|
TOP STORIES
Two Iranian men were indicted on Monday for allegedly
spying for Tehran in the United States, including conducting
surveillance at a Jewish facility and gathering information on
backers of the militant Iranian opposition Mujahideen-e Khalq, the
Justice Department said.
Iraq's economy is so closely linked to Iran that Baghdad
is going to ask Washington for permission to ignore some U.S.
sanctions on its neighbor, Iraqi government and central bank
officials said.
An Iranian journalist has been sentenced to 10 years in
prison for "insulting" an imam from the ninth century on
Twitter, his lawyer told local media on Monday.
NUCLEAR DEAL & NUCLEAR PROGRAM
In the three months since U.S. President Donald Trump
unwisely abrogated the nuclear deal with Iran, Europe's leaders have
been vowing to keep it alive. They must now face what is already
clear to business leaders everywhere: The agreement cannot be
revived. The sooner work begins on a new one, the better for everyone
involved.
Key developments since the United States quit the 2015
Iran nuclear deal three months ago and reimposed sanctions.
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Iran's representative to OPEC, Kazem Gharibabadi, has
said no member of OPEC should produce more than its quota and take
over another member's shares on the market. Gharibabadi's statement
comes on the heels of announcements by U.S. ally Saudi Arabia and
Russia that they will increase production to insure a secure supply
ahead of the reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil.
U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser
on Monday called the international nuclear agreement with Iran a
"wretched deal" and said the United States is working to
persuade European allies to apply more pressure on Iran.
PROTESTS & HUMAN RIGHTS
It remains to be seen if this latest round of protests
in Iran will continue to gain momentum or not. One thing is for
certain, the Islamic Republic is skilled at "managing" a
discontented populous-opposition activists call it suppression.
U.S.-IRAN RELATIONS & NEGOTIATIONS
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that
the United States does not dare to attack Iran as it is aware of the
Islamic Republic's military power and the high price of
conflict.
European analysts and diplomats alike are increasingly
concerned that the Trump administration might be pursuing a policy of
destabilizing Iran.
MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE MATTERS & PROXY WARS
Iran displayed a new fighter jet Tuesday, saying it
comes with advanced avionics and fire control systems and will
enhance its deterrence capabilities in confronting Washington.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday the
country had to develop its military forces to prevent other states
taking over its territory and resources.
IRANIAN INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Iran says it has arrested more suspects in a crackdown
against profiteering from an economic crisis triggered by the recent
re-imposition of U.S. sanctions against the country.
A perceived death threat against President Hassan Rohani
within the seminary of the holy Shi'ite city of Qom has led to
controversy in Iran, with some calling it a disaster for the seminary
-- home to thousands of influential clerics and theology students --
and others demanding an investigation.
After the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the five
permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus
Germany, a widespread fear among Iranian hard-liners was that the
United States and Western European countries would begin to
"infiltrate" key institutions in Iran and attempt to
influence domestic cultural, political and economic policy.
NORTH KOREA & IRAN
As U.S. sanctions on Iran entered into force on August
7, Tehran was busy playing host to the foreign minister of the
ultimate rogue nuclear regime, North Korea... It is unknown if the
meetings were planned for this date or rescheduled to coincide with
sanctions. However, three provocative statements did result from the
meetings, all of which point to greater coordination and cooperation
between Tehran and Pyongyang.
RUSSIA, SYRIA, ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON & IRAN.
Hezbollah has showcased another aspect of its wide
arsenal at the "Mleeta Resistance Tourist Landmark,"
displaying four Khaibar-1 missiles.
Growing tensions on Israel's northern border have raised
concerns about yet another Israel-Hezbollah confrontation or a war
between Israel and Iran in Syria. Such a war may not be limited to
the original participants, but could involve an array of Shi'a
militias and even the Assad regime, and could span the region-thereby
affecting vital U.S. interests.
GULF STATES, YEMEN, & IRAN
Attempts to replicate the Hezbollah model in Yemen will
destroy hopes of peace.
IRAQ & IRAN
Iran said on Tuesday that it resumed supplying
electricity to Iraq and other neighboring countries 10 days ago, and
it will be increasing it.
Iran and Iraq fought a bloody eight-year struggle that
ended in a stalemate 30 years ago Sunday, only to become close allies
in the region today-a situation that often leads to trouble for U.S.
policy in the Middle East.
CYBERWARFARE
National Security Adviser John Bolton is warning that
Russia is working to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections. That
may not surprise you, but this might: He's warning that three other
countries are doing it, too.
|
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment