In all of its reports since coming into force of the JCPOA, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran as well as the Islamic Republic’s commitment to the nuclear deal.

TEHRAN: The Iranian company whose oil tanker burst into flames after a collision in the East China Sea says there is still hope of finding survivors.

Iran firm says there may be survivors from tanker crash Wednesday 10 January 2018
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1222726/middle-east

Mohsen Bahrami, a spokesman for National Iranian Tanker Co., said late on Tuesday that rescuers would “likely” find survivors as “the engine room is not directly affected by the fire and is about 14 meters (yards) under water.” He added: “There is still hope.”

The body of one of the 32 crewmen has been recovered, while the other 31 are missing.

The tanker was carrying 136,000 metric tons (nearly 1 million barrels) of condensate when it collided with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal late Saturday.

The 21 members of the Crystal’s all-Chinese crew were rescued. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the collision.

 

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The consensus within the family is that he was killed, or at least did not die of natural causes, relative says.

Iran reopens investigation of former president Rafsanjani's death
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-reopens-investigation-former-president-rafsanjanis-death-report-17837883

Iran has reopened its investigation into the death of former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, according to a Guardian report on Tuesday.

Rafsanjani’s eldest son, Yaser Hashemi, said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani moved to reopen the investigation after rejecting a report on the death of the former president conducted by the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic (SNSCI).

At 82 years old, Rafsanjani died unexpectedly exactly one year ago and a recent official examination of Rafsanjani’s body revealed that he had 10 times the level of radioactivity considered safe for humans.

According to the Guardian report, blood samples from Rafsanjani’s other family members were taken and compared with the late president. His daughter, Fatemeh, also had higher-than-normal radioactivity levels.

“The consensus within the family is that he was killed, or at least did not die of natural causes,” a family member told the Guardian.

“He [Rafsanjani] had a meeting scheduled for 8pm that evening with a senior revolutionary guard. There are signs prior to his death that people had warned him about his safety,” the family member added.

At the time of his death, state-run Press TV said Rafsanjani died from a heart attack despite efforts by doctors to save him.

Rafsanjani was an influential figure in Iran, and headed the Expediency Council, a body which is intended to resolve disputes between the parliament and the Guardian Council.

Rafsanjani served as president twice between 1989 and 1997.

He was badly beaten in the 2005 presidential election by hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a conservative backlash.

But rather than retreating from public view because of that humiliation, he remained in the limelight, emerging as a moderate counter-figure to the ultra-hardliners clustered around Ahmadinejad, under whom Iran's relations with the West plummeted.

Trump faces mid-month deadlines on whether to renew temporary waivers or restore US sanctions on Iran

CIA chief denies agency role in Iran unrest, predicts new violence
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/cia-chief-denies-agency-role-iran-unrest-predicts-new-violence-1606152753

The head of the CIA on Sunday denied his agency had any role in fomenting the recent anti-government protests in Iran but predicted the violent unrest "is not behind us".

Mike Pompeo, appointed a year ago by US President Donald Trump to head the intelligence agency, told Fox News on Sunday that economic conditions in Iran "are not good".

"That's what caused the people to take to the streets," he said. He blamed what he called Tehran's "backward-looking" regime for turning a deaf ear to the voices of the people.

Asked about a claim by Iran's prosecutor general, Mohammad Javad Montazeri, that a CIA official had coordinated with Israel and Saudi Arabia - Iran's regional rivals - to work with exiled Iranian groups to stir dissent in Iran, Pompeo replied simply: "It's false."

"This was the Iranian people - started by them, created by them, continued by them, demanding a better set of living conditions and a break from the theocratic regime."

Trump has repeatedly tweeted his support for Iranian protesters while castigating the Tehran government, seizing on the recent unrest to again slam the multiparty nuclear deal with Iran as deeply flawed.

Europe and Iran are to put on a united front in support of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal at talks in Brussels Thursday as Washington mulls reimposing sanctions on Tehran.

Europe, Iran to back nuclear deal as Trump decision looms
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1223271/middle-east

The European Union and the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France will unite to defend the accord, which curbed Iran’s nuclear ambitions in return for the relaxing of punishing sanctions but which US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized and threatened to leave.

While EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini wants to keep the nuclear issue separate from other contentious issues with Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will also face tough questions about recent anti-government protests which left 21 people dead.

Trump, who in October refused to certify Iran was complying with the deal but stopped short of withdrawing from it, is expected to decide on Friday whether to extend waivers on nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran.

The EU and other world powers have repeatedly warned it would be a mistake to abandon the deal, thrashed out with Iran over 12 years by the US, Britain, France, China, Germany and Russia.

British foreign minister Boris Johnson called the deal “a crucial agreement that makes the world safer.”

“It is vital that we continue to work with our European partners to preserve the Iran deal, and with it the security and prosperity it is bringing to the people of Iran and the world,” he said.

