Target: Iran

[AZJoe]

RE: Washington's Regime Change

Let's not forget that Secretary of State Tillerson in testimony before Congress in June of 2017 openly acknowledged that the US supports regime change in Iran, and further stated that “Our policy towards Iran is to work toward support of those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of that government.”

From Counterpunch back in August of 2017:

"In other words, Tillerson said, the U.S. government was committed to overthrowing the current government in Iran by peaceful means. What they mean by “peaceful” should not be taken lightly. No regime-change operation is ever peaceful. The Trump administration, meanwhile, is conducting an inter-agency review of the sanctions on Iran and of the various options available to the U.S. for action against Iran. These options include military force. There is belligerence in the air.

"The President has made very clear that he thought this [Iran Treaty] was a bad deal” … Trump had wanted to refuse to certify the deal this time ... There is widespread enthusiasm in the White House to walk away from the deal and to use the full vitality of U.S. power to suffocate Iran. … and in July, at the G20 meeting in Hamburg, Trump asked his European allies to stop doing business with Iran. …

The U.S. already has military bases on the doorstep of Iran—in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and elsewhere. There are at least 125,000 U.S. troops on the edge of Iran and thousands of warships and aircraft at the ready. …

[AZJoe]

Duran comments:

Now that Syria has been lost, the United States is going straight for the main prize, an overthrow of the current government in Iran. All the chatter and demonization of Iran that has been making recent headlines serves a purpose.

This is standard American regime change 101.

• Demonize using mainstream media soft power.
• Ramp up economic sanctions.
• Cause internal strife.
• Foster, fund and promote protests.
• Rinse and repeat. ...

[goldenequity]

@L0gg0l
Reports of protests in Iran city of Ahvaz, car of security forces put on fire (via @AhwazonaTV )
@saeedKD
Protester from inside Tehran University tells me students are puzzled how the protests spread so fast, especially that it is happening more in provinces than the capital. "But we're not getting leads from anyone," he insists.


@StratSentinel
Iranian protestors take over police stations and captured weapons of regime forces in #Kashan, a town of 248,000 people. De facto control now in their hands for the time being.

Iranians Protest Across Country Three Days In Row
https://southfront.org/iranians-prot...medium=twitter

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY ADVISES CITIZENS AGAINST JOINING MASS GATHERINGS IN IRAN -- TASS

Mister Analyst -@mister_analyst 1h20 hours ago
Convoy of tanks spotted in Qom #Iran

Breaking911
@Breaking911
Thousands of demonstrators defy curfew and clash with security forces in city of Mashhad #IranProtests

War_Intel
@WarIntelNEWS
IRAN : According to numerous sources in various cities, the IRG is now positioning military SNIPERS on office building roofs to shoot at protesters.

(They haven't changed the script even a little bit!)

BNL NEWS
BREAKING NEWS: Unconfirmed reports that protesters have gained full control of the city of Kashan, Iran. Some protesters are reported to be armed.

Zain Khan-Cuenta verificada
@ZKhanOfficial
#BREAKING : #Iran: Protesters have stormed the governor's building in #Arak City.

@fuadhud
All government buildings in Arak (central Iran) under protesters' control.

@fuadhud
Police Headquarters in 3 cities - Khorremabad, Kashan and Arak - under protesters' control.

@borzou
Analysis from a Tehran social scientist: "This is the new generation that has taken the streets this time. The '90s generation! A generation who don't recognize any limits. A generation who has no candidate in the race!" (cont)
"There is no space for appeasement in the current demonstrations, no signal to Khatami, nor to Mousavi. The office closed to everyone, but what are these people looking for? There is no resemblance to events of 2009.""Great anger and overthrowing the regime at any price? Do not let these demonstrations go the direction of the Arab Spring and Syria and Libya, which would be really terrible. We've already experienced that."

RT
‘West focuses only on anti-govt rallies’: Thousands protest for & against authorities in Iran
https://www.rt.com/news/414655-iran-...U7KiW0.twitter




@fuadhud: The office of Khamenei's envoy in Malayer (West Iran) set on fire by the protesters. The envoy fled the city.

Sarah Sanders
@PressSec
The days of America looking the other way from the Iranian regime's oppression are over. America stands with the Iranian people.

