Imprisoned
Rezaian is sentenced to prison on charges of espionage, the country’s judiciary spokesman said Sunday, without specifying the length of his jail term.
The verdict has been issued but has not been officially handed down to the accused or his lawyer. Given the fact that the verdict has not been officially handed down, I cannot reveal the details, but what I can say is that the accused has been sentenced to prison.
The Washington Post‘s foreign editor:
We’re aware of the reports in the Iranian media but have no further information at this time. Every day that Jason is in prison is an injustice. He has done nothing wrong. Even after keeping Jason in prison 488 days so far, Iran has produced no evidence of wrongdoing. His trial and sentence are a sham, and he should be released immediately.
Rouhani: Embassies could be restored
Rouhani suggests that the United States and Iran could open embassies in each other’s capitals after decades of mutual hostility, but he says Washington should apologize, without going into further detail.
One day these embassies will re-open but what counts is behavior and the Americans hold the key to this. If they modify their policies, correct errors committed in these 37 years and apologize to the Iranian people, the situation will change and good things can happen.
Report: Russian delivering Iranian weapons
Anonymous sources in western intelligence agencies have told Fox News that Russia is helping Iran violate a UN Security Council embargo and transport arms and munitions to Syria. The sources say Russian cargo flights have been delivering Iranian weapons to the Russian-operated air base outside of Latakia, a strategic city on the Mediterranean coast, twice a day for the past ten days.
Increasing Syria presence
Iran is increasing its military presence in Syria. Brig. Gen. Salami, deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps:
Iran is increasing the quality and quantity of its presence in Syria. Iranian officers are providing tactical help for Syrian commanders of battalions in direct battles, as well as weapons and ordnance, operational assistance and help with strategic planning.
‘Iran will be destroyed within 25 years’
Ayatollah Khamenei says that Israel will be destroyed within 25 years.
Some Zionists have said that regarding the result of the nuclear deal they (Israelis) have been relieved of concerns about Iran for 25 years. But we tell them that you will not see the coming 25 years and God willing there will not be something named the Zionist regime in the region.
He also says says Tehran will not expand talks with the United States beyond the negotiations over its atomic program.
We approved talks with the United States about the nuclear issue specifically. We have not allowed talks with the U.S. in other fields and we will not negotiate with them. The Iranian nation ousted the Satan. We should not let it back through the window.
Iran to present Syria peace plan to UN
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Abdollahian announces that Tehran will present an updated version of its plan to the UN to settle the crisis in Syria.
The plan will be declared and presented to the UN secretary general after precise consultations between Tehran and Damascus.
EU approves Iran deal
The European Union approves the Iran nuclear deal. The deal lifts EU economic sanctions against Tehran, but keeps sanctions in place on human rights violations, and bans the supply of ballistic missile technology. Iran offers alternate energy supplies for Europe. The European Union may reopen an EU delegation in Tehran and is seeking business opportunities in the country. French foreign minister:
It is a balanced deal that means Iran won’t get an atomic bomb. It is a major political deal.
Austria’s Foreign Minister:
The Iran deal has a geopolitical impact and also an economic impact on the European Union.
Congratulates Iran
Assad sends a personal letter of congratulations to Iranian Supreme Leader, celebrating the occasion of a nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 world powers. Assad calls the nuclear agreement a turning point for Iran. Assad says in a message to Iran;
We are confident that the Islamic Republic of Iran will support, with greater drive, just causes of nations and work for peace and stability in the region and the world…In the name of the Syrian people, I congratulate you and the people of Iran on this historic achievement, This deal provides clear recognition on the part of the world powers of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program
Iran seizes commercial ship, U.S. responds
Iran Revolutionary Guard patrol boats fire shots at a commercial cargo ship, the Marshall Islands-flagged M/V Maersk Tigris, and then intercept the vessel, which is crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Tigris issues a distress call and the USS Farragut is ordered to head towards the incident. The Navy says it is “to be determined” what the USS Farragut will do when it reaches the vicinity of the incident.
The Pentagon thinks about 30 individuals are on board. According to a U.S. official, there are no Americans on board the vessel and the U.S. believes that Iranians will “send the ship on its way.” A State Department spokesperson notes that the U.S. has a security compact with the Marshall Islands on defense issues. But he adds that there hasn’t been a specific request for assistance from the Marshall Islands and says it is premature to say whether this could require the use of force.
It’s a key concern of the United States to ensure that sea lanes in the region remain open and safe.
Iran intercepts U.S. ship
The U.S.navy says the U.S.-flagged Maersk Kensington was intercepted in the Strait of Hormuz, on Friday, 24 April, by four ships of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval patrol.
