Murky details emerge of the 'deal' that Hussein Obama struck with Iran.

Murky details emerge of the 'deal' that Hussein Obama struck with Iran. (AlArabia).

More than a year ago on January 17, 2016, then President Barack Obama announced on TV the nuclear deal with Iran and also another secretly concluded deal securing freedom for four Iranian-Americans incarcerated by Tehran.

In exchange, Obama said he had granted clemency to six Iranian-Americans and one Iranian man convicted or awaiting trial or appeal in the US for violations of US sanctions laws. He made clear that they were not charged with “terrorism or any violent offenses.”

Politico has published the list and details of those individuals involved in the deal – the four Iranian-Americans freed by Tehran, the seven who were granted clemency in the US, and also the 14 that Obama did not mention at all – Iranian fugitives wanted by the US that the administration dropped charges and international arrest warrants against, citing foreign policy interests and the low likelihood of capturing them.

Those who were awaiting trial or appeal in the US and the Iranian-Americans held by Iran, have all asserted their innocence and portrayed themselves as political pawns in the often-contentious relationship between the US and Iran.

The 14 fugitives whose cases and international arrest warrants were dropped: These case histories have been compiled from federal court documents and other records, based on identities of the men initially disclosed by Iran’s FARS news service.

1. Seyed Abolfazl Shahab Jamili, an Iranian import-export businessman charged with procuring nuclear-related equipment for Iran from 2005 through 2012, including conspiring with Chinese associate Sihai Cheng to obtain hundreds of US-made pressure transducers for the gas centrifuges Iran used to secretly enrich uranium.


2. Amin Ravan, an Iranian citizen known to be a long-time procurement agent for Iran, Ravan and his Iran-based company IC Market Iran were charged with smuggling US-made military antennas to Hong Kong and Singapore to acquire the antennas and a wide array of other components for users in Iran. He was also charged with helping Iran acquire US radio frequency modules and other components that were used in IEDs that was responsible for killing many American troops in Iraq.


3. Behrouz Dolatzadeh, an Iranian citizen and longtime weapons smuggler for Iran. He was indicted and charged in connection with an alleged scheme to buy thousands of US-made assault rifles for ultimate use in Iran.


4. Hamid Arabnejad, Gholamreza Mahmoudi and Ali Moattar were Iranian citizens and executives at Mahan Air, and were indicted in connection with a conspiracy to illegally obtain by lease agreement for as many as six Boeing airplanes on behalf of the private Iranian airline.


5. Matin Sadeghi, a Turkish national indicted as part of Bahram Mechanic’s Houston-based procurement network, Sadeghi allegedly used his Istanbul trading company as an intermediary shipping point for dual-use US-origin electronics exported illegally to Iran, including commodities “frequently used in a wide range of military systems, including surface-air and cruise missiles.”


6. Koorush Taherkhani, an Iranian national and alleged co-conspirator in Ghahreman’s procurement network, Taherkhani used hise firm as a front company to acquire US-made navigation equipment for use in Iran.


7. Alireza Moazami Goudarzi, an Iranian citizen, Goudarzi was charged in connection with an international conspiracy to illegally procure US aircraft parts to Iran, including rotor blades for attack helicopters and other military and restricted aviation components.


8. Jalal Salami, a dual US and Iranian citizen who conspired to procure US electronic components use in Iran through Malaysia. Two others, Iranian citizens Sajad Farhadi and Seyed Ahmad Abtahi, were also part of the procurement network, prosecutors said.


9. Mohammed A. Sharbaf, an Iranian citizen indicted for allegedly being part of a conspiracy to procure US-origin forklift parts in violation of American sanctions.


10. Mohammad Abbas Mohammadi, an Iranian citizen charged with conspiring to illegally procure US-origin aircraft parts – including engines – for use in civilian and military aircraft in Iran.
    Hmmmm.....Hussein Obama now being paid #400.000 to spread more Lies. Read the full story here.

Iran has requested to buy 950 tons of uranium ore from Kazakhstan.

Iran has requested to buy 950 tons of uranium ore from Kazakhstan. (rferl)

Iran says it has requested to buy 950 tons of uranium ore from Kazakhstan over three years to help develop its civil reactor program.

