Iranian official calls for negotiations with Washington in Iraq

[gregp]

It’s about time! 👍

[yota691]

Oil prices rise amid expectations that sanctions will be affected by Iran

 

Arab and international Economy News _ Baghdad Oil prices rose on Friday amid expectations that US sanctions on Iran would lead to a drop in crude supply in the market. Global Brent crude futures were $ 75.19 a barrel at 0640 GMT, up 46 cents, or 0.6 percent, from the previous settlement. Brent is on a 4.7 percent rally this week. West Texas Intermediate crude <LCOc1> was $ 68.32 a barrel, up 49 cents, or 0.7 percent. US crude is up 3.7 percent this week. Views 18   Date Added 08/24/2018

[Pitcher]

Iran threatens US, Israeli targets 'in range of Iranian rockets'

 Kosar Nawzad |

2 hours ago

Share share

 

---

Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Mohdi-Kermani during his Friday sermon in Tehran, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo: Tasnim)

 

Iran Tehran Ayatollah Israel US USA 

A+AA-

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iran continued to make threats on Friday of attacking US personnel and Israeli cities "in range of Iranian rockets” and Iranian-backed forces in retaliation to possible US military action against Iran.

Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Mohdi-Kermani, who speaks on the behalf of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said during a sermon that Tehran would retaliate with force to any such military action after stating that “the US wouldn’t dare attack Iran.”

“Thousands of deployed [Iranian and Iran-backed] forces in Syria, Lebanon, and others nearby have powerful missiles capable of laying Israel’s Tel Aviv and Haifa in ruins,” the cleric proclaimed, warning of the “terrible consequences” that would await the US and Israel.

“The times of hit-and-run tactics are over,” Kermani continued. "There are tens of thousands” of American targets in “countries in the [Middle-East] region and the Persian Gulf that are in range of Iranian rockets.”

As a show of military might, the Ayatollah pointed to the recently unveiled “100 percent domestically produced” military plane with suspicious similarities to the US-made F-5 which made its maiden flight almost 60 years ago.

“Unless they are blind, the enemy sees our first highly advanced Iranian fighter jet by the name of Kowsar that was revealed days ago.”

He told his audience, "your enemies" may possess more advanced weaponry, but were still doomed to "suffer defeat" as "they do not have God.”

During his sermon for Eid al-Adha prayers on Wednesday, another speaker on behalf of Khamenei named Ayatollah Saiyd Ahmad Khatami declared, “They know if they harm this country and this state in the slightest way, the United States and its main ally in the region, the Zionist regime, would be targeted.”

In the meantime, the US continues to point out that regime change in Iran is not Washington’s policy, claiming instead that what the current administration wants is substantial change in the Islamic regime’s behavior.

 

http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/3d6922d6-6a19-44dc-8bbd-5d9bbd1ee321

[yota691]

Iran complains to the United States before the International Court of Justice

AFP

Friday, 24 August 2018 03:00 PM

 

Iran complains to the United States before the International Court of Justice

 

The International Court of Justice, the main judicial body of the United Nations, is suing the United States of America in a complaint filed against Iran by the United States in an attempt to stop the re-imposition of US sanctions. 

- What is the issue? - 
In a new legal battle in which Tehran and Washington face the International Court of Justice, Iran is trying to stop US sanctions that President Donald Trump has imposed. 

The US president announced in May his country's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement between Iran and the international powers in 2015, under which the sanctions were suspended. 

Trump described the deal, according to which Tehran was committed to not possessing nuclear weapons, as "terrible" and chose to re-impose strict unilateral sanctions.

Iran accuses the United States of imposing a "siege" on its economy. The Islamic Republic wants the International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, to order Washington to suspend the proceedings temporarily, before the judges decide later on the facts of the case. 

- Tehran's legitimacy initiative? - 
Professor of "settling international disputes" at the University of Leiden , Eric de Barbandar saw that the case includes two components, "First, Iran is actually re - impose a violation of international law sanctions" and secondly "From the political point of view, Iran has the support of many European countries on the issue of sanctions "He said. 

Initially, Iran's representatives are supposed to convince the court that its 15 permanent judges, based in the Peace Palace, already have the judicial power to rule on the complaint.

Tehran bases its arguments on a much-unknown treaty signed by Iran and the United States in 1955 that provides for "friendly relations" between the two countries and encourages trade and investment. 

Despite this text, Iran and the United States have severed their diplomatic relations since 1980. 

- What are Washington's arguments? - 
According to Eric de Barbinder, the United States will speak of the lack of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in this case. 

Washington's representatives may resort to two arguments, one of which says the 1955 treaty is no longer in force because it is a "friendship treaty" between two countries that have been rivals for nearly 40 years. 

The second argument is based on the fact that the complaint is not related to "the treaty but to the sanctions and alleged terrorist activities of Iran," according to de Barbinder. 

"Washington will certainly say that the complaint concerns much more than a treaty"

The university professor noted that there is an item in the 1955 Treaty that allows the United States to take "any measure aimed at protecting basic security interests." 

- Can Iran win the case? - 
I think it is very likely that the International Court of Justice will decide to hear the case based on the 1955 treaty, "Eric de Barbander told AFP. 

But it is difficult to know whether the case will be successful on the merits, in other words, it is difficult to determine whether or not the United States has violated its legal obligations. 

"The scope of the 1955 treaty is relatively narrow," he said, adding that "the International Court of Justice can decide only whether the United States has specifically violated its obligations to this treaty." 