 

[angelburst29]

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a crowd in Iran’s western city of Kermanshah on Friday, killing at least four women.

Unknown Gunmen Kill 4 Women in Western Iran
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/01/12/1625793/unknown-gunmen-kill-4-women-in-western-iran

In the shooting incident that occurred at 9:53 on Friday morning (local time), the gunmen aboard a car shot the four women to death and escaped away.

Judicial authorities in the Kermanshah Province refuted the possibility of a terrorist attack and said personal issues are behind the attack.

Mohammad Hossein Sadeqi, a judicial official in Kermanshah, said the victims include a mother and her three daughters.

He further emphasized that the gunmen have been identified and their arrest is high on the agenda of the security forces.

US President Donald Trump has again waived sanctions against Iran that were lifted as part of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, the White House said Friday.

Trump Waives Iran Nuclear Sanctions in What He Calls 'Last Chance' for JCPOA
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/01/13/1626178/trump-waives-iran-nuclear-sanctions-in-what-he-calls-last-chance-for-jcpoa

"Today, I am waiving the application of certain nuclear sanctions, but only in order to secure our European allies' agreement to fix the terrible flaws of the Iran nuclear deal," Trump said in a statement Friday, according to the Hill.

He added, "This is a last chance. In the absence of such an agreement, the United States will not again waive sanctions in order to stay in the Iran nuclear deal. And if at any time I judge that such an agreement is not within reach, I will withdraw from the deal immediately. No one should doubt my word."

The White House’s announcement Friday keeps alive for now an agreement that Trump has called the “worst deal ever negotiated” while trying project a continued hard-line stance against Tehran.

The decision also represents a win for national security adviser H.R. McMaster, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis, who have all advised against walking away from the international agreement.

In October, Trump refused to certify to Congress that the deal is in the US national interest. The announcement did not kill the deal, though, as the certification is a requirement of US law, not the agreement itself.

But on Friday, Trump faced the first in a series of deadlines that could have killed the deal. The US sanctions that were lifted as part of the deal have to be waived every few months, and a failure to do so would essentially mean the United States was no longer following the accord.

The new sanctions announced Friday are against 14 people and entities for alleged human right abuses, censorship or weapons proliferation, an administration official told reporters.

The new designations include sanctions against the head of Iran’s judiciary, an Iranian prison, the director of the prison, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ electronic warfare and cyber defense organization, and Iran’s supreme council for cyberspace.

In his October announcement, Trump also called on Congress for a legislative “fix” to address the issues he sees with the deal. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) has been working with the administration on the bill and has recently touted progress with Democrats and European allies.

Committee ranking member Ben Cardin (D-Md.), though, has indicated wide gaps continue to exist between Democrats and Republicans on the potential legislation.

An administration official told reporters Friday that the legislation must include four elements: a demand that Iran allow “timely, sufficient and immediate” inspections requested by the International Atomic Energy Agency; a requirement to remain above a one-year breakout time to achieving a nuclear weapon; an end to the sunset clauses by allowing the United States to immediately snapback sanctions if Iran restarts those activities; and state that US law views Iran’s missile program as “unacceptable.”

It’s unclear whether Congress and Europeans will heed Trump’s call. The terms of the legislation laid out by the administration Friday are similar to a framework released by Corker and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in October that Democrats dismissed as an unacceptable unilateral rewriting of the deal.

Administration officials have been meeting with European allies since the October announcement and have said progress has been made. But ahead of Trump's move, Britain, France and Germany agreed Thursday to reaffirm their support for the current deal.

“We want to protect the (deal) against every possible undermining decision whatever that may come,” German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said alongside his French and British counterparts and European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. “It would send a very dangerous signal to the rest of the world if the only agreement that prevents the proliferation of nuclear weapons was negatively affected."

Wendy Sherman, the former under secretary of State for political affairs and the lead US negotiator of the nuclear deal, said in a conference call Friday that the Europeans would be unlikely to agree to a new deal with the US without the inclusion of other parties to the initial agreement, including Iran, China and Russia.

"I cannot imagine that any process that will go forward will exclude the other players in the initial deal," Sherman said.

A former US Senate candidate said Washington and Tel Aviv have drawn up a new game plan to destabilize Iran via “draconian sanctions” and “black intelligence operations”, stressing that this is the plan of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s operatives in the US government.

‘New US-Israeli Scheme Aims to Destabilize Iran with Sanctions, Black Operations’
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/01/12/1625667/new-us-israeli-scheme-aims-to-destabilize-iran-with-sanctions-black-operations

“As for Mr. Trump, his national security team and foreign policy advisors are riddled with Zionist interventionists, of whom Nikki Haley is arguably the most blatant and obvious. The game plan is this: Attempt to destabilize the Iranian government with draconian economic sanctions and black intelligence operations there. If that fails, utilize a false flag operation to falsely pin something on Iran that would sell the general public in the United States and the West with an overt military operation against Tehran. This is the Netanyahu plan. This is the plan of his operatives in the American government,” Mark Dankof, who is also a broadcaster and pastor in San Antonio, Texas, told the Tasnim news agency.