Tehran has asked a body overseeing its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers to approve the purchase and is still awaiting Britain's agreement, the ISNA news agency quoted Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, as saying on February 25.

Salehi also said Iran expects to get Russian help in producing nuclear fuel.

The nuclear agreement between Iran and Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia, and the United States imposed curbs on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

The deal limits the level to which Iran can enrich uranium at 3.67 percent and caps the amount it can stockpile.


Such uranium is often used for peaceful purposes, but can be used for a nuclear weapon if processed to a higher level, experts say. Hmmm......Why do they need so much import if the have huge deposits of Uranium? 

Related - Flashback 2015: Iran 'rediscovers' unexpectedly high uranium reserve deposits.

Iran has discovered an unexpectedly high reserve of uranium and will soon begin extracting the radioactive element at a new mine, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said.

Under permission from the Supreme Leader, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has been conducting airborne surveys for discovering uranium deposits, he said, adding that good news in this regard will be announced in the future. “In the next 10 years, we will reach a level which will acquire raw materials for 190,000 SWU enrichment capacity,” he noted.

Video - Fatah Official Sultan Abu Al-Einein: Transfer of U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem Will Lead to Renewed Bloodshed

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North Korea has effective means of delivering nuclear weapons, their missile program is "close to the one developed in Iran" Russian expert.

North Korea has effective means of delivering nuclear weapons, their missile program is "close to the one developed in Iran" Russian expert. (Tass).

Pyongyang has rather effective means of delivering nuclear weapons including tactical missiles, Chief Scientist of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of Russia’s Academy of Sciences, retired Major General Vladimir Dvorkin said at a meeting of the supervisory board of the International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe.

According to Dvorkin, North Korea’s missile program is "close to the one developed in Iran" since the two countries had been sharing experience in the nuclear sphere. "They are already capable of fitting nuclear warheads onto tactical missiles," the Russian member of the Luxembourg Forum noted.

Former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, a member of the Luxembourg Forum supervisory board, said in turn that it was necessary to continue dialogue with Pyongyang. He believes that the North Korean leadership understands very well that using nuclear weapons would mean suicide.
Evans said that it was also necessary to keep up the sanctions pressure while remaining calm and searching for opportunities for a meaningful dialogue.

The International Luxembourg Forum on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe was established in 2007 based on a decision made at the International Conference on Preventing Nuclear Catastrophe. The forum comprises 49 credible and globally renowned experts from 14 countries.

Hmmm.......As I always warned in the past!

SOURCE

Iran gets missiles of Russian S-300 system, will be on combat alert till March 2017.

Iran gets missiles of Russian S-300 system, will be on combat alert till March 2017. (Tass).

 Iran has received the first batch of missiles of Russia’s S-300 air defense system, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Monday.

"The first batch of missiles of the S-300PMU2 has arrived in Iran. These systems will reinforce the air defense of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the news agency said in a statement.

Iran plans to place the air defense systems it has received from Russia on combat alert until the end of the current Iranian year ending on March 20, 2017, the news agency said. Read the full story here.

Video - Bill O'Reilly Analyzes Obama's "Deep Emotional Ties To Islam"

RELATED:

Obama's baptism presents its own problems. The senior pastor at Trinity at the time of Obama's baptism was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., the preacher who was seen damning America on cable TV for weeks last spring.

Nobody, except Obama knows if his conversion to Christianity is real or not. Although some reports and even Obama have referred to a "baptism", there doesn't appear to be any record of a baptism.

Chicago-based journalist, broadcaster and critic Andy Martin, when asked about Obama's baptism, wrote, "I have never been able to obtain any evidence that he was baptized, although I asked for those records."

It seems that Obama's conversion occurred when he answered one of Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright's altar calls by walking down the aisle of Trinity Church to make a formal commitment of his faith.

Cathleen Falsani, religion columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, writes, "He (Obama) described his conversion experience in his mid-20s, how he walked the aisle at Trinity United Church of Christ one Sunday in a public affirmation of his private change of heart."

