Iran

[bjorb]

I doubt the US ever intended to take action, they just want the send the message. We are capable and willing to fight, and we almost did. But thanks to our good hearts we didn’t and spared you. This is the best possible outcome for US here.

As for the drone, It flies high, higher than a lot of anti-air missiles are capable of reaching. And it’s stuffed with high tech sensors that look out for potential threats so it can evade them.

I think there is a good change that the drone spotted the Iranian air-system and warned the controllers way ahead of time. Yet, I guess that those in command pushed through anyhow.

Not much is publicly known about Iran’s domestic produced military weapons. And many western analyst propagate that most of it is a bluff and a far cry from western counterparts.

They should have taken it more seriously. Hopefully they will now.

 

[Evan]

I admit that I only skimmed the many articles linked here, but I didn’t see anything pointing out the elephant in the room that is that there are no “international waters” in the Straight of Hormuz. It’s only 21 miles wide and Iran and Oman’s territorial waters extend 12 miles each, overlapping at the middle.

 

[angelburst29]

I admit that I only skimmed the many articles linked here, but I didn’t see anything pointing out the elephant in the room that is that there are no "international waters" in the Straight of Hormuz. It’s only 21 miles wide and Iran and Oman’s territorial waters extend 12 miles each, overlapping at the middle.

The Pentagon rarely deals with "little details" that might get in the way of "the Bigger picture"?

Iran in talks with Russia to establish mechanisms to cushion US sanctions - Zarif
Iran in talks with Russia to establish mechanisms to cushion US sanctions - Zarif

MOSCOW, June 23. /TASS/. /TASS/. Iran is in talks with a number of countries, including Russia, to develop financial mechanisms to cushion the effect of the US’ anti-Iranian sanctions, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday.

"We have been holding negotiations on monetary treaties with Turkey, Russia, China, the Republic of Azerbaijan, India and some other countries, and we have already signed agreements with some, and are about to reach more agreements with some others," Fars news agency quoted him as saying.

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said on Saturday diplomatic isolation and the anti-Iranian campaign would only grow tougher to compel the Iranian authorities to begin talks on their nuclear program. US President Donald Trump warned earlier that sanctions against Iran would be toughened already on Monday, June 24.

Situation around JCPOA
The JCPOA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed between Iran and six international mediators (the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, the United States, and France) in July 2015. Under the deal, Iran undertook to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange of abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program.

On May 8, 2018, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal and imposed economic sanctions seeking to stop Iranian oil exports.

On May 8, 2019, or exactly a year after the United States’ withdrawal, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declared he was suspending some of Iran’s obligations under the JCPOA. In part, he said that Tehran would resume uranium enrichment and terminate the conversion of the heavy water reactor at Arak, if the signatories to the deal fail to comply with the conditions of the agreement, including those concerning banking and oil trade, within a 60-day deadline.

In late 2018, Teheran was disconnected from the international payment system SWIFT, which told adversely on Iranian businesses’ relations with foreign partners. In January 2019, the United Kingdom, Germany and France (the European Union signatories to the nuclear deal) launched a special purpose vehicle (SPV) dubbed the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) in order to facilitate legal trade with Iran bypassing the US sanctions. But the mechanism has been failing to be launched until today.

Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, said in an interview with TASS earlier in June that in the current environment Teheran was in talks with Moscow and Beijing on increasing the volume of mutual transactions.

U.S. sanctions on Iran are biting: Bolton

Iran is feeling the effects of existing U.S. sanctions as President Donald Trump prepares to impose more of them from Monday, his National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Sunday during a visit to Israel.

Pompeo says willing to engage with Iran when time is right

The United States will intensify its economic pressure on Iran until Tehran forgoes violence and engages with U.S. diplomatic efforts, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday.

Iran says decision to decrease commitment to nuclear deal is irreversible

Iran said on Sunday it would not back down from its decision to scale back some of its commitments under 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, state TV quoted Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as saying.

Pompeo says to travel to Saudi Arabia, UAE, repeats offer for talks with Iran

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Sunday he will travel to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates for talks, and repeated his offer for negotiations with Iran "with no preconditions" to de-escalate tensions.

 

[Evan]

Don't fall for the ruse - The truth about Iran's nuclear program -- Sott.net

 

[angelburst29]

It's hard to get a read out, as to what's going on with Iran. There seems to be a lot of mixed proposals - like Trump added new sanctions to Iran's list , effective today, which Russia has voiced are illegal. Trump might be using the sanctions as a bargaining tool? At first, Iran refused to talk to Trump, now Iran's President Rouhani is stating that talks are possible but wants sanctions lifted and possible concessions.
Pompeo has been making the rounds, first in South Korea, where Trump will be visiting shortly (probably before the G20 Summit) and Pompeo is in Saudi Arabia now. Hope - he is behaving himself and not causing more trouble?