The Iranians encircled the Kensington and followed the ship on its course for a period of time before withdrawing and breaking away.
The U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet has issued a notice to mariners about the incident.
Vows to abide by deal
Rouhani vows to abide by the nuclear framework agreement it signed with six world powers, so long as they follow their side of commitments.
If the other side acts on its promises, Iran will abide by its promises. If, however, they one day decide to follow a different path, our nation too will be always free to make [another] choice
Deal framework announced
Iran and six major world powers clinch an historic nuclear framework agreement and announce key parameters for resolving a long-standing dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. European Union Foreign Affairs Minister Federica Mogherini:
Today we have taken a decisive step. We have reached solutions on key parameters for a comprehensive future nuclear deal.
Suicide drone test
0 CommentsThe unmanned aircraft is tested in military drills near the Strait of Hormuz. It can carry out 360-degree imaging and is designed to strike air, ground and naval targets. An Iranian military official calls it a ‘mobile bomb’ while media refer to it using the name Yasir.
Dies in car crash
Shim, a Lebanese-American reporter for Press TV, is killed in a car crash in Turkey a day after stating that Turkish intelligence was spying on her. She had been reporting that ISIS militants had crossed the border in trucks used by NGOs to carry food. Press TV broadcast:
Just a couple of days ago she had been threatened by Turkish intelligence
https://twitter.com/shabbirh/status/524140074792148992
Addresses Islamic terror at UN
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, speaks at the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, addressing the Islamic terror threat. The half hour speech compares ISIS, Iran and Hamas as a whole in regards to Islamic militancy being a threat to democracy and the world. Netanyahu:
Last week, many countries here rightly applauded President Obama for leading the effort to confront ISIS. And yet weeks before, some of these same countries, that now support confronting ISIS, opposed Israel for confronting Hamas. They evidently don’t understand that ISIS and Hamas are branches of the same poisonous tree. ISIS and Hamas share a fanatical creed, which they both seek to impose well beyond the territory under their control. Don’t be fooled by Iran’s manipulative charm offensive. It’s designed for one purpose and for one purpose only: to lift the sanctions and remove the obstacles to Iran’s path to the bomb.
Arrests foreign ISIS suspects
Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli says authorities have arrested three foreign nationals traveling through Iran who are suspected of seeking to join ISIS in Iraq. He says the suspected militants are of Afghan and Pakistani origin. He doesn’t specify when the arrests occurred.
There is no space in Iran for terrorist groups. Iranian security forces and the people living near the border are aware of the dangers.
Iran minister pledges solidarity with Iraq
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his country appreciates efforts by Iraq to reach out to Sunnis and ethnic Kurds to improve regional security. His comments come after a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi, who calls for an international effort against the ISIS insurgency. At a news conference:
We feel very comfortable about the democratic process in Iraq which has reached to a logical result through selecting prime minister-designate Haider al-Abadi to form an inclusive government that comprises all Iraqi sects. The Islamic Republic of Iran will keep standing by your side. Iran backs the unity of Iraq and the stabilizing of security and considers that as a priority in its foreign policy.
Iraqi PM: ‘International effort needed’
Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi calls for an international war against ISIS during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. A statement from Abadi’s office after the talks:
Abadi pointed to the presence of many dangers posed in the region as a result of the existence of the terrorist gang Islamic State which requires regional and international efforts to exterminate this terrorist organization.
Rockets are ‘defensive blessing’
A former chief commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards says Hamas rockets fired at Israeli targets are the ‘blessing’ of a technology transfer. Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, Mohsen Rezaei, quoted by state Arabic channel Al-Alam:
Palestinian resistance missiles are the blessings of Iran’s transfer of technology […] We need to transfer defensive and military technology to Palestinians so that they can build weapons under the blockade and defend themselves
Revolutionary Guards have said in the past that Hamas’ Gaza Strip arsenal includes Fajr-5 missile rockets that are produced locally from technology supplied by Iran without requiring direct shipment. He says he has asked President Hassan Rouhani to provide air defense systems to allow Hamas to shoot down Israeli aircraft, and says kidnapping soldiers is an effective technique:
Getting their soldiers captured is the weak point of Israelis. Should two or three be captured, all Zionists will surrender
Qantas re-routes flights over Iraq
Heeding the warnings from US and France regulators,Qantas Airways temporarily re-routes the two daily flights from Dubai to London over Iranian airspace. Although there are international sanctions against Iran, US carriers are allowed to pay a fee to land there in an emergency. The decision comes a week after Emirates, an alliance partner, said it would stop flights over Iraq in response to information from the US claiming that Islamic militants had obtained high-altitude surface-to-air missiles from Syria. The information is currently being investigated.