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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran Nuke Scientists Work it Out With a Pencil

2024-10-25

Too late. [IranWire] Iran's Atomic Energy Organization will implement new security protocols next week and ban specific electronic devices from its facilities and affiliated locations, IranWire has learned. The restrictions will prohibit entry of certain laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, including devices manufactured by Motorola, Apple, and BlackBerry. The measure comes amid heightened regional tensions following Israel's stated intention to respond to this month's missile attack by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, former IRGC commander and current head of its cultural base, has confirmed the credibility of these threats. The security upgrade appears motivated by concerns over potential espionage and sabotage operations. Officials have drawn parallels to incidents like Hezbollah's pager explosions, which resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, including to the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon. Despite some injured individuals receiving treatment in Iranian hospitals and being visited by officials like President Masoud Pezeshkian, media coverage of these incidents has been limited and controlled. Iranian media coverage of related security incidents has been notably restricted, especially regarding diplomatic personnel affected by recent events.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

New Revolutionary Guards head shows Iran readying for conflict

2019-04-25

[RT] Tehran’s appointment of a hardline new commander of its Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) could signal that Iran is preparing for conflict with the US, former Pentagon analyst Michael Maloof has told RT. Brigadier General Hossein Salami, 58, will replace Mohammad Ali Jafari as the elite unit’s commander-in-chief, Iranian state media reported Sunday. Salami served as Jafari’s deputy since 2009 and began his career in the Guards in 1981. He is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War. "Salami is more of a hardline person," Michael Maloof, former senior security policy analyst at the US Department of Defense, told RT. "He’s from the ’old guard,’ if you will." Though Tehran has recently engaged in diplomacy to keep afloat the JCPOA nuclear deal after it was abandoned by the US, Salami’s appointment could represent a dramatic shift in Iranian policy, Maloof believes. "It really suggests they’re going to double down on confronting the US," he said. "I think we’re about ready to enter a whole new phase of confrontation." faster speedboats and more civilians killed by terrorists I would expect it’s an indication from the Iranian leadership of a greater resistance, a greater standing-up to the Trump administration's sanctions, and an increasing likelihood for a confrontation.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei replaces IRGC commander

2019-04-21

[JPost] "The Supreme Leader has appointed Salami as the new commander-in-chief of the Guards, who will replace Mohammad Ali Jafari." Iran's top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has replaced the chief commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards, state TV reported on Sunday, days after the United States designated the group a foreign terrorist organization. The TV station did not give a reason for the change when it announced the appointment of Brigadier General Hossein Salami to the position. Jafari had held the post since September 2007.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Instagram accounts of Iran’s Khamenei, IRGC’s Soleimani get suspended

2019-04-17

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The Instagram accounts of at least three commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were suspended on Tuesday, only a day after the US officially designated it as a foreign terrorist organization. The accounts that were suspended included those of Major-General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force, Major-General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC, and Brigadier-General Mohammed Pakpour, the commander of the IRGC Ground Forces. Instagram also suspended Khamenei’s Instagram account in English on Tuesday. The Iranian Supreme Leader’s (@khamenei.en) account had at least 21,400 followers before it was suspended. His main Farsi account on Instagram with 2.5 million followers is still online.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iranian commander issues stern warning to US to stay away from IRGC Navy