Following is the full text of the interview

Tasnim: In recent weeks, peaceful protests over rising prices and economic problems broke out in some Iranian cities, but the unauthorized gatherings turned violent after a number of opportunists, some of them armed, vandalized public property and launched attacks on police stations and government buildings. Siding with the rioters, a number of US officials, including Trump and US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, did their best to hype up the unrest. Do you see any connection between the rioters and US continued support for them as Iran says it has hard evidence that the riots were directed from abroad? Kindly explain.

Dankof: Paul Craig Roberts is absolutely correct. It is obvious that the unrest in Iran is being exploited and exacerbated by elements who desire the overt overthrow of the Iranian government and its replacement with something that would do the bidding of the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. The distant past gives us the roadmap for understanding the present, namely the 1953 coup d'etat sponsored by the United States CIA and the British MI6 in Iran. Stephen Kinzer's book, All the Shah's Men, or the papers released by the CIA because of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), demonstrate this history and its implications. One of the tools being used by the United States and Israel in these ongoing efforts is the MEK. As for Mr. Trump, his national security team and foreign policy advisors are riddled with Zionist interventionists, of whom Nikki Haley is arguably the most blatant and obvious. The game plan is this: Attempt to destabilize the Iranian government with draconian economic sanctions and black intelligence operations there. If that fails, utilize a false flag operation to falsely pin something on Iran that would sell the general public in the United States and the West with an overt military operation against Tehran. This is the Netanyahu plan. This is the plan of his operatives in the American government.

Tasnim: On Tuesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei said a “triangle” of enemies -- with the United States and Israel comprising one of its sides, a rich Persian Gulf littoral state on its second side and the anti-Iran MKO terror organization on the third side -- has been plotting for the past few months to foment chaos and violence in Iran. What is your take on this?

Dankof: The evidence of the fingerprints of the United States, Israel, Saudi, and the MEK/MKO is everywhere in this situation. Several examples will give your readers the picture. First, even Newsweek Magazine has all but conceded that the United States and Israel utilized the MEK/MKO in the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists in Tehran. Secondly, the support of the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia for the wide range of Wahhabi extremists and terrorists used to attempt the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria, in what would achieve the end of the "Shia Crescent" extending from Iran to Syria to Lebanon, is provable. The international community knows this very well. So do Paul Craig Roberts, Philip Giraldi, Pat Buchanan, David Stockman, and a whole host of honest American analysts. These various actions go back to the Oded Yinon Plan for the Middle East in 1982, and the roadmap of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) in its Clean Break Strategy document in 1996, well before the 9-11 incident in the United States. If we go back even further, the American foreign policy strategy since World War II has been to assume the previous position of Britain in the region, which was and is based on the Zionist Balfour Declaration and the Sykes-Picot Treaty. Regime change by coup d'etat, economic strangulation, land theft, and military interventionism has been the means of implementation ever since.

The present exacerbation of internal Iranian domestic political configurations by the Americans, the Israelis, the Saudis, and their MKO/MEK surrogates is best grasped and comprehended in this wider historical landscape.

Tasnim: The Leader further said that the cash for the unrest came from “one of the filthy rich Persian Gulf littoral states. Obviously, such projects need money, but the Americans won't be willing to spend anything” as long as they have these rich allies”. What do you think?

Dankof: The United States clearly is happy with having their Saudi Petrodollar Allies picking up the tab for these nefarious actions in Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, and Iran. Why? The United States is closing in on a national debt of $21 trillion, even as it has recently approved an obscene $800 billion in defense expenditures for the next year to sustain these Middle Eastern interventions, the buildup of NATO forces on the borders of Mr. Putin's Russia, and the attempts to renew and solidify the American Empire's position vis a vis China in Southeast Asia, North Korea, and the South China Sea. Paul Craig Roberts once observed that Empires become decadent, and overextended. The United States is awash with internal decadence, political unrest, declining infrastructure, national and consumer debt of staggering totals, even as it seeks to sustain an American military presence in 130 countries around the world. Mr. Roberts puts it well: "Empires run out of money and manpower." He is on target. It happened to the British Empire and the old Soviet Empire. The American Empire will experience the biggest pratfall of them all. Iran may well be the breaking point, especially if Putin and the Chinese step in in ways not anticipated by the Zionist Neo-Conservatives whose miscalculations have become Legion since 2001.

Tasnim: Ayatollah Khamenei also noted that the US is angry with the Iranian nation, establishment and the Islamic Revolution due to the blows it has taken from this great movement. Why is the US after the collapse of the Islamic Establishment?