Judges of the International Tribunal will not have the right to consider what may be considered a broader complaint between the two countries.

"It is difficult to predict" the outcome of the complaint, which is likely to be unknown several years ago, de Barbinder said. 

[yota691]

The fake dinar against the dollar: Iran provides its needs through the Iraqi market

- 15 Hours Ago

Baghdad - Iraqi officials have revealed that Iran is pursuing a new strategy to supply its US dollar needs by working to reduce the Iraqi dinar exchange rate.

Iran faces major difficulties in obtaining the dollar, after US sanctions have been imposed on it, and has been barred from using the currency in its international dealings.

The Iranian strategy is to inject a large, counterfeit Iraqi currency into Iraqi markets and push for increased demand for the US dollar by local traders.

If Iraq can not cope with the smuggling of fake Iraqi dinars into its territory, this strategy will force the CBI to pump double amounts of dollars into the country's markets to preserve the value of the local currency, allowing a greater dollar liquidity, To Iran, to satisfy its needs of the US currency.

According to the sources of the "Arabs" in Baghdad, "the economic interfaces, the pro-Iranian Iraqi militias, is implementing this strategy, through the use of Iran at the border crossing between Iran and Iraq, to introduce the counterfeit Iraqi currency to the country."

According to government sources, "the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces, Prime Minister Haider Abadi, directed the relevant military and security forces, to address the smuggling operations of Iran."

The sources confirm that "Abbadi depends on a limited number of reliable Iraqi officers, in the implementation of this process, given the broad influence that Iran has in many sectors of the military establishment."

Iraqi border posts with Iran have tightened checks on trucks coming from the eastern neighbor.

And led the Iraqi actions intensified, to control about one billion Iraqi dinars of counterfeit currency, coming from Iran.

In all cases smugglers were linked to companies linked to pro-Iranian Iraqi militias.

Iraqi officials say Baghdad has already beefed up its measures to prevent the smuggling of dollars from Iraq into Iran, in response to US sanctions, but now focuses on preventing the smuggling of counterfeit currency from Iran to Iraq.

"The start of the implementation of a special intelligence security plan to pursue attempts to introduce counterfeit currency to the local market in the provinces of Maysan, Dhi Qar, Muthanna and Wasit," in southern and central Iraq, said Major General Ali Daaboul, head of operations of Rafidain, part of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense.

"The security teams and the intelligence cells continue to follow up on any suspected cases in order to deal with them in security," Daboul said.

The Anatolia news agency quoted an Iraqi Interior Ministry officer as saying that "the border crossings have received orders for the need for strict inspection to thwart any attempt to introduce a counterfeit currency from the neighboring countries."

He added that "security forces seized during the past few days fake Iraqi currency at the port of Shalamjah border with Iran, and was seized and arrested involved in bringing the amounts of money," without specifying the value.

Iraq has four land ports with Iran: Zurbatiya in Wasit, Shalamjah in Basra, Manziriyah in Diyala and Shib in Maysan.

Observers say tougher Iraqi actions on the border with Iran will not deter Tehran from pursuing this strategy, which could be one of the few ways to get Tehran's need for the US dollar.

"This war is related to the controversy surrounding the future of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his ambition in a second term, which is a strong Iranian objection," they add. 
Abadi will try to "convince the United States of his right to this position by addressing Iran's attempts to circumvent US sanctions."

It was expected that Iran would flood the Iraqi market with counterfeit currency as part of its plan to face the shortage of foreign currency in the domestic market in order not to see the Iranian riyal further losses in the exchange rate.

Iran has prepared its arms at home to implement the plan early, before US sanctions take its direct implementation.

Observers say no one can fail the plan because of Iran's breakthroughs over the years of its dominance in the fragile state of Iraq, noting that Iraqi political leaders have mobilized to stand with Iran in their potential conflict with the United States.

The Iraqi observer pointed out that what can be achieved by these leaders does not amount to the level of Iranian need for hard currency without the disruption of the exchange rate of the Iraqi dinar, which could lead to the Iraqi economy to witness further collapse, which may lead to widening the circle of protests In the country, which will be directed this time against Iranian hegemony directly.

The observer said in a statement to the "Arabs" that the plan of the Iraqi Prime Minister to deal with the smuggling operations from both sides to positive results because of the difficulty of controlling the border between the two sides under the Iranian breakthroughs of the Iraqi security services and the control of pro-Iranian militias on border cities in addition to the arrival of leaders of those militias To political decision-making centers.

He stressed that it is difficult to predict the size of the losses that will be the Iraqi economy because of US sanctions on Iran, pointing out that what is important for the Iraqi government not to end its work in a way that appears as if it was the cause of a new chaos, the collapse of the Iraqi dinar caused directly.

He questioned the usefulness of these government measures, saying that no matter how accurate they will not be able to stop the smuggling of currency between the two sides.

The Arabs

[Pitcher]

Pro-Iran Iraqi coalition government would mean minimal implementation of US sanctions, while improving KRG salary and contract payments

24 August 2018

   

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, right, attends a press conference with Shia cleric and leader Muqtada al-Sadr in Najaf on 23 June 2018. Source: Haidar Hamdani/AFP/Getty Images

Key Points

• The anti-Iran alliance of Abadi, Sadr, Hakim, and Allawi faces fragmentation and internal revolt, including challenges to assembling the 165 seats required for a ruling majority in parliament.
• Iran is pushing for a national unity government in Iraq including all Shia factions (including Sadrists and the Fatah coalition), which would resist US sanctions on Iran. It is unlikely to be able to bring together these parties, however, raising the likelihood of Sadr opting to stay in the opposition and join the ongoing southern protest movement.
• Withdrawal by PMUs from Sunni-majority areas represents an indicator of Sunni rapprochement with Iran’s allies, which, pending Kurdish participation, would mean sufficient seats for a pro-Iran coalition government. Kurdish participation would allow resumption of Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) payments to civil servants, oil companies, and other government contractors.