2019-04-11

[ALMASDARNEWS] Mohsen Rezaei, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), has warned the US Navy to keep its vessels, including an aircraft carrier, at a distance from IRGC speed boats in Gulf waters. “Mr Trump, tell your warships not to pass near the Revolutionary Guards boats”, the ISNA news agency cited Rezaei as saying on Tuesday. The remarks came a day after Washington designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, in what Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described as a move rooted in America’s “rancour” against the IRGC. “The IRGC is the vanguard both on the field confronting the enemy on [Iranian] borders and even several thousand kilometres away [in Syria] as well as on the political battleground against the enemy”, Khamenei pointed out. Referring to the US’ move to blacklist the IRGC, Khamenei said that “such malice will lead nowhere” and that “with the their deceit rebounding back to themselves, the Islamic Republic’s enemies — such as Trump and the idiots […] in the US government — are moving toward rock bottom”. IRGC head Mohammad Ali Jafari, in turn, dismissed Washington’s designation, which he said “was quite laughable since the Revolutionary Guards are in people’s hearts”. Jafari also pledged that “the Revolutionary Guards will increase its defensive and offensive capabilities in coming year”. Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Security Council reportedly designated the US CENTCOM and related forces as a terrorist organisation. “As a retaliatory measure to the US illegal decision [to recognize the IRGC as a terrorist organization], Iran declares the US regime a ‘state that supports terrorism’ and the CENTCOM and forces that are linked to it a ‘terrorist group’”, the security council’s statement, quoted by the Islamic Republic of Iranian Broadcasting state media outlet, read. Announcing the decision to blacklist the IRGC on Monday, US President Donald Trump boasted that this “unprecedented” move “recognises the reality that Iran is not only a state sponsor of terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft”.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iranian commander issues stern warning to US about staying away from IRGC Navy

2019-04-10

[ALMASDARNEWS] Mohsen Rezaei, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), has warned the US Navy to keep its vessels, including an aircraft carrier, at a distance from IRGC speed boats in Gulf waters. "Mr Trump, tell your warships not to pass near the Revolutionary Guards bumps boats", the ISNA news agency cited Rezaei as saying on Tuesday. The remarks came a day after Washington designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization, in what Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described as a move rooted in America’s "rancour" against the IRGC. "The IRGC is the vanguard both on the field confronting the enemy on [Iranian] borders and even several thousand kilometres away [in Syria] as well as on the political battleground against the enemy", Khamenei pointed out. Referring to the US’ move to blacklist the IRGC, Khamenei said that "such malice will lead nowhere" and that "with the their deceit rebounding back to themselves, the Islamic Theocratic Republic’s enemies ‐ such as Trump and the idiots [...] in the US government ‐ are moving toward rock bottom". IRGC head Mohammad Ali Jafari, in turn, dismissed Washington’s designation, which he said "was quite laughable since the Revolutionary Guards are in people’s hearts". Jafari also pledged that "the Revolutionary Guards will increase its defensive and offensive capabilities in coming year". Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Security Council reportedly designated the US CENTCOM and related forces as a terrorist organization. "As a retaliatory measure to the US illegal decision [to recognize the IRGC as a terrorist organization], Iran declares the US regime a ’state that supports terrorism’ and the CENTCOM and forces that are linked to it a ’terrorist group’", the security council’s statement, quoted by the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Iranian Broadcasting state media outlet, read. Announcing the decision to blacklist the IRGC on Monday, US President Donald Trump ...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States... boasted that this "unprecedented" move "recognises the reality that Iran is not only a state sponsor of terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft".

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran Arrests 3 'Terrorists' over Suicide Bomb Attack

2019-02-19

[AnNahar] Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said Monday it has tossed in the slammer I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece! three "terrorists" involved in last week's deadly suicide kaboom on security forces in a region bordering Pakistain. "Safe houses in (the cities of) Saravan and Khash were identified and eliminated, and the gunnies based in them were arrested," the force said on its official Sepah news agency. "Three of the gunnies were arrested and 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of explosives and 600 kilograms of kabooms as well as weapons and ammunition were confiscated," it said. The Guards said the three arrested had "produced, guided and supported" the vehicle used in Wednesday's suicide kaboom. The attack killed 27 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards travelling on a bus in the volatile southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... , which straddles the border with Pakistain. It was claimed by the jihadist outfit Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice). Iran has provided Pak officials with "information on the terrorist groups' hidden and semi-hidden training centres", army chief-of-staff Mohammad Bagheri told Tasnim news agency. In a phone call with Mighty Pak Army commanders, Bagheri asked them to "either confront the groups or allow (Iranian) forces to enter." Islamabad launched an operation against the "terrorists" in its Balochistan border province on Sunday, he said. Guards commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari has accused The Mighty Pak Army and intelligence agency of sheltering the jihadists. The foreign ministry said Iran "cannot tolerate" Pakistain's inability to stop cross-border attacks on Iran and said Tehran's frustration had been communicated to Islamabad. "We hope the Pak government can and wants to prevent such things from happening again," front man Bahram Ghasemi told news hounds on Monday. The ministry has summoned the Pak ambassador in Tehran and urged Islamabad to "seriously confront... the terrorist groups active on its border" with Iran.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran unveils new ballistic missile in secret ‘underground city’ facility

