Iran Archives - Tennessee Star

Iran’s Supreme Leader Vows Revenge Over Slain Scientist

November 29, 2020November 28, 2020 The Associated Press

Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday demanded the “definitive punishment” of those behind the killing of a scientist who led Tehran’s disbanded military nuclear program, as the Islamic Republic blamed Israel for a slaying that has raised fears of reignited tensions across the Middle East.

After years of being in the shadows, the image of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh suddenly was to be seen everywhere in Iranian media, as his widow spoke on state television and officials publicly demanded revenge on Israel for the scientist’s slaying.

Iran Scientist Linked to Military Nuclear Program Killed

November 28, 2020November 27, 2020 The Associated Press

An Iranian scientist named by the West as the leader of the Islamic Republic’s disbanded military nuclear program was killed Friday in an ambush on the outskirts of Tehran, authorities said.

Iran’s foreign minister alleged the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh bore “serious indications” of an Israeli role, but did not elaborate. Israel, long suspected of killing several Iranian nuclear scientists a decade ago, declined to immediately comment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once told the public to “remember that name” when talking about Fakhrizadeh.

Commentary: The Obama-Biden ‘Ostracize and Punish Israel’ Legacy Will Return if Democrats Win the White House in 2020

October 13, 2020October 12, 2020 Admin

Joe Biden portrays himself as Israel’s ally and a friend of the Jewish people. Obama did the same when he was running for president and then he played bait and switch. It’s time voters wizen up because Biden vows to repeat the Obama-Biden playbook on Israel and the Middle East. It’s even worse: today’s Democrat party leadership has taken a major turn to the left. They are no friend of the Jewish people here or in Israel.

A quick history lesson is instructive: In 2008, Candidate Obama pledged Israel’s security was “sacrosanct” and “non-negotiable” with “secure recognized defensible borders,” where Jerusalem would “remain” Israel’s capital and “must remain undivided.” Fast forward, months later in 2009, then President Obama wasted no time abandoning his empty words. Embarking on their true agenda, Obama-Biden declared a “serious problem” existed precisely because there was no daylight between the United States and Israel. Obama-Biden was determined to change that and, off to the races, they didn’t look back.

UN Watchdog: Iran to Allow Access to Two Suspected Nuke Sites

August 27, 2020August 26, 2020 The Associated Press

Iran has agreed to allow inspectors in to two sites where the country is suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material, the U.N. atomic watchdog agency said Wednesday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran was “voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA and facilitating the IAEA verification activities to resolve the issues.”

US Says Iran Briefly Seizes Oil Tanker Near Strait of Hormuz

August 14, 2020August 13, 2020 The Associated Press

The Iranian navy boarded and briefly seized a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between Tehran and the U.S., the American military said Thursday.

The U.S. military’s Central Command published a black-and-white video showing what appeared to be special forces fast-roping down from a helicopter onto the MT Wila, whose last position appeared to be off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates near the city of Khorfakkan.

Iran Declines to Disclose Cause of Mysterious Nuke Site Fire

July 4, 2020July 3, 2020 The Associated Press

An online video and messages purportedly claiming responsibility for a fire that analysts say damaged a centrifuge assembly plant at Iran’s underground Natanz nuclear site deepened the mystery Friday around the incident — even as Tehran insisted it knew the cause but would not make it public due to “security reasons.”

The multiple, different claims by a self-described group called the “Cheetahs of the Homeland” included language used by several exiled Iranian opposition organizations. They also focused almost entirely on Iran’s nuclear program, viewed by Israel as a danger to its very existence.

US Tries to Seize Iranian Gas Heading Toward Venezuela

July 3, 2020July 2, 2020 The Associated Press

U.S. federal prosecutors are seeking to seize four tankers sailing toward Venezuela with gasoline supplied by Iran, the latest attempt to disrupt ever-closer trade ties between the two heavily sanctioned anti-American allies.

The civil-forfeiture complaint filed late Wednesday in the District of Columbia federal court alleges that the sale was arranged by a businessman, Mahmoud Madanipour, with ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

Bill Hagerty Issues Statement After Iran Issues Arrest Warrant for Donald Trump

July 2, 2020July 1, 2020 Chris Butler

U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty this week released a statement after Iran issued an arrest warrant for U.S. President Donald Trump for taking out the top Iranian general and known terrorist Qasem Soleimani.