Event

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, and leaders Muqtada al-Sadr, Ammar al-Hakim, and Iyad Allawi met at the Babel Hotel on 19 August to declare that they had formed the largest bloc in Parliament, entitling them to name a candidate for prime minister, president, and speaker of parliament and thereby end the long-drawn-out government formation process since Iraq’s 12 May general election.

The four factions were unable, however, to assemble the required 165 seats. They agreed instead to form the “core” of a broader coalition, with the intention of negotiating with other factions to establish a ruling majority.

According to a Saudi media report, the alliance failed to assemble a full coalition due to its Sunni and Kurdish components withdrawing at the last minute at the behest of Qatar and Iran, respectively. IHS Markit was unable to independently verify the report’s claims. If true, Iran’s intervention is likely to have been motivated by the desire to prevent the exclusion of its allies from the government, while Qatar is likely to have wanted to preclude a government in which Sadr plays an outsized role, since this would be perceived as a victory for Saudi Arabia, which has been cultivating Sadr as a potential ally.

 

 

https://www.janes.com/article/82572/pro-iran-iraqi-coalition-government-would-mean-minimal-implementation-of-us-sanctions-while-improving-krg-salary-and-contract-payments

 

[Pitcher]

Appeasement for profit: Europe’s perilous policy on Iran

Iran’s leaders and the state-owned Persian news outlets have been boasting about Europe’s collegial relationship with the Islamic Republic. Iran proudly praises the EU’s act of defiance against the US.

It seems surreal that the EU is taking the side of the ruling mullahs — even agreeing last week to provide €18 million ($20 million) in aid— rather than staying neutral or supporting its old transatlantic partner, who stood by Europe in many challenging circumstances over the past six decades.

Nevertheless, from the perspective of the Islamic Republic, one of its core ideological, religious and revolutionary beliefs has finally come true: Tehran has turned global powers against the US, or, as the ruling mullahs would say, the “Great Satan.”

Iranian leaders also emphasize that such an opportunity must not go to waste. Instead, from their perspective, the rift between the US and EU must be cemented and finalized. Iran’s Arman newspaper flaunted the headline: “We will take advantage of the opportunity of the rift between US and Europe.” Abrar newspaper’s front page included a statement from Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif saying he was not naive to think that the Islamic Republic could create a rift between the EU and the US.

Through the prism of Iran’s leaders, not only does the EU appear to be disagreeing with the Trump administration on policy toward Tehran, but several EU leaders seem to be actually taking a step farther and lobbying for the Iranian regime.

Some analysts may argue that the EU is attempting to pursue an Iran policy that preserves peace around the world. But the reality is that, for the EU, this is less about global security and peace, and more about profit from trade and business deals with the Iranian regime.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt acknowledged that when they issued a joint statement saying: “The remaining parties to the JCPOA have committed to work on, inter alia, the preservation and maintenance of effective financial channels with Iran, and the continuation of Iran’s export of oil and gas. On these, as on other topics, our work continues, including with third countries interested in supporting the JCPOA and maintaining economic relations with Iran.”

But the reality is that, for the EU, this is less about global security and peace, and more about profit from trade and business deals with the Iranian regime

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh

It is also worth noting that, while the EU is beating the drum for Iran and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — aka the Iran nuclear deal — as well as strongly supporting the subsequent sanctions relief for the regime, European countries were not even the major players in the negotiations that lead to the JCPOA in the first place.

 

Were it not for the US, and specifically President Barack Obama’s willingness to give the Iranian leaders an unprecedented level of concessions, to mislead Congress and grant favorable secret deals to the mullahs, there would probably not have been any JCPOA at all.

In addition, while the EU continues to criticize and condemn the US for imposing sanctions on Iran, two issues should be considered. First, the US sanctions on Iran are not new, as some may attempt to portray. These are economic sanctions that were in place until the Obama administration lifted them, with President Donald Trump now re-imposing them. Secondly, if some European leaders are indeed eager to work with the theocratic regime in Iran, they enjoy the freedom to do so; but they ought to at least respect the decision of their old transatlantic ally toward the mullahs.

Unfortunately, the bottom line is that the EU does not appear to have any articulate, coherent and informed policy toward the Islamic Republic. On the one hand, it is investing significant political capital in order to keep the Iranian leaders satisfied and shield the regime from US sanctions. On the other hand, Europe has increasingly become the target of the Iranian regime’s terrorist plots and concerted efforts to penetrate its governmental institutions.

Iran is operating a sophisticated espionage network across Europe in an attempt to accomplish several ideological and political objectives, such as carrying out assassinations against individuals or organizations that oppose the regime’s policies. A senior US official told Fox News: “Iran has a long history over the last 39 years of conducting and planning assassinations and terrorist actions against opponents of the Iranian regime, including a series of assassinations and attack plots in recent years in European countries.”

The EU’s policy to shield and appease Iran’s ruling mullahs is short-sighted and aimed at preserving business profits. Such a short-term policy toward the top state sponsor of terrorism is more likely to cause critical repercussions in the long term — including endangering global peace and security.