"I came to Christianity through the black church tradition where the line between evangelical and non-evangelical is completely blurred. Nobody knows exactly what it means."

Falsani warns us that Obama’s walking the aisle at Trinity is poles apart from what Christians commonly refer to as being "saved, transformed or washed in the blood." In other words, it’s not to be confused with what Jesus called being "born again." As Mr. Obama himself explains, "It wasn’t an epiphany … but just a moment to certify or publicly affirm a growing faith in me."

In another account of this event, Manya Brachear, writing in the Chicago Tribune, describes the event thusly: "When Obama sought his own church community, he felt increasingly at home at Trinity. Before leaving for Harvard Law School in 1988, he responded to one of Wright's altar calls and declared a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Falsani wonders, "What kind of faith is it that is growing in Barack Obama? Is it the historic Christian faith? Not according to the good senator, who describes his faith as: (1) Suspicious of dogma (2) Without any monopoly on the truth (3) Nontransferable to others (4) Infused with a big healthy dose of doubt, and (5) Indulgent of and compatible with all other religions."

Unlike traditional Christianity, which Mr. Obama bemoans for its "call to evangelize and proselytize," the good senator’s faith is strictly a personal and private affair. Although he has no qualms about parading it in public in hopes of bolstering his political career, he would never dream of preaching it to others in hopes of converting them to Christ.

At the core of Obama's faith -- whether lapsed Muslim, new Christian or some mixture of the two -- is African nativism and Obama's having pledged allegiance to the Black Value System raises political issues of its own.

The phrase, “having been baptized,” is apparently based on Obama’s claim about being baptized. Our major media haven’t questioned the claim.

Miller went on to say, “His baptism presents its own problems. The senior pastor at Trinity at the time of Obama’s baptism was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., the preacher who was seen damning America on cable TV…”

Notice the formulation, “at the time of Obama’s baptism.” She carefully does not say that Wright performed the baptism. In fact, there’s no evidence it was a baptism in the traditional sense that it was performed by Wright or anybody else. It looks like Obama walked down the aisle and made a profession of faith. That is not a Christian baptism.

The Canada Free Press published a very interesting article in February by Madeline Brooks, who asked, “Where is the baptism certificate? We do not see one because there was no baptism. That central part of Christianity was not required at Obama’s former church, the Trinity United Church of Christ, during the years Obama attended…”

She cites the research of a pastor, Usama Dakdok, who had called Obama’s church to ask about membership:

“Do I have to be baptized to join the church?” asked Pastor Dakdok. “No, you don’t,” was the answer. “You can be a member without being baptized.”

“And what exactly is required to become a member?” The answer: “You attend two Sunday school classes in a row about membership, and then you walk the aisle.”

The phrase, “having been baptized,” is apparently based on Obama’s claim about being baptized. Our major media haven’t questioned the claim.

Miller went on to say, “His baptism presents its own problems. The senior pastor at Trinity at the time of Obama’s baptism was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., the preacher who was seen damning America on cable TV…”

Notice the formulation, “at the time of Obama’s baptism.” She carefully does not say that Wright performed the baptism. In fact, there’s no evidence it was a baptism in the traditional sense that it was performed by Wright or anybody else. It looks like Obama walked down the aisle and made a profession of faith. That is not a Christian baptism.

What do The Scriptures tell us about the Sacrament of Baptism? The Necessity of Baptism:

Christ Himself ordered His disciples to preach the Gospel to all nations and to baptize those who accept the message of the Gospel. In His encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), Christ made it clear that baptism was necessary for salvation: "Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." For Catholics, the sacrament is not a mere formality; it is the very mark of a Christian, because it brings us into new life in Christ.

Hmmmm....Nope nothing about "“You attend two Sunday school classes in a row about membership, and then you walk the aisle.”

In other words it seems according to the description by the Scriptures of the act of Baptism, Barrack Hussein Obama is not Baptized.