“Soleimani was a terrorist with the blood of Americans on his hands. Thanks to President Trump’s decisive leadership, the world is a much safer place because Soleimani is dead,” Hagerty said in the press release.

Commentary: The Establishment Media Is Ignoring What Just Happened In Iran, But We Won’t

June 30, 2020June 29, 2020 Admin

While the establishment media have studiously ignored reporting the story, the social media accounts of Middle East and national security experts have been abuzz with questions and information on the huge explosion or explosions that recently rocked a site believed to house one of Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities – the facilities that Obama and the Iranians claimed do not exist.

Rick Moran writing for our friends at PJ Media reported the explosion happened in the Alborz mountains, just east of Tehran. Satellite photos show the massive extent of the blast. The area of the blast near Iran’s Khojir missile base was identified in 2017 as a nuclear research facility despite Iran’s pledge to reveal all its nuclear infrastructure in the nuclear deal with the West.

Amid US Tension, Iran Builds Fake Aircraft Carrier to Attack

June 10, 2020June 9, 2020 The Associated Press

As tensions remain high between Iran and the U.S., the Islamic Republic appears to have constructed a new mock-up of an aircraft carrier off its southern coast for potential live-fire drills.

The faux foe, seen in satellite photographs obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press, resembles the Nimitz-class carriers that the U.S. Navy routinely sails into the Persian Gulf from the Strait of Hormuz, its narrow mouth where 20% of all the world’s oil passes through.

UN Agency: Iran Violating All Restrictions of Nuclear Deal

June 6, 2020June 5, 2020 The Associated Press

Iran has continued to increase its stockpiles of enriched uranium and remains in violation of its deal with world powers, the United Nations’ atomic watchdog said Friday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported the finding in a confidential document distributed to member countries and seen by The Associated Press.

Blackburn Leads Bill to Fight ‘Digital Authoritarianism’ in China, Russia

May 28, 2020May 27, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced a bill Friday that she says would help prevent authoritarian governments in Russia and China from restricting “Internet freedom.”

“Leading censors like China and Russia are not only employing more sophisticated means to control the lives of their citizens online; they are also exporting their censorship and surveillance tactics to illiberal regimes abroad,” Blackburn said in a press release.

Trump Vetoes Resolution Curbing His Ability to Attack Iran Without Congressional Approval

May 8, 2020May 7, 2020 Admin

President Donald Trump vetoed a bipartisan congressional resolution Wednesday that would have curbed his ability to direct military action against Iran.

“This was a very insulting resolution, introduced by Democrats as part of a strategy to win an election on November 3 by dividing the Republican Party,” Trump said Wednesday as he signed the veto. “The few Republicans who voted for it played right into their hands. Congress should not have passed this resolution.”

Russia, China, Iran Acting in Tandem to Paint COVID-19 as an American Bioweapon, State Dept Report Suggests

April 22, 2020April 21, 2020 Admin

China, Russia and Iran are acting in tandem to promote propaganda suggesting coronavirus is an American bioweapon and that the U.S. economy is buckling under the strain of lockdowns, a State Department report shows.

Russia Wages an Oil War Against Saudi Arabia and US Amid Coronavirus Concerns

March 10, 2020March 9, 2020 Admin

Oil prices dropped Monday as Saudi Arabia and Russia haggle over whether to reduce crude production amid fears that coronavirus will hamper air travel and potentially wreck the global economy.

Prices fell into the $30s as the Saudis push for a cut in output to prop up prices, while Russia went the other way, and decided to infuse the market with hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil, according to The Washington Post. Moscow is worried that the U.S. will use shale oil to take advantage if Saudi Arabia ease off production.

Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy Admits He Secretly Met With Iranian Foreign Minister

February 19, 2020February 18, 2020 Admin

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) admitted Tuesday morning that he and several other Democrats did indeed hold a secret meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during the Munich Security Conference last week, arguing that it would be dangerous NOT to meet clandestinely with Iranian officials.