 

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1361301

[Pitcher]

2 minutes ago, Pitcher said:

Were it not for the US, and specifically President Barack Obama’s willingness to give the Iranian leaders an unprecedented level of concessions, to mislead Congress and grant favorable secret deals to the mullahs, there would probably not have been any JCPOA at all.

 

 

“Mislead Congress”

 

Why is there no Special Investigation into Barry and his actions?   I think it’s pretty easy, many people in Congress were probably paid off. 

 

Trump  should fire Jeff Sessions and Rosenstein and get to the bottom of the last Administrations corruption.  Apologies to the board for my rant but this article infuriated me.  The repercussions of Barry’s Administration sell out of American is mind boggling. 

[WISKY291]

12 minutes ago, Pitcher said:

 

 

“Mislead Congress”

 

Why is there no Special Investigation into Barry and his actions?   I think it’s pretty easy, many people in Congress were probably paid off. 

 

Trump  should fire Jeff Sessions and Rosenstein and get to the bottom of the last Administrations corruption.  Apologies to the board for my rant but this article infuriated me.  The repercussions of Barry’s Administration sell out of American is mind boggling. 

I'm with you 100% on this.

[bigwave]

Nearly Half a Million Afghan Migrants Leave Iran amid U.S. Sanctions, Collapsing Economy

 

Nearly half a million Afghan migrants have left Iran and returned home since January because of its weak economy, worsened by U.S. sanctions, a report from the Los Angeles Times detailed on Thursday.

Despite the violence and uncertainty within their own country, a record 442,344 Afghans have voluntarily left or been deported from Iran due to its currency crisis and high rates of inflation, which have triggered unrest by reducing the value of people’s savings while driving down wages.

Since January, the Iranian riyal has lost 80 percent of its value as the prices of food and basic goods continue to rise. As a result, anti-government demonstrations have become a common occurrence.

 

The exodus of Afghans is expected to grow as the effect of reimposed U.S. sanctions begins to affect Iran’s ability to trade and gain foreign currency. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), around 20,000 of the five million Afghans living in Iran are leaving the country every week in search of other opportunities. 

 

For the rest of the story: https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/08/23/nearly-half-million-afghan-migrants-leave-iran-sanctions-collapsing-economy/

 

[10 YEARS LATER]

5 hours ago, Pitcher said:

 

 

“Mislead Congress”

 

Why is there no Special Investigation into Barry and his actions?   I think it’s pretty easy, many people in Congress were probably paid off. 

 

Trump  should fire Jeff Sessions and Rosenstein and get to the bottom of the last Administrations corruption.  Apologies to the board for my rant but this article infuriated me.  The repercussions of Barry’s Administration sell out of American is mind boggling. 

 

Agreed Pitcher - the rage we feel is all to real knowing we've been sold down the river and this fool walks free. Nothing short of treason and he should be wearing an Orange jump suit for life.     

[ScaryMary]

@Pitcher and @10 YEARS LATER

I have voted twice in my life span.  Once because my Smom told me I had to vote and once because I wanted to vote. 

I waited 40 years to vote the first time. I got suspended in high school for three days when I told my American History teacher at the end of the lesson that:  “My vote” really didn’t count and that “my vote” really didn’t go to my candidate,  because it went to the “electoral college”. . .    So that means “I really don’t vote for the president, I vote for “somebody” to vote for the president”.  40 years that woman had been teaching and I was the first student to challenge her with my thought process.  Exactly why I don’t discuss politics much.

[yota691]

US-Iranian dispute. . Expected scenario

25-08-2018 12:25 PM

Readers

 

Baghdad News -

 

Adham Ibrahim                    

 
The issue of US-Iranian relations is one of the thorniest issues that can not be covered by one article, as it moves from the dark corridors to the surface and vice versa. It has long since begun since the Shah, who was considered the great policeman of the Gulf, US policy in the region, especially after the withdrawal of Britain from the so-called east of Suez and is meant by the Arabian Gulf. These relations continued even after Khomeini returned to Iran in mysterious circumstances after the renunciation of the Shah of Iran and the Iran-Iraq War. And then help Iran to the United States in its invasion of Iraq and the refuge of loyalists in power in the Council of the fateful governance, as well as Iran's sweep of Iraq and Syria under various pretexts and arguments, although Iraq was and still represents the strategic depth of Syria, which can not be bypassed only by Iran for its services

This introduction is necessary to know what plays and plays in the region, especially after the withdrawal of Trump from the Iranian nuclear agreement. And subsequent economic sanctions against Iran. And the harsh Trampic tone. And then courting her to return to the house of obedience by inviting Trump to the leaders of Iran to negotiate unconditionally 

that Iran has multiple wings used by senior leaders, headed by the guardian jurist, according to the requirements of the domestic and international political situation, there are those who satisfy America and there are those who threaten and considers himself a hardliner, America does not want Iran to be a beast of prey, but a guard dog used to ensure its interests, has enabled it to expand in the region after the nuclear agreement to achieve all or some of the US goals,