Iran says U.S. cyber attacks failed, hints talks are possible

Iran said on Monday U.S. cyber attacks on its military had failed, while also hinting that it could be willing to discuss new concessions with Washington if the United States were to lift sanctions and offer new incentives.

Trump is willing to talk to Iran, top U.S. adviser says

U.S. President Donald Trump is ready to talk to Iran about a deal that would lift American sanctions but Tehran would need to curtail its nuclear and missile programs, as well as its support for proxies, a senior U.S. official said on Monday.

Pompeo says he discussed Gulf maritime security with Saudi king

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet on Monday he had discussed heightened tensions in the region with Saudi Arabia's King Salman during a meeting in Jeddah.

Pompeo visits Saudi Arabia as U.S. prods Iran for talks

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi Arabia's king and crown prince on Monday amid heightened tensions with Tehran after President Donald Trump called off a military strike to retaliate for Iran's downing of a U.S. drone.

Iran will 'pay the price' if persists with aggression, Saudi minister tells Le Monde

Saudi Arabia's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs warned regional rival Iran there would be more sanctions if it continued its "aggressive polices", but said Riyadh wanted to avoid war.

U.S. prods Iran for talks to ease Gulf tensions; Tehran dismisses sanctions threat

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not seeking war with Tehran after a senior Iranian military commander warned any conflict in the Gulf region could spread uncontrollably and threaten the lives of U.S. troops.

Russia says new U.S. sanctions on Iran are illegal
New sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran are illegal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

Russia says it will counter new U.S. sanctions on Iran: reports

Russia and its partners will take steps to counter new sanctions that Washington has said it will impose on Iran, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies on Monday.

Iran says U.S. must offer new incentives if it wants new concessions
If the United States wants Iran to offer concessions that go beyond the terms of its 2015 nuclear deal, Washington must offer incentives that also exceed those in the deal, an adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday.

Trump says other countries should do more to protect oil tankers

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that other countries, including China and Japan, should protect their own oil tankers in the Middle East.

 

[Cosmos]

Trump just made it clear that John Bolton is a hawk and if it would be up to him, the US would fight against the whole world at once. Notice also that he wants to keep people like Bolton and "doves" very near to him. As the saying goes:

“Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1142782018620678144

In the same interview he also made it clear again that he hasn't started a war yet (in stark contrast to other Presidents) and that he was against the Iraq war from the get go as well as other wars in the middle east. It really seems they are pushing him hard for war almost daily now. I hope he will stay his ground.

 

[angelburst29]

In the same interview he also made it clear again that he hasn't started a war yet (in stark contrast to other Presidents) and that he was against the Iraq war from the get go as well as other wars in the middle east. It really seems they are pushing him hard for war almost daily now. I hope he will stay his ground.

I agree, they are pushing him ... hard ... while Pompeo is blissfully walking in lock-step with the fifth column. Pompeo just visited the Saudi's and is in the UAE today ... "building a global coalition to counter the world's largest state sponsor of terror" IRAN.

Trump has to know that the Document he just signed is "illegal" under International Law, especially freezing up an excess amount of Iranian assets? And the G20 Summit is only days away and Trump has offered to sit down with the Iranian Supreme Leader and negotiate some kind of agreement. How is that possible - after additional sanctions - including targeting "the Supreme Leader"???

Trump imposes new U.S. sanctions on Iran's supreme leader, other top officials

U.S. President Donald Trump targeted Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials with new U.S. sanctions on Monday, looking for a fresh blow to Iran's economy after Tehran's downing of an unmanned American drone.

Mnuchin says Trump order will lock up billions more in Iranian assets

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Monday the new executive order signed by President Donald Trump will lock up billions of additional dollars in Iranian assets, squeezing the country further amid escalating tensions with Washington.

Trump says fresh U.S. sanctions on Iran will target supreme leader

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order that would impose fresh sanctions on Iran, amid increased tensions between the long-time foes.

Pompeo to discuss building global coalition during UAE visit: embassy

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives in Abu Dhabi, next to U.S. Charge d'Affaires Steve Bondy and United Arab Emirates Minister of State Ahmed al-Sayegh, United Arab Emirates June 24, 2019. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS

The U.S. Mission in the United Arab Emirates said on Monday that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would discuss "building a global coalition to counter the world's largest state sponsor of terror" during his visit to Abu Dhabi.

Pompeo arrived in the UAE capital after a visit to Saudi Arabia. A senior U.S. State Department official earlier said the United States is building a coalition with its allies to protect Gulf shipping lanes by having “eyes on all shipping”, following attacks on oil tankers that Washington has blamed on Iran.

 

[angelburst29]

US President Donald Trump has said that other countries, including China and Japan, should protect their own oil tankers in the Middle East, suggesting that the American military may withdraw from securing the Strait of Hormuz for international commerce.

Trump calls on countries to protect own ships in Strait of Hormuz
PressTV-Trump suggests US will not protect Strait of Hormuz

A picture taken during a guided tour by the US Navy (NAVCENT) shows the Japanese oil tanker Kokuka Courageous off the port of the Persian Gulf emirate of Fujairah on June 19, 2019. (AFP photo)

Mon Jun 24, 2019 - In a series of tweets on Monday, Trump questioned why the United States has provided such protection for years “for zero compensation.”

“China gets 91% of its Oil from the Straight (sic), Japan 62%, & many other countries likewise. So why are we protecting the shipping lanes for other countries (many years) for zero compensation,” Trump wrote on Twitter.


PressTV-Trump says he will be Iran's 'best friend'
Trump has said that he would be Iran's "best friend" and that the Islamic republic could be a "wealthy" country if it stopped pursuing nuclear weapons.

Bolton: US waiting for Iran at negotiating table despite new sanctions
PressTV-Bolton: Iran sanctions should not get in way of talks

US national security adviser John Bolton speaks during a trilateral summit between the US, Israel and Russia, in Jerusalem on June 25, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

Bolton said during a visit to the Jerusalem al-Quds on Tuesday that the US remained open to negotiations. "All that Iran needs to do is to walk through that open door," he said.

He claimed that Trump had more than once expressed readiness for direct negotiations but Iran had yet to respond. "The president has held the door open to real negotiations," Bolton said in a statement on Tuesday. "In response, Iran's silence has been deafening.”

Despite Bolton’s claims, Iran has time and again made it clear that it would not sit down for talks with Washington as long as it continues its current hostile policies against the Islamic Republic.


PressTV-Rouhani: New bans expose US lie about seeking dialog
President Rouhani says the fresh US sanctions prove Washington is lying about seeking to hold talks with Tehran.

New Sanctions on Iran Aim to Placate US Allies: Analyst
New Sanctions on Iran Aim to Placate US Allies: Analyst - World news - Tasnim News Agency

A senior Italian analyst said the new US sanctions against Iran indicate that President Donald Trump is trying to appease Washington’s allies in the region after he called off a plan to attack Iran after the IRGC shot down a US spy drone over Iran’s territorial waters.

June, 25, 2019 - I think it is a very unwise move. In part, Trump had to re-establish credibility that he is tough on Iran with those, both in the US but especially in the (Persian) Gulf region, who thought his aborted attack last week was sending a dangerous sign of weakness. But if that was the only purpose, cyberattacks and other forms of responses could have worked. Sanctioning Iran's supreme leader is a deliberately insulting move that sends the signal that a deal can only happen if Iran capitulates to US demands - whether Pompeo's 12 points or Trump's 1 point (a new nuclear deal), I can't say. Very difficult for a US President to make compromises with a foreign leader who's been targeted by US sanctions.

The party of maximum pressure - National Security Advisor Bolton and Secretary of State Pompeo in particular - has apparently re-asserted its control over America's Iran policy. By sanctioning (Ayatollah) Khamenei, Trump is basically undercutting any real possibility of genuine talks over de-escalation measures, let alone negotiation over a new nuclear deal.
It seems the administration is trying hard to goad Iran into making further steps that can justify an even more confrontational approach. The problem is, Iran may think that Trump's aversion to war will eventually force him to back down, and in order to do that Iran may take further steps that the US sees as provocations. It's a very dangerous game that may end up in conflict.

UN Meeting on Tankers Incident Ends without Condemning Any Country
UN Meeting on Tankers Incident Ends without Condemning Any Country - World news - Tasnim News Agency

- World news -
“The council members urge concerned parties and all countries in the region to exercise maximum restraint and take measures and actions to reduce escalation and end tension,” Kuwait’s UN ambassador, Mansour Al-Otaibi, said in a statement following a Security Council meeting.

While the council condemned the attacks on the oil tankers it did not blame Iran for the attacks as US and some of its Arab allies had claimed.

The Security Council was meeting at the request of the United States after Iran last week shot down a US spy drone that had ventured into Iran’s airspace.

Germany’s Ambassador Christoph Heusgen read out a statement on behalf of Germany, the United Kingdom and France and called for calm. “These developments risk miscalculation and conflict. We call for de-escalation and dialogue, with full respect for international rules.”