Sen. Alexander Throws Lot in With Democrats to Try to Block President Trump’s War Powers to Respond to Attacks by Iran

February 14, 2020February 13, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) threw his lot in with his Democrat colleagues Thursday to try to block President Donald Trump from using his war powers authority to handle attacks by Iran without begging for congressional approval first.

Rep. Wenstrup Calls Out Democrats for Trying to Limit Trump’s War Authorization Powers

February 4, 2020February 3, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02), an Iraqi War veteran, is calling Democrats out over the House’s passage of two measures to hamper President Donald Trump’s war powers toward Iran and Iraq.

DHS Started Preparing Against Iran Threats Months Ago, Acting Secretary Says

January 26, 2020January 25, 2020 Admin

YUMA, Arizona — Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said the U.S. government was well prepared for any threats from Iran because it had prepared months in advance.

Thirty Four US Troops Treated for Brain Injuries Following Iran Missile Attack

January 25, 2020January 24, 2020 Admin

PENTAGON – The Pentagon said Friday that 34 U.S. troops had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries or concussions as a result of Iran’s missile attack on bases in Iraq earlier this month.

Commentary: The Benefits of Trump’s ‘Transactional’ Foreign Policy

January 17, 2020January 16, 2020 Admin

The recent drone attack that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and a Shiite militia leader in Iraq led predictably to a retaliatory strike by Iran. Twenty or so ballistic missiles were launched at bases in Iraq where U.S. troops were housed. Fortunately, no one was killed.

Amash Says Trump’s Claim of Iran Planning ‘Imminent’ Attacks ‘Seems Totally Made Up’

January 14, 2020January 13, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Justin Amish (I-MI-03) said President Donald Trump’s claim that Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was planning “imminent” attacks on American assets “seems totally made up.”

Protests in Iran Shatter Image of a United Country

January 13, 2020January 12, 2020 Admin

The outrage was aired first of all on social media forums — before spilling chaotically on to the streets with Saturday’s mass protests catching Iranian authorities off-guard and exposing how many Iranians hold the country’s embattled regime in disdain.

Babson Professor Fired for Joking That Iran Should Target Mall of America

January 13, 2020January 12, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

A Babson College professor was fired last week after joking on social media that Iran should target the Mall of America in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani.

Iranian Military Apologizes for Shooting Down Ukraine-Bound Flight, Cites ‘Human Error’: Report

January 12, 2020January 11, 2020 Admin

The Iranian military apologized Friday for shooting down a commercial airliner bound for Ukraine, and blamed “human error” for launching the missile that took down the airplane, according to Iranian state media.

Commentary: Listen to Trump, Not Democrats on Foreign Policy Matters

January 11, 2020January 10, 2020 Admin

The predicted has happened in Iran and more quickly than had been expected. On the evening of the day on which the Iranian authorities managed to bungle the funeral of their late terrorist chief, Qasem Soleimani, at least 50 people were trampled to death in their grief, and the crisis over the supposed escalation of hostilities subsided. (At least, unlike during the funeral of the Iranian theocracy’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the coffin did not fly open, spilling the corpse on the mourners.)

US Imposes New Sanctions on Iran

January 11, 2020January 10, 2020 Admin

WASHINGTON – The U.S. placed more sanctions on Iran Friday in response to its missile attack on U.S. military troops in Iraq last week, and it threatened further action to weaken Iran’s economy if Tehran continues to carry out what it considers terrorist actions.

Omar Says She Feels ‘Stricken with PTSD’ Over Iran Tensions, Then Laughs and Jokes While Colleague Discusses Dead Soldiers

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) said she feels “ill” and “stricken with PTSD” in response to the conflict with Iran before she laughed and joked with her peers while a colleague discussed U.S. casualties in Iraq just moments later.

Commentary: Sorry Democrats, There Is a Trump Doctrine, And It’s a Good One

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 Admin

For the Democrats, the killing of Iranian terrorist General Qassem Soleimani offered a great opportunity to tout the risk of having Donald Trump as commander in chief, and they were, as usual, extremely disciplined in maintaining that narrative.

Five Top Iranian Officials You Should Know

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 Admin

Tensions between the United States and Iran seem to be deescalating again, but the countries clearly are still at loggerheads.

Iran May Have Accidentally Shot Down Passenger Jet

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 Admin

WHITE HOUSE – U.S. President Donald Trump is publicly voicing suspicion that Iran may have accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner.