Pro govt. demonstrations in Iran:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSUfikBX4AEWYfW.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSUfikBX4AA55EO.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSUfilCX0AA_2bp.jpg:large

[gaazn]

Either Ahmedinajad comes out on top in this game, or they will arrest him and blame it on him. He is a populist who has been pushing for a republic free from the ayatollahs.

[goldenequity]

Either Ahmedinajad comes out on top in this game, or they will arrest him and blame it on him. He is a populist who has been pushing for a republic free from the ayatollahs.

Ahmedinajad is more than a 'populist'.
Ahmedinajad is a student and devotee of Adnan Oktar.
If you've never heard of him here is a teaser.

'Masons of the world are paving the way for the coming of Moshiach (Hazrat Mahdi (as))'



He is without any doubt one of the world's top 'universalists'...
a Turkish intellectual 'one world religionist' with a HUGE 'borderless' following.
I'll let y'all do your own research...
but he uses 'compassion' as the gateway into the halls of governments worldwide
through his 'followers'.
and that includes Israel.

'Prophet Moses (pbuh) prayed for God to send Moshiach (Hazrat Mahdi (as)) right away'

[goldenequity]

I'll cut to the chase:
Adnan Oktar is a huge proponent for the re-building of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Yup...
he meets regularly with advocates in the Knesset.

He sees it as the future 'Universal' place of worship for the planet.

[goldenequity]

Sobhan Hassanvand
CONFIRMED: 2 shot dead during last night protests in Dorud, western Iran
Local official: 'trace of takfiri groups, foreign inelegance services obvious in city riots; no shots from police, securities.

Iran says two protesters killed during demonstrations were targeted by foreign agents
https://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2...foreign-agents

►IRAN: Iranian media says President Rouhani will address the nation tonight in pre-recorded comments, amid ongoing protests across the country - @GEsfandiari
(pre-recorded? rumors now fly..)

----------

AFP (source)

BBC (source)
Sadegh Ghorbani
Access to Telegram & Instagram will be temporarily limited due to security concerns, IRIB quotes a source as saying.


-----------

Protestors take over a police bus and free the arrested



@fuadhud
Activists report of a letter sent by Iranian Army official which says "Artesh (Iranian Army) stands with peaceful struggle of people and warns the authorities and IRGC of using force against protesters."
(hope he didn't 'sign' it.. )

Sarwar
Pic's of Pro-Governemnt demonstration in #Iran used as a Propaganda in order to achieve the #RegimeChange policy ...



(hahaha)


ShiaPulse
Tehran, now (Via IRGC media):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSYcVcaXcAE2EvQ.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSYcWjoWsAE8hM8.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSYcUJcWsAATVH9.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSYcXnfWkAIYHnV.jpg:large



---------

Meanwhile in Tel Aviv....


'Crime Minister' (hahaha)

---------

Meanwhile in Bahrain

Mass protests against planned execution of activists continue in Bahrain
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...tinue-bahrain/

[AZJoe]

More from Moon of Alabama:

Iran - Early U.S. Support For Rioters Hints At A Larger Plan
In Iran - Regime Change Agents Hijack Economic Protests we looked at the developing U.S.-Israeli operation to instigate a revolt in Iran. …

The protests on December 28 and 29 were about … economic issues. Such protests have regularly occurred in Iran throughout the decades. But the current ones were soon hijacked by small groups which chanted slogans against the Iranian system and against the strong Iranian engagement in Syria and Palestine. These are not majority positions of the 80 million inhabitants of Iran … The small groups that hijacked the protests … were heavily promoted by the usual suspects of U.S. influence operations. Avaaz, the RAND cooperation, Human Rights Watch and others immediately jumped onto the bandwagon. …

In June 2009, Brookings Institute published a manual on how to overthrow the Iranian government or to take control of the country. … The velvet "color revolution" failed in 2009 when the "green movement" could not convince the Iranian people that it was more than a foreign supported attempt to overthrow their republic. What we currently see in Iran is a combination of chapter 6 and 7 of the Brookings plan. Behind a somewhat popular movement that protests against the neo-liberal economic policies … a militant movement … is implementing an escalation strategy that could lead to a civil war. We have already seen a similar combination in Libya and at the beginning of the attack on Syria. (Tony Cartalucci at the Land Destroyer Report has written extensively on the Brookings paper as a "handbook for overthrowing nations".)