I'm sure any Islamic scholar will agree that "attending two Sunday school classes in a row about membership, and then you walking the aisle" doesn't mean renouncing your Islamic Faith!
Hmmm.....By the way anyone remember when was the last time he (Obama) saw the inside of a church?


http://www.mfs-theothernews.com/2010/12/merry-christmas-was-president-obama.html

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2012/05/mystery_religion_mr_obamas_contradictory_conversions_to_christianity.html

Video - Hassan Nasrallah: Hizbullah's Money and Missiles Reach Us Directly from Iran, No Law Will Prevent This.

Israel's 'staunchest ally' Pres Hussein Barrack may stop subsidizing Israeli defense firms.

Israel's 'staunchest ally' Pres Hussein Barrack may stop subsidizing Israeli defense firms. (JT).

If you want to understand just how special the U.S.-Israel relationship really is, look no further than the annual aid package. Israel is not only the greatest beneficiary of U.S. defense assistance, but also the only one allowed to spend a portion of that assistance on weapons and equipment from its own industry. Everyone else has to buy American.

President Barack Obama is now looking to end this U.S. subsidy of Israel’s defense sector, according to U.S. and Israeli officials. They say the “offshore procurement” provision, unique to Israel’s aid package, is one of the last obstacles to completing an agreement to extend aid until 2029. Obama would like to phase out the agreement that allows Israel to spend 26 percent of U.S. annual aid at home. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, so far, disagrees.

Like almost everything else in Israel, there is no consensus on whether Netanyahu should just accept the aid package as Obama proposes. Moshe Kahlon, Israel’s finance minister and a former member of Netanyahu’s Likud Party, called on the prime minister this week to take the deal as it is, even though he acknowledged it could be better. Meanwhile, a member of Kahlon’s party, the former Israeli ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren, has urged Netanyahu to go slow, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Elliott Abrams, a senior National Security Council official under President George W. Bush, told me he agrees with Oren. “If you do it this year, you will give Obama a talking point for why he is the best person for Israeli security, ever,” he said. “And Obama will misuse that in his last months in office to produce his parameters for the peace talks.”

Abrams has a point. Obama has been doing this since he came into office. He has boosted Israel’s defense subsidy, as he has distanced America from Israel in both the Iran negotiations and on settlement growth in the West Bank. The lavish military aid was political cover for a foreign policy Israel’s leaders opposed. Read the full story here.

Related:

Column One: Obama’s money and #Israel’s sovereignty. https://t.co/w30fNfgIEC

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) June 26, 2016

Video - Israeli Rabbi Deconstructs Obama's "What's the Diff If We Call It Radical Islam'?" Speech

HT And Source: Scaramouchee

Video - Former Senior US Official: White House Launched ‘Venomous Whisper Campaign’ Against Netanyahu to Sell Iran Nuclear Deal

Read the full story here. More here (PDF)

Obama was secretly angling for Khamenei & Rouhani meeting.

Obama secretly begged requested Rouhani meeting — report. (ToI).

U.S. President Barack Obama has recently made personal overtures to Iran’s supreme leader and president, requesting a meeting with the latter, according to an Iranian media report.

According to an April 19report on the Iranian website Sahamnews.org, which is affiliated with Iran's Green Movement, President Obama asked to meet with Iranian President Hassan Rohani in two secret letters sent in late March to both Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Rohani.

According to the report, Obama wrote in the letters that Iran has a limited-time opportunity to cooperate with the U.S. in order to resolve the problems in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, and promised that if Iran agreed to a meeting between him and Rohani, he would be willing to participate in any conference to this end.

The Sahamnews report further stressed that Supreme Leader Khamenei discussed the request with President Rohani, that Rohani said that Iran should accept the request and meet with Obama, and that such a meeting could lead to an end to the crises in the region while increasing Iran's influence in their resolution. Rohani promised Khamenei that any move would be coordinated with him and reported to him. According to the report, Khamenei agreed with Rohani.

The Sahamnews report also emphasized that Khamenei's recent aggressively anti-U.S. speeches were aimed at maintaining an anti-U.S. atmosphere among the Iranian public, whereas in private meetings he expresses a different position.

Hardliners in Tehran argue that Rouhani has been tricked into surrendering control of Iran’s nuclear program without getting much in return.

And in Washington, Obama’s critics claim he plans to allow an unreformed Iran access to US finance despite separate sanctions remaining in place. Hmmm........Obama persona non grata all over the world. Read the full story here.

