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WSJ: "New details of the $400
million U.S. payment to Iran earlier this year depict a tightly scripted
exchange specifically timed to the release of several American prisoners
held in Iran. The picture emerged from accounts of U.S. officials and
others briefed on the operation: U.S. officials wouldn't let Iranians
take control of the money until a Swiss Air Force plane carrying three
freed Americans departed from Tehran on Jan. 17. Once that happened, an
Iranian cargo plane was allowed to bring the cash home from a Geneva
airport that day. President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials have
said the payment didn't amount to ransom, because the U.S. owed the money
to Iran as part of a longstanding dispute linked to a failed arms deal
from the 1970s. U.S. officials have said that the prisoner release and
cash transfer took place through two separate diplomatic channels. But
the handling of the payment and its connection to the Americans' release
have raised questions among lawmakers and administration critics...
Republican lawmakers have charged that the payment equated to a ransom
paid to gain the release of the Americans. Republican leaders said they
are preparing to hold hearings on the cash transfer once Congress returns
from its summer break in September. Rep. Sean Duffy (R., Wis.), chairman
of a House investigative body, sent letters to the Justice and Treasury
departments, as well as the Federal Reserve, on Aug. 10 requesting all
records related to the Iran exchange... Obama administration officials
have confirmed that they have paid the remaining $1.3 billion to Iran as
part of the settlement reached in January on the failed arms deal. This
marked the interest accrued over the past 37 years on the original $400
million paid by Iran, though administration officials have said it could
have cost some $10 billion without the settlement. U.S. officials have
refused to disclose how the Obama administration made this additional
payment. Lawmakers are seeking to determine whether this money was also
paid in cash or if the Treasury Department was able to send it
electronically." http://t.uani.com/2bhMbcR
Reuters: "The United States is looking
at whether Russia has violated a U.N. Security Council resolution on
military dealings with Tehran by using an Iranian air base to carry out
strikes inside Syria, the State Department said on Wednesday. State
Department spokesman Mark Toner said U.S. government attorneys had not yet
decided whether they think Russia's use of the Iranian base is a
violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which was passed as
part of the Iran nuclear deal. The resolution governs some military
interactions between Iran and other countries, including the supply, sale
or transfer of military technologies or the provision of training or
financial assistance related to the acquisition of new technologies. 'As
I understand it, it's not just supplying the Iranians certain weapons or
certain offensive weaponry. It's more complex than that,' Toner told a
news briefing. 'Our lawyers are looking at it. We haven't made an
assessment,' he added... Toner said that beyond the question of Russia's
use of a base in Iran, its air strikes often 'indiscriminately' hit
civilian targets and moderate Syrian opposition groups." http://t.uani.com/2bAGu8R
WSJ: "Following Iran's decision to
allow Russian bombing missions to Syria from one of its bases, the
country's politicians on Wednesday staked out defensive positions that
underlined how politically sensitive historic issues of sovereignty
remained for the Iranian people. With foreign militaries deeply involved
in conflicts in neighboring Iraq and nearby Syria, Iran has been anxious
to prevent perceptions that it, too, is ceding its territory to a global
power-even one that is now considered an ally. Ali Larijani, the speaker
of Iran's parliament, denied the country had given basing rights to
Russia. That came as Russian bombers launched an air raid on Syria from
Iranian soil for a second day. He emphasized, however, that the two
countries were working together closely in Syria, where both are seeking
to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad put down a rebellion that
erupted in 2011. 'The fact that we cooperate with Russia as an ally on
regional issues like Syria doesn't mean that we have given a base to
Russia militarywise,' the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Mr.
Larijani as saying. The distinction speaks to lingering distrust of
foreign interference in Iran that stretches back before the Islamic
Republic, when Russia was one of several outside powers that carved up
the country." http://t.uani.com/2bfESTS
Congressional
Action
The Hill: "Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) sent
a letter to the Treasury Department on Wednesday, seeking answers to the
Obama administration's $400 million cash payment to Iran in January. In a
letter to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew obtained first by The Hill, Pompeo
wrote that the payment might have broken the law. 'While the principle
behind the payment is disturbing, the logistics and methodology by which
it occurred seems to have at least skirted, or outright broken the law,'
he said in the letter sent to Lew on Wednesday. President Obama announced
the payment on Jan. 17 as the first installment of a $1.7 billion
settlement resolving a dispute over an arms deal with Iran signed before
the 1979 Iranian Revolution and subsequent fall of the shah. However, the
payment has come under fresh scrutiny after The Wall Street Journal
reported earlier this month that it was made in Swiss francs and other
currencies, with the cash loaded onto pallets in an unmarked cargo plane
and flown to Iran. Pompeo, a member of the House Intelligence Committee,
and several Republican senators said those measures may have broken
existing U.S. law, which they said prohibits the transfer of U.S. assets
- directly and indirectly - to Iran. Pompeo asked Lew, in a list of 13
questions, to explain how the transaction was able to take place, whether
any legal determinations were made and whether Treasury officials raised
any objections to the payment." http://t.uani.com/2bL3fes
Sanctions
Relief
AFP: "Iran said Wednesday that
Norway had offered the Islamic republic a $1 billion credit line following
a meeting between their foreign ministers in Tehran. Borge Brende and
Mohammad Javad Zarif signed three 'export credit' deals aimed at funding
'development and infrastructure projects,' Iran's foreign ministry said
in a statement. Iran has struggled to tap international finance as many
banks fear US penalties if they do business with the Islamic republic...