Last June the Wall Street Journal reported that the CIA had set up a special operation cell for such attacks on Iran:

The Central Intelligence Agency has established an organization focused exclusively on gathering and analyzing intelligence about Iran, reflecting the Trump administration’s decision to make that country a higher priority target … The Iran Mission Center will bring together analysts, operations personnel and specialists from across the CIA to bring to bear the range of the agency’s capabilities, including covert action.

Yesterday morning a Sunni terror group blew up a pipeline in south-west Iran near the Iraqi border … According to the U.S. military Combating Terrorism Center, Ansar al-Fruqan has grown out of the defeated Jundallah terrorist group which had killed hundreds of Iranian officials and civilians. Jundallah was a Baluch jihadi insurgency fighting for a "Free Baluchistan" in the area of south-west Pakistan and south-east Iran. Its leader was killed in 2010 and it has since split and evolved into Ansar al-Furqan and other groups. Some of these are under foreign influence. Mark Perry reported in 2012: A series of CIA memos describes how Israeli Mossad agents posed as American spies to recruit members of the terrorist organization Jundallah to fight their covert war against Iran.

Mossad agents hired Jundallah terrorists to kill nuclear experts in Iran. It should not be a surprise then that a Jundallah follow-up group is now attacking Iranian economic infrastructure in the very same moment that the Mossad and the CIA coordinate another campaign to overthrow the Iranian government. This points to a wider and well organized plan.

Last night groups of 20 to 50 young men appeared in some 20 cities and towns of Iran and started to vandalize (vid) the streets. … The groups, their appearance in some 20 cities and what they did was coordinated. …

Those U.S. politicians who had called to "bomb, bomb, bomb" Iran (John McCain) or had threatened to wage war against it (Hillary Clinton) issued statements in support of the "Iranian people"- i.e. the rioters in the streets. These are the same people who suffocate the Iranian people by pushing sanction round after sanction round onto them - hypocrites. Donald Trump and his State Department issued statements in support of the 'peaceful protesters' who vandalized their cities … The professed concerns for the Iranian people are nonsense. …

The official U.S. uttering comes very early and … exposes these protests as U.S. supported … Why is the U.S. doing this? The plan may well be … to instigate a sharp reaction by the Iranian government against the militant operations … That reaction can then be used to implement wider and stricter sanctions … another building block of a larger plan to suffocate the country and as an additional step on a larger escalation ladder.

[AZJoe]

From Activist Post:

A familiar sight is taking place across Iran … Protests are taking place in numerous cities citing grievances and demanding that the Ayatollah and Iranian President step down. … now violence has indeed flared up as protesters have laid waste to a number of government properties …

Neo-cons in the American media and the U.S. President are all demanding that Americans stand with the “Iranian people” and the “protesters” …

The reason this sight is familiar is because we have seen it in Egypt, Libya, and Syria in the past as well as in Iran itself in the late 2000s. Protests that turn violent, a subsequent crackdown that either is violent or is reported as such, and the weight of American propaganda against the target government … nothing more than the color revolution/destabilization apparatus that has been used by the West in countries all across the world for decades, particularly in the last twenty years. …

it should be remembered that the United States and Israel have openly stated a desire to see Iranian influence broken and as recently as 2009, the United States attempted to engineer a color revolution in the country. The first three days of the Green Movement in Iran looked very much like the first three days of this current movement. …

economic concerns are a major issue in Iran, a country whose economy has been suffering for years under Western sanctions … In addition, special attention must be paid to the concept of “government corruption,” a hallmark of color revolutions since government corruption is often more of a conceptual issue than anything concrete. … There are also more concerning demands that can be found in the slogans being chanted by the demonstrators. … they are calling for regime change. This is precisely what the United States, GCC, NATO, and Israel also want to see happen.

Second, numerous demonstrators are chanting “Let go of Palestine,” and “Not for Gaza, Not for Lebanon, I’d give my life (only) for Iran.” Again, protesters are now chanting foreign policy demands identical to that desired by the United States, NATO, GCC, and Israel. All this in a protest that is supposed to be about economic concerns. …

On Thursday and today the slogans of some protesters turned the call for economic relief into a call for regime change. …


the U.S. President immediately has latched on the protests, encouraging Americans to stand with the protesters … This is coming from a man who rarely sees a protest that isn’t directed at him. Meanwhile, Neo-Con organs like FOX News are also repeating calls for Americans to support the brave “freedom fighters” in Iran. … when Neo-Cons call for support to protests, eyebrows should be raised in skepticism. …