Eliminating the Arab nationalist spirit and stripping it of any tendency to resist the Israeli presence in the Arab region, by substituting the religious and sectarian beliefs in place of the national feeling to blackmail the rich Gulf states and make them pay the US royalties to stop the Iranian continuous threat and 

finally not to replace the Arab-Iranian conflict with the Arab conflict And consider Iran to be the closest and most dangerous danger in terms of its threat to Arab regimes or Arab presence. A prelude to the normalization of relations with the Zionist entity down to the deal of the century 

has been achieved these US goals successfully, helped by the tendency expansion of the leaders of Iran, under the export of the Islamic revolution and the slogan is nothing but an Iranian nationalist tendency to expand the name of religion. This trend is not at all different from the expansionist tendency of the Shah in Iranian expansion in the Persian Gulf and the Arab region

After these joint US-Israeli goals were achieved, the role of Iranian nail polish was to keep the role of the policeman only in the Gulf and the Arab region to ensure the continued interests of the US and the Jewish state. . It goes without saying that America does not want to destroy the Iranian regime, but to tame it or to bury it to be ready for any emergency, such as that played by the Shah of Iran in the region, to provoke tensions whenever necessary

The United States Trump to withdraw from the nuclear agreement first and then impose economic sanctions on them. The EU has played its part in mitigating the reaction of the Iranian street and the hardline wings of Iran, which are ultimately subject to the orders of the jurist. . The EU has taken a biased position on the nuclear deal, that is, Iran's position. And everyone knows that the European Union does not accept him against America, not even out of its volition and will, and we are watching the European position faltering and non-serious of the Iranian nuclear agreement

Iran is not absent from all these obstacles, but it is trying to extract as much of the gains as possible, so we see them sometimes threatening Europe that it will not accept procrastination with regard to the nuclear agreement, and at other times threatens America to cut oil supplies in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. Everyone knows very well that such threats can not be achieved even if they are formality because oil is an essential element of life not only for America and Europe, but for the entire world in the East and the West. Iran does not have any advanced military and naval components to close the straits, let alone confront the world. All I have is speedboats equipped with light weapons that can disturb the naval forces and not resist them. At most, they can carry out suicide attacks
We can confirm here that America is still capable of invading Iran as it did in Iraq, but this is not one of its goals, although it has drawn up plans to implement this scenario when there is a need. The US defense secretary, like Haha, denied the perception 

that America, despite its strength, does not want to engage in direct or indirect military battles with Iran or its armed militias, because it does not want to spend the necessary funds. It knows the high costs of such wars through the US occupation of Iraq, Is not ready to sacrifice any American soldier to achieve its goals, especially as it is able to stop Iran's expansion and deter it through the imposition of economic sanctions on it, and America is in no hurry, especially after witnessing the rapid and terrible decline of the Iranian Toman against the US dollar, The dawn of the situation all over Iran popular revolution and to Atdhir Will you be

Iran, as we have said, is trying to resist these sanctions to achieve maximum achievements it can achieve on the ground, especially in Iraq and Syria, which has shown its readiness to withdraw from Yemen early. In this regard it depends on the violation of sanctions through Turkish cooperation with it and its almost absolute control of the political situation And the Iraqi economy. Iraq has already pledged to defend the Islamic Republic when the foreign ministry announced its rejection of the sanctions, although the Iraqi prime minister has said he will implement US sanctions. These sanctions faced a series of Iraqi militaristic denunciations in favor of the Iranian jurist

In general, Iran has been suffering from a dire economic situation since its military commitments in Syria and Yemen have exhausted their budgets. And that the new US sanctions will make the Iranian people lying in a situation that is not envied and may turn on their rulers despite the excessive repression of the regime. Therefore, Iran is trying to persevere in confronting these sanctions in blackmailing Iraqi politicians and their bargaining power to stay in power in exchange for facilitating Iranian evasion of US sanctions and trying to buy Iraqi gold and the dollar from the Central Bank of Iraq by auctioning the suspicious currency and by falsifying the Iraqi currency or the dollar to push the stolen gold as it did But this time it will be tougher and more aggressive on the Iraqi economic situation than before. Iraq will sink more and more into the quagmire of absolute loyalty to Iran and to the Wali al-Faqih. Iraqi militias loyal to Iran will also be hit by sanctions and salaries will not be paid to their mercenaries, forcing them to blackmail Iraqi citizens by setting up controls or stealing and robbing banks and financial centers. The sanctions would therefore indirectly include all mercenaries loyal to Iran

Although Khamenei has declared the inviolability of negotiations with America, we believe that Iran is pragmatic and its leaders will seek sooner or later to make all concessions to the United States and to comply with its orders to conclude a new nuclear agreement, including ballistic missiles, and return to its former international borders while maintaining its influence in Iraq. Until . And that this will not be long after seeing the intensification of sanctions and pressure on the street and will return running to the Great Satan in order to just stay in power and exercise the role of policeman standing in readiness

The article expresses the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the view of Baghdad News

 

 

 

[yota691]

IRAN / IRAN Date: 2018 Aug / Aug 25 - GMT

 

 

 

Minister: America has banned Iranian carpets to accommodate 2.5 million jobs

Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammad Shariatmadari said that the United States has banned Iranian carpets to absorb 2.5 million jobs and the social consequences.

Shariatmadari said at the opening ceremony of the 27th session of Iran's hand-woven carpet exhibition in Tehran on Saturday that Iran would form the Supreme Council of Carpets and will hold its first meeting next week.