Dankof: The nefarious doctrine of American Exceptionalism explains these ill-fated policies toward Iran, Russia, Syria, and a host of others. It is based on the notion that the United States and the American Empire are the exception to the rules that have governed other Empires throughout history. The rise and fall of Ancient Israel and Judah, along with the Babylonians, the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, and the Ancient Roman Empire, along with the already mentioned modern examples of the British and Soviet Empires, show the axioms that govern the rise and fall of these entities throughout history. The American Exceptionalism doctrine which permeates the thinking of the government of the United States, its media, its military, and much of its ignorant populus, is either unaware of this rich historical past and the principles it teaches, or truly believes it is, as its name suggests, The Exception to the Rule. As has been observed time and time again, arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand in hand.

Frankly, I have given up on the people of the United States and its corrupted institutions. It seems that only a totally avoidable global catastrophe will teach the people of my country that we are not the Great Exception to the Rules for Empires in History, but a grim example of the timeless truths of these Rules. King Belshazzar didn't understand what Daniel revealed to him about his own demise and that of the Babylonian Empire in history [Daniel 7]. The end came upon him, and his reign like a flood. I believe this is the sad and tragic destiny of the American Empire as well. It has more than asked for the consequences coming.

A senior Iranian cleric under investigation in Germany for alleged crimes against humanity left the country on a homeward-bound flight on Thursday, cutting short his stay at a Hanover clinic, a German official said.

Iranian cleric leaves Germany under threat of prosecution
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180111-iranian-cleric-leaves-germany-under-threat-of-prosecution/

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, a former chief justice, was in Germany for treatment at the clinic of Iranian-German neurosurgeon Majid Samii when activists referred him to prosecutors, citing what they called his record of passing death sentences.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an exiled opposition group, said his issuing of “thousands” of death sentences amounted to a crime against humanity and urged German prosecutors to investigate.

Prosecutors said they were investigating the referrals, including one from senior Green politician Volker Beck. Later, the NCRI reported that Iran had reserved tickets for Shahroudi and his entourage to leave the country.

A German government official told Reuters on Thursday afternoon that Shahroudi was aboard an Iran-bound plane.

While Germany, like all European Union countries, opposes the death penalty, German prosecutors do not automatically act on cases referred to them involving executions in foreign countries.

For the issuing of death sentences to amount to a crime against humanity, they would have to be part of a systematic attack on a civilian population.

An NCRI activist condemned Shahroudi’s departure. “He should have been prosecuted for thousands of executions in Iran,” said Shahin Gobadi, a member of the NCRI’s foreign affairs committee.

NCRI spokesman Javad Dabiran said the group had seen Shahroudi leave the Hanover hospital in a convoy before departing from Hamburg airport on an Iran Air flight at 1325 local time (1225 GMT).

It said it had filed a formal complaint with prosecutors, accusing Shahroudi of committing crimes against humanity and urging Berlin to prevent the cleric from leaving Germany.

An arrest warrant would have to be issued by Germany’s constitutional court.

Shahroudi was head of Iran’s judiciary for a decade and is currently the head of the Expediency Council, a body intended to resolve disputes between parliament and a hardline watchdog body, the Guardian Council.

Shahroudi’s visit to a hospital in Germany prompted anger among some Iranians who believe officials in the Islamic Republic should use the same health system as ordinary Iranians.

Parviz Davoudi, an official in his office, said on Monday that “Shahroudi was against traveling to Germany, and only did so after doctors insisted there is a medical emergency”.

 

[angelburst29]

Iranian authorities have lifted the restrictions imposed on Telegram messenger amid protests which swept through the country, local media reported Sunday.

Iran Lifts Restrictions Imposed on Telegram Messenger Amid Unrest - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801141060739945-iran-telegram-restrictions/

The restrictions were lifted on Saturday evening, the IRNA news agency reported. The messenger is available via cellular and wireless networks.

Several major cities in Iran, including Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Rasht, have witnessed anti-government protests in recent weeks. Iranians have taken to the streets to protest against unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living, as well as the policies of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Amid the protests several social media platforms were temporary blocked, including Instagram and Telegram.

Moscow considers comments by US President Donald Trump on the nuclear deal with Iran as “extremely negative”, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in remarks carried by RIA state news agency on Saturday.

Moscow Sees Trump’s Iran Deal Comments as Negative: RIA Agency
http://english.almanar.com.lb/424730

“The JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] cannot be amended and we will oppose any attempts to hamper it,” Ryabkov said.

The minister went on by saying that Trump’s move raises questions concerning his negotiability on international issues, adding that Moscow will insistently explain to Washington the viciousness of its sanction policy towards both Tehran and Pyongyang.

“We have a very negative stance on yesterday’s decisions and statements announced by Washington, our worst expectations are coming true,” Ryabkov said commenting on Trump’s words, saying that the US thus demonstrates their preference for the use of power to solve issues.

The diplomat added that there was no sense to overestimate Trump’s decision on waiving the sanctions, as the United States was seeking to undermine the JCPOA and had been reinforcing the categorical approach to the Iran-related issues.