Hagerty Writes Op-Ed Praising Israel

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

“The American people support the Jewish community, and we support Israel,” U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty wrote in an op-ed Thursday for The Times of Israel but also called for a two-state solution.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose Notified Ohio’s County Board of Elections of a Potential Iranian Cyber Attack

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 Zachery Schmidt

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose notified all of Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections to be aware of potential Iranian cyber threats.

Iraqi Consulate in Detroit Opened for ‘Condolences’ for Soleimani

January 10, 2020January 10, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

The Iraqi Consulate General in Detroit held a memorial event for Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, the leader of a designated terrorist organization who was killed last week in a U.S. airstrike.

Trump De-Escalates: Says ‘Iran Appears to be Standing Down,’ U.S. ‘Ready to Embrace Peace’

January 8, 2020January 8, 2020 Admin

President Trump made it abundantly clear in his address to the nation Wednesday morning that Iran’s free reign of terror throughout the Middle East was over, but the United States would not be retaliating militarily against the Islamic Republic following their missile strikes on two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.

Iran Fires Missiles at Two Iraqi Air Bases Housing US Forces, Pentagon Says

January 8, 2020January 7, 2020 Admin

PENTAGON – Iran has fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles into at least two Iraqi air bases that house U.S. troops, the Pentagon says.

Commentary: Americans Will Rally Around Trump on Iran

January 8, 2020January 7, 2020 Admin

The Democrats have stumbled into yet another beartrap in their unanimous objection to President Trump’s order to kill the world’s leading terrorist, Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. The same misdirected solicitude that caused the Washington Post to describe ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, after he was driven to suicide by U.S. special operators, as an “austere cleric” has elevated Soleimani to the status of an Iranian General MacArthur.

Twitter Responds After Obama-Era State Dept Official Katie Stanton Demands Company Nix Trump’s Tweets on Iran

January 7, 2020January 7, 2020 Admin

Twitter is refusing to pull down a President Donald Trump’s tweet threatening future strikes against Iran despite calls from an Obama-era official to do something about the president’s account.

President Trump Threatens Iranian Cultural Sites

January 7, 2020January 7, 2020 Admin

President Donald Trump is threatening to hit Iranian cultural sites if Iran retaliates for last week’s assassination of its top general Qassem Soleimani.

Duped Again: Former CIA Spook Says People Are Sharing Babylon Bee’s Satirical Take on Democrats’ Reaction To Soleimani’s Death ‘Like It’s Legit’

January 7, 2020January 7, 2020 Admin

A former CIA analyst and cyber disinformation researcher said people are sharing satirical content suggesting Democrats are calling for the American flag to be at half-mast for Gen. Qasem Soleimani “like it’s legit.”

Pelosi: Slotkin to Lead Bid to Restrict Trump’s Power in Iran

January 7, 2020January 6, 2020 Jordyn Pair

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said on Monday that U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) will be leading the bid to restrict President Trump’s power in Iran, several days after an airstrike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces War Powers Resolution in Response to Trump’s ‘Act of War’

January 7, 2020January 6, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) introduced a War Powers Resolution Sunday to prevent the use of U.S. military force against Iran without congressional approval.

Pompeo Staunchly Defends Drone Attack on Iranian General Soleimani

January 6, 2020January 5, 2020 Admin

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday staunchly defended the drone attack that killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, but refused to publicly offer any evidence supporting the American claim that he posed an imminent threat to U.S. forces and officials in the Mideast.

Commentary: War With Iran?

January 5, 2020January 4, 2020 Admin

Does the U.S. armed forces’ killing of Qassem Soleimani, leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ foreign wing, and his subordinate, Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, outside Baghdad’s airport increase or decrease the chances of war with Iran? Does it mean a continuation of our disastrous endless wars?

The Battleground State Report: Trump’s Unpredictability Is a Game Changer Both Foreign and Domestic

January 5, 2020January 4, 2020 Julie Carr

During a live recording on Friday’s Battleground State Report with Michael Patrick Leahy and Doug Kellett – a one-hour radio show from Star News Digital Media in the early stages of national weekend syndication rollout – with Kellett out of the studio, Leahy welcomed Tennessee Star Report’s all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the show.