'Thank God they're Moderates' - Iran says ready for direct battle with US, ready to rid Humanity of the U.S. policies.

'Thank God they're Moderates' - Iran says ready for direct battle with US. (Taz).

Iran is ready to engage in direct battle with the US, said the country's armed forces spokesman Masud Jazayeri.

"We are ready to rid humanity of the war-seeking and domination-loving policies of the US in a real and direct battle," he said in reaction to recent statements by a US presidential candidate, Press TV Persian reported June 4.

On Thursday Hillary Clinton said that notwithstanding the nuclear deal, the US would take action at any time to prevent Iran from gaining access to nuclear weapons, adding that the military option was still on the table.


Jazayeri dismissed the remarks as mere campaign propaganda in the first place.

"Our nation and armed forces are never after war, but will not overlook the need for preparedness for a moment," he maintained.

Iran 'ICBM' Launches New Satellite into Space.

Iran 'ICBM' Launches New Satellite into Space. (UOI).

Iran today launched a new satellite into space. Fajr (“Dawn”) was put into elliptical orbit of 250 to 400 kilometers aboard Safir satellite launch vehicle (SLV), becoming the fourth Iranian satellite launched into space. The Iranian media reported that the new satellite is equipped with micro-motors that provide it orbit-changing capability.

Iran launched its first satellite, Omid (“Hope”) in 2009, and sent its first bio-capsule containing living creatures into space in 2010. The director of Iran Space Agency, Hamid Fazeli, announced last October that Iran will launch three satellites into space (Fajr, Tadbir and Sharif) in the current Iranian calendar year, which ends on 20 March.

It should be noted that in the announcement made last October by Iran Space Agency of launching three satellites, including Fajr, during this Iranian calendar year, Simorgh SLV was identified as the launch vehicle.

Iranian news agencies report on the launch of Fajr today, however, identified the SLV involved as Safir. The Simorgh rocket was not used probably because the launch stand that could support Simorgh has not yet been installed at Khomeini Space Center.

As Uskowi on Iran mentions "I believe you are referring to Israel's Channel 2 report of 21 January, picked up by other outlets, which was based on an EROS-B satellite image of a new facility in Semnan's Khomeini Space Center. IHS Jane's 360 said yesterday that the facility is probably designed for Simorgh SLV. Channel 2 said the 27-m missile could hit targets far beyond Europe. Although Simorgh SLV is theoretically capable of ICBM ranges, but the payload it can carry is far too small for an ICBM. Jane's estimates that Simorgh will be able to lift a payload of just 100 kg into orbit." Hmmmm...... North Korea Iran's 'Buddy' is specializing in minimisation of nuclear payloads. See: US General Says North Korea Can Produce Nuclear Warheads Fit for Ballistic Missiles

Source

“Obama 'admin' - has given the Iranians 80 percent of what they want out of the negotiations”

“Obama 'admin' - has given the Iranians 80 percent of what they want out of the negotiations” HT: Ibloga. (Epaminondas)

Israeli Officials.

According to unnamed officials, Washington “has given the Iranians 80 percent of what they want” out of the negotiations, Channel 10 is reporting.
Jerusalem officials appear alarmed at the prospect that the United States will soon strike a deal with the Iranian regime that will leave it with a “breakout point” of months before it can gallop toward the bomb.
An Obama administration official dismissed the claims in the Channel 10 report as “complete nonsense.”

Nonsense.

The Taliban are not terrorists

Nidal Hassan was workplace violence

ISIS is not Islamic

If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor

Netanyahu is a chickenshit who has now spit in Obama’s face

Nonsense

If this story is true, Netanyahu is exerting his last effort for a peaceful resolution of this before a joint session of congress, not spitting in anyone’s face.

The people of the USA have decided by vote over SEVERAL ELECTIONS the makeup of this Senate and House. This is THEIR WILL.

OUR WILL.

If Obama tries to get around those who must ratify a treaty by 2/3 vote, he will be guaranteeing a regional war in the Middle East involving every category of weapon known to mankind, which might grow far beyond anyone’s control, and no matter what else will leave a very changed world behind it.


THAT will be the legacy of Barack Obama.  Hmmm.......The most anti Israeli president EVAH.

New anti-Iran sanctions in Congress could survive Obama’s veto.

New anti-Iran sanctions in Congress could survive Obama’s veto. (Debka).