“The prospect of the US withdrawal from the Iran deal will deliver a very serious blow to the whole system of international agreements and to the enhancing of the nuclear non-proliferation regime,” Ryabkov said.

The statement was made in wake of US President Donald Trump’s announcement on January 12 of his decision to waive sanctions on Iran as required by the JCPOA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal. Trump, however, specified it would be the last time he signs the waiver unless the deal is modified.

Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said Sunday that he believed US President Donald Trump who had promised to waive sanctions against Iran for the last time, also noting that France, Germany and the United Kingdom also started expressing their readiness to increase pressure on Tehran.

Israeli Security Minister Says EU Ready to Increase Pressure on Iran
https://sputniknews.com/world/201801141060743897-israel-iran-pressure/

On Friday, Trump said that he had extended Iran's sanctions waivers, stipulated by the Iran nuclear deal, for the last time, calling on the European Union to take part in rewriting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"I definitely believe him [Trump]… We also see that the Europeans start realizing that Iran should change its behavior… I believe the Germans start expressing their readiness to increase pressure on Iran. I think that the British and the French are also moving in this direction," Erdan said as quoted by Israel's Army Radio also known as Galei Tzahal.

According to the Israeli minister, Iran's actions in Syria and Lebanon as well as the country's ballistic and nuclear programs will convince the European countries that the US president's plans are reasonable.

"I believe that in 120 days when he [Trump] will have to decide on whether the United States will remain in the agreement [JCPOA] or not, serious changes will take place," the minister stressed.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri called for his county to be kept out of regional conflicts, lauding the Hezbollah resistance movement for doing its part to de-escalate the tensions.

Lebanon’s PM Lauds Hezbollah, Wants Best of Relations with Iran
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961023001296

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Hariri said he was open to Hezbollah continuing to participate in the government following the elections slated for May.

Hezbollah has been a member of this government. This is an inclusive government that has all the big political parties, and that brings political stability to the country,” Hariri added during Wednesday interview, defying pressure from Saudi Arabia to confront the resistance movement.

“My main goal is to preserve this political stability for the unity of the country,” Hariri, who reached a power-sharing deal with Hezbollah in 2016, stressed.

An Iranian official said Sunday there was no chance any crew members had survived among the 32 aboard an oil tanker on fire off the coast of China for more than a week.

‘No Hope of Survivors’ in Iranian Tanker Fire: Official
http://english.almanar.com.lb/425159

“There is no hope of finding survivors among the members of the crew,” Mohammad Rastad, spokesman for the Iranian rescue team dispatched to Shanghai, told Iran’s state broadcaster.

He added that two-thirds of the Iranian tanker was now under water.

The Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tons of light crude oil from Iran, has been in flames since colliding with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, 160 nautical miles east of Shanghai on January 6.

It remains unclear if there has been a significant oil leak into the sea.

Rastad said information from members of the Crystal crew suggested all the personnel on the Sanchi were killed in the first hour of the accident “due to the explosion and the release of gas”.

“Despite our efforts, it has not been possible to extinguish the fire and recover the bodies due to repeated explosions and gas leaks,” he said.

“Two-thirds of the tanker is submerged, and the fire has spread to the entirety of the ship, and we can no longer approach it,” he added.

Earlier, near the shores of China, not far from Shanghai, an Iranian tanker collided with a Chinese ship. Previously, rescuers had found the bodies of two sailors from the Iranian tanker SANCHI.

Tehran Confirms Death of Olympus Tanker Crew in East-Chinese Sea on January 6
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201801141060738900-iran-tanker-crew/

The SANCHI tanker was transporting 140,000 tons of gas condensate when it collided with the Hong Kong CF Cristal cargo ship, 290 kilometers east of the Yangtze River in the East China Sea. After that, the tanker, caught fire, with 32 people on board. The Hong Kong-based vessel's 21 crew members were evacuated.

On January 11, an explosion occurred on the tanker.

There are 13 vessels near where the collision took place, including two Japanese ships and a South Korean one.

A representative of the Iranian Ministry of Oil said that the tanker, leased by the Korean company Hanwha TOTAL Co, transported condensate belonging to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

 

[aragorn]

Does anyone have good theory about why the EU with the help of e.g. Kerry and Macron are so desperately wanting to save the Iran deal? I can't for one second think that they are doing this for any kind of humanitarian reasons. Which means that there must be something in it for them. Perhaps it's just about money? Or is there something going on in the shadows that they are afraid of being exposed?

 

[Windmill knight]

Does anyone have good theory about why the EU with the help of e.g. Kerry and Macron are so desperately wanting to save the Iran deal? I can't for one second think that they are doing this for any kind of humanitarian reasons. Which means that there must be something in it for them. Perhaps it's just about money? Or is there something going on in the shadows that they are afraid of being exposed?

