Iran Focus

London, 01 Mar – General Joseph Votel, the United States’ top general who is in charge of the US Central Command, has said that Iran has been increasing its investments in terrorist and militant groups across the whole of the Middle East in the few years since the nuclear deal took effect.

Speaking to lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee, General Votel said: “What it took 20 years for Iran to do in Lebanon with the Lebanese Hezbollah, they’re attempting to do in about five years with the Houthis in Yemen. They’re accelerating their pace and their ability to do this.”

Iran Focus

London, 27 Feb – The US and Europe know that the influence of Iran now stretches from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea, thanks to Iran’s dominance over Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, but are they aware that of the economic, political, and security threat this poses to the West?

After all, without serious action from the West, Iran will likely build upon its power in the Middle East by infiltrating the state institutions in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon (those it hasn’t already), meaning that any support for those institutions (like the billions promised to rebuild Iraq) will likely end up in the hands of Iran’s Shia militias.

Iran Focus

London, 25 Feb – Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations Lana Nusseibeh has expressed her hope that the Security Council will support a resolution regarding Iran’s supply of rockets to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Nusseibeh said that it is imperative for action to be taken to stop Iran providing such weapons to the Houthis and other extremist groups.

The resolution is led by Britain and it hopes to gain the support of the Security Council for sanctions-related efforts with regards to the war in Yemen. It includes condemning Iran for its breech of an arms embargo in war-struck Yemen.

There is optimism that the draft resolution is passed imminently. It has already got backing from Russia.