[ChuckFinley]

On 8/24/2018 at 4:07 AM, Pitcher said:

Google deletes accounts with ties to Iran on YouTube and other sites

 

 

 

 

Google announced Thursday that it deleted 58 accounts with ties to Iran on its video platformYouTube and its other sites, the latest sign that foreign agents from around the world increasingly seek to spread disinformation on a broad array of popular websites, The Washington Post reported.
The new removals targeted 39 channels on YouTube, which had more than 13,000 views in the United States, as well 13 accounts on the social-networking site Google Plus and six accounts on Blogger, its blogging platform, the company said. Kent Walker, Google’s senior vice president for global affairs, said in a blog post that each of the accounts had ties to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, or IRIB, which is tied to Iran’s ayatollah, and that they “disguised their connection to this effort.”

Google’s announcement comes days after Facebook suspended hundreds of accounts on its site and photo-sharing app, Instagram, that originated in Iran as well as Russia, and Twitter made a similar move. At the time, YouTube confirmed it had removed one account, called Liberty Front Press, which appeared to have connections to Iranian state media.
 

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/30902/Google-deletes-accounts-with-ties-to-Iran-on-YouTube-and-other-sites

 

On 8/24/2018 at 6:06 AM, gregp said:

It’s about time! 👍

Those who work in this world know the importance of misinformation is.

[Pitcher]

Yota, thank you for all the articles you post.  The Iranians complaining about lost carpet sales is comical.  "The Supreme Council of Carpets"  Hahahahahah.  Now that is one funny story imo.  Hey Iran, stop building nuclear bombs, missiles, and exporting proxy wars all over the ME and you can sell all the carpets you want in the good ole USA.  Then we can all go on a

"Magic Carpet Ride" together.  hahahahahahahah  This is one consequence of the Iranian sanctions I never thought would become a hot issue...

[Pitcher]

Machnouk Says Claims About ‘Iran’s Victories’ are Illogical

FacebookTwitterGoogle+EmailWhatsApp

 

 

Claims made by 'Hezbollah' leader Hassan Nasrallah on Iran’s alleged “victories” are outdated, Asharq Al-Awsat cited Lebanon’s caretaker Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk  as saying on Saturday

“There have been swift and unprecedented changes in the world, setting new foundations in international relations,” Machnouk  added.

He criticized Nasrallah’s recent speech on the anniversary of the end of Israel’s 2006 war on Lebanon, saying “the world is no longer led through mobilization and wrong estimates.”

He downplayed the 'Hezbollah' secretary-general’s claims that we have ushered in an “era of victories for the Iranian axis.”

Giving the example of Syria and Iran’s involvement in support of the regime of Bashar Assad, Machnouk said that 70 percent of the war-torn country’s homes are destroyed and half of its population has been internally displaced and has fled to neighboring states.

There are countless victims and the country is ruined, he added. 

Machnouk told the newspaper that Iran has been playing a role in Syria, but Russia and the United States consider it a “burden.”

Russian officials also believe that Tehran is a “tiresome friend.” 

“I don’t think that its stay in Syria is part of the Russian or US strategy,” Machnouk stated.

As for Iraq, he said cooperation between Washington and Tehran would cause further “political chaos” and place more burdens on the Iraqis.

On the conflict with Israel, Machnouk mocked 'Hezbollah' claims that Israel is in continuous fear of an aggression from Lebanon.

Since the end of the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, “not a single shot has been fired,” he said.

Machnouk also discussed pressure on Lebanon’s PM-designate Saad Hariri to normalize relations with the Assad regime.

Hariri has said “no government would be formed” if these demands persisted, irking Speaker Nabih Berri, who advocates for restoring normal relations with Syria.

But according to Machnouk, “Berri has been clear in saying that no one has asked Hariri to head immediately to Damascus.”

On Saudi Arabia and the war in Yemen, the interior minister stressed that Riyadh has not made an aggression on the country.

The Iran-backed Houthi insurgents, he said, have dozens of ballistic missiles and are firing them on Saudi territories.

They have allowed Iran to enter Saudi Arabia’s “backyard,” said Machnouk.

“Saudi Arabia is a legitimate country defending its territories and people from attacks carried out by a sectarian neighbor that takes pride in following Iran’s strategy,” he added.

 

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/30945/Machnouk-Says-Claims-About-Iran-s-Victories-are-Illogical

[Pitcher]

US sanctions should pressure Iran to stop supporting terrorism

 

 

The Trump administration deserves credit for withdrawing from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal. A lot of pundits didn’t think President Trump was serious when he threatened to pull out of the agreement, but he showed otherwise, Fox News reported on Saturday.

 

 

Now that the president has decided to impose “snapback” sanctions on Iran, we can now focus our economic power on the destabilizing behavior of the Iranian government.

It is clear that Iran is promoting the expansion of military and terrorist activities across the Middle East. 

 

As the Trump administration rightfully begins to implement sanctions against Iran to combat this expansion, we have to examine the actions of the Iranian government on several fronts.

 

Iran’s continued support of the Hezbollah terrorist organization with both financial and political assistance, as well as weapons and tactical training, deserves close examination.

 

Western diplomats and Lebanese analysts estimate that Iranian financial support for Hezbollah averages around $100 million each year, sometimes reaching amounts closer to a quarter of a billion dollars.

Hezbollah has also received Iranian-supplied weaponry, including 11,500 missiles that have already been placed in Lebanon. Along with the supplied weapons, over 3,000 Hezbollah militants have undergone Iranian training. They have learned about guerilla warfare tactics, operation of unmanned drones and marine warfare.

Additionally, through Iran’s support and through their own illicit financing and criminal networks, Hezbollah has become a dominant force and a direct source instability in the Middle East.