'After the lifting of sanctions, good opportunities have emerged for
cooperation and Norway is ready to utilize the post-deal situation to expand
cooperation in various fields,' Brende said, according to the official
IRNA news agency. The Norwegian minister met other top officials during
his one-day visit, including Supreme National Security Council secretary
Ali Shamkhani, before leaving for Pakistan." http://t.uani.com/2bEeWSy
Press TV
(Iran): "Iran
says it has signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with two major
Chinese banks to provide loans for its key development projects. The
banks that will provide the loans to Iran are the Export-Import Bank of
China (EXIM) and China Development Bank (CDB). They signed the MoUs
with Iran during a visit to Beijing by the country's Minister of Economy and
Financial Affairs Ali Tayyebnia. EXIM had already signed another basic
agreement with Iran to finance a high-speed train service between Iran's
capital Tehran and Mashhad in the north-eastern province of Khorasan
Razavi. The bank signed the agreement with Iran's Ministry of Roads
and Urban Development in January. Tayebnia arrived in Beijing on Monday
at the head of a high-ranking delegation to participate the 16th meeting
of the Iran-China joint economic commission, which was held on Tuesday
and Wednesday. The Iranian minister later met China's Vice Premier Wang
Yang who urged Iran to take their bilateral cooperation to the next
level." http://t.uani.com/2bEerIj
Mehr
(Iran): "An MoU
on petrochemical cooperation has been signed between Iran's Petrochemical
Commercial Company (PCC) and Pertamina Corporation of Indonesia.
Officials at Iran's PCC met and talked with a delegation of Pertamina in
Tehran exchanging views on bilateral collaboration in petrochemical
industry. The joint meeting inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
upon which the Indonesian side agreed to directly import Liquefied
Petroleum Gas (LPG), polymers, gas condensate and bitumen from PCC. Petrochemical
Commercial Company also agreed to purchase aromatics from Pertamina,
which is an Indonesian state-owned oil and natural gas corporation based
in Jakarta. On the basis of the newly-signed agreement, an executive team
comprising representatives of both parties will be formed to make plans
for expansion of commercial activities in addition to taking necessary
measures required for implementing the reached agreements." http://t.uani.com/2bl0xae
Iran
Daily: "China's
Baosteel, the world's fifth largest steel-maker, is prepared to cooperate
with Iran in the steel industry and exploration sector. A report by
Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation
Organization (IMIDRO) said that Baosteel's Deputy CEO Chen Zaigen and
some of the company's top managers discussed the issue in a meeting with
Chairman of IMIDRO Board of Directors Mahdi Karbasian, imidro.gov.ir
reported. In the meeting, Zaigen underlined that extensive cooperation
can be established with Iran in view of Baosteel's capacities in the
steel, mine, jetty, finance and IT sectors. He pointed to the decision by
Iranian and Chinese officials to expand economic cooperation and said, 'Our
plants in China conform to high environmental standards which are even
more advanced than those of some European and American companies.'" http://t.uani.com/2bjrz1W
Foreign
Affairs
Press TV
(Iran):
"Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will launch a
six-nation tour of Latin America on Sunday to discuss the development of
ties. Heading a large politico-economic delegation, Zarif will leave for
Cuba as the first leg of his official Latin America tour, which will also
take him to Nicaragua, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia and Venezuela, Iran's
Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid
Takht-e-Ravanchi told reporters on Wednesday. During his first visit to
Latin America, the Iranian foreign minister aims to discuss the expansion
of ties with the six countries following the implementation of last
year's nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries,
known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). More than 60
businessmen and heads of private sector companies will accompany Zarif in
the one-week tour, which will open a 'new chapter in the relations
between Iran and Latin America,' Takht-e-Ravanchi stated. 'Latin America
is of high significance to Iran and despite a long distance, there are
many areas for cooperation between Iran and the countries of that
region,' Takht-e-Ravanchi said." http://t.uani.com/2b1B2jv
Syria
Conflict
Reuters: "Russian bombers launched a
third day of air strikes against militants in Syria from an Iranian air
base, the Russian defence ministry said on Thursday. The ministry said
Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and Su-34 fighter bombers struck Islamic State