#Oman campaigned hard to persuade #Islamic Republic leaders to let #Obama visit Tehran for farewell #Khamenei said:no.(Tehran sources claim)

— Amir Taheri (@AmirTaheri4) April 23, 2016

Kerry: U.S. has No objection in the way of foreign banks engaging with Iranian banks.

Kerry: U.S. has No objection in the way of foreign banks engaging with Iranian banks. (IranFrontpage).

Secretary of State John Kerry before meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday said US has no objection does not stand in the way of foreign banks engaging with Iranian banks and companies.

Discussing the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Kerry emphasized on the fact that U.S. has lifted nuclear-related sanctions, as U.S. committed to do, and there are now opportunities for foreign banks to do business with Iran.

Referring to the existence of confusion among some foreign banks, he said that we try to clarify that as much as we can.

He added that among the nuclear-related sanctions that were lifted were those that prevented Iran from engaging with non-U.S. banks, including getting access to Iran’s restricted funds that were previously held overseas.

On the reason for which the State and the Treasury Departments have been actively engaged with partner governments and the private sector in order to clarify those sanctions that have been lifted, Kerry said that, ‘We understand that banks and businesses have complicated business decisions to make, and they have to make them.

He noted that, ‘We recognize it is going to take some time for companies to feel confident in reengaging with Iran, and in all fairness, that is due to concerns other than sanctions.’

‘I want to make clear the United States is committed to doing our part as we believe it is in our interest to ensure that the JCPOA, the nuclear agreement that we reached, that it is in fact working for all participants’, Secretary Kerry said.

Quoting materials from Iran Front Page is permitted only if the source is mentioned by name.

Kerry: Iran ‘Absolutely’ Deserves All Benefits of Nuclear Agreement.

Kerry: Iran ‘Absolutely’ Deserves All Benefits of Nuclear Agreement. (SP)

On Monday, State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said that the US government had no intention of allowing Iran to access the US financial system.


Asked during an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe why the US Department of Treasury was ‘sanctioning’ the idea of helping Tehran get access to the US dollar and get more investments, Kerry said that Washington was "working very hard to do what is fair."

Moreover, when pressed about whether or not Tehran deserves such consideration, Kerry explained that in terms of the nuclear agreement Iran "absolutely deserves the benefits of the agreement they struck."

"We’ve in fact tried to work to make sure that the banks that are supposed to be doing legitimate business with respect to the transactions that are okay after the agreement that they’re operating," 

Kerry said. "It’s fair for Iran to get what it deserves because it kept it’s part of the bargain to date, with respect to the nuclear agreement." Hmmmm.........High crimes and misdemeanors. Read the full story here.

Israel Requests US Bunker-Busting Bombs with Increased Power.

Israel Requests US Bunker-Busting Bombs with Increased Power. (IMRA).

On Monday, Joe Biden will land at Ben Gurion Airport, for his last visit as Vice President of the United States. Ostensibly, this is one of the more boring visits: current Democratic administration is in his last year, and Biden himself had decided not to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, as many vice presidents have done before him.

Still, the visit arouses huge interest, especially in the Israeli defense establishment. The reason: the discussions with the United States regarding a new framework agreement for defense aid entered the final straight, and Biden might bring about some news on the matter, or at least a hint.

Anyway, shortly after Biden's visit, the defense minister will visit Washington, after which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will also visit the United States. Therefore, the aid agreement is expected to be signed by the end of March, at the latest. Israel is counting on the American administration to be generous towards Israel's defense needs at this time, in order to win the support of the Jewish vote (and mostly the Jewish donors) prior to the presidential elections.

Aid or "Compensation"?

To understand how the coming month will be crucial in terms of the Israeli defense ministry, we need to understand the context: the US elections will be held in November 2016, whereas the previous defense aid agreement between Israel and the United States will expire in 2017. The 10-years-long agreement set the extent of the defense aid back in 2007. According to the soon to be expired agreement, Israel received each year $ 3.1 billion. This is a huge sum, which constitutes more than 20 percent of Israel's defense budget. Under the terms of the aid, the Ministry of Defense has received permission to convert half a billion dollars each year into NIS, to use the money for local acquisitions. The remainder is used as the primary budget source, to finance IDF equipment of central combat platforms such as fighter jets and helicopters.

