Spring of freedom

Thousands demonstrated in the city of Mashhad Thousands of residents n a number of Iranian cities including the north-eastern city of Mashhad took to the streets on Thursday demonstrating against unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living. Protesters raised the slogans 'Death to Rouhani, and Death to the Dictator'. Usually the term 'dictator' is addressed to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Protesters also waved banners denouncing Iran's interference in the Arab region. The demonstrators also chanted “Forget about Syria, think about us”, “Don’t be scared, we are all together.” Officials in Isfahan warned of the worsening unemployment crisis, with statistics indicating that more than 27,000 people were fired from their jobs because firms went bankrupt over the past nine months.   Maryam Rajavi  , the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (  NCRI  ), described today’s uprising in Mashhad as indicative of the p...

Posters of Albert Nisman are hung during a ‘Silent March’ marking the one-month anniversary of the suspicious death of special prosecutor Nisman on February 18, 2015 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Every so often, a report surfaces in Latin America about the growing influence of Iran and its ally Hezbollah, from importing terror operations and wooing locals through “charities” to fueling nefarious activities via the lucrative drug trade. Former Drug Enforcement Agency Chief of Operations Michael Braun warned Congress last year in a hearing that Hezbollah had “metastasized into a Hydra, with international connections that the likes of [Islamic State] and groups like al-Qaeda could only hope to have,” moving “multitons of cocaine” and cash “in the most sophisticated money laundering schemes that we have ever witnessed.” Iran and Hezbollah pass off their interest in Latin America as diplomatic and economic, with outward gestures that include building Islamic centers and piping i...

IMIS terrorists IMIS militiamen on Monday staged a protest over what they called 'delayed pay', a video obtained by The Baghdad Post has shown. Members of the militias, sponsored by the IRGC, appear in the video expressing anger at the delay of their wages. The move pushed commentators to warn of the movements of these militias, saying their foremost aim is to undermine Iraq's security. They added the continued demands of disbursing the delayed payment will add new burdens to the exhausted budget of Iraq. Mercenary terrorists along with a mercenary mullah 'These protests are of vicious aims. First, Iran wants to stir up chaos in Iraq through the movements of the militias. Second, IMIS militiamen seek to shackle the economy through the continued demands of raising their pays.' Terror role Other experts said those militias don’t deserve the money they are asking for. 'These terror gangs killed the Iraqis, displaced them, and sought ...

Ron Wyden  Senior Senator Ron Wyden sponsored a resolution at the United States Senate condemning the violation of human rights in Iran for persecuting religious minorities, particularly the Baha'is. The resolution condemns the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. Congress continuously declared that it deplored the religious persecution by the Government of Iran of the Baha’i community and would hold the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the Baha’i Faith; The Senate: Condemns the Government of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights; Calls on the Government of Iran to immediately release the 5 imprisoned Baha’i leaders, the 7 imprisoned Baha’i educators, and all other prisoners held solely on accou...

Hezbollah Moving Tons of Cocaine from Latin America to Europe to Europe Terror Operations  Long ago I wrote explaining how Congress is taking the lead on Iran policy. Recently, major developments involving the United States, Iran, and the entire Middle East have placed the powerful US legislative body before obligations in the face of arguably the world’s most dangerous regime. At a time when Iran’s foreign meddling and ballistic missile drive continues to raise eyebrows out of deep concern, an important spotlight is being focused on a shadowy aspect of Tehran’s notorious schemes. Politico released what has been described as a bombshell, exposing how Iran literally demanded the Obama administration facilitate a major drug trafficking/money-laundering campaign across four continents. While senior Obama administration officials must be held accountable for their ties with the terrorist Lebanese Hezbollah, the main issue at hand is how to tackle the root: Iran. B...

”Passing through Bulgaria, Iran is planting Hezbollah members in Balkans” “I am not alone here. I know of several more Lebanese and Syrian-related Hezbollah members who have lived in Bulgaria for years.” Editorial, Vocal Europe, Dec. 19, 2017  - Ali, a Hezbollah sympathizer, living in Bulgaria and married to a Bulgarian tells me. At his request, his name has been changed. He fears the repercussions for his family still living in Lebanon. He is right to worry – Hezbollah has repeatedly proved adept that it can keep a careful eye on its members, observing their actions from its Lebanese fortress, more than even 2000 km away. Iran and the Balkans? Why? The Balkans are not synonymous with Iranian influence – unlike Turkey or Russia who have deep historical links in the region. Iran, however has cultivated its presence only over the last 30 years.  The Balkans, for Iran, has proved to be important for at least two reasons. Firstly, there is Bosnia, a country tha...

Houthi media released images of the missile it says was fired towards Saudi Arabia  A missile fired from Yemen at the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, bears the hallmarks of a weapon provided by Iran, the US ambassador to the UN has said. Nikki Haley said Iran's actions threatened to drag the world 'deeper into a broadening regional conflict'. The missile was shot down by Saudi Arabia's military on Tuesday. There were no reports of any damage. Iran denies arming Houthi rebels in Yemen who are fighting Yemen's government and a Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis' Al Masirah TV reported that a Burkan H2 ballistic missile had been targeted at a royal palace in Riyadh. Addressing the UN Security Council in New York, Mrs Haley said the missile 'bears all the hallmarks of previous attacks using Iranian-provided weapons'. 'We must all act co-operatively to expose the crimes of the Tehran regime and do whatever is needed to make sure they get the me...

Iran is the First Threat  In the past years, the Iranian regime has been dealing with an endless series of international and domestic issues that are occurring following the 2015 nuclear deal it forged with world powers. Crises emanating from international sanctions and political isolation and the re-emergence of domestic unrests have created a rift within the regime. With negotiations being raised over Iran’s ballistic missile program and its regional meddling, the regime’s internal crises are becoming exacerbated. Despite the supposed show of power by the Revolutionary Guards and military incursions in other countries, Tehran has no other choice but to retrace its steps and give in to the demands of the international community if faced with a firm policy. The government of  Hassan Rouhani  is still trying to negotiate to preserve the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), while at the same time pretending to be stan...

U.S. Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C.  Treasury Department officials must publish a report chronicling the financial assets of Iran’s top leaders, under a bill that passed the House on Wednesday. The legislation, which passed 289-135, must still clear the Senate before President Trump can sign it into law. It’s a potential boon to Iranian dissidents against the regime, who stand to gain insight into corruption by top officials. “Iran’s top regime leaders — the Supreme Leader and the country’s top political and military brass — have amassed huge wealth through their tyrannical rule and corrupt and covert structure,” Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, said upon introducing the legislation. “Reports have indicated these funds are being used to support and sponsor terrorism around the region and to undermine our own national security interests. Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, cannot be trusted and it’s important for the security of ...

Nikki Haley votes for a bid to renew an international inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria in New York on November 17, 2017  US Ambassador Nikki Haley will present “irrefutable evidence” that Iran has tried to cover up violations of international obligations, the US mission said Wednesday. Haley will hold a press conference in Washington on Thursday on Iran’s “ongoing destabilizing activities in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world.” The United States and Saudi Arabia have accused Iran of supplying weapons to Yemen’s Huthi rebels, who fired a missile intercepted near Riyadh airport on November 4. “Ambassador Haley will offer irrefutable evidence that Iran has deliberately violated its international obligations and has tried and failed to cover up these violations,” a statement from the mission said. Haley has called on the UN Security Council to take a tougher stance toward Iran, accusing Tehran of making illegal arms deals in Yemen, Lebanon an...