Republicans in US Congress threaten 'moderate' Iran with more sanctions

Republicans in US Congress threaten 'moderate' Iran with more sanctions. (Taz).

Republican lawmakers have once again threatened to bring an anti-Iran bill to the floor of the US Congress, if the ongoing nuclear talks with Tehran fail, Press TV reported.

Republicans in the Senate plan to vote on the bipartisan bill well before President Barack Obama's team finishes the current round of international nuclear negotiations.

The Arkansas Senator, Tom Cotton, has said that the Congress will vote on any agreement President Barack Obama makes on Iran's nuclear program.

The Republican said if the Congress fails to prevent Obama from lifting the sanctions on Iran, he would then work with the next administration to re-impose them.

According to US State Department officials, Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held "substantive" talks for about five hours in Geneva on Wednesday evening.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the talks ended at about 06:00 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), but the two diplomats were set to hold a second meeting after about 90 minutes at a hotel in Geneva.

"They had substantive meetings for approximately five hours today and they discussed a broad range of issues with a small group of staff from each side," one senior official said.

On Tuesday, the US State Department warned the Republican-controlled Congress about imposing further sanctions against Iran during nuclear negotiations.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said that additional sanctions violate the Joint Plan of Action that was agreed between Iran and six world powers, adding that Obama would veto sanctions legislation if it is passed.

In November 2014, Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action to July 1, 2015.

"If there's a bill that's signed into law, and it is US law, in our mind it is a violation of the Joint Plan of Action—which, as we've said, could encourage Iran to violate it," Harf said.

"A sanctions bill… that is passed and signed into law by the president, which we've said we will not do... would be a violation of the JPOA," she added.

With control of Republicans over both houses of Congress last week, they will put pressure on other lawmakers to vote on Iran sanctions legislation.

Republican sources on Capitol Hill said new Iran measures will be a top priority for the new Congress.

"Surrender over or Else!" Iran to resume unlimited uranium enrichment in case of new sanctions

"Surrender over or Else!" Iran to resume unlimited uranium enrichment in case of new sanctions. (Taz).

If the west imposes new sanctions against Iran, the Islamic Republic will resume uranium enrichment at the levels over five percent, the Iranian parliament speaker, Ali Larijani said.

The Iranian MPs have a plan for enriching uranium in every level, which will come into force, if the western side takes new steps to impose sanctions, Larijani said, Iran ’s Fars news agency reported Jan. 15.

“Our enemies should understand that they can not play political tricks against Iran,” Larijani said. “Iranian decision-makers are aware of the issues.”

Last January, Hossein Sheikholeslam, an advisor to Larijani on international affairs said that Iranian parliament has a trump card in case the US imposes new sanctions on Iran.

"The parliament of Iran has a plan to enrich uranium up to 60 percent, and until today, 218 members of the parliament have signed this document," he said. "If new sanctions on Iran are issued, the parliament will approve the document."

The Larijani’s new statement shows that the Islamic Republic continues to use the “trump card” against any possible new sanctions.

Iran and the P5+1 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) reached a nuclear agreement on November 24, 2013 for providing Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities including 20 percent uranium enrichment.

While commenting about the future of the nuclear talks, Larijani said the western side should avoid political bargaining and follow a realistic approach to achieve a final nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic.

Talks between Iran and the P5+1 group have been extended until July 1, 2015 to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement.

Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif and his US counterpart, John Kerry held a meeting in Geneva on Jan. 14 aimed at accelerating pace of the new negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group.
A fresh round of the Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks is scheduled for Jan. 18 in Geneva.

@IsraelMatzav Someone will have a reason to be Friday in #Paris but it won't be #Charlie https://t.co/6tCOsZaMMv pic.twitter.com/li0tFOjcsM

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) January 14, 2015

"L'Etat c'est Moi" - Obama won’t bargain with Congress on Iran: envoy.

"L'Etat c'est Moi" - Obama won’t bargain with Congress on Iran: envoy.(Dailystar).

President Barack Obama’s U.N. ambassador strongly objected Monday to any new U.S. sanctions push on Iran, saying the administration wouldn’t bargain with the Republican-led Congress.

