Key takeaway: Iranian officials defended the country’s ballistic missile program as the U.S. imposed new sanctions.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions on 25 individuals and entities related to Iran’s ballistic missile program and the IRGC Quds Force on February 3. The sanctions were a response to Iran’s test of a ballistic missile on January 29. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn said that “the days of turning a blind eye to Iran's hostile and belligerent actions toward the United States and the world community are over.”

Iranian officials responded to the new sanctions by defending Iran’s missile program. Interim Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami praised the test as a “show of power” and stated that Iran must “arm itself in this world of wolves.” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif similarly stated that Iran “will never start a war, but we can only rely on our own [indigenous] means of defense.” Iranian officials across factional lines are generally unified in support of the country’s ballistic missile program.

An IRGC soldier was killed in Syria’s Homs governorate near the T4 Airbase.

Table Of Contents

Casualties in Iraq and Syria

 IRGC member killed in Syria

Military and Security

 IRGC deputy commander: We are creating missiles, warships, and rocket launchers every day

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

 Iranian ambassador to Russia: There have not been discussions about the S-400 Friday prayer leaders criticize Trump administration’s policies Zarif responds to new U.S. sanctions.

AEI Must Reads

 How Iran is Learning from Russia in Iran Iran's New Way of War in Syria
Casualties in Iraq and Syria
February 10, 2017

IRGC member killed in Syria

An IRGC member from Golestan province was reportedly killed by a landmine blast in eastern Homs governorate near the T4 Airbase. (qasemsoleimani.ir)

Citations & Links

Qasemsoleimani.ir: http://qasemsoleimani.ir/article/10817.html
Military and Security
February 10, 2017

IRGC deputy commander: We are creating missiles, warships, and rocket launchers every day

IRGC Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami praised Iran’s “great missile power” and added, “We are adding to our numbers of missiles, warships, and rocket launchers every day. The sky, the earth, and the sea are under the control of this nation.” (Tasnim News Agency)

Citations & Links

Tasnim News Agency: https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1395/11/14/1316101/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D9%86%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF%5C
Regional Developments and Diplomacy
February 10, 2017

Iranian ambassador to Russia: There have not been discussions about the S-400

Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei told reporters that “there have not been any discussions” about purchasing the S-400 missile defense system from Russia. He added that Iran is “interested in continuing and developing military cooperation with Russia, while hoping to cooperate in areas which are needed for agreement with the UN Security Council.” (Fars News Agency)

Citations & Links

Fars News Agency: http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951115000772
February 10, 2017

Friday prayer leaders criticize Trump administration’s policies

Interim Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami stated that Iran will continue to develop its missile program despite American criticism during his sermon on February 3. Khatami praised Iran’s recent ballistic missile test as a “show of power” and added that Iran must “arm itself in this world of wolves.” He also emphasized that Iran’s ballistic missile tests do not violate the nuclear agreement. He criticized the newest American sanctions as a “violation” of the accord, however. (Fars News Agency)

  • Mashhad Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Alam ol Hoda criticized President Donald Trump’s ban on Iranian nationals entering the U.S. He referenced White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s defense of a five-year-old’s detention at an airport following the ban because he was a “security risk.” Alam ol Hoda stated, “The greatest shame for America is that the White House spokesman said that a five-year-old boy is a security threat… They put this child in handcuffs. This was the biggest announcement of America’s destruction and incompetence.” (Tasnim News Agency)
  • Ardabil Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Hassan Ameli emphasized national unity in the face of the Trump administration’s policies toward Iran during his sermon. Ameli stated that Iran will “respond to these threats” on February 10, the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Ameli added, “Our nation has a special characteristic… Whenever it feels that the enemy is approaching and plotting, it comes forth unified and shows the power of the nation and the revolution to the world.” (Tasnim News Agency)

Citations & Links

Tasnim News Agency: https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1395/11/15/1316785/%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%BE-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-22-%D8%A8%D9%87%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF Tasnim News Agency: https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1395/11/15/1316648/%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%B2%D8%AF%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%AF%DA%A9-5-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B0%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AC%D9%86%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%AE%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AC-%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D9%85%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%AFhttps:/www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1395/11/15/1316648/%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%B2%D8%AF%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%AF%DA%A9-5-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B0%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AC%D9%86%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%AE%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AC-%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D9%85%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%AF Fars News Agency: http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951115000395
February 10, 2017

Zarif responds to new U.S. sanctions.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded to the new sanctions on Iran. He stated, “Iran is not under threat because it derives its security from its people. We will never start a war, but we can only rely on our own [indigenous] means of defense. We will never use our weapons against others except in self-defense. Let’s see whether those who complain can say the same.” (Fars News Agency)

  • Expediency Discernment Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei wrote that President Donald Trump is encouraging Saudi Arabia and Israel to “attack Iran” in a message on his Instagram account on February 3. (Fars News Agency)

Citations & Links

Fars News Agency: http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951115000710 Fars News Agency: http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13951115000729
AEI Must Reads
February 10, 2017

How Iran is Learning from Russia in Iran

Paul Bucala and Institute for the Study of War Syria Analyst Genevieve Casagrande discuss the knowledge-transfer from Russia to Iran in Syria in “How Iran is Learning from Russia in Syria.”

February 10, 2017

Iran's New Way of War in Syria

Paul Bucala analyzes Iran’s military footprint in Syria in “Iran’s New Way of War in Syria.”