It is also important to question just how popular these protests are. While mainstream western media … paint them as involving tens of thousands at each demonstration, video and pictures tend to show only dozens to hundreds at the most while others wander about around them. …

The protests taking place in Iran are taking place only a month after the White House and Tel Aviv met to discuss a strategy on Iran. …

The idea that a color revolution could be attempted in Iran is no fantasy. It would be a repeat of history. Remember, in 2009, an attempt at a color revolution deemed the “Green Revolution” was launched but was quickly put down by the iron fist of the Iranian government. …

The plan for a Western or a Western/Israeli attack on Iran, along with the theatre of alleged US-Israeli tensions leading up to a strike and outright war, has been in the works for some time. … in 2009, the Brookings Institution … released a report entitled “Which Path To Persia? Options For A New American Strategy For Iran,” in which the authors mapped out a plan which leaves no doubt as to the ultimate desire from the Western financier, corporate, and governing classes. … The plan involves the description of a number of ways the Western oligarchy would be able to destroy Iran including outright military invasion and occupation … The plan included attempting to foment destabilization inside Iran via the color revolution apparatus, violent unrest, proxy terrorism, and “limited airstrikes” conducted by the US, Israel or both. …

The report states,

the most obvious and palatable method of bringing about its demise would be to help foster a popular revolution along the lines of the “velvet revolutions” … the United States should encourage the Iranian people to take power in their own name, and that this would be the most legitimate method of regime change. … it is the one policy option that holds out the prospect that the United States might eliminate all of the problems it faces from Iran, do so at a bearable cost, and do so in a manner that is acceptable to the Iranian people and most of the rest of the world. …

it appears that another color revolution is underway. … all signs are pointing toward Western treachery in an attempt to break Iran in the final domino to fall in the Middle East before an even bigger confrontation is ignited. … Whether or not it will succeed will depend on the level of subversion that has been possible by the United States intelligence apparatus since 2009 and the ability of Iran to squash the revolt. …

[goldenequity]

RT
Rouhani says Iranians have right to protest, slams Trump’s comments
https://www.rt.com/news/414707-rouha...rotests-trump/

Iran president Rouhani (alluding to Trump & US admin positions):
"The one that calls Iranian nation "terrorist", doesn't have the right to express sympathy with our people."

Press TV
Iran’s President: Protest, criticism constitutional rights of people but cannot descend into violence.

Overturn/burn police van

@fuadhud: Large group of protesters marching towards Khamenei's residence in Tehran.

(source ? (pic.twitter.com/vlIu5HmnQr has been taken down)
In the last 24 Hours of #IranianProtests,
72,200 tweets , tweeted w/ Farsi hashtag that invited Iranians to protest:
-74% of them were out of #Iran
-35% of them were in Arabic Language
-Saudis tweets were more than Iranian themselves
-UK in 3rd place

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
Iran, the Number One State of Sponsored Terror with numerous violations of Human Rights occurring on an hourly basis,
has now closed down the Internet so that peaceful demonstrators cannot communicate. Not good!

(But he has absolutely nothing to say about his best friend Saudi Arabia's barbaric genocide of Yemen? and funding of ISIS?...those don't count as human rights violations and sponsoring of terrorism?)
(he is silent about terrible situation in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain...or Israel, where zionists beat and jail religious Jewish people on daily bases only because they don't want to serve in their zionist army.)

Mattis: U.S. to Send More Diplomats and Personnel to Syria in effort to jumpstart its part of Syria
http://archive.is/cUo9T
(Syria belongs to Syrians, not to you, you old greyhaired troglodite! $#@! off!
Didn't your boss say "I'm not running to be president of the world" and "We will not impose our will on others"? LIES.)

[Swordsmyth]

Russia Warns Trump That Foreign Interference in Iran Is ‘Inadmissible’

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-warns-trump-foreign-interference-165322010.html

[Firestarter]

The Nowruz Commission, affiliated with Obama, Clinton, Trump, Erdogan, Dutch Royal family, Lockheed Martin, etc., pushes for the war against Iran.