Samantha Power said the proposed penalties on Tehran, as championed by Republican and some Democratic lawmakers, would “almost certainly end” talks between Iran and world powers. And she said the legislation would weaken existing sanctions on Iran by undermining international cooperation.

While the sentiments weren’t new for the Obama administration, Power’s remarks were noteworthy for the forum where they were delivered. She was speaking at an event in Louisville, Kentucky, hosted by Republican Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s new majority leader.

While Power sought to stress common goals between the administration and Congress – from fighting Ebola and confronting terrorists to ending Burma’s dictatorship – she drew lines on the issue of Iran, Cuba and the fight against terrorism.

“Imposing new sanctions now will almost certainly end a negotiations process that has not only frozen the advance of Iran’s nuclear program, but that could lead us to an understanding that would give us confidence in its exclusively peaceful nature,” Power said.

“Iran would be able to blame the U.S. for sabotaging the negotiations and causing the collapse of the process, and we would lose the chance to peacefully resolve a major national security challenge,” The U.N. ambassador said.

And, she argued, a new package of nuclear-related trade, oil or financial restrictions on Tehran would “likely weaken the sanctions pressure on Iran, by undermining crucial international support.”

The Senate is likely to take up the issue in February.

Aides say the legislation being drafted by Senator Mark Kirk, a Republican, and Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, has significantly softened language from a bill the pair drafted a year ago.

The last effort would have compelled an increase in sanctions unless Iran ended all uranium enrichment activity. That is no longer a binding condition, said aides who weren’t authorized to speak publicly on the bill while it was still being worked on and demanded anonymity.

Hmmm......Flashback December 2014: "I haven't used the veto pen very often since I've been in office," Obama said. "Now I suspect there are going to be some times where I've got to pull that pen out."Read the full story here.

No job created in Iran in five years: Rouhani

No job created in Iran in five years: Rouhani. (Taz).

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has said that nearly no job was created in the country between 2006 and 2011.

Although in the decade ending 2011 the country’s foreign currency income was great, but nearly no job was created in the country between 2006 and 2011, he added, Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Jan. 4.

This issue shows that oil revenues is not the solution to our problems, he noted.

He made the remarks in the opening ceremony of the first conference on the Iranian economy, which was inaugurated on January 4 in Tehran.

Over the 10 years between 2005 and 2015, the number of employed people has increased from 20.6 million to 21.5 million, he said.

Iran’s unemployment rate during the autumn (Sept. 22-Dec. 22) stood at 10.5 percent, according to the latest report from the Iranian Statistical Center, released Jan. 1.

The unemployment rate among Iranians aged over 10 years in the mentioned three-month period was 0.2 percent more than the same period of time in the preceding year.

The figure also indicates a one percent increase compared to the preceding quarter’s unemployment rate (June 21 – Sept. 21).

About 2.52 million of Iranians above 10 years old were jobless in the mentioned three-month period (ended on Dec. 22).

All Iranians aged over 10 years, who worked at least one hour a week, or temporary left their work during the survey week, were included as employed labor force in the report.

Earlier Iran’s Statistical Center put the summer (June 21 – Sept. 21) unemployment rate at 9.5 percent, or 0.9 percent less than the same period of time in the previous year (June 21 – Sept. 21, 2013), and 1.2 percent less compared to the preceding quarter’s unemployment rate (March 21 – June 20).  Hmmm.....How many new military were enlisted in Five years? More on Iran's economy here.

Iran Builds World's First Missile-Evading Drone.

Iran Builds World's First Missile-Evading Drone. (Fars).

An Iranian expert built the world's first missile-evading drone with a self-destructive capability for dangerous situations.

"Given the daily progress of drones as well as the increased missile power to destroy them, a missile-evading drone was designed and built for the first time in the world which can escape thermal and air-to-air missiles and no missile can approach the drone any closer than 250 meters," Hassan Akbari Layeq who has built the 'Sarallah Drone' told FNA on Sunday.

He said the drone is equipped with a deceptive system and can speed up and escape incoming missiles, "And this is the first time that this technology has been designed and used for a 4-kilogram drone."