Russia: ‘New US sanctions against Iran illegal’
Russia: ‘New US sanctions against Iran illegal’

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov [Kremlin]

June 25, 2019 -The Kremlin yesterday announced that the Russian government considers the new US sanctions imposed on Iran illegal.
“We consider the new sanctions illegal. That’s all we can say”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Piskov told reporters amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran.

The US yesterday announced additional sanctions against Iran, targeting Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. US President Donald Trump called the fresh round of sanctions “hard-hitting”, while Khamenei slammed the decision as representing the “permanent closure of the path of diplomacy”.

 

[Cosmos]

Great summary. Trump basically showed a good deal of common sense and decency in stopping the killing of 150 innocent iranien people (and possibly a war) for a freaking unmanned drone. Pay special attention to what Trump says in the video at the beginning. You get the feeling he doesn't quite like some of his generals who dabble with dead people as though they are just numbers. Also a good summary on mister evil is included; John Bolton.

 

[angelburst29]

This incisive article by award winning author Manlio Dinucci was first published in May 2019.

Video: 200 Israeli Nuclear Weapons Targeted against Iran
Video: 200 Israeli Nuclear Weapons Targeted against Iran - Global Research

The decision by the United States to exit the Iranian nuclear agreement – signed in 2015 by Teheran with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany – causes a situation of extreme danger not only in the Middle East.

To understand the implications of such decision, taken under pressure by Israel that describes the agreement as “the surrender of the West to the axis of evil led by Iran”, we must start from a precise fact: Israel has the Bomb, not Iran.

For over fifty years, Israel has been producing nuclear weapons at the Dimona plant, built with the help mainly of France and the United States. It is not subject to inspections because Israel, the only nuclear power in the Middle East, does not adhere to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Iran signed fifty years ago.

The evidence that Israel produces nuclear weapons was revealed more than thirty years ago by Mordechai Vanunu, who had worked in the Dimona plant: published by The Sunday Times on October 5, 1986, after being screened by leading nuclear weapons experts. Vanunu, kidnapped by the Mossad in Rome and transported to Israel, was sentenced to 18 years of hard jail time and, after being released in 2004, subject to severe restrictions.

Israel has today (though without admitting it) an arsenal estimated at 100-400 nuclear weapons, including new generation mini-nukes and neutron bombs, and produces plutonium and tritium in such quantities as to build hundreds more.

The Israeli nuclear warheads are ready to launch on ballistic missiles, such as the Jericho 3, and on F-15 and F-16 fighter bombers supplied by the USA, to which the F-35 are now added.

As confirmed by the numerous IAEA inspections, Iran has no nuclear weapons and commits not to produce them, according to the agreement under strict international control.

However – writes former US Secretary of State Colin Powell on March 3, 2015 in an email that has come to light – “the boys in Tehran know Israel has 200 nuclear weapons, all targeted on Tehran, and we have thousands”.

The US European allies, which formally continue to support the agreement with Iran, are basically aligned with Israel. Germany supplied Israel with six Dolphin submarines, modified so as to launch nuclear cruise missiles, and approved the supply of three more.

Germany, France, Italy, Greece and Poland participated, with the USA, in the Blue Flag 2017, the largest international aerial warfare exercise in Israel’s history. Italy, linked to Israel by a military cooperation agreement (Law No. 94, 2005), participated in the exercise with Tornado fighters of the 6th Wing of Ghedi, assigned to carry US B-61 nuclear bombs (which will soon be replaced by B61-12). The US participated with F-16 fighters of the 31st Fighter Wing of Aviano, assigned to the same function.

The Israeli nuclear forces are integrated into the NATO electronic system, within the framework of the "Individual Cooperation Program" WITH Israel, a country which, although not a member of the Alliance, has a "permanent mission to NATO headquarters" in Brussels.

According to the plan tested in the US-Israel Juniper Cobra 2018 exercise, US and NATO forces would come from Europe (especially from the bases in Italy) to support Israel in a war against Iran. It could start with an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, like the one carried out in 1981 on Osiraq nuclear reactor in Iraq. In the event of Iranian retaliation, Israel could use a nuclear weapon by starting a chain reaction with unpredictable outcomes.

Published on May 15, 2018 (9:19 min.)


The above info gives a decent understanding, as to why, Pompeo canceled his meeting in Moscow on Monday May 13th and flew to Brussels instead to meet Stoltenburg. Israel is calling the shots ... but on June 2, Stoltenburg tweeted that NATO won't defend Israel.