Because of the sanctions, Erdogan has made a bundle of money, there are easy to see links between Erdogan, Rudy Giuliani and Nowruz:

In 2007, Ekim Alptekin married journalist Asli Aydintasbas (they divorced after only a year). They had 2 interesting witnesses at their wedding.
1) Hilmi Güler, energy minister of the AKP, was the architect of the gold-for-oil deal between Iran and Turkey. The Iranian-Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab bribed 4 AKP ministers, including Erdogan Bayraktar of the Ministry for Housing, a close associate of Alptekin. At this moment Zarrab stands trial in New York on for evading the boycott against Iran.
2) Saban Disli, AKP parliamentarian. In 2008, it became public knowledge that Disli received a million dollar from businessman Mehmet Karasu to change the zoning plan on a green area. Karasu has also been a project adviser to Alptekin’s EA group.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...=1#post6513779

Hopefully somebody can find a link between Nowruz and Royal Dutch Shell, that makes billions of dollars on Iranian oil (helped by the sanctions)…

[goldenequity]

Guy Elster-@guyelster · 1 hod.
Tens of thousands in pro-government rallies across #Iran today, as counter show of force against #IranProtests

(Well, that's some huge protests, not the globalist backed $#@!show after dark with burned down banks...)

AFP Tehran- @afptehran · 16 min.
Huge pro-regime rallies in Iran as protests die down

Chants of "Leader, we are ready", "Death to the seditionists"
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/huge-pro-r...081113022.html

Head of Iran Guards declares 'end of the sedition'

People across Iran rally to denounce violence



Russia says ‘external interference’ fueling Iran protests
https://www.timesofisrael.com/russia...iran-protests/




US Empire Is Running The Same Script With Iran That It Ran With Libya, Syria
http://ronpaulinstitute.org/archives...h-libya-syria/

Caleb T. Maupin- @Calebmaupin · 12 hod.
This man was shot by the #IranProtest when he tried to get money from an ATM.
After shooting him the #Iranianprotesters told him to say that he had been shot by the police. He says many of the protesters were not native to #Iran.

Nardeep Pujji- @awakeALERT · 13 h
#BREAKING : Iranian shot by a Non Native - told to say 'Police shot him'
RT @Zolfegar12 "I wanted to get money from ATM , Protesters shot at me with a gun, then asked me to say that police shot me, they were non-native."
#Iranprotests #IranProtesters Iran

Bill Kristol suddenly becomes 'expert' on the motivation of Iranian people and starts to defend their interests lol.

Glenn Greenwald-@ggreenwald · 15 h
Bill Kristol, at his TV home (MSNBC), prances around feigning concern for The Iranian People. @tparsi rudely reminds everyone Kristol has long advocated dropping bombs on The Iranian People. MSNBC host angrily intervenes to defend Kristol. This is 2017

Glenn Greenwald-@ggreenwald · 15 h
Also, try to watch ***Bill Kristol*** condescendingly lecture @tparsi about what The Iranian People really want, and what's really driving these protests, without vomiting. How can MSNBC deceive its viewers by presenting Bill Kristol as an authority on what is driving Iranians?


Glenn Greenwald-@ggreenwald · 15 h
“Bill Kristol is not advocating to kill anyone. Let’s make that very clear" - MSNBC's @SRuhle tells her audience today about her network's star commentator. In fact, Bill Kristol has done little beside that over the last 3 decades


Glenn Greenwald-@ggreenwald · 15 h
To understand more about what is motivating The Iranian People and what makes them tick, we turn to Bill Kristol, who has spent the last 15 years wanting to drop bombs on them. Bill, thank you for joining us on MSNBC. Bill: Happy to do it; this is my home.

must watch
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-gu...g-of-iranians/


Neil Clark-@NeilClark66
All of a sudden those who’ve supported draconian sanctions on the country & even ‘joked’ about bombing it (eg J. McCain) are professing their support for ‘the Iranian people’. Do they think we’ve all got brains the size of gnats and memories that only go back a few hours?

Trump and Pence throwing their whole weight behind Western interventionism and constant attempts to invent and hijack protests...

Pence: "Talking directly to the Iranian people today. My interview with @Greta for @VOANews will air in Iran. The message from @potuS and me is clear: Unlike the past, this time America stands with the brave Iranian protesters who are risking their lives for freedom! #IranProtests
(psst... it's over. time to shut up... talk about NFL & Aviation)


‘That leads us to war’: US, Israel & Saudi Arabia should tone down Iran rhetoric, says Macron
https://www.rt.com/news/414924-macro...-rhetoric-war/





comment...