Hezbollah has been fighting in defense of Syrian President Bashar Assad. It has provided material support for designated terrorist organizations like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. It has engaged in training and command operations for militia groups in Iraq. It has provided ballistic missiles and leadership to the Houthi insurgency in Yemen. In addition, there are reports of an increasing Hezbollah presence in North Africa.

 

All of these activities pose a direct threat to U.S. security interests, contribute to the prolonging of conflicts across the Middle East, and pose threats to our key allies in the region.

Finally, we should pay attention to Qatar’s continued support of state-sponsored terrorism efforts. Our efforts to limit Iran’s support forterrorism require cooperation. Qatar’s ongoing support and funding for terrorist groups has been well- documented.

It’s of increasing concern that Iranian banks are moving their foreign exchange operations to the Qatar National Bank. We know Iran’s access to foreign currencies is an essential part of the government’s funding and support for terrorism.

Further, Iran has recently voiced its support for the Qatari government, strengthening our concerns with the activities of both governments.

As our Treasury Department continues to bring back sanctions against Iran, the department should pay attention to these issues and keep a close watch over the actions of both the Qatari and Iranian governments, as well as Hezbollah’s illicit activities around the world.

Iran, Qatar and Hezbollah are responsible for the increase in terrorist-based activities across the Middle East, and we must impose harsh sanctions that directly limit the Iranian regime's access to finance. The sanctions against Iran will affect all major industries, thereby preventing the leadership from funding destabilizing activities in the Middle East and wider world.

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/30950/US-sanctions-should-pressure-Iran-to-stop-supporting-terrorism

 

[yota691]

The US administration wants a new Iraqi government that complies with the sanctions policy against Tehran
Raed Saleh
Aug 25, 2018

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US accusations against Iran's role in the Iraqi political landscape are mounting to the point that Tehran is playing a devastating game in the post-election chaos as part of a policy aimed at taking full control of any new Iraqi government. There is a widespread belief in Washington among policymakers, think tanks and research centers that influence in Iraq has become more pressing since US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the nuclear deal with Iran and European powers, fueling the economic crisis. Iran. US analysts said that Iraqi politicians are caught in the crossfire of global and regional powers, but the people should only watch the conflict.
The relationship between Iraq and Iran is complex, contrary to what the American and Western press believe, which usually indicates that most Iraqi political parties are merely an extension of Iranian influence, while some Iraqi blocs, including Shiites, oppose the heavy hand of Tehran. In fact, the process of forming a government in Baghdad is not simple but it is a delicate and complex process where the Shiite majority, Sunni and minority groups, including the Kurds and Turkmens, should be considered and complicate matters. The religious blocs are not consistent. The Shia are divided into four competing blocs with special militias under Including the coalition led by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, as well as the Moqtada al-Sadr alliance, which is trying to stay at one distance with Iran and the United States, and the Ammar al-Hakim alliance, which strongly opposes US sanctions against Iran.
What is important is that the new Iraqi government emerge from the center of the American-Iranian conflict without being forced to confront Washington or Tehran. It is clear that some parties want to withdraw Baghdad to the Iranian side and the other wants to withdraw it to the American side. 
US geopolitical rivalry between Iran and the United States played a vital role in post-election chaos and there is a bet in Washington that Iraqis will eventually reject Iranian activities based on signs that people are tired of Iranian influence, US analysts said.
For Iran, Iraq is more important than just a front for regional hegemony against the United States, as the country has become a channel to bypass US sanctions, a source of dollars and banking operations, and there are serious attempts by Tehran to support former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Ruling by persuading more political leaders to set up an alternative bloc to support him, and analysts noted that Iran might succeed in putting pressure on the Kurds by playing in the case of opening and closing border crossings. 
US analysts have pointed out that the United States fears Maliki's return, and strongly supports the nomination of Abadi. What is important to the United States at the present time from the new Iraqi government is to abide by the sanctions policy regardless of the political price.
Experts noted the difficulty of Iraq's commitment to sanctions against Iran. Although Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that his country will reluctantly commit to the round of sanctions announced by the administration of US President Donald Trump, the Iraqi political arena has been competing in calling for the resumption of trade relations with Tehran, , According to analyzes provided by the American press, that Iraq, which shares a length of 1485 kilometers with Iran could be affected by the sanctions with the reference to Iraq depends on its eastern neighbor in everything from gas supplies to water and food. 
If the United States does not respond to Iraq's demand for exemptions from sanctions, as happened with Jordan, which received special exemptions when the Western world imposed sanctions on Saddam Hussein and even Abbadi, he said the sanctions could not be tolerated, .
The position of the United States is still confused about the extent of Iraq's commitment to US sanctions against Iran, while several officials from the US Treasury Department to visit the Iraqi Central Bank to confirm the punishment of any bank that is dealing with Tehran with a reminder that the Iraqi government bank accounts in the United States Can be frozen, but policymakers in Washington know perfectly well that Baghdad has no choice but to breach the sanctions as the matter is stressed because Iraq relies on refined gas supplies, water and food from Iran. 
Iran has political influence in Iraq, and it will use all its strength to weave the composition of the new Iraqi government. This certainly means that the new authority will make decisions that are not against Iranian interests.
Far from the impact of US and Iranian pressure on the next government, the other powers appear to be ineffective in the scene effectively, and there are no steps that could help Iraq become more independent. 
Ultimately, Trumpy's hysteria will help Trump to impose sanctions against Iran at any price, and threaten Tehran's neighbors with sanctions on only one thing: to encourage Baghdad to get closer to Tehran instead of moving away. There is a belief among quite a few analysts that Iran now benefits from the Iraqi anarchy Caused by American intervention.

