Iran News Roundup: July 27, 2012
Iranian Increases Defense Capabilities in the Persian Gulf, Adds Anti-Ship Missiles Analysts say Iran has developed an arsenal of sophisticated anti-ship missiles in the Persian Gulf, and it has expanded its fleet of submarines and fast-attack boats to increase its defense capabilities (Washington Post 7/26). P5+1 Talks with Iran to Resume “Soon” EU foreign policy […]
Iran News Roundup: July 26, 2012
Chairman of U.S. Intelligence Committee Blames Iran for Burgas Bombing The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Rogers (R-MI), said he believes Iran was behind the recent suicide attack in Burgas, Bulgaria, making him the highest US official to place blame on Iran. He said, “I believe there were certainly elements of Hezbollah [involved] […]
Iran News Roundup: July 25, 2012
Romney Takes Hard Line on Iranian Enrichment At the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention, Mitt Romney took a hardline on Iran’s nuclear program. “There must be a full suspension of any enrichment, whatsoever, period,” Romney said (Fox News 7/24). In a separate interview, Romney advisor Rich Williamson asserted that, “after the election… [President Obama] is […]
Iran News Roundup: July 24, 2012
Investigation into Burgas Bomber Continues Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, speaking alongside White House counter-terrorism chief John Brennan in Sofia, said the suicide bomber, who carried out an attack in Burgas last week, was part of a “sophisticated” group of conspirators, who arrived in Bulgaria one month before the attack. He declined to back Israeli […]
Iran News Roundup: July 20, 2012
U.S. Officials Blame Hezbollah for Terror Attack Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that American officials identified the man as a member of a Hezbollah cell “acting under broad guidance” to hit Israeli targets. A U.S. official said it was a “tit for tat” attack done to retaliate for the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists […]
Iran News Roundup: July 19, 2012
Confusion Surrounds Identity of Suicide Bomber in Bulgaria Swedish and Israeli officials are denying Bulgarian reports that the suicide bomber who carried out an attack on a bus full of Israeli tourists Thursday, killing five Israelis, was Swedish citizen connected to al Qaeda (The Atlantic 7/19). In an interview with MSNBC, Israeli Ambassador to the […]
Iran News Roundup: July 18, 2012
Netanyahu Blames Iran for Fatal Terrorist Attack in Bulgaria; Vows Retaliation Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for a fatal terror attack in Bulgaria, saying “Iran is responsible for the terror attack in Bulgaria, we will have a strong response against Iranian terror.” Panetta: U.S. Would Hold Iran “Directly Responsible” for any Hormuz Disruption […]
Iran News Roundup: July 17, 2012
New Cyber Attack Detected in Iran Israeli security company, Seculert, and Russia’s Kaspersky Lab have uncovered another cyber espionage campaign primarily aimed at Iran that they are calling the Mahdi Trojan. While primarily targeting Iran, the trojan, which is capable of stealing files and monitoring email, was also found in other Middle Eastern countries. The […]
Iran News Roundup: July 11, 2012
Pentagon: Iranian Military Capability “Designed to Slow Invasion” A Pentagon assessment of Iran’s military capabilities delivered to Congress states “Iran’s military doctrine remains designed to slow an invasion; target its adversaries’ economic, political, and military interests; and force a diplomatic solution to hostilities while avoiding any concessions that challenge its core interests,” (FAS 7/11). Tehran […]
Iran News Roundup: July 10, 2012
Iran Considers Response to Rial’s Decline Iran is considering anew system of variable exchange rates for different products in order to stabilize the price of basic goods in the face of a significant slide in the value of Iran’s currency, the Rial. However, the new plan is meeting “heavy resistance from statesmen who have long […]
Iran News Roundup: July 9, 2012
U.S. Urges MEK to Leave Camp Ashraf Ahead of Iraqi Deadline The Obama administration has increased pressure on the Mujahadeen-e Khalq (MEK) to leave its paramilitary base in Iraq. On Friday, Daniel Benjamin, the State Department’s coordinator for counterterrorism and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s special adviser on Camp Ashraf said, “It is past […]
Iran News Roundup: July 6, 2012
MEK Supporters Face Allegations of Unregistered Lobbying for Terrorist Organization Under federal law, advocates for foreign organization are required to register as lobbyists and provide details about their clients and income, but supporters of the Mujaheddin-e Khalq (MEK), a well-financed designated terrorist organization, have not registered, according to a Washington Post investigation. The MEK supporters […]