Iran Focus
London, 7 Apr – The Obama administration allowed Iran to purchase American planes that have been used to transport weapons to terrorists, and other illegal activities, in the past. The Trump administration is now reviewing the policies that were in place at the time.
Earlier this week Boeing announced that, pending review by the administration, there is an agreement in place with Iran for the sale of up to 60 aircraft.
Iran Focus
London, 7 Apr – US President Donald Trump vowed to act aggressively towards Iran and its destructive behaviour in the Middle East. Not long after he was inaugurated his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, declared that Iran was on notice.
However, a few months later it appears that the Trump administration doesn’t really have a strategy that will bring long-tern change and stability to the Middle East. It is increasing military operations which might just cause even more fragmentation and lead to the emergence of more non-state actors.
Iran Focus
London, 7 Apr – This week we have once again seen horrific, disturbing and heart-breaking images of dying children in Syria – their tiny, unmarked bodies, lifeless after yet another chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun in Syria.
Following the publication of official research, the U.N. Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded that the Syrian Arab Armed Forces carried out at least three chemical attacks with the use of Syrian government-owned helicopters during 2014 and 2015.
Iran Focus
London, 7 Apr – Many have claimed that designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) would violate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. However, experts claim that this is not the case.
Executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and Iran expert, Mark Dubowitz, said before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday 5th April that the IRGC could be designated under executive order 13224. This is an order that was put in place after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to prevent funding for terrorism.
Iran Focus
London, 7 Apr – Saudi Arabia has called on international human rights and humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations, to take action with regards to Iran and its many militias that are carrying out ethnic cleansing and related sectarian activities that are creating demographic changes in Syria.
Iran Focus
London, 6 Apr – Founder of the Iranian-American National Council, the pro-Tehran lobby in Washington, Hooshang Amirahmadi, has said that the relations between Iran and the United States and the other signatories of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have gone “back to the starting point”.
Iran Focus
London, 6 Apr – An international marathon is due to take place in the Iranian capital tomorrow, but a top sports official in the country, Majid Keyhani, has said that women will not be allowed to run alongside the men – they will be forced to race in the Azadi sports centre. Nor is he able to confirm whether the 28 Americans who have registered will be allowed to participate in the race.
Iran Focus
London, 6 Apr – With Iran’s presidential election looming close, there’s a lot of debate and controversy over who is going to occupy the country’s top political role. With tight restrictions on candidates, a supreme leader who can override the results, and institutions that can manipulate the popular vote, there’s not much to say about the credibility of Iran’s presidential elections.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t hurt to know who might be at the front of Iran’s showcase of politicians for the next four years. Here’s what you need to know about the potential candidates for Iran’s presidency in May’s elections.
Iran Focus
London, 6 Apr – The Bahrain Foreign Minister told Reuters, on Tuesday, that Donald Trump understands the Middle East and the threat posed by the Iranian Regime better than Barack Obama.
Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa said that Bahrain, a U.S. ally, was confident that the Trump administration would soon clarify its foreign policy stance.
Iran Focus
London, 6 Apr – In the past two months, there have been several incidents of Iran harassing navy ships in the Persian Gulf, but according to a leading political scientist, they’re probably acting aggressively to make themselves seem like a strong county.
Dr Majid Rafizadeh, president of the International American Council, wrote on The National that Iran is attempting to show the Trump administration that they should not be messed with.
