By Pooya Stone
The US and its Arab allies are edging towards a confrontation with Iran in a contested waterway through which 20% of the world’s tradeable oil passes daily.
In synchronization with its Arab allies, notably Saudi Arabia, and with Israel, the US is intensifying pressure on Iran to wind back its support for what it terms “bad actors” in the region.
London, 25 May – Washington, May 24, 2019 – The US administration is warning the Syria of a “quick and appropriate” response for the possible use of chemical weapons against its own civilians.
Reuters cited a US State Department statement saying that Washington sees signs the Syrian government may be using chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack on Sunday in northwest Syria. The Trump administration is warning that Washington and its allies would respond “quickly and appropriately” if this were proven.
“Unfortunately, we continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.
“We are still gathering information on this incident, but we repeat our warning that if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons, the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately,” she said.
Ortagus said the alleged attack was part of a violent campaign by Syrian government.
President Bashar al-Assad’s forces violating a ceasefire that has protected several million civilians in the greater Idlib area.
“The regime’s attacks against the communities of northwest Syria must end,” the statement said. “The United States reiterates its warning, first issued by President Trump in September 2018, that an attack against the Idlib de-escalation zone would be a reckless escalation that threatens to destabilize the region.”
The State Department statement accused Russia and Assad’s forces of “a continuing disinformation campaign … to create the false narrative that others are to blame for chemical weapons attacks.”
“The facts, however, are clear,” the statement said. “The Assad regime itself has conducted almost all verified chemical weapons attacks that have taken place in Syria — a conclusion the United Nations has reached over and over again.”
In January, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton warned the Syrian government against using chemical weapons again.
By Jubin Katiraie
The U.S. think tank Washington Institute released an interactive map showcasing Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East by detailing the whereabouts, operations and force deployments of Iran-backed militias in the region. Al Arabiya reported.
The institute said that the information and sources used to create the map was compiled mainly from primary source data, including contacts within militia circles and social media analysis collected for nearly ten years.
By Pooya Stone
It is reported that U.S. plans to dispatch thousands of troops to Middle East, the Pentagon will brief Trump administration officials on a plan to increase America’s troop presence in the region. It’s unclear exactly how many service members might be deployed, but reports put the number somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000. Of course, they won’t go anywhere unless President Donald Trump approves the plan, a still unclear outcome.
By Jubin Katiraie
Tensions between the United States and Iran have been escalating over the past month. The USS Abraham Lincoln was sent to the Gulf, as was the USS Arlington warship that was loaded with amphibious vehicles and aircraft. The Trump administration also deployed B-52 bombers to the region.
By Pooya Stone
As the public session of the Iranian Majlis (parliament) goes into its second day, many of its members are discussing the economic and political crises that mullahs are facing. They are also acknowledging the explosive mood of the Iranian people, and what that may mean in terms of another popular uprising.
London, 21 May – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani met on Saturday with a group of officials who are described by state media as “the possessors of culture and art”. Rouhani warned of the “back bending situation” that will surely follow, if the critical status quo continues as it is.
Rouhani said, “What we are missing today is the social resources. Our social resources have weakened. That is why we have so many problems. Otherwise, the government is the same.” He also acknowledged the weak morale within the administration and repeated defections among government officials.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has also warned about such outcomes.
Rouhani confirmed, “We have some problems. Sometimes these problems increase and sometimes they decrease. And sometimes they bend our backs, and we have to rise up to be able to govern the country again.”
Portraying a grim future, Rouhani warned that a worse situation was still to come. “We have a tough year ahead of us. A difficult year. Yes! We are under pressure now. We are facing difficult economic circumstances and a difficult road ahead. We have tough days before us, more than what you might think.”
The rival Khamenei faction has been pressuring Rouhani over his endeavors to keep alive the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). “It was the JCPOA that paved the way to complete the star of the Persian Gulf because this project started before the signing of the nuclear deal. But why was it not inaugurated? If it wasn’t for the JCPOA, the completion of this project would probably take another 10 to 20 years,” he said. Rouhani also claimed that Phase 15 of the South Pars oil and gas field project was launched only because of the JCPOA.
On his Wednesday meeting with heads of government, Khamenei’s comments focused on rejecting any dialogue with the United States, especially with the Trump administration. He called a move such a this, “double poison.”
According to Rouhani, the dialogue is “education” and “art”. Iran’s president insisted that is was necessary and negotiations were needed. This is what the US has been trying to accomplish by re-imposing sanctions – that Iran understands that change and compromise regarding the JCPOA are required.
But, the rift between the factions allied with Khamenei, versus those who follow Rouhani shows how deep the split at the top of the system goes.
Still, there’s a certain amount of obstinacy on Rouhani’s part, as well. “We are ready for a dialogue,” he said, “We welcome a dialogue. However, we do not negotiate with someone who says we pull you to the negotiating table.”
By Jubin Katiraie
34-year-old Abdullah Ghasempour was arrested on May 21st, 2018 for setting fire to a Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Basij base, filming the event, and sending it to the MEK media. On Sunday, the notorious judge, Mohammad Moghiseh, sentenced Ghasempour at branch 28 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, to death, plus eight years in prison, on charges of “waging war on God”, “assembly and collusion,” and “membership in the MEK.”
By Mehdi
Since the U.S. administration left the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action a year ago, the Iranian leaders have been under significant pressure.
In a short period of time, the ruling mullahs have seen a significant loss in revenues, since the US has imposed sanctions on the Iran’s energy and financial sectors. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Iran’s oil exports may this month plunge to the lowest level in decades.
By Jubin Katiraie
The increasing US military buildup in the Arabian Gulf Region has caused spectators to expect the breakout of a fierce war, most observers expect a small-scale strike against Iran’s proxy militias in Iraq or against the its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