Akbari Layeq explained that in case of any technical problems during flights, the drone can use a safety system and land in a safe place within 40 minutes and if the place is unknown to the drone, it will automatically disintegrate its parts and destroy them.

He said that the drone can fly at 160km per hour with a 40-minute flight duration if the safety system is on or have a non-stop flight for one hour without the safety system.

"To escape missiles, the drone is capable of flying at a maximum altitude of 8,000 meters and enjoys the capability to hide from laser optics and infrared light at night, Akbari Layeq said.

Iran has recently made giant advancements in aerospace industries, specially in designing and manufacturing pilotless drones.

Iran in November unveiled a newly-developed drone named 'Ababil 3' which is capable of flying a maximum altitude of 15,000 ft.

The drone can fly for 8 hours non-stop and has a composite body and can take and send real-time images to the ground control stations or any other platform.

In September, Iran unveiled another new home-made drone named 'Sadeq 1' during the military parades at the mausoleum of the Founder of the Islamic Republic, the Late Imam Khomeini, South of the capital.

Sadeq 1 flies at a maximum altitude of 25,000 ft at supersonic speeds. The Iran-made drone has been manufactured for testing radar and electronic systems and training assessments.

In September 2012, Iran announced that it had started using UAVs in its air defense units as part of its broader plans for strengthening the country's air defense capability.

In December 2013, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was capable of mounting guided missiles and bombs on its drones.

“We have recently acquired the capability to mount guided and precision-targeting missiles with pinpointing capability and bombs on drones, which is actually among branches of advanced hi-tech in this field,” Jafari told reporters in Tehran at the time.

He referred to Iran’s latest achievements in building drones, and said, “Our latest achievement in this regard is a drone which can fly for 30 hours and high-speed engines can increase its range.”

Also in November 2013, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan announced that Iran's new drone enjoys unique strategic capabilities, including 30-hour-long flight durability, and had been developed for combat and surveillance missions.

Dehqan said the new drone, ‘Fotros’, had been designed and built by the Iranian Airplane Manufacturing Industries Company affiliated to the Defense Ministry’s Aviation Industries in cooperation with knowledge-based companies and academic centers and on the basis of the needs of the country’s Armed Forces.

“This strategic drone has an operational range of 2,000 kilometers, and can fly to a ceiling of 25,000 feet in altitude for 16 to 30 hours, and these specifications enable it to conduct combat missions in addition to surveillance and reconnaissance missions," Dehqan said addressing a ceremony held in Tehran to unveil the new drone.

The minister said Fotros could be armed with various types of "air-to-surface missiles and rockets".

He underlined that the reliability test of the drone had been successfully conducted in the country’s laboratories and test centers, including standard international land tests at low, medium and high speed, adding that test results have been even better than what was expected.

Rubio: New U.S. Senate will pass laws imposing new sanctions on Iran.

Rubio: New U.S. Senate will pass laws imposing new sanctions on Iran. (NCRI).

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is predicting that the upcoming Senate will pass laws imposing sanctions on the Iranian regime next year.

“I think we’ll have a supermajority, a veto-proof majority, to impose additional sanctions on Iran and to require the administration to come before Congress for approval of any deal that [President Barack Obama] has with Iran,” Rubio said in an interview airing on Thursday.

“I think the same is true of the Keystone pipeline, potentially.”

Rubio said he would be prepared to vote for imposing sanctions on the Iranian regime as soon as today.

He aims for a bill that would require congressional approval for sanctions and impose them “upon a failure of the [nuclear] deal” within the next six months.

Fifty-four Republicans, 44 Democrats and 2 independents will make up the new Senate after a landslide midterm election that left Republicans with a clear majority. Hmmm.....President Obama has already made clear end December what he intends to do: "I haven't used the veto pen very often since I've been in office," Obama said. "Now I suspect there are going to be some times where I've got to pull that pen out."

'Moderate' Iranian President Rouhani: No superpower can harm Iran sovereignty, independence.

'Moderate' Iranian President Rouhani: No superpower can harm Iran sovereignty, independence.(Taz).

President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that no superpower can harm national sovereignty and independence of the Islamic Republic of Iran, IRNA reported.

