Iran Focus
London, 4 Feb – Troubling encounters between the United States and Iran are increasing, claims the commander of an American destroyer that recently had to fire numerous warning shots to Iranian boats.
Cmdr. Mark Davis, the commanding officer of the USS Mahan, said on Thursday that in 2015 the number of “unsafe and unprofessional” interactions was 23. Last year this number rose to 35.
Iran Focus
London, 4 Feb – It is believed that President Trump is set to impose new sanctions on several entities in Iran in order to pressure Tehran. President Trump is also said to be working on a broader strategy that will deal with the destabilising influences of Iran in the region.
Iran Focus
London, 4 Feb – On Thursday, President Trump confirmed that Iran was formally “on notice” after it test-fired a ballistic missile. He also said that “nothing is off the table” regarding US dealings with Iran, leading some to speculate that this may mean a military option is possible.
Iran Focus
London, 3 Feb – The Supreme Court of Iran has once again ruled for an inappropriate punishment that is more suited to medieval rather than present times.
It has ruled that a woman has to be blinded in one eye after she attacked another person with acid, leaving her without sight.
Iran Focus
London, 3 Feb – UAE Foreign Ministry has summoned Iranian regime’s charge d’affaires in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning, February 2, announcing UAE’s opposition to Iran’s illegally arming coup-launching Houthi Militias in Yemen.
According to Emirate’s official news agency ‘WAM’, the Iranian regime’s charge d’affaires was summoned by Abdulrahim al-Awadi, Assistant Foreign Minister for legal affairs.
Iran Focus
London, 3 Feb – A number of Iranian regime’s officials and MPs announced at the end of a joint parliamentary session that regime’s missile program is not negotiable.
The remarks are made in response to the US recent efforts at the UN Security Council regarding the Revolutionary Guards’ recent ballistic missile test.
Iran Focus
London, 3 Feb – On February 1, Yahoo News published an article by Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick for Rueters, where they reported that this past Wednesday the new US administration put Iran “on notice”, for test firing a ballistic missile. While the White House reviews how to respond, they are taking an aggressive posture toward Tehran, and perhaps raising tensions in the region.
Iran Focus
London, 3 Feb – In an article for Al Arabiya, published on February 1, by Abdulrahman al-Rashed, former General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel, and internationally acclaimed journalist, he writes, “We have wasted many years without differentiating between Iran’s interests and our own interests and without differentiating between honest causes and fake ones. The Iranian regime has succeeded in exploiting our causes, such as the Palestinian cause, and other Arabs’ and Muslim causes, and has used them to achieve its aims.”
Iran Focus
London, 2 Feb – The Italian police arrested four people on suspicion of smuggling arms (including helicopters and surface-to-air missiles) into Iran and Libya between 2011 and 2015, in violation of international law.
According to La Repubblica, the three Italians in this case, Mario Di Leva and Annamaria Fontana, a couple, and a legal representative for the Rome-based Società Italiana Elicotteri Andrea Pardi, and the Libyan national, Mohamud Ali Shaswish stand accused of smuggling air ambulances and weapons such as assault rifles and anti-tank missiles to Libya and Iran.
Iran Focus
London, 2 Feb – The US policy on Iran has for the longest time been one of sanctions and appeasement but neither have worked. What could achieve real change within the Regime? Let’s find out.
Sanctions Failed
Since 1979, Iran has been subjected to economic sanctions which were intended to encourage or force social and political change. However, Iran chose to ignore the economic implications, favouring oppressing its own people and disregarding basic human rights. In 2009, when Obama was sworn in as US President, the international community sought a different approach, despite the fact that by then, sanctions had nearly crippled the Regime.