Beyond the generous annual aid, Israel receives additional aid from the United States for special projects. For example, the US has funded the equipping of seven of the nine Iron Dome batteries. In addition, the US DoD had collaborated with the Israeli defense establishments in the development and funding of other major missile defense projects - "Arrow 3" and "David's Sling".

It was recently reported that the Americans will also deliver funds for projects that will assist the fight against underground tunnels built by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the IDF and the US military has an agreement in which Israel could use American military equipment, kept in storages in Israel, in emergencies. To top that, the US Army also operates an innovative and classified radar system in the Har-keren mountaintop in the Negev region. Israelis are not allowed to see it firsthand (the closed US area on Israeli soil generates considerable resentment in the defense establishments).

Harming the Israeli national honor or not, the new aid agreement on the agenda is also considered as compensation for the nuclear deal with Iran in summer 2015. The truth is that the compensation is not for the nuclear deal, but for the massive arms sales of American companies in the Persian Gulf.

Not many are aware, but the entire region is in an intense arms race, as Iran plans to spend no less than $ 20 billion of its funds, which were frozen during the economic sanctions, in order to finance the procurement of advanced weapons systems, primarily from Russia. Iran's neighboring countries fear its massive procurement and its transformation to a nuclear power, sooner or later (no leader in the Persian Gulf believes that the agreement will prevent Iran from attaining a nuclear bomb). For this reason, they also acquire weapons, mainly from France and the United States (including many squadrons of modern fighter aircraft, made by the two countries).

This massive equipping is a great celebration for the US defense companies, but these weapons may one day be directed against Israel. Because the United States is committed to maintaining Israel's qualitative edge (under a law passed years ago in Congress) - Israel is expected to receive increased aid, to allegedly ensure this advantage.

Aid Talks

Sources very involved in the defense and diplomatic relations between Israel and the United States, are confident that Israel had already missed an excellent opportunity to boost the "compensation". It was near the time the agreement with Iran was signed. "Before signing the agreement, the American government was willing to give Israel almost everything it had wanted, to "silence" the criticism of the agreement. But because the Prime Minister has decided to fight Obama, the Americans have taught him a lesson and did not promise any compensation," said a source close the subject.

Now, as mentioned, Israel hopes that the Democrats' electoral considerations prevail over the US administration's hostility towards the current Israeli government. But what Israel really wants and what would be the extent of the new aid? Talks over the subject between Israeli and American teams began last fall, as part of negotiations between the Israeli Defense Ministry and the Pentagon. During those conversations, Head of the IDF Planning Directorate, Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, presented the IDF's needs to his US colleagues.

During the past few weeks, the aid negotiations was intensified and the reins were passed to PM Netanyahu's hands, who deals with the issue closely. The person who coordinates for the subject is the acting Head of the National Security Council, Ya'akov Nagel, who works regularly with the head of the US National Security Council, Dr. Susan Rice. Originally, Nagel started in the Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (MAFAT) in IMOD, and is currently a candidate for Heading MAFAT. Other major candidates mentioned, were Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Danny Gold, who is considered as the father of "Iron Dome"; Maj. Gen. (Res.) Ami Shafran; and Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Eytan Eshel and Brig. Gen. (Res.) Shmuel Yachin. The four of them served as Heads of the IDF's R&D department.

Meanwhile, a new Head of the National Security Council was appointed this week, instead of Yossi Cohen, who has been appointed as Head of Mossad in early January: Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Avriel Bar-Yosef, originally a Navy officer, received the prestigious appointment.

Back to the US aid: the two main questions on the agenda are concerning the sum of the annual aid, in the decade between 2017 and 2027, and the quality of weapons that Israel will receive. Israel expects a significant boost in the annual aid, as part of "compensation" for the nuclear deal. Sums of even 4 and 5 billion dollars were heard. The second question, which depends on the actual sum of the defense aid, is what weapons systems Israel could purchase with that money.