He made the remarks in a meeting with rank and file of the armed forces after inspecting the Navy hardware exhibit including Jamaran destroyer.

President Rouhani said we should be thankful to the founder of the Islamic Republic the late Imam Khomeini for the glorious national sovereignty and independence.

'We should pray to God to bestow peace upon souls of all the martyrs of the sacred defense US-backed Iraqi imposed war on Iran 1980-1988, especially the martyrs of the armed forces.'
Read more here.

Video - Iran: U.S. Destroyer Left Area of Naval Drill following Warning

Al-Alam TV, the Arab language TV channel of the Iranian broadcasting authority, aired a report on December 28 about the large drill conducted by the Iranian navy. In the report it was claimed that a U.S. destroyer left the area of a mine spreading and sweeping drill following an Iranian warning.

John Bolton: Obama’s Embassy Talk Is More Appeasement of Iran

John Bolton: Obama’s Embassy Talk Is More Appeasement of Iran. (NewsMax).

Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton says President Barack Obama made an “unforced error” when he said in an NPR interview that he would “never say never” to the United States’ eventually reopening an embassy in Iran.

The statement comes on the heels of an “increasingly terrible deal” on Iran’s nuclear program, Bolton said, adding that the deal would basically legitimize the program.

He said that while no diplomatic step is sacrosanct, Obama is giving away something without getting anything for it, much as he Obama thinks America is not a positive force in the world and has wronged Iran over the years, all the way back to U.S. support for the shah, Bolton said.
If the United States gives up on trying to contain Iran, Obama thinks Iran will give up its nuclear ambitions, Bolton said.

“It’s naive, it’s ideological,” he said. “Most of all, it’s dangerous for the country.” Read the full story here at NEWSMAX

Video - FARS News shows footage of Iranian Fokker 27 overflying U.S. destroyer during Iran's naval drills.

U.S. Senator Graham: 'U.S. Senate will vote on Iran sanction bill next month'

U.S. Senator Graham: 'U.S. Senate will vote on Iran sanction bill next month' (NCRI).

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham who is expected to take over as chairman of the Foreign Appropriations Subcommittee when the Republicans take control of the Senate in January, said that the Senate will vote on an Iran sanctions bill next month.

Graham said on Saturday in a press conference in Jerusalem: “In January of next year, there will be a vote on the Kirk-Menendez bill, bipartisan sanction legislation that says, if Iran walks away from the table, sanctions will be reimposed. If Iran cheats regarding any deal that we enter to the Iranians, sanctions will be reimposed.”

U.S. sanctions currently in place target energy and banking sectors in Iran, as well as any trade that might benefit its nuclear enterprise.

“The last time the international community tried to control a rogue regime’s nuclear ambitions, it resulted in a nuclear armed North Korea. What started as a small enrichment capability to be monitored by the United Nations, resulted in multiple nuclear weapons being procured by one of the most dangerous regimes in the world — North Korea.”

Senator Graham said he fears that “if a deal was done between the P5+1 that allows an enrichment capability to be given to the Ayatollahs in Iran, that we will suffer the same fate.”

In an interview with CNN aired on Sunday he said: “I would like to end the nuclear ambitions of the Iranians peacefully, but the deal needs to be looked at and approved by Congress. They have been trying to develop a nuclear weapon, not a peaceful nuclear power program. And of all of the things that could throw the world into more chaos than exists today, it would be a bad deal regarding the Iranian nuclear ambitions.” Hmmm......Obama: ""I haven't used the veto pen very often since I've been in office," Obama said. "Now I suspect there are going to be some times where I've got to pull that pen out."

Obama 'buddy' Iran Calls for Evaluation of Human Rights Situation in US, Canada, UK.

Obama 'buddy' Iran Calls for Evaluation of Human Rights Situation in US, Canada, UK. (SP).

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has proposed sending international human rights rapporteurs to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, Iranian Human Rights Headquarters for International Affairs deputy head Kazzem Qaribabadi told Fars News Agency (FNA) in an interview Monday.

“Human rights has turned into a political tool in the hands of a number of countries which claim to support human rights," Qaribabadi told FNA.

"Why the US, Canada and Britain don’t allow a special rapporteur to compile a report on their human rights situation?" he asked.

