Iran News Round Up - November 14, 2017

Senior Iranian officials rebuffed French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for negotiations over Iran’s missile program. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi reiterated that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is not negotiable and that Iran will not allow other issues “to be added to it.” Parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy (NSFP) Committee spokesperson Hossein Naghavi Hosseini said that Iran considers Macron’s remarks an “intervention in Iran’s internal affairs.” (Tasnim News Agency) (Reuters) (E) (Radio Farda) (E) (IRNA) (E) (Reuters) (E)

An earthquake struck parts of western Iran in Ilam and Kermanshah Provinces near the Iran-Iraq border. The 7.3 magnitude earthquake devastated several villages and killed at least 430 and wounded 7,370 people in Iran. IRGC Spokesman Brig. Gen. 2C Ramazan Sharif said that the IRGC dispatched infantry, aerial, and medical units to afflicted areas to provide relief and conduct search and rescue operations. Artesh Commander Maj. Gen. Abdol Rahim Mousavi said that the Artesh opened an air bridge between Kermanshah and Sarpol-e Zahab (both in Kermanshah Province) to evacuate the wounded. The IRGC-owned Khatam ol Anbia Construction Headquarters dispatched 500 bulldozers and ambulances from Kermanshah and Ilam Provinces to assist in relief efforts. Several reports and videos claim that Mehr Housing Project residences and buildings sustained the most damage.

• The Mehr Housing Project was initiated during former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s administration. Reports indicated that Mehr Housing structures exhibited poor structural integrity and were constructed with little regard for geological factors. First Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri, a prominent reformist and strong proponent of national privatization efforts, used the opportunity to further censure the Ahmadinejad-era housing program. Reformists will likely take advantage of the circumstances surrounding the devastating earthquake to intensify calls for greater privatization in commercial and residential construction projects. (Radio Farda) (E) (Sepah News) (Defa Press) (Sepah News) (ILNA)

USAF CENTCOM Southwest Asia Commander Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian stated that the November 4 al Houthi-Saleh ballistic missile strike toward Riyadh, Saudi Arabia exhibited “Iranian markings.” U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley also accused Iran of involvement in a July al Houthi-Saleh missile strike. Haley stated that the evidence Saudi Arabia provided confirms that the missile fired was Iranian-made. Haley added that the November 4 al Houthi-Saleh missile strike “may also be of Iranian origin.” (Reuters) (E)

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi denied Bahrain officials’ allegations that Iran orchestrated an explosion at Bahrain’s main oil pipeline on November 10. Bahraini Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah al Khalifa called the incident an act of terrorism “carried out through direct contacts and instructions from Iran.” Ghassemi called the accusations “baseless.” (BBC Persian) (Radio Farda) (E)

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Ghassemi stated that Iran will not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs and reiterated Iranian support for Lebanese stability. Ghassemi’s comments immediately follow Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s November 12 statement accusing Iran of intervening in regional countries’ affairs and calling on Lebanon to disassociate itself from Iran. Hariri unexpectedly resigned from his post on November 4. Hariri cited concerns of an Iranian plot to assassinate him. (Fars News Agency) (Reuters) (E) (Reuters) (E)

The BBC released a series of satellite images on November 10 reporting the construction of an Iranian military base in Syria. The series of images, dated between January-October 2017, illustrate the Iranian construction of new buildings and refurbishment of existing buildings at a compound in Kiswa eight miles south of Damascus. The BBC also reports that the base is “military in nature” and includes low-rise buildings and a series of garages. The BBC noted that it was unclear whether or not Iranian forces are present at the compound currently. (BBC) (E)

Marie Donovan breaks down why a new strategy for dealing with Iran’s destabilizing behavior is necessary in “America needs a new strategy to deter Iran’s destabilizing behavior.”

Fred Kagan clarifies common points of confusion regarding the Trump administration’s decision on the nuclear deal in “Confusion over the Iran deal.”