Tillerson says US troops to stay in Syria to counter Assad and Iran
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that US troops will remain in Syria not just to fight jihadists but also to counter the power of Bashar al-Assad and his ally Iran.
Iran
Christian convert from Iran converting Muslims in Sweden
From escaping Iran through the mountains as a Muslim refugee, to surviving domestic abuse and imprisonment in a Turkish prison, to carving out a life in Sweden, Annahita Parsan’s story is the stuff of a Hollywood movie.
IDF chief: Iranian nuclear threat ‘is not theoretical’
Iran’s desire for nuclear weapons has not been extinguished by the nuclear deal it signed with world powers, IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot said Tuesday.
Russian, Iranian Foreign Ministers Discuss Syria and Iran Nuclear Deal
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed the conflict in Syria and the Iran nuclear deal in a phone conversation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
Iran tortures and kills protesters; West mostly silent as 8,000 citizens arrested
Iran’s rulers have inflicted death by torture and gunfire on citizen protesters in a crackdown since the Dec. 28 street uprising erupted, the main opposition group said Tuesday.
8 Earthquakes Strike Along Iran-Iraq Border
A series of eight earthquakes hit the Iran-Iraq border area and rattled Baghdad on Thursday, apparent aftershocks of a temblor that struck the mountainous region in November and killed over 530 people. Four people suffered minor injuries in Iran, state television reported.
Test Launch of Israel’s Arrow Defense System Canceled for 2nd Time in a Month
The Israeli Defense Ministry on Wednesday canceled a test launch for the Arrow 3 missile defense system, citing a problem with its ground control’s data systems.
Iranian Christian Receive Eight Year Sentences
Two Iranian Christians were sentenced to a total of eight years in prison by a revolutionary court in December 2017, after being convicted of national security-related crimes.
Europe, Iran to meet on backing nuclear deal as Trump decision looms
Europe and Iran are to put on a united front in support of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal at talks in Brussels Thursday as Washington mulls reimposing sanctions on Tehran.
U.S. Could Send Stranded Iranian Christians Back to Iran
The U.S. government could send 100 mostly Christian Iranians stranded in Austria back to Iran this week, where they would face harsh persecution by Iran’s Islamic government.
Iranian FM in Russia for talks on nuclear deal, Syria
Iran’s foreign minister is visiting Moscow for talks focusing on the future of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and the situation in Syria, where both nations support President Bashar Assad.
U.S. to decide on Iran sanctions waivers on Friday: State Department
The Trump administration is expected to decide on Friday whether to continue to waive U.S. penalties on Iran, as agreed under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the State Department said on Tuesday.
Israeli jets and rockets hit Syria overnight, Syrian army claims
The Syrian army claimed Tuesday that Israeli fighter jets and rockets targeted positions inside the war-torn nation overnight, marking a potential uptick in tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants operating there.
Security cabinet holds ‘extremely significant’ meetings about northern border
Israel’s security cabinet has convened several times in recent days, holding ‘extremely significant’ meetings to discuss developments on the northern border and Iran’s presence in Syria.
Report: Ex-Iranian president Ahmadinejad arrested for inciting unrest
Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been arrested by authorities for allegedly inciting unrest against the government, the London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Saturday, citing ‘reliable sources in Tehran.’
U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia Leading World to War with Iran, France Says
French President Emmanuel Macron has accused the U.S., Israel and Saudi Arabia of instigating a war as their mutual foe, Iran, was rocked by a week of protests.
UN Security Council to meet on Iran protests, at US request
The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting about Iran at the request of the U.S. which asked for the session to show support for anti-government protests.
Iranian intelligence network exposed in Judea and Samaria
The Shin Bet security agency and the Israel Defense Force recently exposed a network sponsored by the Iranian intelligence apparatus in Judea and Samaria. The network was recruited and funded by an Iranian intelligence agent living in South Africa, according to information released for publication on Wednesday.
Iran protests spread, even as military declares them over
Iran’s most influential military commander on Wednesday declared the wave of anti-regime protests rocking nation as over, despite reports that demonstrators continue to fill the streets in more than a dozen cities.
Iran protests spread nationwide, now ‘far bigger than 2009’
Pictures and videos coming out of Iran are starting to look more like a full-on revolution than a protest movement, but American news agencies continue to be slow to react, describing the historic protests as mostly about the country’s weak economy and chastising President Trump for cheering them on.