I'd say that Iran not being sanctioned translates as business opportunities for Europe.

 

[luc]

Does anyone have good theory about why the EU with the help of e.g. Kerry and Macron are so desperately wanting to save the Iran deal? I can't for one second think that they are doing this for any kind of humanitarian reasons. Which means that there must be something in it for them. Perhaps it's just about money? Or is there something going on in the shadows that they are afraid of being exposed?

See here for a good example (IMO) why this deal is so important for Europeans (this is from July 2017): Iran Signs a $5 Billion Energy Deal With France's Total

Iran signed a deal Monday with France’s Total SA and China’s state-run China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to develop the South Pars offshore field, one of the world’s largest natural-gas fields. The $5 billion agreement is the first energy deal between foreign companies and Iran since Tehran signed the landmark nuclear deal with the U.S. and other world powers in July 2015, a move that was followed by the lifting of certain sanctions against the Islamic republic.

The contract, which was signed in Tehran, is for 20 years, and involves 20 wells, two wellhead platforms, and to connect two existing facilities by underwater pipeline. A second phase includes constructing offshore compression facilities. The project’s goals is to process 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day, the equivalent of about 400,000 barrels of oil. Total will have 50.1 percent stake in the deal, with CNPC taking 30 percent, and Petropars, a subsidiary of the state-run National Iranian Oil Company, 19.9 percent.

It seems such deals are a win-win situation for Iran and Europe, and maybe when major corporations and big money are involved, reality can outshine transatlantic "obligations", i.e. obedience to the masters in Washington. OSIT

 

[Ca.]

See here for a good example (IMO) why this deal is so important for Europeans (this is from July 2017): Iran Signs a $5 Billion Energy Deal With France's Total
It seems such deals are a win-win situation for Iran and Europe, and maybe when major corporations and big money are involved, reality can outshine transatlantic "obligations", i.e. obedience to the masters in Washington. OSIT

This article gives a little more of the details.

The hidden deals behind European leaders' defending Iran's Nuke Deal
May 7, 2018

Airbus, the European airline consortium has a $19B deal threatened, with over a billion dollars in French automobile sales; Germany’s Volkswagen to suffer big-time, so it’s understandable why Germany, Britain and France will likely seek exemptions for their firms should President Trump pull out of nuclear deal.
By Israel Hayom
From airplanes to oilfields, billions of dollars are on the line for international corporations as U.S. President Donald Trump weighs whether to pull the United States out of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

The 2015 deal lifted crippling economic sanctions from Iran in exchange for a pledge from Iran to curb its military nuclear efforts. Trump has been a vocal opponent of the deal, arguing that its restrictions are too weak and will not prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capability, and has set a May 12 deadline for the U.S. to reimpose sanctions unless the deal’s “terrible flaws” are fixed.

Meanwhile, regardless of where they are headquartered, virtually all multinational corporations do business or banking in the U.S., meaning that any return to sanctions could torpedo any deals made since 2015.

The threat alone has been enough to scare risk-averse firms such as Boeing Co. into slow-walking deals agreed to months ago. A complete pullout by the U.S. would wreak havoc and likely frighten off any firms considering making the plunge.

“I absolutely think those on the fence will not jump in,” said Richard Nephew, a former sanctions expert at the U.S. State Department who worked on the nuclear deal and now is at New York’s Columbia University. “The only ones who will, will be those who see tremendous monetary benefit and no U.S. risk.”

The 2015 Iran nuclear deal opened up opportunities for Iran in the international banking sector and oil trade. For Western businesses, the deal meant access to Iran’s largely untapped market of 80 million people. Most prominently, airplane manufacturers rushed in to replace the country’s dangerously dilapidated civilian fleet.

In December 2016, Airbus Group signed a deal with Iran’s national carrier, IranAir, to sell it 100 airplanes for around $19 billion. Chicago-based Boeing later struck its own deal with IranAir, for 80 aircraft for about $17 billion, promising that deliveries would begin in 2017 and run until 2025. Boeing also struck a separate 30-airplane deal with Iran’s Aseman Airlines for $3 billion.

But Boeing has yet to deliver a single aircraft to Iran. CEO Dennis Muilenburg recently said Boeing understands the “risks and implications around the Iranian aircraft deal,” which would be the biggest business agreement between an American company and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

“We continue to follow the U.S. government’s lead here and everything is being done per that process,” Muilenberg said during a quarterly earnings conference call on April 25. “We have no Iranian deliveries that are scheduled or part of the skyline this year, so those have been deferred again in line with the U.S. government process.”

Airbus, a European airline consortium based in Toulouse, France, likewise continues its sales at the discretion of the U.S. government. At least 10% of its aircraft components are of American origin, meaning it requires permission from the U.S. Treasury for its sales to Iran. Airbus has already delivered two A330-200s and one A321 to Iran.

When asked about its possible plans ahead of Trump’s decision, Airbus declined to comment.