Qaribabadi recently voiced his concerns about human rights violations in a number of Western countries, particularly in cases concerning racial profiling in the United States and attempts by the United Kingdom to remove any mention of US-UK cooperation from the US Senate's report on CIA interrogation practices.

In mid-December, Ahmad Esfandiari, the head of the International Human Rights Center in Iran, said the center sent a letter to the United Nations, asking it “to provide the ground for the presence of the center's independent human rights rapporteurs in the US."

Earlier this month, senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami called the United States the world’s leader in human rights violations, referring to CIA interrogation techniques as “medieval.” Hmmmm.....Obama "We might open an Embassy in Iran"...he might agree that Americans are racists.

Obama: Iran has 'chance to get right with the world'.

Obama: Iran has 'chance to get right with the world'. (Taz).

Iran could become a "very successful regional power" if Tehran agrees to a long-term deal to curb its nuclear program, President Barack Obama said in an interview with NPR News, Reuters reported.

"They've got a chance to get right with the world," Obama said in the interview, which was taped at the White House on Dec. 18 and is set to air this week.

More than a year ago, Iran agreed to an interim plan to halt higher-level uranium enrichment in exchange for a limited easing in financial sanctions pending negotiations on a long-term deal. Those talks have now been extended to next June.

Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful energy use, but the United States and five other powers want to make sure that Tehran cannot quickly develop nuclear weapons.

Obama told NPR that Iran should seize the chance of a deal that could lift crippling sanctions.

"Because if they do, there's incredible talent and resources and sophistication inside of Iran and it would be a very successful regional power that was also abiding by international norms and international rules - and that would be good for everybody," he said.

Obama insisted a nuclear deal was possible, although Vice President Joe Biden earlier this month said he thought there was a "less than even shot" of an agreement.

Obama said he recognized that Iran has "legitimate defense concerns" after it "suffered from a terrible war with Iraq" in the 1980s. But he criticized Tehran for its "adventurism, the support of organizations like Hizbollah, the threats they've directed at Israel."

Asked whether he would use his last two years in office to help rebuild war-torn countries, Obama said it was up to countries like Libya, Syria and Iraq to take the lead.

"We can help, but we can't do it for them," Obama said. "I think the American people recognize that. There are times here in Washington where pundits don't; they think you can just move chess pieces around the table.

"And whenever we have that kind of hubris, we tend to get burned," he said.

Obama rejected the idea of "devoting another trillion dollars" to sending U.S. combat troops to fight Islamic State militants in Iraq.

"We need to spend a trillion dollars rebuilding our schools, our roads, our basic science and research here in the United States," he said.

Obama said he hoped to be able to work with Congress on shared economic goals. But he said he expected Republicans would pass some bills he will oppose, particularly on health care and the environment.

"I haven't used the veto pen very often since I've been in office," Obama said. "Now I suspect there are going to be some times where I've got to pull that pen out." Hmmmm.......Do they serve magic mushrooms in Hawaii restaurants?

Obama confirming Israeli and GCC fears over Iran nuclear deal: (possible) eventual normalization with Iran. https://t.co/QrOaiCzFVv

— Arash Karami (@thekarami) December 29, 2014

US cruiser leaves drill area as Iran’s military manoeuvres continues

US cruiser leaves drill area as Iran’s military manoeuvres continues. (Taz).

Iran’s armed forces warned foreign cruisers, including a US cruiser, to leave their drill area in the country’s south, the Fars news agency reported Dec. 28.

Iranian armed forces have launched the fourth phase of a massive military drill codenamed Muhammad Rasulullah (Mohammad, the Messenger of God), which started earlier on Dec. 25.
The drill is the largest of its kind in the region yet, covering an area from the east of the Strait of Hormuz to the southern parts of the Gulf of Aden.

In the latest stage of the manoeuvres, naval forces will plant mines to deter mock enemy vessels and submarines from entering coastal waters.

Another team will immediately conduct a naval mine clearance exercise.

The Iranian army’s F-4 fighter jets will join to provide air support to the naval fleet.

According to Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, today’s drill is the largest missile drill in the history of military exercises in Iran.