Contrary to most reports, it turns out that President Barack Obama’s veto would not necessarily spell the end of the road for tougher economic sanctions on Iran that Congress proposes to enact should the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the six powers remain stalled.

A 67 Senate majority may after all be available to overturn the veto.

This was indicated Thursday by the Senate Banking Committee’s 18-4 bipartisan approval of the new sanctions bill tabled by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill.

The senators argued that the threat of new penalties would cause Tehran to take the ongoing negotiations more seriously, not disrupt them as the president maintains.

Russia in Talks With 'Moderate & Peaceful' Iran on Tor-M1 Missile System Modernization.

Russia in Talks With 'Moderate and Peaceful' Iran on Tor-M1 Missile System Modernization.(SP).

Tor is designed to detect and engage modern high-precision weapons, including cruise missiles and guided bombs. The Tor-M1s are deployed to protect Iranian state and military facilities from air attacks.

Russia's Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol is in talks with Iran on modernizing the short range Tor-M1 (SA-15 Gauntlet) surface-to-air missile defense systems, the plant's assistant director general told RIA Novosti Thursday.

"Iran has been operating a large number of our Tor-M1s. We [Iran and Russia] are holding talks about a possible modernization of the Tor-M1. We provide [Iran] with spare parts and train personnel. The work continues," said Vyacheslav Kartashov, liaison for military-technical cooperation and government contracts.

According to Kartashov, Iranian experts "professionally operate" the Tor-M1 missile systems, and provide for its maintenance.

"The equipment is in an excellent combat condition. Perhaps, this is one of the factors withholding the potential aggressor," he said.

Tor is designed to detect and engage modern high-precision weapons, including cruise missiles and guided bombs. The Tor-M1s are deployed to protect Iranian state and military facilities from air attacks.

Russia completed the delivery of 29 Tor-M1 missiles to Iran in January 2007. In September 2010, Moscow joined the UN sanctions against the country, prohibiting almost all arms trade, in response to Iran's controversial nuclear activities.

Video - IRAN TRUTH SQUAD BRIEFING LIVE - '3 motivation pillars of Iran. Jihad, Najis, and Canonical Islamic Jew-hatred.'

IRAN TRUTH SQUAD BRIEFING LIVE - '3 motivation pillars of Iran. Jihad, Najis, and Canonical Islamic Jew-hatred.'(centerforsecuritypolicy)

President Obama, in his January 20th State of the Union address, stated: “…for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material.”

This assertion is false. Iran continues to pursue its nuclear program unabated, constituting a paramount national security threat to the United States and its allies. The Center for Security Policy will hold a panel discussion on the true state of the Iranian threat, and what Congress must do to prevent Tehran’s realization of its nuclear ambitions.

WHO: Dr. Andrew Bostom, Author, Iran’s Final Solution for Israel: The Legacy of Jihad and Shi’ite Islamic Jew-Hatred in Iran

Clare Lopez, Vice President for Research and Analysis, Center for Security Policy; former CIA operations officer

Fred Fleitz, Senior Fellow, Center for Security Policy; former Senior Professional Staff Member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence;

former Chief of Staff to then-Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton; former CIA analyst

Iran says no more nuke talks if no agreement reached by deadline

Iran says no more nuke talks if no agreement reached by deadline. (Taz).

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries can reach nuclear agreement in less than 4 months, if the other side shows political will.

“If they want to reach agreement, they need to be realistic,” he said, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported on Jan. 28.

“The other side should know that Iranians will never bow to pressure, so if they want to reach an agreement they need to lift the pressures,” Zarif noted.

“The negotiations have reached a critical level. We are currently talking about the details,” he explained.

“If we don’t reach an agreement by the deadline, the talks won’t be extended anymore,” the Iranian minister said.

He went on to note that a new round of talks between Tehran and the P5+1 at the deputies level on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference have not been finalized yet.

The Munich Security Conference will kick off at the German city on Feb. 6.

“All the members of the P5+1 are not attending the conference, so we have not decided about any possible meeting yet,” Zarif explained.

Iran and P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council comprising of China, France, Russia, Britain, the US Plus Germany) sealed an interim deal in Geneva on November 24,2013 to pave the way for the full resolution of the decade-old disputes over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

The Geneva deal took effect on January 20, 2014 and expired on July 20, 2014.

However, the two sides agreed to extend their talks for four months till November 24, 2014 to reach a permanent deal on Iran's disputed nuclear program.