2019-02-09

[IsraelTimes] IRGC chief say hidden factory proves Western powers can’t stop Tehran’s program; move is latest show of military might marking 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. I was under the impression we can suss out such things using satellite imaging technology or looking at fresh dirt deposits or something, like the Israelis did to find Hezb’allah’s tunnels. And then there are the bunker busters — Israel purchased a stockpile of those from President Obama, as I recall... Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Thursday unveiled a new ballistic missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), their official news agency Sepah News reported. The move was the latest show of military might by the country as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution at a time of heightened tensions with the United States. The surface-to-surface missile ‐ called Dezful ‐ is an upgrade on the older Zolfaghar model that had a range of 700 kilometers (435 miles), aerospace commander Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh said. The new weapon was revealed after Iran on Saturday said it had successfully tested a new cruise missile named Hoveizeh with a range of 1,350 kilometer. The unveiling ceremony Thursday was carried out by Revolutionary Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari and Hajizadeh at an "underground ballistic missile production facility," the report said. The semi-official Fars news agency, close to the Guard, described the location as an "underground city." The facility’s location was not specified and pictures published by Sepah News showed only the two commanders in a room examining the missile. "Displaying this missile production facility deep underground is an answer to Westerners ... who think they can stop us from reaching our goals through sanctions and threats," Jafari was reported as saying. "Europeans talk of limiting our defensive capability while they have the audacity (to allow) their offensive power be used to attack innocent people all over the world," he added. Hajizadeh said the new missile had a "destructive power" twice that of the Zolfaghar version, which Iran used for the first time in October to strike a jihadist base in Syria. It seems that building underground is a Middle Eastern tradition with ancient roots. From another Times of Israel article: The fertile Judean Lowlands of Israel is home to at least 475 underground complexes and with an estimated number of 973 entrances that lead to a spectacular subterranean network of tunnels, man-made caves and rooms, one can say that it is a genuine Underland. In common with all other areas of the Levant, the Judean Shephelah (meaning “low”, and usually translated as “lowlands”), has been occupied by man since the earliest prehistoric times. And Turkey has a huge underground complex in the Cappadocia region that dates back for millennia.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

IRGC holds major drills, debuts ‘offensive’ component

2018-12-23

[PRESSTV] The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps holds the main and final stage of massive exercises in the Persian Gulf, launching an "offensive" component in Iran's defensive strategy for the first time. The Great Prophet 12 drill entered its final chapter in the general area on Saturday, with IRGC chief General Mohammad Ali Jafari saying "we hope the enemies have more than ever grasped the power of our response." "This was a response to allegations made by the enemies who should know that the defense capabilities of the Islamic Theocratic Republic of Iran are deterrent, and as the Eminent Leader [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei ...the successor to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the actual dictator of Iran... ] has said, 'if they try to hit us once, they will definitely be hit 10 times more'," Jafari told news hounds. The IRGC Ground Force’s chief Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said the drills take place on a strategic and defensive level proportionate to the enemies’ potential threats.

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India-Pakistan

Pakistani security forces recover 5 abducted Iranian guards

2018-11-16

[DAWN] Pak security forces on Thursday safely recovered five of the 12 Iranian border guards who were kidnapped by snuffies last month from Lulakdan area near the Pak-Iran border. The Foreign Office has said that the recovered security personnel "are in good health and being handed over to the Iranian authorities", DawnNewsTV reported. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, quoting Iran's Revolutionary Guard Chief General Mohammad Ali Jafari, also confirmed the development, saying five border guards kidnapped have been released. "Concerted efforts under the vigilance of the military leadership are on, to recover the remaining abductees," DawnNewsTV quoted the Foreign Office as saying.