European airplane manufacturer ATR struck a $536 million deal with IranAir for at least 20 aircraft last year. It has delivered eight of its twin-engine turboprop aircraft to Iran after obtaining permission from the U.S. Treasury.

“To date, we are on track to deliver the remaining ATR aircraft in due time, before the end of the year,” ATR spokesman David Vargas said.

The speed with which Western airplane manufacturers went into Iran contrasts the slow start by Western energy firms despite Iran’s vast oil and gas wealth. The exception is French oil giant Total SA, which in July signed a $5 billion, 20-year agreement with Iran and a Chinese oil company to develop the massive South Pars offshore natural gas field. The natural gas pumped there will go to Iran’s domestic market.

The deal marked a return to Iran for Total, which had pulled out in 2008 as Western sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program began to ramp up. Total did not respond to requests for comment, though its CEO Patrick Pouyanne reportedly told Trump in February to stick with the deal.

“If the framework, the rules of the game, change, of course we will have to re-evaluate,” Pouyanne told the Financial Times.

French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen reached a deal in 2016 to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles annually in Iran. Peugeot, once a major player in Iran’s car market before sanctions, did not respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, fellow French automobile manufacturer Groupe Renault signed a $778 million deal to build 150,000 cars a year at a factory outside Tehran.

“The Renault Group is closely monitoring the evolution of the diplomatic situation,” the company said in a statement, without elaborating.

Volkswagen has also begun exporting cars to Iran.

“Currently we are tracking and examining the development of the political and economic environment in the region very closely,” the German carmaker said in a statement. “In principle, Volkswagen adheres to all applicable national and international laws and export regulations.”

Nuclear deal co-signers Britain, France and Germany, which have urged Trump to preserve the deal, may seek exemptions to protect their companies if the U.S. snaps back sanctions, according to Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow studying Iran at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

“This should include a series of exemptions and carve-outs for European companies already involved in strategic areas of trade and investment with Iran, with the priority being to limit the immediate shock to Iranian oil exports,” she wrote Wednesday.
View original Israel Hayom publication at:
http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/05/...l-deals-at-risk-if-us-pulls-out-of-iran-deal/

 

[aragorn]

So, now that Trump has terminated the Iran deal, it remains to be seen what will happen. From the previous posts (thanks!), yes, it's clear that the EU countries wanted to keep the deal because of their lucrative business deals - it was all about the money.

I'm not sure what to think about Trump's decision. Now that the sanctions will kick in, it will probably mean that the inspectors of Iran's nuclear activities will be kicked out by Iran. Which means, that they are now, in a sense, "free" to develop any nuclear weaponry they want. I'm not sure if that would be a good or bad thing.

What makes me suspicious, is the fact that what the MSM is saying is almost always the opposite of the truth. So, why are they now so shocked and worried about Trump's decision? There has been plenty of worrisome developments going on for decades in that region, without anyone from the MSM caring a bit.

 

[Ca.]

So, now that Trump has terminated the Iran deal, it remains to be seen what will happen. From the previous posts (thanks!), yes, it's clear that the EU countries wanted to keep the deal because of their lucrative business deals - it was all about the money.

I'm not sure what to think about Trump's decision. Now that the sanctions will kick in, it will probably mean that the inspectors of Iran's nuclear activities will be kicked out by Iran. Which means, that they are now, in a sense, "free" to develop any nuclear weaponry they want. I'm not sure if that would be a good or bad thing.

What makes me suspicious, is the fact that what the MSM is saying is almost always the opposite of the truth. So, why are they now so shocked and worried about Trump's decision? There has been plenty of worrisome developments going on for decades in that region, without anyone from the MSM caring a bit.

Here's an MSM statement from Haaretz quoting CNN.
Israeli military believes Iran planning imminent retaliation; calls up some reserves
May 08, 2018 8:52 PM

https://twitter.com/x/status/993932373518569473

CNN: Pentagon concerned about signs of Iran preparing military strike against Israel ■ U.S. Embassy in Israel issues travel warning for Golan Heights amid Iranian threat

The Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday ordered Israeli communities in the northern Golan Heights to open shelters to the public after identifying "unusual" movements of Iranian forces in Syria, the military said in a statement.


CNN reported that Pentagon officials are concerned about signs that Iran might be preparing a military strike against Israel from Syria.

Israeli military bases were preparing for a possible Iranian attack.


Israel believes Iran is determined to retaliate for the April 9 airstrike on Syria’s T4 airbase, which killed seven Iranian military advisers and members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Iran blames Israel for this attack.

https://twitter.com/x/status/993883873435111424

Earlier, the U.S. Embassy in Israel issued an alert warning all U.S. government employees not travel to the Golan Heights unless they obtain an approval in advance.