At a meeting held on November 24, 2014, the sides agreed to extend the talks for further seven months.  Hmmm.....Meanwhile the U.S. Senate dems give Obama another TWO months.

"The Silence of the Senate" - Senate Dems give Obama two months to reach a deal with Iran.

"The Silence of the Senate" - Senate Dems give Obama two months to reach a deal with Iran.(Blaze).

Ten Senate Democrats told President Barack Obama on Tuesday that they would not vote for an Iran sanctions bill until after late March, essentially giving Obama two months to reach a framework deal under which Iran agrees to give up its nuclear weapons program.

The Obama administration extended negotiations with Iran on a nuclear deal last November, and is now targeting March 24 as a deadline for reaching a framework agreement. The administration hopes to reach a final deal by June 30.

In the meantime, the administration has said it opposes any effort in Congress to approve new sanctions legislation. That has caused friction among Republicans and Democrats who argue that Iran is stalling for time, and that Congress should be getting new sanctions ready in case a deal fails to materialize.

But in their letter to Obama, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and nine other Democrats said they would give Obama some breathing room by not voting for a sanctions bill until after March 24.

“After March 24, we will only vote for this legislation on the Senate floor if Iran fails to reach agreement on a political framework that addresses all parameters of a comprehensive agreement,” they wrote. “This deadline is the critical test of Iranian intentions.”

Democrats no longer run the Senate, but Menendez is a key Democratic backer of tougher sanctions on Iran. As a result, it now appears unlikely that the Senate will be in any position to move a sanctions bill until late March.

Their commitment is unlikely to fully satisfy the White House, since it holds open the chance of a sanctions vote if a framework deal is reached that doesn’t satisfy Congress. But it does give Obama about two months to work on that deal without the threat of sanctions, at least in the Senate.

It’s not clear, however, if House Republicans will also agree to hold their fire.

Senate Democrats said they doubt any deal will emerge from the talks at all. Read the full story here.

Video - IRGC Deputy Commander Hossein Salami Threatens Retaliation against Israel, Says: Collapse of Israel More Important than Nuclear Issue

Iran sends warning message to Israeli leaders through 'diplomatic channels' to U.S. officials.

Hmmm...."the Zionist regime crossed Iran's red lines by this action"....You would almost think it's personal 

Iran sends warning message to Israeli leaders through 'diplomatic channels'  to U.S. officials. (ME).

Iran has told the United States that Israel should expect consequences for an attack on the Syrian-held side of the Golan Heights that killed an Iranian general, a senior official said Tuesday.

News of the Iranian warning come as at least two rockets fired from Syria hit the Israeli-occupied area of the Golan Heights on Tuesday, prompting Israeli forces to return fire.

There were no immediate reports of casualties on the Israeli side, nor claims of responsibility.

Israeli military officials assume the attack was a joint effort between Hezbollah and the Syrian military while Lebanese sources implied that the rockets were aimed at a rebel-run hospital in Syria's Quneitra province, Haaretz reported.

Tensions have risen since the attack along the ceasefire line in the Golan Heights on 18 January killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi and six fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah group.

Israel has not officially acknowledged carrying out the attack, but was already warned last week of an eventual response.

"We have sent a message to the United States through diplomatic channels telling the Americans that the Zionist regime crossed Iran's red lines by this action," said Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

"In this message, we said those responsible should wait to suffer the consequences of their act," he added, in remarks carried by the official IRNA news agency.   Hmmm.....Israel's 'Staunchest Ally' now spokesperson for Iran........Go figure.

Video - Krauthammer: "Obama treats Iran with the utmost respect, and Israel with none"

Surprise! UN cannot conclude Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful: IAEA Chief.

Surprise! UN cannot conclude Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful: IAEA Chief.(NCRI).

United Nations nuclear watchdog is cannot “provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities,” the chief of the international nuclear watchdog says.

Speaking in University of Indonesia, Mr. Yukiya Amano, the director of Intrantional Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Friday: “Two of the main nuclear verification issues on the Agency’s agenda in recent years have been North Korea and Iran.”

“These are very different cases. What they have in common is the fact that these countries have failed to fully implement their safeguards agreements with the IAEA and other relevant obligations. This makes it very difficult for us to do our job effectively.”

On the case of the Iranian regime’s nuclear activities he said: “we are not in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities.”