It was interesting to see how they turned what was a religious event celebration into "economic" protests.

I was in Iran again recently I did not see much concern. Shops and bazars seemed to be doing good business - I am talking about the average social classes here - lots of people of all ages in cafés and restaurants.

Iran has so much culture and art it's unbelievable how much one can see there. It's very safe and cheap for us with foreign currencies. Food is absolutely delicious, so much variety.

The country has a double governement, civilian 50% and religious 50% the same as it was in Europe in the olden days.

Not all Iranians pray in their homes or go to mosques for the Friday prayers. Only the religious portion of the population are doing this. We have the same religious people in our own countries. Iran also has Christians, mainly Armenians and also Judaics who have their own churches and places of worship.

I am not sure why they are trying to give Iran a bad name and attempting to destabilize the country.

I encourage people to go there and see it for themselves. You will have a totally different impression than what the MSM are wanting people to gobble.

You cannot use a Mastercard, Visa or American Express card in Iran. There are no ATMs taking any of these cards. Their ATMs are only for their local banks.

There is foreign exchange shops everywhere. Exchange rates are very good for us Western people. You have to use cash for every transaction in the stores, restaurants, hotels. It's perfectly safe. Iranians will not try to cheat you or steal from you.

Some carpet dealers will take Visa through Turkish accounts.

As you said, they want to keep their own system. They don't want or need to be put under the control of the Western or even Asian Central banking system.

One thing that is interesting. Investing in Iran can bring high returns. Savings accounts can bring 20% interest. We will certainly not see the same in our countries, especially not in the E.U.

[goldenequity]

Bill Kristol suddenly becomes 'expert' on the motivation of Iranian people and starts to defend their interests lol.

Glenn Greenwald-@ggreenwald · 15 h
Bill Kristol, at his TV home (MSNBC), prances around feigning concern for The Iranian People. @tparsi rudely reminds everyone Kristol has long advocated dropping bombs on The Iranian People. MSNBC host angrily intervenes to defend Kristol. This is 2017

Glenn Greenwald-@ggreenwald · 15 h
Also, try to watch ***Bill Kristol*** condescendingly lecture @tparsi about what The Iranian People really want, and what's really driving these protests, without vomiting. How can MSNBC deceive its viewers by presenting Bill Kristol as an authority on what is driving Iranians?


Glenn Greenwald-@ggreenwald · 15 h
“Bill Kristol is not advocating to kill anyone. Let’s make that very clear" - MSNBC's @SRuhle tells her audience today about her network's star commentator. In fact, Bill Kristol has done little beside that over the last 3 decades


Glenn Greenwald-@ggreenwald · 15 h
To understand more about what is motivating The Iranian People and what makes them tick, we turn to Bill Kristol, who has spent the last 15 years wanting to drop bombs on them. Bill, thank you for joining us on MSNBC. Bill: Happy to do it; this is my home.

must watch
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-gu...g-of-iranians/

Warmonger called out on live TV after pretending to care about Iranian protesters
http://failedevolution.blogspot.com/...-tv-after.html

[goldenequity]

VOA
US Mulls New Economic Sanctions on Iran
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-mulls-n...n/4190827.html



Iran not currently on agenda of UN Security Council: President
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/0...-Kairat-Umarov
The remarks came after US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Washington would be seeking emergency sessions of the UNSC and the UN Commission on Human Rights in the coming days.

“The people of Iran are crying out for freedom,” she claimed. “The UN must speak out.”

Reacting to Haley’s criticism of Iran, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
ironically asked the US envoy to share with the world the American experience of the crackdown on the Occupy Wall Street protest movement
against economic inequality as well as the Ferguson unrest triggered by the police killing of a black man.

“No doubt that the US delegation has a lot to tell the world. For example, Nikki Haley can share the American experience of dispersing protests, tell us details of how mass arrests and the crackdown on Occupy Wall Street were made or how Ferguson unrest was quelled,” Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page on Tuesday.


Who is MEK?

MEK cult (again) / (see 'Camp Liberty' Iraq for bizarre 'history')
were
being (voluntarily) dispersed into E. Europe....
now
being re-labled/groomed/promoted as 'Iranian Opposition'/Political 'exiles'

January 4 2018


Wikipedia describes the group as a Marxist Islamic group.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People...ahedin_of_Iran

Many people have said the MEK acts as a cult, they've made their members divorce, send their children away, and members have had to run away.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17615065


Even though this group has carried out terror attacks, the war hawks got them de listed from its terrorist status in 2012.
https://static.theintercept.com/amp/...sts-trump.html

Albania April 2017


This group was very present at the recent protests and FOX news opinion writer is calling on U.S. and Trump to help the MEK.

