Iran News Round Up
The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.
Key takeaway: A senior adviser to the Supreme Leader dismissed the possible U.S. designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Ali Akbar Velayati, the Supreme Leader’s senior foreign policy adviser, stated that “America’s action against the IRGC will not affect the IRGC’s support for Hezbollah, Iraq, and Syria” during an interview with Al Jazeera. Western media outlets reported that President Donald Trump is considering an executive order directing the State Department to consider the designation. The United States has maintained a program of primary and secondary sanctions against the IRGC following the 2015 nuclear deal.
Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan denied the report circulated by Western media outlets that Iran had launched the Mersad, a short range surface-to-air missile, from the same launch site in Semnan province utilized in the January 29 test of the Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile. The United States imposed new sanctions on 25 individuals and entities related to Iran’s ballistic missile program and the IRGC Quds Force on February 3 in response to the January 29 test.
Velayati dismisses possible designation of IRGC as terrorist organization
Ali Akbar Velayati, the Supreme Leader’s senior foreign policy adviser, reacted to reports that President Donald Trump’s administration is considering designating the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) during an interview with Al Jazeera. Velayati stated, “America’s action against the IRGC will not affect the IRGC’s support for Hezbollah, Iraq, and Syria.” He reportedly said in the interview that Trump is an “inexperienced person whose policies are hasty and whose sanctions will be ineffective.” Velayati also said that statements from Trump administration officials that military action remains a possible U.S. response to recent Iranian activity are empty threats. (Fars News Agency)
Defense minister denies Mersad missile launch
Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan denied the report circulated by Western media outlets that Iran had launched the Mersad, a short range surface-to-air missile, from the same launch site in Semnan province utilized in the January 29 test of the Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile. Dehghan called the report “fabricated” and part of a larger U.S. fear-mongering campaign against the Islamic Republic. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)
Senior parliamentarian: Iran-U.S. “military confrontation” is unlikely
Chairman of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi stated that “there is a very weak probability of military confrontation between Iran and the U.S.; Washington is well aware of Iran’s capabilities” during an interview with Lebanese news outlet al Mayadeen on February 9. Boroujerdi also stated that Iran “denies any charges of supporting terrorism.” (Farda News)
Deputy FM praises Russia for its “strong support” for the nuclear deal
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araghchi stated that Russia will “inform all parties of the P5+1, especially the American side and the new American government” of Russia’s “unrelenting policy” of “strong support” for the nuclear deal. Araghchi praised Russia for stressing the “necessity of the continuation” of the nuclear deal. Araghchi met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ryabkov to discuss the nuclear deal in Moscow on February 8. Iranian officials have claimed that the U.S. has violated the nuclear deal through such actions as the renewal of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA). (Alef)
Citations & Links
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Fars News Agency: http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951121001275
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Tasnim News Agency: https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/02/09/1323505/iran-rejects-us-claim-of-new-missile-test-as-fabricated
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Farda News: http://www.fardanews.com/fa/news/627805/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%DA%AF%D9%81%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D9%88%DA%AF%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85
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Alef: http://alef.ir/vdcaoynyu49nyw1.k5k4.html?444092
At least four killed in explosion near Bandar Abbas
Iranian media outlets reported that a gas explosion occurred in a tunnel 20 meters underground at a “research site” in Kulaghan-e Bandar Abbas. The site was reportedly connected to Iran’s agricultural ministry. Kulagan-e Bandar Abbas is near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, which is home to a large IRGC Navy base. (YJC) (Asr Iran)
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YJC: http://www.yjc.ir/fa/news/5972951/%DA%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%AB%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%DA%98%D9%87-%D8%A2%D8%A8%DA%AF%D8%B1%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1
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Asr Iran: http://www.asriran.com/fa/news/522818/%DB%B4-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3
Conservative organization holds first meeting
The Popular Front of Islamic Revolutionary Forces is a principlist organization formed in December 2016 which aims to unify Iran’s conservative factions by introducing one conservative candidate to compete against President Hassan Rouhani in the May 2017 presidential election. The organization’s chairman, Hojjat ol Eslam Mohammad Hossein Rahimian, stated at the meeting that the group’s focus is “service combined with integrity.” (Fars News Agency)
Citations & Links
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Fars News Agency: http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951121001253