targets in the Syrian province of Deir al-Zor. It said the military
aircraft had taken off from bases in both Russia and Iran and destroyed
six command posts and a large number of fighters and military
equipment." http://t.uani.com/2bAG5mQ
WSJ: "The Russian military said
Wednesday it launched a second round of airstrikes in Syria from a base
in western Iran, as top officials rejected a U.S. contention that the
assaults could violate a United Nations resolution. The second day of
strikes extends a new phase in Moscow's air campaign, suggesting it plans
to keep up its strong support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The
U.S., which wants Mr. Assad out, has expressed concerns about Moscow and
Tehran's stepped-up military coordination. Su-34 tactical bombers took
off from an air base in Hamedan, Iran, to strike Islamic State targets in
the vicinity of Deir Ezzour, Russia's Defense Ministry said. The ministry
said the strike destroyed two command posts and killed more than 150
militants, claims that couldn't be immediately or independently verified.
The bombers were escorted by Su-35S fighters stationed at Russia's air
base in Hmeimim, Syria." http://t.uani.com/2bvEgHr
Opinion
& Analysis
WSJ
Editorial:
"Russian military aircraft on Tuesday and Wednesday targeted rebel
positions in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria. Not much new in that-except
the Kremlin made a point of announcing that the bombers are flying out of
an air base in western Iran. The bombing runs are another sign that
Moscow and Tehran are consolidating their strategic ties in the wake of
President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran. It follows the Kremlin's
decision last year to sell the S-300 system to the mullahs despite
earlier promises to withhold the surface-to-air missiles. As retired
Russian Gen. Evgeny Buzhinskiy told us in a phone interview Tuesday, 'I
think cooperation between Iran and Russia is growing, and military
cooperation is at the top.' The immediate motive for the latest
Russian-Iranian strikes in Syria is payback for recent opposition gains
in Aleppo. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian dictator Bashar
Assad have laid siege for weeks to some 300,000 people remaining in eastern
Aleppo, cutting off supply routes to the rebel-held area while the
Russians pummeled civilians from the air."
Eli
Lake in Bloomberg: "For the last year, Secretary of State John Kerry
has worked and worked to get Russia to help end Syria's civil war. He has
cajoled. He has sniped. He has spent countless hours in meetings and on
the phone with his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. And he pretty much has
nothing to show for it. This point was driven home Tuesday when Russia
announced it had started bombing missions from a base inside Iran. It was
the latest in a series of humiliations for Kerry. As soon as the Iran
nuclear deal was concluded last July, the Russians and Iranians began
plotting a surge for Syria on behalf of the dictator, Bashar al-Assad. As
Kerry made plans for talks in Geneva, the Russians set up air bases in
Syria. Once their campaign started, they bombed U.S.-backed Syrian
rebels. In June, Russian planes bombed a U.S. and British special
operations base near the Syrian border. But the announcement of the
bombing from Iran stings Kerry the most. Kerry himself, only a year ago,
told the Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg that Iran's foreign minister, Javad
Zarif, had told him after the completion of the nuclear deal, 'I am now
empowered to work with and talk to you about regional issues.' Now the
Iranians can't stop working with the Russians about regional issues.
Meanwhile, Iran keeps detaining and arresting American dual-nationals,
testing missiles and threatening American allies... None of these
developments are likely to persuade Kerry to end his quest for a Syria
deal with the Russians. And while this may seem to meet a definition of
insanity (doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different
result), there is an opportunity now for the secretary of state to
advance U.S. interests. It will require Kerry to face some hard truths
about Iran. He needs to stop thinking of Zarif and Rouhani as moderates
he must empower against their country's hardliners. Instead, he should
see Russian bombers in Iran as a chance to undermine his old negotiating
partners and turn them against one another. This sounds like a long shot,
and in many ways it is. But it's unprecedented for Iran to allow a
foreign military to operate on its soil. Iran's constitution, following
the 1979 revolution, specifically prohibits this kind of thing. It's one
of the reasons why revolutionaries took over the U.S. embassy in Tehran,
which they saw as a den of spies that secretly controlled their
country." http://t.uani.com/2b3ORs6
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