Iran will speed up enriching of uranium after deadline to Europe ends on Thursday: IRIB

GENEVA (Reuters) – Iran will speed up enrichment of uranium after a deadline given to European countries to prevent this ends on Thursday, the spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Wednesday, according to the IRIB news agency. “The deadline of the Atomic Energy Organization for passing the production of enriched uranium from the […]

On fringes of peace confab, rare prayer service brings Bahrain synagogue to life

Afterward, worshipers break out in song, hear Torah sermon as Houda Nonoo, a Jewish woman who served as Bahrain’s US ambassador, marvels: ‘It’s a historic moment’ By RAPHAEL AHREN Today, 11:25 am     MANAMA, Bahrain — A group of 15 Jewish men, among them five rabbis and a senior White House official, on Wednesday engaged in […]

Moscow pointedly allows East Jerusalem venue for US-Russian-Israeli Mid-East security meeting

The first gettogether of the US, Russian and Israel national security advisers on Tuesday, June 25 in Jerusalem proved a useful forum for the powers to air pressing Mid East concerns even without a breakthrough. John Bolton, Nikolai Patrushev and Meir Ben-Shabbat, who was upstaged by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, also shone interesting light on […]

Revolutionary Guards commander: U.S. would not dare violate Iranian soil

The United States would not dare violate Iranian soil, the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace division said on Wednesday, according to the Mehr news agency.   “Neither America nor any other country would dare violate Iranian soil,” Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by the news agency.   Tensions have spiked between […]

In trilateral Jerusalem summit, Russia sides with Iran, against Israel and US

Senior Russian official stands by Tehran’s claim that US drone was shot down in Iranian airspace, defends rights of foreign troops to remain in Syria despite Israeli opposition By JUDAH ARI GROSS 25 June 2019, 4:51 pm     Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US national security adviser John Bolton (second left), Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian […]

Deputy FM: No reason for Iran to stick to nuclear commitments unilaterally

REUTERS June 25, 2019 19:33 Breaking news. (photo credit: JPOST STAFF) Iran has no reason left to carry out commitments under its 2015 nuclear deal without reciprocation from the remaining European signatories, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday, according to the Fars news agency. “With attention to the promises that have not been […]

Reports: Houthis target Saudi Arabia’s Abha again

The airport has become a frequent target by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels over the last month. Seth J. Frantzman June 26, 2019 00:39 Reports from Arabic media in Iraq, Lebanon and elsewhere said that Houthi drones targeted Abha airport in southern Saudi Arabia again on Tuesday night. The airport has become a frequent target by Iranian-backed […]

Iran says it will abandon more nuclear deal commitments and Trump threatens ‘obliteration’

Ron Kampeas June 25, 2019 WASHINGTON (JTA) — After Iran announced that it will abandon further commitments agreed to under the 2015 nuclear deal, President Donald Trump threatened “obliteration” in “some areas” of the country. The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told the semi-official Fars News Agency on Tuesday that the […]

Netanyahu Considers Chance to Cancel Election Rerun in September

Hana Levi Julian -23 Sivan 5779 – June 25, 2019     Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu     Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly mulling over a legal way to cancel the upcoming election rerun set for this September 17. According to a report broadcast by Channel 12, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein may have found […]

Top Israeli Security Official: Middle East Stability Contingent on ‘Reining in Iran’s Aspirations and Actions’

Meir Ben-Shabbat. John Bolton, Benjamin Netanyahu and Nikolai Patrushev shake hands at the opening of a trilateral security summit in Jerusalem, June 25, 2019. Photo: Reuters / Ronen Zvulun. A first-of-its-kind tripartite summit between top US, Russian and Israeli security officials was held in Jerusalem on Tuesday. The event — focused on regional security issues […]

Trump Administration Unveils $50 Billion Economic Component of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Initiative at Bahrain Meeting

June 25, 2019 4:34 pm Trump Administration Unveils $50 Billion Economic Component of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Initiative at Bahrain Meeting White House senior adviser Jared Kushner arrives at Manama’s Four Seasons hotel, the venue for the US-hosted ‘Peace to Prosperity’ conference, June 25, 2019. Photo: Reuters / Matt Spetalnick. The Trump administration launched a $50 billion […]

If Iran Breaks the Nuclear Deal, It Could Be Very Close to the Nuclear Threshold

by Raphael Ofek     The Iran nuclear program’s Arak heavy water reactor. Photo: Nanking2012 via Wikimedia Commons. IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano confirmed on June 10 that Iran is realizing its threat to increase its rate of uranium enrichment, in direct defiance of the terms of the nuclear agreement of 2015 (JCPOA). On May […]

Iran air defense missiles must be taken seriously, experts say

Tehran’s downing of a sophisticated US drone – albeit a large, slow one – shows it knows how to use its missile systems, though it still lags far behind US capabilities By MICHEL MOUTOTToday, 1:21 pm     This photo released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry on Sunday, June 9, 2019, shows the […]

Russia Resurrects Mass Mobilization

By Emil Avdaliani June 25, 2019 Military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, 2015, photo via Wikipedia   BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,208, June 25, 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Mass mobilization saved the Russian state on many occasions in past centuries, proving effective against Charles XII, Napoleon […]