Why U.S.-Iran tensions could quickly escalate into a crisis

Phil StewartMichelle Nichols WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Three years ago, when Iran’s military captured 10 U.S. sailors after they mistakenly strayed into Iranian waters, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif jumped on the phone in minutes and worked out the sailors’ release in hours. Could a similar crisis be […]

Can Iran rely on Russia to dodge US pressure?

Alireza Noori May 21, 2019 For now, dialogue with the Trump administration is not on Iran’s agenda. The Islamic Republic is instead implementing a policy of “resistance” by focusing on improving its economy and mobilizing public support. In parallel, it is engaged in active diplomacy to boost trade and circumvent US sanctions. As part of […]

The US military plainly accuses Iran’s Guards of sabotaging 4 tankers

May 24, 2019 @ 21:47 Diane Shalem “The attack against the shipping in Fujairah we attribute it to the IRGC,” said Rear Admiral Michael Gilday, the director of the Joint Staff on Friday, the first time blaming Iran for the attack earlier this month Although the Pentagon attributed the limpet mines used in the attack to […]

U.S. deploys 1,500 troops to Middle East, blames Iran for tanker attacks

“Right now, I don’t think Iran wants to fight. And I certainly don’t think they want to fight with us,” Trump said. REUTERS May 24, 2019 21:59 The United States announced on Friday the deployment of 1,500 troops to the Middle East, describing it as an effort to bolster defenses against Iran as it accused […]

Trump to invoke emergency to sell arms to Saudis, citing Iran threat

Democrat senators rebuke administration for turning to rarely used provision, which allows for weapons sales without congressional review By MATTHEW LEE and SUSANNAH GEORGEToday, 10:53 pm  0 4shares In this undated photo released by Saudi Press Agency, SPA, Saudi military personnel conduct military exercises dubbed Gulf Shield One in Saudi Arabia. (Saudi Press Agency via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) — […]

Satellite images reveal: Iran building border crossing to smuggle weapons

New strategic border crossing being built at the al-Bukamal crossing between Iraq and Syria By Anna Ahronheim May 24, 2019 22:15   2 minute read. Iran is building a border crossing between Iraq and Syria that will allow the smuggling of weapons new satellite images have revealed, raising concerns that it could could expedite the […]

Why U.S.-Iran tensions could quickly escalate into a crisis

WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Three years ago, when Iran’s military captured 10 U.S. sailors after they mistakenly strayed into Iranian waters, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif jumped on the phone in minutes and worked out the sailors’ release in hours. Could a similar crisis be so quickly resolved […]

Why U.S.-Iran tensions could quickly escalate into a crisis

Zarif and the current Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, have never spoken directly, according to Iran’s mission at the United Nations. They instead tend to communicate through name-calling on Twitter. By REUTERS May 24, 2019 13:45   Iranians burn a U.S. flag during a protest against President Donald Trump’s decision to walk out of a […]

Iran’s foreign minister arrives in Pakistan for talks amid US tensions

Ahead of trip by Mohammad Javad Zarif, Islamabad calls on ‘all sides to show restraint, as any miscalculated move, can transmute into a large-scale conflict’ By KATHY GANNONToday, 2:00 pm  0 3shares In this photo released by the Foreign Office, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, right, shakes hands with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at […]

Israeli Navy inaugurates first Saar 6 corvette

The construction of the four Sa’ar 6 warships was agreed to in a 430 million euro deal between Israel and the German company ThyssenKrupp in 2015. Anna Ahronheim May 24, 2019 13:13 The INS Magen, the Navy’s first Sa’ar 6 corvette, was officially named at a ceremony held at the Kiel shipyards in Germany. The […]

Turkey’s Erdogan and Trump may meet soon: Turkish official

Humeyra Pamuk   WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump may soon have a face-to-face meeting, either in Turkey or on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan next month, a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said Erdogan had invited […]

Palestinians: The New Hamas List of ‘Traitors’

Khaled Abu ToamehMay 23, 2019 at 5:00 amhttps://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/14251/palestinians-hamas-traitors One of the Arabs who have dared to speak the truth about Hamas and Islamic Jihad is Nadim Koteich, a prominent Lebanese journalist, who recently accused Islamic Jihad of starting the last round of fighting with Israel. In an interview with the Lebanese LDC TV channel, Koteich […]

Rouhani says Iran won’t back down, ‘even if our land is bombed’

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Iran, May 8, 2019. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP) Iran President Hassan Rouhani on Friday told a group of veterans that what he termed the US economic war on […]