Speaking on the IAEA in the 21st century, the director of the agency said: “2015 will be a significant year for the Iran nuclear issue. The future will depend very much on the outcome of the negotiations between the so-called E3+3 countries - China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain and the United States - and Iran.”

Amano emphasized: “In addressing the Iran nuclear issue, two things are important.

• First, with the cooperation of Iran, the Agency needs to clarify issues with possible military dimensions to the satisfaction of Member States. 



• Also, Iran needs to implement the additional protocol so that the Agency can provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.”

Hmmm......In six years of talks they're still stuck with the same answers.

John Boehner On Netanyahu Invite: Congress ‘Can Make This Decision On Its Own’

John Boehner On Netanyahu Invite: Congress ‘Can Make This Decision On Its Own’.(Matzav).

While an Obama administration spokesman said Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner (R-Ohio) breached “protocol” by inviting Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress next month about the Iranian threat, Boehner said Congress “can make this decision on its own.”

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said regarding Boehner’s invitation of Netanyahu, “The protocol would suggest that the leader of one country would contact the leader of another country when he’s traveling there. … This particular event seems to be a departure from that protocol.”

In a statement on Wednesday morning, Boehner said, “In this time of challenge, I am asking the prime minister to address Congress on the grave threats radical Islam and Iran pose to our security and way of life. … America and Israel have always stood together in shared cause and common ideals, and now we must rise to the moment again. Let’s send a clear message to the White House-and the world-about our commitment to Israel and our allies.”

Boehner also said he does not believe he was “poking anyone in the eye” by extending an invitation to Netanyahu without consulting Obama.

“There is a serious threat that exists in the world. And the president last night kind of papered over it,” said Boehner.

Boehner was referring to Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday night, in which the president vowed to veto “any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo” the “progress” of ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and Western powers.

The Obama veto threat comes as Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) are moving quickly to bring a new Iran sanctions bill, titled Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015, to the Senate floor for a vote.

The new Menendez-Kirk bill expands on existing sanctions on Iran’s financial and energy sections, and would kick in if Iran and world powers fail to reach an agreement by the end of June.

Iran daring the U.S. - If US is not afraid of starting hostilities, then let it advance – Iran’s defense minister .

Iran daring the U.S. - If US is not afraid of starting hostilities, then let it advance – Iran’s defense minister. (TAZ).

If the US is not afraid of starting the hostilities, then let it advance, Iran’s Defense Minister Hussein Dehghani said, Iran’s news agency Fars reported.

He was responding to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey’s appeal about the possible attack on Iran.

Dehghani said that the statements of the US and Israel that there are plans about an attack, are meaningless.

"If they were able to do anything, they would have done it a long time ago," he said.

While speaking at a commemoration ceremony held in connection with the death of members of the Lebanese Hezbollah organization in Syria, Dehghani said that Iran's position concerning Israel remains unchanged.

"Iran has a stable position in relation to the Zionist regime, so the resistance forces of all Muslims are now fighting the Zionists and Takfiris,” he said. “We will fully support the resistance forces."

Israeli helicopters attacked the car with six Hezbollah members in Syria on January 18. All six people, including the son of one of Hezbollah commanders Imad Mughniyeh were killed. Among the killed was one of Sepah commanders.

Dehghani said that those responsible for the attack on Hezbollah members would be punished.
“All means will be used for providing the Palestinians with arms in the West Bank,” he said. Hmmm....the Obama 'Admin' gave them SIX years to prepare and grow stronger, now their masks come off.

Israeli TV shows launchpad of ‘Iranian missile’ that ‘can reach far beyond Europe’

Israeli TV shows launchpad of ‘Iranian missile’ that ‘can reach far beyond Europe’(TOI).

Satellite images taken outside Tehran feature first look at long-range missile newly developed by Iran, TV report says.

Iran has built a 27-meter-long missile, capable of delivering a warhead “far beyond Europe,” and placed it on a launch pad at a site close to Tehran, an Israeli television report said Wednesday, showing what it said were the first satellite images of the missile ever seen in the West.

It stressed that the missile could be used to launch spacecraft or satellites, but also to carry warheads.

The Channel 2 news report showed satellite imagery documenting what it said was Iran’s “very rapid progress” on long-range missile manufacture.

It showed one photograph of a site near Tehran, which it said the West had known about for two years, where Iran was working on engines for its long-range missiles.