October 2017




This is a re-play. These are (again) anti-government 'moderate' (useful) terror advocates...
more 'Islamic secular' as Kurds so easier for hegemons to 'sell' as 'freedom fighters'.
They are not welcomed by ANY of the sovereigns.... hence 'Camp Liberty' was a holding cell.

[Vieux Canard]

Who cares? The MEK has zero support within Iran, primarily because they allied and fought with Saddam Hussein during the Iran Iraq War. It appears the protests are fizzling out anyway. Tehran is calm. There will be no revolution this time.

[goldenequity]

Who cares? The MEK has zero support within Iran, primarily because they allied and fought with Saddam Hussein during the Iran Iraq War. It appears the protests are fizzling out anyway. Tehran is calm. There will be no revolution this time.

aye.

[goldenequity]

@Vieux Canard
funny... you were just saying?

ali ornek- @ornekali · 18 hod.
US State Department has deleted its report on how People's Mujahideen of Iran (MKO) helped Iraqi army during its suppression of Iraqi Kurds after Operation Desert Storm.
https://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2006/82738.htm

Part of the report is still available
http://iran-interlink.org/wordpress/?p=163

[Firestarter]

I was doing an investigation, trying to figure out what’s the motive for targeting Iran.
It’s probably about oil, and I tried to connect it to the Nowruz Commission that lobbies for sanctions against Iran, but it takes too much time to piece the story together...

Wikipedia describes the group as a Marxist Islamic group.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People...ahedin_of_Iran

Many people have said the MEK acts as a cult, they've made their members divorce, send their children away, and members have had to run away.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17615065


Even though this group has carried out terror attacks, the war hawks got them de listed from its terrorist status in 2012.
https://static.theintercept.com/amp/...sts-trump.html

I was looking for information on the MEK “cult”, because of the following speech by honorary co-chairman of Nowruz, Senator Ed Royce at the OIAC House Congressional reception on 17 March 2016.

And it is to such an extent that they send their own agents, who have now killed 130 members of the MEK, who have now wounded 1,300. And these are individuals in the MEK who assisted in protecting American lives from those who were bringing IEDs in to try to kill soldiers, U.S. soldiers.
We took on a special responsibility on the part of the United States when we said that we would protect the people from the attacks that were emanating out of Iran. And our responsibility today is to see that we address not just their safety and security, but also we have an investigation with respect to those who caused those attacks, those who collaborated with the agents of the Iranian regime in order to kill those MEK members.
And so I am proud of our member of our committee, Ted Poe, who has introduced a bill that will call for justice in this regard. And I intend to move that bill through the committee and off of the floor of the House of Representatives.

I was also looking into Senator’s John McCain involvement in the “war” against Iran.
McCain appears whenever bloody coups are staged, for example: Libya (Arab Spring), Syria, Ukraine (Maidan revolution): https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bbi83WMCIAAu4uk.jpg

Can we soon add Iran to this list?
On 15 March 2017, McCain was part of the celebration for the “Nowruz” war against Iran, organised by the Organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC): http://www.oiac-us.com/senate-nowruz-reception/

[goldenequity]

I was also looking into Senator’s John McCain involvement in the “war” against Iran.
McCain appears whenever bloody coups are staged, for example: Libya (Arab Spring), Syria, Ukraine (Maidan revolution):


Can we soon add Iran to this list?
On 15 March 2017, McCain was part of the celebration for the “Nowruz” war against Iran, organised by the Organization of Iranian American Communities-US (OIAC):

Good catch... and NO.. we won't have to add Iran to the list.

All their plots and prior investments of time and energy
into the creation of these scripted/choreographed geo-political 'school plays'
they 'intend' and are now attempting to run/trigger....
R now belong to US. Worldwide. Exposed.. before they even get off the ground.
I love it.