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India-Pakistan

Jaish al-Adl militias claim responsibility for Iran troops’ abduction

2018-10-23

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] An Death Eater Lion of Islam group has grabbed credit for the abduction of 12 Iranian security personnel near the border with Pakistain, Iran’s semi-official news agency ISNA reported Monday. "The terrorist group Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice in Arabic) has posted two photos... claiming that those in it are the forces kidnapped" on October 16, ISNA said. Jaish al-Adl, formed in 2012, is a successor to the Sunni Death Eater group Jundallah ..."Soldiers of God," a name used by two separate terror outfits, one active in Iran and the other in Pakistain. Both are Sunni organizations that target Shiites. The Pak version has close relations with al-Qaeda and the Pak Talibs and is probably a false nose and mustache for Lashkar-e-Jhangvi... (Soldiers of God) which has carried out a spate of attacks on Iranian security forces in recent years in the southeastern province of Sistan-Balochistan...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... The photos show seven members of the elite Revolutionary Guards force and five police commandos, all in combat gear, according to state news agency IRNA. The Iranians, including intelligence offices, were kidnapped near Lulakdan, a village 150 kilometres (90 miles) southeast of Zahedan, capital of Sistan-Balochistan. They were "made unconscious" by a "single infiltrator" and then kidnapped and taken to bases inside Pakistain, said Guards commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, quoted by IRNA. The photos also show a haul of automatic weapons and sniper rifles, rocket launchers, machine-guns, grenades and ammunition, apparently seized from the Iranian forces. Sistan-Balochistan has long been a flashpoint, with Pakistain-based Baluchi separatists and snuffies carrying out regular cross-border raids against Iran. The province has a large, mainly Sunni Moslem ethnic Baluchi community which straddles the border. A delegation led by the Guards’ ground forces commander Mohammad Pakpour visited Pakistain on Monday to follow up on efforts to free the Iranians, the force said on its website.

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Europe

Iran: French police were ‘slow to respond’ when Kurds attacked Paris embassy Friday

2018-09-17

[Rudaw] Iran on Saturday accused French police of being too slow to respond to an assault on its embassy in Gay Paree on Friday by Kurdish activists outraged by Tehran’s missile attack on Koya last week. According to Fars News Agency, a group of around 15 Kurds affiliated with Komala, a Kurdish opposition party, arrived at the Iranian Embassy ...You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy!... in Gay Paree on Friday and proceeded to and smash its windows with stones, fire extinguishers, and computer parts and burn the Iranian flag. The activists did not breech the building itself. "The French government should take all necessary measures to protect Iranian diplomatic missions in that country," Iranian foreign ministry front man Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA on Saturday. "Unfortunately, the French police did not arrive as expected on the scene on time, although the assailants were members of a terrorist organization," he added. Qasemi claimed a number of the protesters were jugged You have the right to remain silent... and called for them to face trial and punishment. French police were not immediately available for comment, according to Rooters. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) fired seven surface-to-surface missiles on September 8 striking the Kurdistan Region refugee camps and headquarters of two Iranian-Kurdish parties, the PDKI and the KDP-I, while they were holding leadership meetings. Seventeen people were killed, including several party leaders, and 46 were maimed in the attack. Iran’s missile attack on Kurdish parties in Koya was a message to its enemies, the commander of the IRGC said Friday. "The IRGC’s recent Dire Revenge against holy warriors had a very meaningful message for the enemies, particularly for the superpowers who assume that they can impose their dirty objectives and bullying on us," Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said at a funeral in Tehran, Tasnim news reported. He touted their stockpile of missiles with an accuracy and range that give Iran "unmatched capabilities." The strike on the PDKI and KDP-I was a demonstration of their precision, he explained. PDKI and KDP-I seek greater political and cultural rights for Kurds in Iran. They resumed their armed struggle against the Iranian regime a couple of years ago. Tehran frequently accuses the US and Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... of backing the parties that are based in the Kurdistan Region.

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