Encircling Iran

How Dare the Iranians Elect a Moderate!

"What did the Iranians do to warrant such deafening and dramatic saber-rattling? Test a nuclear device? Open a military base in Mexico? No. They voted for moderate Iranian politician, Hasan Rouhani, to be president. To punctuate his expressed desire to open to the West, the English-speaking Rouhani unveiled his cabinet today, which includes a PhD from the University of Denver as his new foreign minister and a PhD from the George Washington University as his chief of staff. Iran watcher and RPI advisor Prof. Flint Leverett observed that 'Rohani has appointed his A-team to do a deal with the U.S. It shows Iran is serious.'" Continue reading →

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Iran and Iraq, BFF (Best Friends Forever)?

"Why did Iraq invade Iran in 1980? A major reason was the fact that Iraq's majority is Shiite. Let's not forget that the majority of Iran's citizens associate themselves with the Shi'a branch of Islam. Remember Saddam Hussein? Well he was a Sunni, and the Sunnis were in control in Iraq. Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi military were backed by the US, Britain, and other Western countries. Saddam invaded Iran to establish Iraq as the dominant Gulf state, and to also suppress the Shi'a majority from revolting in Iraq. Now the government of Iraq is ruled by Shiites. The government of Iran is also Shi'a dominated, with the majority of the population being Shiite." Continue reading →

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U.S. Senator Wants Resolution Authorizing War With Iran If ‘Nothing Changes’ In Two Months

"Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said on Tuesday that he plans to introduce a resolution authorizing war with Iran if 'nothing changes' regarding the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program by the end of the year. 'If nothing changes in Iran, come September, October, I will present a resolution that will authorize the use of military force to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb,' Graham told a 'cheering' audience at a conference put on by the right-wing group Christians United for Israel, according to CQ Roll Call." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Senator Wants Resolution Authorizing War With Iran If ‘Nothing Changes’ In Two Months

India to settle oil trade dues with Iran in rupees

"India will settle all oil trade including USD 1.53 billion in dues with Iran entirely in rupees after the US-engineered illegal sanctions against Tehran blocked all other payment routes. In June, India along with China, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Taiwan won a 180-day waiver from the US sanctions against Iran's energy sector. Indian Ambassador to Iran D. P. Srivastava said on Wednesday that New Delhi is determined to continue cooperation with Tehran despite the illegal US-engineered sanctions against the Islamic Republic." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIndia to settle oil trade dues with Iran in rupees

New dynamic in Iran’s European ties

"No other Western country has been harmed as a result of Iran sanctions as much as France, which a decade ago was Iran's fifth-largest trade partner. Between 2005 and today, French exports to Iran have shrunk 60% from 2 billion euros (US$2.6 billion) to 800 million euros. US exports to Iran - of computers, cellphones, soft drinks for example - have increased by 50% during the past two years. The French oil giant Total last month was forced to pay a US$400 million fine to the US to end a prosecution in connection with oil contracts in Iran. In 2012, French car maker Peugeot folded business in Iran after 35 years, thus losing the company's largest foreign market." Continue reading →

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U.S. Helping Iranians With Surveillance Circumvention Technologies

"While Americans are making a big deal that the NSA is spying on everyone, Obama comes out and fervently defends the practice. NSA spying on you is the good kind. The 'bad' surveillance happens over in Iran. So what else for the U.S. government to do than supply Iranian citizens with surveillance circumvention technologies! Bloomberg reports: 'The U.S. State Department is helping develop a number of general-use surveillance circumvention technologies,' Sascha Meinrath, founder of the Commotion Wireless Project, a non-profit group trying to build such devices, said in an email.' The irony is so thick, you can barely see!" Continue reading →

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If Syria Falls, Expect a Pop in Oil Prices

"If Syria does fall, the next logical target would be Iran, which would create chaos in the global oil markets. Today, Iran provides about 20% of China's daily imported oil – only Russia provides more. If Iranian oil stops flowing to China, the Chinese will be required to go to other sources to buy over 500,000 barrels of oil, which would instantly increase the spot price of oil. Just what is going on in Syria? Syria is the first salvo in a war that puts Iran, China, and Russia against the US and its allies. The American government has thrown its weight behind the Sunnis, whereas Iran, China, and Russia have been backing Bashar al-Assad, the Shi'a leader in Syria." Continue reading →

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New U.S. Sanctions Imposed on Iran to Halt Gold Trading

"The first American sanctions on Iran since a moderate cleric won the presidential election there on June 14 went into effect on Monday, expanding the number of penalized industries and imposing rules that theoretically could halt all gold and currency trade by the country. Bullion dealers in other countries who flout the prohibition risk severe American penalties, including expulsion from the United States precious metals market. Iran has increasingly traded its oil and gas for gold with countries like Turkey because of earlier financial sanctions that have prevented the Iranians from using conventional bank payment methods." Continue reading →

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Retired U.S. Marine Gen. James Cartwright under investigation for alleged Stuxnet leak

"A former high-ranking US military officer is being probed for allegedly leaking details about a US cyberattack on Iran, a US media report said. Citing unnamed legal sources, NBC News said retired Marine Gen. James Cartwright has been told he is under investigation for allegedly disclosing details about the Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Cartwright, 63, is the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The four-star general retired from the military in August 2011. Stuxnet, tailored specifically to target Iran’s uranium enrichment operation, struck Iran in 2010 and reportedly dealt a serious blow to its disputed nuclear program." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRetired U.S. Marine Gen. James Cartwright under investigation for alleged Stuxnet leak