It then showed a satellite photograph of a second site, nearby, which featured a launch pad, with the 27-meter missile on it — an Iranian missile “never seen before” by the West.

The missile is capable of taking a manned spacecraft or satellite into space, the TV report said.

It is also capable of carrying a conventional or non-conventional warhead “far beyond Europe,” the report added. Hmmm......They only need ICBM's to reach America they don't need them for Israel. Read the full story here.

"Sanctions that Benefit" Iranian regime illicitly exporting oil disguised as Iraqi barrels.

"Sanctions that Benefit" Iranian regime illicitly exporting oil disguised as Iraqi barrels.(NCRI).

A shipping insurer has warned its member this week that that Iranian crude labelled as Iraqi oil was being transferred ship to ship by smugglers at oil cargoes at a port in the United Arab Emirates.

Insurer West of England has said the cargos may contain Iranian crude disguised as Iraqi barrels, and that it cannot insure these volumes as they are in breach of U.S. sanctions on Tehran.

The ship to ship (STS) transfer by smugglers has been taking place at the Khor Fakkan port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The insurer said in a statement published on its website on Jan. 13: "It appears that such oil may routinely be described as being of Iraqi origin and as having been loaded on board the transferring vessel at Basra some time before the proposed STS operation."

The insurer said it "cannot provide insurance to vessels which load Iranian cargo in such circumstances and cover will cease in its entirety if such cargo is loaded".

The insurer company said that documentation of barrels labelled as originating from Basra in Iraq, and which stopped over at Khor Fakkan, should not be taken at face value.

“There is evidence of a sophisticated smuggling operation and those responsible may go to considerable lengths to disguise the true origin of the cargo. Cargo documentation is likely to appear credible and there may be no evidence of any designated parties being involved. “

“Members are therefore advised to exercise extreme caution when engaging in STS operations in the Arabian Gulf. In particular it is recommended that Members check with port agents to ensure that vessels providing cargo by means of an STS transfer in the region loaded the cargo at the port stated in the cargo documentation before any cargo is received. “

The insurer said that Iranian vessels loaded with crude had shuttled across the Strait of Hormuz to supply ships with oil labelled as originating from Iraq and destined for countries that do not benefit from a waiver of U.S. sanctions legislation.

The insurer warned its members that transport of Iranian oil without a waiver under U.S. law "may trigger enforcement action against the vessel, its owners and related parties by the U.S. authorities". Hmmm.......Obama's 'Buddies' 'Moderate Iran'.

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.

'Moderate & Peaceful' Iran Funneling $1 Billion to $2 Billion a Month into Syria - Report

Iran Funneling $1 Billion to $2 Billion a Month into Syria - Report. HT: UskowiOnIran.

The Christian Science Monitor quoted a Beirut-based diplomat with contacts in Syria as estimating that Iran funnels between $1 billion to $2 billion a month into Syria.

“A Beirut-based diplomat with extensive contacts in Syria estimates that Iran funnels between $1 billion to $2 billion a month into Syria to keep Mr, Assad in Power. Of that, some $500 million is spent on military assistance, mostly for National Defense Force, a 70-000-strong loyalist militia commanded by IRGC, according to this diplomat and others who monitor Syria closely,” The Christian Science Monitor reported today.

“They [the Iranians] have officially given around $5 billion in (line of) credit, and when you consider the financial aid, military aid, discounted oil, and man hours of IRGC officials the number must be north of $10 billion (annually). Absent Iranian largess, Assad would not be financially solvent today,” said Karim Sadjadpour, a Washington-based senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. (The Christian Science Monitor, 5 January)

A slump in global oil prices on top of existing sanctions, however, is squeezing Iran. Aside from funneling billions to the Syrian regime, Iran is also waging an expensive military campaign in Iraq and is supporting the operations of the Lebanese Hezbollah.  

Regarding Hezbollah, the Christian Science Monitor reports that according to a wide range of political and diplomatic sources in Beirut, as Iran tightens its belt because of falling oil prices, the Hezbollah in particular is coming under pressure financially, imposing salary cuts on personnel, defer payments to suppliers and reduce monthly stipends to its political allies in Lebanon.

But analysts do not expect Iran to end its financial support of Syria or Hezbollah.

“I think people will go hungry in Tehran before Iran will cease its investments in this so-called ‘axis of resistance,’ says Sadjadpour.  Hmmmm....makes you wonder why they can't create a single job in Five Years?