The drill involves the deployment of different types of military hardware and weapons both in water and on land. Hmmm.........Time to paint the White house   'Yellow' ?

'Moderate & Peaceful' Iran starts large-scale military drill near Strait of Hormuz.

IRGC naval bases

'Moderate and Peaceful' Iran starts large-scale military drill near Strait of Hormuz.(Taz).

Iranian army has started a large-scale military drill on Dec. 25 morning near the strategic Strait of Hormuz through which one fifth of the world oil supply passes, the country’s state IRINN TV reported.

The exercise dubbed “Mohammad Rasoul allah” will cover an area of 2.2 million square kilometers from the country’s south east territory, east of the Strait of Hormuz to the southern parts of the Gulf of Aden.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s might will be displayed in joint wargames, by the Army’s Ground, Naval and Air Forces and with the support of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base,” Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced on Tuesday.

Sayyari said the Naval Forces would use different types of military equipment and weapons in the exercises to show Iran’s power in water.

The Iranian commander added that various types of warships, destroyers, submarines, missiles, aircraft and helicopters would be used in the drills in a show of Iran's naval might and power.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Iranian Ground Force Commander Lieutenant General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan announced that his forces are due to stage massive wargames in late December or Early January in the Southeastern parts of the country.

"We will practice two tactics of asymmetric war, war with new threats and proxy wars," the Iranian commander said.

"Iran would also use suicide, surveillance and imaging drones in the military drill," Pourdastan further added.

"The high-precision Toufan missile with a range of 4km can both be used as a land-based missile and be fired from helicopters during the wargames," Pourdastan told FNA on Thursday.

He also said that Shaher sniper rifle, the Moharram six-barrel cannon and mine-shedding systems are among the other weapons and equipment to be used in the wargames.

Pourdastan elaborated on the drones used by the Iranian Ground Forces in the drills, and said a new type of these drones can be used for suicide attacks against air or ground targets. 

The Iranian commander noted that the maneuvers could increase capability and potentials of the Iranian ground force.

Pourdastan further noted that the Army's Ground Force is watching bases and forces in neighboring countries, and would use its potentials in case their activities divert from normal course.

Tehran has repeatedly stated that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

Ahead of holding the military exercise Iranian military officials announced that the Islamic Republic has warned several “trans-regional” spy planes including U-2 which were operating near the country’s flight information region (FIR) to stay away from Iranian airspace.

Iran warns US spy planes, ahead of its large-scale military drill.

Iran warns US spy planes, ahead of its large-scale military drill.(Taz).

Iran has warned several “trans-regional” spy planes to stay away from Iranian airspace, ahead of holding a large-scale military exercise, the Islamic Republic’s Tasnim news agency reported Dec. 22.

“Iran warned several spy planes related to trans-regional powers which were operating near the country’s flight information region (FIR) on Dec.21-22,” the deputy commander and spokesperson for the country’s Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Shahrokh Shahram said.
Shahram said that some of the warned planes were U-2 spy plane.

Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli, commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base said early in December that Iran has warned an American spying U-2 plane.

The US surveillance plane altered its flight path after Iran’s air defense missiles locked onto it, according to Iran’s top air defense commander.

Although the U-2 is nearly 60 years old, it has been updated and redesigned and is still routinely used by the US for surveillance.

Iran will hold a widespread military drill dubbed “Mohammad Rasulullah” from Dec. 25 to Dec. 31, 2014.

The exercises will be held in an area of 2.2 million square kilometers and will involve the navy, air forces, land forces of Iran army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Hmmm.....I wonder if Obama apologized for the U-2 intrusion?

Video - Former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali: Iran Has the Right to Nuclear Weapons

Surprise! "Sometimes US & NATO 'Ally' Turkey doesn’t support sanctions against Iran.

Surprise! "Sometimes US and NATO 'Ally' Turkey doesn’t support sanctions against Iran. (Taz).

Ankara does not support sanctions against Iran, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Dec. 17 in Tehran at a joint press conference with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Cavusoglu said Ankara has always supported and will continue supporting Tehran.

He added that Ankara also supports the talks between Tehran and the six international mediators (the US, the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany).