[ChuckFinley]

46 minutes ago, Pitcher said:

US sanctions should pressure Iran to stop supporting terrorism

 

 

The Trump administration deserves credit for withdrawing from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal. A lot of pundits didn’t think President Trump was serious when he threatened to pull out of the agreement, but he showed otherwise, Fox News reported on Saturday.

 

 

Now that the president has decided to impose “snapback” sanctions on Iran, we can now focus our economic power on the destabilizing behavior of the Iranian government.

It is clear that Iran is promoting the expansion of military and terrorist activities across the Middle East. 

 

As the Trump administration rightfully begins to implement sanctions against Iran to combat this expansion, we have to examine the actions of the Iranian government on several fronts.

 

Iran’s continued support of the Hezbollah terrorist organization with both financial and political assistance, as well as weapons and tactical training, deserves close examination.

 

Western diplomats and Lebanese analysts estimate that Iranian financial support for Hezbollah averages around $100 million each year, sometimes reaching amounts closer to a quarter of a billion dollars.

Hezbollah has also received Iranian-supplied weaponry, including 11,500 missiles that have already been placed in Lebanon. Along with the supplied weapons, over 3,000 Hezbollah militants have undergone Iranian training. They have learned about guerilla warfare tactics, operation of unmanned drones and marine warfare.

Additionally, through Iran’s support and through their own illicit financing and criminal networks, Hezbollah has become a dominant force and a direct source instability in the Middle East.

Hezbollah has been fighting in defense of Syrian President Bashar Assad. It has provided material support for designated terrorist organizations like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. It has engaged in training and command operations for militia groups in Iraq. It has provided ballistic missiles and leadership to the Houthi insurgency in Yemen. In addition, there are reports of an increasing Hezbollah presence in North Africa.

 

All of these activities pose a direct threat to U.S. security interests, contribute to the prolonging of conflicts across the Middle East, and pose threats to our key allies in the region.

Finally, we should pay attention to Qatar’s continued support of state-sponsored terrorism efforts. Our efforts to limit Iran’s support forterrorism require cooperation. Qatar’s ongoing support and funding for terrorist groups has been well- documented.

It’s of increasing concern that Iranian banks are moving their foreign exchange operations to the Qatar National Bank. We know Iran’s access to foreign currencies is an essential part of the government’s funding and support for terrorism.

Further, Iran has recently voiced its support for the Qatari government, strengthening our concerns with the activities of both governments.

As our Treasury Department continues to bring back sanctions against Iran, the department should pay attention to these issues and keep a close watch over the actions of both the Qatari and Iranian governments, as well as Hezbollah’s illicit activities around the world.

Iran, Qatar and Hezbollah are responsible for the increase in terrorist-based activities across the Middle East, and we must impose harsh sanctions that directly limit the Iranian regime's access to finance. The sanctions against Iran will affect all major industries, thereby preventing the leadership from funding destabilizing activities in the Middle East and wider world.

 

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/30950/US-sanctions-should-pressure-Iran-to-stop-supporting-terrorism

 

Lets hope they can get this done and get some real value to the dinar. 

[Pitcher]

Saudi Arabia intercepts Houthi missile targeting Najran

RIYADH: Spokesman for the Arab coalition, Col. Turki Al-Malki has confirmed that Air Defense Forces intercepted a ballistic missile launched by Houthi militia toward Najran.

Al-Maliki said that the missile was deliberately launched to target civilian and populated areas. 

The Saudi Royal Air Defense Force succeeded in intercepting and destroying the missile.

The spokesman said that the Iranian regime's continued assistance to the Houthis is in clear and explicit defiance of UN resolution 2216 and resolution 2231 aimed at threatening the security of Saudi Arabia and threatening regional security. 

He added that the firing of ballistic missiles towards densely populated cities and villages is contrary to international and humanitarian law. 

The total number of ballistic missiles launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia towards Saudi Arabia has reached 181.

 

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1361016

 

[ChuckFinley]

It is just a matter of time before the whole region will want to kick Iran's a$$. 

[Pitcher]

Read the last sentence,181 missiles fired at SA by Iranian backed Houthi militia.  Where is the outrage of the UN, the US media, the EU.  There is no doubt in my mind that Iran is trying to start a ME war.  The question is Why?  I have my suspicions but I’ll leave that for the swamp forum.  

[ChuckFinley]

30 minutes ago, Pitcher said:

Read the last sentence,181 missiles fired at SA by Iranian backed Houthi militia.  Where is the outrage of the UN, the US media, the EU.  There is no doubt in my mind that Iran is trying to start a ME war.  The question is Why?  I have my suspicions but I’ll leave that for the swamp forum.  

It does raise a lot of questions. 

[Pitcher]

I agree Chuck but I have a feeling it might be like Europe wanting to kick Germany’s butt in 1939. Wanting to and having the ability to do so against a superior force with modern missiles and armor could be tough.  The Iranians are really pushing it in the ME.  They are in Iraq, Yemen Syria and Lebanon.  Their militias are creating mayhem and if they are not stopped soon there is going to be a big big mess in the ME.  The UN and the bigger powers will need to intervene to put them in their place. 181 missiles fired at SA. That is an act of war.  What do you think would happen if Mexico Cuba or Canada fired 181 missiles at the US?