"Due to the recent tensions in the region, until further notice, U.S. government employees are required to obtain advance approval if they wish to travel to the Golan Heights," the warning on the website read.
U.S. government employees are asked to "maintain situational awareness" and monitor media to be up to date with the situation on Israel's Northern front. They are further encouraged to visit the website of Israel’s Home Front Command for guidance.

The Art of the Deal
Trump pulls U.S. from Iran nuclear deal, starts “highest level” sanctions
Axios 1 hour ago
President Trump announced that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and institute the "highest level" of sanctions against it during a statement at the White House on Tuesday — ahead of the May 12 deadline for a decision.

Be smart, from Axios' Jonathan Swan: Trump has never wavered on the Iran deal. He was convinced from the campaign that it was a “disaster” and “weak” — a poorly-negotiated contract by poor negotiators.

• Trump went nuts at his national security team early last year when they didn’t present him options for total withdrawal. His appointment of the ultra-hawk John Bolton as his national security adviser left nobody in doubt about what he was going to do.
• On Iran, members of his national security team have been frustrated that there’s little that connects his different impulses.
• The real question: What does Trump do next? It’s not clear what the administration’s plan is for the day after exiting the Iran deal, and in some ways Trump is internally incoherent. Members of his national security team have been frustrated about Trump’s desire to withdraw US troops from Syria. They point out the contradiction: how can you want to be “tougher” on Iran when you appear willing to cede Syria to Iran?

What Trump said:

• "The fact is this is a horrible one sided deal that never ever should’ve been made."
• "The agreement was so poorly negotiated that — even if Iran fully complies — the regime could be on the verge of a nuclear breakout in such a short period of time."
• "If I allowed this deal to stand, there would soon be a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Everyone would want their nuclear weapons ready by the time Iran had theirs."

Go deeper: What Iran and our European allies might do next.
This is a developing story and will be updated.

Update Meanwhile:
Earthquake, Magnitude 4.6 - SOUTHERN IRAN - 2018 May 08, 18:27:35 UTC

 

[aragorn]

This is highly speculative, and maybe I've read too much Qanon, but I'm thinking that the scenario is a little bit like with North Korea. Trump acting tough, and making threats, and then a bit later to everyone's surprise the old adversaries North- and South Korea become "friends" (presumably, as some sources suggest/guess, because CIA:s assets and "handlers" were removed from NK). Trump likes to be seen as "irrational" and "unpredictable", and that might be his chosen strategy. Are we seeing with Iran something similar unfolding? Perhaps this is just wishful thinking...trying create a positive narrative in the midst of total chaos. ;)

 

[fabric]

What's interesting is comparing Trump's bombastic speech full of mainstream lies with Rouhani's response. It seems like no one cares what Iran has to say about it, wasn't able to find much except this from PressTV.

https://twitter.com/x/status/993923229260496896

 

[Oxajil]

This is highly speculative, and maybe I've read too much Qanon, but I'm thinking that the scenario is a little bit like with North Korea. Trump acting tough, and making threats, and then a bit later to everyone's surprise the old adversaries North- and South Korea become "friends" (presumably, as some sources suggest/guess, because CIA:s assets and "handlers" were removed from NK). Trump likes to be seen as "irrational" and "unpredictable", and that might be his chosen strategy. Are we seeing with Iran something similar unfolding? Perhaps this is just wishful thinking...trying create a positive narrative in the midst of total chaos. ;)

My understanding so far, based on the latest SOTT radio shows, is that initially the US was fine with the Iran deal, because at the time, things weren't going well in Syria, and they probably thought Iran would be next, so accepting this deal was beneficial to them. However, with Russia stepping in, the situation in Syria drastically improved. So now, there would be little sense for the US to go on with the deal. They wouldn't get much out of it (the Deep State and in some ways probably Trump, because he is a businessman).

Europe however can benefit greatly from the Iran deal, and some countries have already made some steps towards cooperation on some projects. So, it will be interesting to see how Europe will respond, but it seems Europe would really not want to withdraw from the agreement. FWIW.

 

[youlik]

Тут даже не знаешь куда писать! Я напишу здесь.

МОЛНИЯ: Израиль нанёс удар по Сирии
08.05.2018 - 23:06

Южнее Дамаска прогремели взрывы.
ВВС Израиля нанесли удары по иранской военной базе около н. п. аль-Кисва.
Военный источник рассказал «Русской Весне», что 2 ракет из 3 были успешно сбиты силами ПВО.
Израильские СМИ передают, что авиация ЦАХАЛ атаковала некие объекты в Сирии.

Translation
Here I do not know where to write! I write here.

LIGHTNING: Israel struck in Syria
08.05.2018 - 23:06
South of the Damascus bombings.
The Israeli air force attacked an Iranian military base near the locality of al-Kiswa.
A military source told "Russian Spring" that 2 missiles out of 3 were successfully shot down by air defense forces.
Israeli media reported that the IDF attacked some objects in Syria.
МОЛНИЯ: Израиль нанёс удар по Сирии (ФОТО)