“Ankara has repeatedly stated that every country, including Iran, has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” he said.

The US and EU imposed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports and the country’s banking system, as a result of what Iran faced problems in these sectors.

The UN Security Council imposed sanctions against Iran, demanding the country to prove that it is not preparing to develop nuclear weapons.

The Islamic Republic has on numerous occasions stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, using nuclear technology for electricity generation and medical purposes instead.

Iranian officials earlier held talks with the US delegation headed by the Acting Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

Iran and P5+1 (China, France, Russia, Britain, the US plus Germany) sealed an interim deal in Geneva on Nov. 24, 2013 to pave way for a full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program.

The Geneva deal took effect on January 20 and expired on July 20. Hmmm.....How many Billions of Dollars has Turkey made so far 'Busting sanctions'?

Iran says long way remains to reach nuclear deal with P5+1

Iran says long way remains to reach nuclear deal with P5+1. (Taz).

The atmosphere of the nuclear talks is great, but the two sides still have long way to reach a comprehensive agreement.

"The two sides discussed several issues including sanctions imposed on Iran thoroughly," Deputy Foreign Minister in Legal and International Affairs of Iran Abbas Araqchi said, Iran's Fars News Agency reported on Dec. 16.

Araqchi made the remarks after a bilateral meeting with the US representatives.

"We will continue the talks in the evening, and a meeting between Iran and all the members of the P5+1 group of countries will be held on Wednesday," he said.

Araqchi and Deputy Foreign Minister in Europe and American Affairs Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi are heading Iranian delegation in this round of talks.

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman is the head of the US delegation.
In the last round of talks between Iran and Group 5+1 in Vienna, Austria, the two sides could not reach a final agreement, so the foreign ministers said they needed more time for a comprehensive agreement and extended the negotiations for more seven months and seven days. Hmmm....To boldly go where no man went before?

'Moderate & Peaceful' Iranian commander: 'We have targets within America'

'Moderate and Peaceful' Iranian commander: 'We have targets within America' (dailyCaller).

A top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards boasted Saturday that his forces have plans in place to attack the United States from within, should the U.S. attack the Islamic Republic.

“America, with its strategic ignorance, does not have a full understanding of the power of the Islamic Republic,” Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami said in a televised interview. “We have recognized America’s military strategy, and have arranged our abilities, and have identified centers in America [for attack] that will create a shock.”

Reports indicate that terrorist Hezbollah forces — allies of Iran — have infiltrated the U.S. and have mapped out targets.

“We will conduct such a blow in which they [America] will be destroyed from within,” Salami said.

This is the second warning by a high-ranking officer of the Guards in two weeks. The chief commander of the Guards, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Jafari, addressing Secretary of State John Kerry, said on Jan. 24 that a direct conflict with America is the “strongest dream of the faithful and revolutionary men around the world.”

Kerry had previously said that if Iran did not live up to the agreement reached in Geneva on its nuclear program, “all options are on the table.”

“Your threats to revolutionary Islam are the best opportunity,” Jafari had said. “Muslim leaders for years have been preparing us for a decisive battle.… Do you know how many thousands of revolutionary Muslims at the heart of the Islamic revolutionary groups around the world are awaiting for you to take this [military] option from the table into action?”

Gen. Salami went further, saying the Revolutionary Guards have taken into consideration America’s military ability and different scenarios under which the U.S. could attack Iran via a limited missile or air strike, or even a ground attack.

“All operational bases of the enemy in the region in whatever capacity and location are within our firepower,” Salami warned. “The American military option does not make a difference for us, and they can use this option, but they will have to accept the responsibility of devastating consequences.”

Salami asked whether America could control the spread of any war with the Islamic Republic: “Can they preserve their vital interest in the region in the face of endless attacks by Iran? Can they keep their naval assets and the Zionist regime [Israel] secure?”

Salami said that with the U.S. economy and debt, America is in no position to engage Iran militarily.

The general then taunted Washington, citing Iran’s political and cultural influence in Iraq. “The current has changed for the Americans so much so that they invest [by invading Iraq] and others [Iran] benefit.” Hmmm.......Talking Baloni? Read more at Daily Caller