Diplomat comments on Lavrov’s agenda for talks with Pompeo
Pompeo's visit to Moscow was planned for May 13, however, the US Secretary of State postponed it to meet with the EU Representatives over the Iranian nuclear deal in Brussels. After these talks Pompeo will come to Sochi, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told TASS.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1127963328305930241

https://twitter.com/x/status/1002941467264987136

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo makes unannounced visit to Kabul

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during an unannounced visit to Kabul on Tuesday to discuss ongoing peace talks with the Taliban and the security situation ahead of Afghan presidential polls in September.


Personally, I suspect Pompeo's unannounced visit - has more to do with Iran and prepping for a military confrontation - then any peace talks. There is a large US troop and ally presents in Afghan and their bases and warehouses are fully stocked with their favorite toys.


Bolton sees U.S. pressure on Iran leading it to new talks

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton predicted on Tuesday that Washington's pressure campaign against Iran would lead it to enter negotiations.

Comment: The US is only 9-days away from our 4th of July - Independence Day celebration - I pray these brainless fools don't pull off a live performance!?! (Or are they planning to act while Trump is out of Washington and attending the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan?)

 

[aragorn]

I’m sensing, that this whole Iran situation and how it will develop (real war is a possibility) will be Trump’s toughest call yet, and the way he’ll handle it will determine in a decisive way both his and the planets future course (time line). Does he have it in him to do the right thing, and avoid war and resist the war mongers, or will he cave and “let the STS forces win”?

So far it’s looking pretty dim, and like he does not have a good strategy. And, I just can’t understand why he chose such psychos as Bolton and Pompeo as his advisers. Still, I hope there’s a ‘method to his madness’.

 

[goyacobol]

I’m sensing, that this whole Iran situation and how it will develop (real war is a possibility) will be Trump’s toughest call yet, and the way he’ll handle it will determine in a decisive way both his and the planets future course (time line). Does he have it in him to do the right thing, and avoid war and resist the war mongers, or will he cave and “let the STS forces win”?

So far it’s looking pretty dim, and like he does not have a good strategy. And, I just can’t understand why he chose such psychos as Bolton and Pompeo as his advisers. Still, I hope there’s a ‘method to his madness’.

Yes, I think it's looking pretty dim too.

Trump just made it clear that John Bolton is a hawk and if it would be up to him, the US would fight against the whole world at once. Notice also that he wants to keep people like Bolton and "doves" very near to him. As the saying goes:

“Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”

Keeping "enemies closer" seems to be the possible strategy and that doesn't always work that well if it is.

Session 23 March 2019:

A: Be aware that a new world will dawn! Be not oppressed by the death throes of the old world. Goodbye.

It doesn't seem so easy to "be not dismayed by the death throes" but first you have to see some events as "death throes" in order to not be dismayed I think.

 

[Tuatha de Danaan]

All I could think of watching the video was...

Session 28 August 1999:


Keep in mind this is for entertainment purposes only I am not making light of the seriousness of the situation/situations.

I had forgotten that one.!!!!

 

[DianaRose]

I’m sensing, that this whole Iran situation and how it will develop (real war is a possibility) will be Trump’s toughest call yet, and the way he’ll handle it will determine in a decisive way both his and the planets future course (time line). Does he have it in him to do the right thing, and avoid war and resist the war mongers, or will he cave and “let the STS forces win”?

So far it’s looking pretty dim, and like he does not have a good strategy. And, I just can’t understand why he chose such psychos as Bolton and Pompeo as his advisers. Still, I hope there’s a ‘method to his madness’.

Didn't the Cs said that Trump would try and fail? I know the future is supposed to be fluid, but yeah... I guess for regular people it's just a matter of waiting for all hell to break loose. Even if you leave American imperialism aside, there is an economic collapse in the making among other things. To me it feel like choosing to die by drowning or choosing to die by hanging. You're dead either way.

 

[DianaRose]

Yes, I think it's looking pretty dim too.



Keeping "enemies closer" seems to be the possible strategy and that doesn't always work that well if it is.

Session 23 March 2019:



It doesn't seem so easy to "be not dismayed by the death throes" but first you have to see some events as "death throes" in order to not be dismayed I think.

I don't know I used to follow geo-politics closely, but these days, it's all very deja-vu and I can't really see the point. It really feels like watching one sad show.

I feel like there's a sense of foreboding and closure to the "be not oppressed by the death throes of the old world". Our world/ society will collapse and is currently collapsing. But, what happen when the last card drop? It feels like we're in for an unspeakable amount of violence and suffering. At a personal level, I don't know it seems like nobody will can do anything, except try to survive, though I'm not sure what would be the point of surviving in these condition and trying to do right when the world go wrong, and wait until your life is claimed by a bullet, hunger, or whatever.