Israel is already planning on at least two squadrons of the future F-35 fighter (the first aircraft of this model will land on Israeli soil this December), but in the Air Force they fantasize about no less than four squadrons by the end of the next decade. In addition, they desire an additional F-15 squadron, a modern array of transport helicopters and refueling aircraft, as well as an aircraft which is half helicopter and half fighter, the V-22.

In addition to aircraft, Israel-US talks involve advanced air-to-ground missiles and much-needed weapons, should it turn out that Iran has been fooling the world and continues to strive for a nuclear bomb. These weapons include, mainly, bunker-busting bombs, more advanced and heavier than the "Lite" version of bunker-busting bombs that the air force received five years ago.

Some of the systems discussed between Israel and the United States are highly classified. In many cases, it is expected that the Americans would agree to include such systems in the weapons arsenal supplied to Israel, only if they know that Israeli defense industries are already developing similar systems in parallel.

Not all interests of Israel and the US are overlapping, but from Israel's perspective, the aid agreement shall determine Israel's military power for many decades. Thus, this month will bring about crucial decisions, and all negotiation tricks will come into play, by both sides.

Iran - Ayatollah Khamenei defends 'Death to America' calls.

Iran - Ayatollah Khamenei defends 'Death to America' calls. (Fars).

TEHRAN (FNA)- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the global Zionism network dictates the US and many EU members' policies vis-a-vis Iran.

Addressing a large crowd from East Azarbaijan province in Tehran on Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "The US and many European governments' policies are dominated by this (Zionist) netwrok, and the Americans' dealing with Iran's nuclear issue should be understood within this particular framework."

"Following the lengthy trend of the talks and the pursuing nuclear deal, a US official has in recent days said they would take (the necessary) action to dissuade foreign investments in Iran," the Leader reminded, adding in response that "this demonstrates the depths of the US hostility toward the Iranian nation."

He said the Iranian team of nuclear negotiators and their backers at home made industrious efforts to strike a deal in a bid to improve Iranian economy through foreign investment, "but the Americans now want to block this path".

"And that's exactly why it has been repeatedly stated that Americans are not trustworthy," the Iranian Leader reiterated.

In response to Washington's protests against the slogan of 'Death to America' in nationwide rallies, the Leader said, "When you act like this, when your past and present is nothing but open hostility, what else do you expect from the Iranian people?"

In conclusion, the Leader said, "The reality is this: After the marathon talks and the (nuclear) deal, they are now saying 'we won't'. In broad daylight, they threaten us with new sanctions."

In relevant remarks on September 3, Ayatollah Khamenei had blasted the US statesmen for their contradictory remarks after the nuclear agreement with Tehran, and called on Iranian officials show more sensitivity and give proper response to their comments.

"In the nuclear talks with are negotiating with the 5+1, but the US administration is, in fact, the main party; but the US officials speak very badly and a decision needs to be taken about the manner they speak," Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with the head and members of Iran's Assembly of Experts in Tehran.

"Don’t say that the Americans are uttering these words to convince their internal rivals; of course, I believe that the internal disputes in the US are real and they have differences and the reason for such a difference is clear to us but what is officially said needs a response and if no response is given to them, the other side's remarks will be entrenched," he added.

Iran's 'Staunchest ally' the Obama 'admin' lost track of Iranian nuclear shipments to Russia.

Iran's 'Staunchest ally' the Obama 'admin' lost track of Iranian nuclear shipments. HT :IMRA

The United States, which pledged vigorous oversight, has acknowledged that it lost track of Iranian nuclear shipments.

The State Department acknowledged that Washington failed to monitor the transfer of Iranian uranium shipments to Russia. A senior official said tons of Iranian low-enriched uranium arrived in Russia and was taken to an unidentified location.

"It has not yet been decided where exactly Russia will put this information," State Department lead coordinator on Iran, Stephen Mull, said.

In a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 11, Mull was grilled by Rep. Chris Smith regarding Iranian uranium shipments to Russia.

Mull could not tell the House committee the destination of the 25,000 pounds of enriched uranium, but emphasized that Russia could be trusted with the nuclear material.

