Russian S-400 defense systems arrive in Turkey despite US warning
Turkey’s Defense Ministry says the first shipment of a Russian missile defense system has arrived in Turkey, a development that could move the country closer to U.S. sanctions.
World News
‘We Still Have Things Up Our Sleeve,’ Senior Administration Official Says as Trump Rolls Out New Sanctions on Iran
As part of the new sanctions on the regime promised by President Trump Wednesday, the US will revoke waivers for Iran’s non-military nuclear program.
Turkey Warns US Against ‘Wrong Steps’ in Addressing NATO Ally’s Purchase of Russian Missile System
Turkey remained firm in its commitment to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system Wednesday, saying the US ought to look out if it went ahead with its threatened sanctions against the sole Middle East NATO member.
International Pressure Increases on Iran as IAEA Verifies Breach of 2015 Nuclear Terms
A closed-door meeting of the UN atomic watchdog agency in Vienna Wednesday determined that Iran had indeed breached the 3.76% uranium enrichment limit of the 2015 nuclear deal, confirming reports from Iran Monday that it had ramped up its enrichment to 4.5%.
UK: Iranian vessels tried to block British vessel in Gulf
Britain said Thursday that three Iranian vessels unsuccessfully tried to impede the passage of a British commercial vessel through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a further escalation of tensions over a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
U.S. Eyes Military Coalition To Safeguard Key Shipping Lanes Amid Iran Tensions
The United States is moving forward with plans to form a military coalition to safeguard strategic shipping lanes off Iran and Yemen amid raised tensions with Iranian leaders.
‘We Hope that Obstacles Will Be Removed’: Iran Seeks to Build Railway Connecting Iran, Iraq, Syria
Iran, Syria, and Iraq signed an agreement Wednesday, July 3rd, to construct an Iran-funded railway from Shalamcheh in the Islamic Republic to the Mediterranean coastal city of Lattakia in Syria, bypassing trade waterways typically patrolled by the US.
Trump warns Iran to ‘be careful’ after Tehran says it will breach uranium cap
US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Sunday to ‘be careful,’ shortly after the Islamic Republic said it would breach a uranium enrichment cap set by the 2015 nuclear deal.
‘Seize a British Oil Tanker,’ Says Iranian Official in Response to Iranian Ship Taken in by British
Iran is calling for the detention of a British oil tanker in retaliation for an Iranian ship carrying crude oil to Syria that was detained in the British territory of Gibraltar.
Rouhani: Starting Sunday, Iran will enrich uranium to ‘any amount we want’
Iran’s president warned Europe Wednesday that his country would ‘take the next step’ in increasing its uranium enrichment this coming Sunday, and enrich to ‘any amount that we want.’
Putin signs bill suspending participation in nuclear treaty
President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill suspending Russia’s participation in a pivotal nuclear arms treaty.
Trump says Iran ‘playing with fire’ after nuclear deal limit breached
US President Donald Trump warned Monday that Iran was ‘playing with fire’ after Tehran said it exceeded a limit on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by Washington.
Iran Breaches First Term of 2015 Nuclear Accord
Reversing promises it made to European powers on Friday to abide by the terms of the 2015 nuclear accord, Iran has exceeded its uranium stockpile limit under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the UN.
Russia completes deployment of S-300 missile defenses in northern Syria
Russia has completed the deployment of its S-300 air defense system in Masyaf in northwestern Syria, not far from the cities of Homs and Hama, both of which have been targeted by airstrikes attributed to Israel.
Europe Circumvents U.S. Sanctions On Iran
Europe has found a way of circumventing U.S. sanctions on Iran. The governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom have developed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to enable European businesses to maintain non-dollar trade with Iran without breaking U.S. sanctions. That SPV, known as INSTEX, is now up and running.
Trump says China trade talks ‘back on track,’ new tariffs on hold
The United States and China agreed on Saturday to restart trade talks after President Donald Trump offered concessions including no new tariffs and an easing of restrictions on tech company Huawei in order to reduce tensions with Beijing.
American Delegates Reiterate US ‘Maximum Pressure” Campaign on Iran to Allies, While Iran Agrees to Stay in Nuclear Deal
Acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper met with NATO officials in Brussels Thursday, the same day special envoy Brian Hook was in Paris to drum up support from nuclear deal partners for the US’s position on Iran.
European Signatories Attempt Last-Ditch Effort to Save Nuclear Deal, While Iran Prepares To Break It
Brian Hook, U.S. special envoy for Iran, is in Paris discussing the looming crisis in the Persian Gulf with Britain, France, and Germany, ahead of talks Friday that will see the European allies seek to implement the ‘INSTEX’ currency system with Iran to circumvent Trump’s sanctions.
NATO looks to outer space as modern warfare evolves
Defending the land, sea and airspace of NATO members may soon no longer suffice. At the organization’s Brussels summit this week, NATO defense ministers have for the first time ever discussed branching out into space defense.
‘We Wait For Your Help’ Says Kurdish General to America, Hoping to See Greater American Support for Kurdistan in Light of Iran Crisis
Christian leaders met with Kurdish military officials in northern Iraq recently, who sought to position themselves as a natural ally of the US against Iranian aggression, should a conflict develop, and hoped the US would begin to see the cause of Kurdistan as part and parcel of its opposition to Iran.