"We obviously have many differences under many years with Russia, but one of the features of our relationship is pretty close cooperation on protection of nuclear material," Mull said.

But under questioning, Mull acknowledged that Washington did not verify the Iranian shipment, part of Teheran's nuclear agreement with the P5+1 nations. 

The official said Russia, rather than the International Atomic Energy Agency, was responsible for the Iranian uranium. Instead, IAEA attended the loading of the Iranian uranium on the Russian ship.

"This is a flaw in my opinion," Smith said. "This cannot be allowed to stand." Hmmm............High crimes and misdemeanors

Source: http://www.menewsline.com/article-1173,36354-U-S-Loses-Track-Of-Iranian-Urani.aspx

Iran soon to showcase controversial Emad missile.

Iran soon to showcase controversial Emad missile. (Taz).

Iran will showcase its Emad ballistic missile during the Iranian revolution anniversary demonstrations on Feb. 11, said the Propagation Office of Iranian Defense Ministry Feb. 9.

The Emad is the latest generation of Iran’s long-range ground-to-ground ballistic missiles, which can be guided to assure that intended targets are hit, according to the Iranian officials.

In October 2015, Iran test fired the Emad missile triggering controversies.

In particular, several Western sources claimed that Tehran violated the UN Security Council’s resolution 2231 by test-firing the Emad, suggesting it is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

The UNSC resolution 2231, adopted July 20, 2015, endorses the nuclear deal between Tehran and the world powers and calls upon Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles that can deliver nuclear weapons, as well as launching ballistic missiles, such as Emad.

The Defense Ministry’s Propagation Office today also said that during the revolution anniversary demonstrations, Iran will demonstrate its Simorgh satellite carrier as well.



Simorgh is a two-phase satellite carrier, built by Iran’s defense industry sector as part of the country’s aerospace program. It can deliver the satellites up to 100 kilogram of weight to the 500-kilometer orbit.

The Simorgh features a first stage built from bundling four separate 64,000-pound-thrust engines and a 30,000-pound-thrust engine as a second stage. Although Iran has acknowledged a lift capacity of just 100 kilograms, Nader Uskowi, a Washington-based consultant and blogger on Iran, said optimization of its current design should allow for delivering a 700-kilogram payload into low Earth orbit.

Despite its size, Simorgh as currently designed falls far short of meeting ICBM-class thrust-to-payload requirements, experts say. “This mammoth cannot carry a reasonable re-entry vehicle the 10,000 kilometers needed to reach the United States,” said Uzi Rubin, a former director of Israel’s Missile Defense Organization who consults internationally on missile development programs.

“It’s not the capability that’s significant, but the audacity of the whole thing,” said Rubin. “These guys are thinking big time. They’re diligently following a road map that includes the ability to project strategic power beyond this region.”

Given the rigorous pace and demonstrated achievements of Iran’s missile development program, the Simorgh “could be Iran’s road to an ICBM,” said Tal Inbar, director of Israel’s Fisher Institute Space Research Center.

“For now, it’s untested and extremely inefficient, but in the future, it could be configured to deliver a crude payload to the continental United States,” he said. Hmmm......Anyone seeing similarities to North Korea's 'satellite carrier'? Read the full story here.

Iranian officers visiting North Korea

Satellite images expose Iran's Duplicitous Nuclear Strategy.

Satellite images expose Iran's Duplicitous Nuclear Strategy. HT: Stratfor.

Iran's nuclear deal with the West has come into effect, but that does not mean international concerns about Tehran's nuclear program have been fully resolved. Iran has continued to develop certain military technologies, including ballistic missiles, that could someday be used to support nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, it has kept its activities at several military installations around the country cloaked in secrecy.

Satellite imagery provided by our partners at AllSource Analysis gives a clear picture of the dual nature of Iran's approach to its nuclear program throughout its negotiations with the West.

The pictures of the Parchin Military Complex, taken in July 2010 and January 2016, respectively, show how Tehran removed potentially incriminating traces of activity at the site while talks were ongoing. It also constructed an underground facility within the complex, where research and weapons development could be concealed. Read the full story here.