[AZJoe]

Good comment from Michael Rozeff:

The theory that the U.S. masterminded or elicited or hijacked the protests in Iran is consistent with a number of important facts. These protests benefit the U.S. government, fitting in with the known anti-Iran attitude and policies of Trump, McMaster and others. We know that Pompeo, the CIA head, is aggressively anti-Iran. Even failed protests carry significant benefits for the U.S. They place Iran on the defensive. They provide cover for the U.S. to introduce new sanctions. They support a case for scuttling the nuclear agreement. They foster many, many news stories that are highly critical of Iran and Hezbollah. They provide cover for anti-Iran assassinations.

[AZJoe]

Hypocritical EU's Double Standard: Clampdown on Catalan Protestors, Support Iran Rioters

THE EU have supported protestors in Iran for exercising their “fundamental right” to “freedom of expression”, despite condemning Catalan campaigners in Spain just months ago. … “Peaceful demonstration and freedom of expression are fundamental rights that apply to every country, and Iran is no exception.” …

despite Brussels supporting the people of Iran speaking out … the elite club failed to support citizens from one of their own member states when campaigning for reform in October.

Catalonia held an independence referendum in October, co-ordinated by the regional government, calling for a split from the Spanish state. … the Spanish Government sent in police to disrupt the ballot and were found by Human Rights Watch to have used “excessive force” against “peaceful protestors”. After 90 per cent of those who voted in the poll supported independence, Spain arrested regional leaders and held fresh elections to the regional parliament. …

However, rather than support the Catalan referendum, the EU released a statement at the time supporting the view of the Spanish state. It said: “Under the Spanish Constitution, yesterday's vote in Catalonia was not legal. “For the European Commission, as President Juncker has reiterated repeatedly, this is an internal matter for Spain that has to be dealt with in line with the constitutional order of Spain.”

The EU told campaigners in Catalonia that there vote was illegal. … they also gave their backing to the Madrid Prime Minister. They added: “We trust the leadership of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to manage this difficult process in full respect of the Spanish Constitution and of the fundamental rights of citizens enshrined therein.”

The European Commission also threatened to remove Catalan from the Brussels bloc if they pressed ahead with independence. They said: “If a referendum were to be organised in line with the Spanish Constitution it would mean that the territory leaving would find itself outside of the European Union.”

Where was the EU? They don't speak up for real people movements, only covert ops regime change riots.

[charrob]

Pepe Escobar: Why There Won't Be A Revolution In Iran:

[...]

Still, what is happening now in Iran is that legitimate protests related to economic hardships have been hijacked by the usual suspects in a move to influence the minority. After all, Rouhani’s administration is comparatively liberal compared to the populist Ahmadinejad government.

So, what we have is a concerted attempt to turn legitimate protests into a “revolutionary” movement with the aim of bringing about a regime change. In all practical purposes, this would be civil war.

Well, it will simply not work. Anyone familiar with Iran knows the country’s civil society is far too sophisticated to fall into such a crude and obvious trap.

For a clear take on the foreign influence angle, you should watch Professor Mohammad Marandi, of the University of Tehran, an academic of absolute integrity, arguing with a former BBC employee on the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera television network:

Indeed, what is certain is that foreign elements are acting as provocateurs to influence the protests. [...] Regime change is unlikely but what is in play is setting the scene for a further renewal of economic sanctions against Iran. Possibly, in this case by the EU. Hopefully, it will not fall into this trap.

[goldenequity]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to charrob again.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to AZJoe again.

[Swordsmyth]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to charrob again.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to AZJoe again.

Covered.

[goldenequity]

Lee Saks @lee_Saks

FORMER #IRAN PRES AHMADINEJAD ARRESTED IN SHIRAZ ON INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE: AL QUDS AL ARABI. #OOTT

Iran's Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Arrested For Inciting Unrest
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-...-unrest-report

[AZJoe]

Washington's emergency meeting of UN Security Council to target Iran is another big dud, another rejection of Washington. Washington and its half-wit regurgitating parrot, Nikki Haley used the emergency meeting to call for backing the "protesters" and threaten Iran. The rest of the Security Council wondered why this necessitated an emergency meeting.

France insisted "protests had nothing to do with international peace and security, warning against “attempts to exploit this crisis for personal ends,”. Russia said "the meeting amounted to the US abusing its position at the UN to 'mess with Iran.'”

------

Russian Ambassador slams Haley, “By your logic, we should have initiated a Security Council meeting after the well-known events in Ferguson,” ...

[goldenequity]

China in talks with Pakistan to build overseas military base
https://arynews.tv/en/china-talks-pa...y-base-report/



Press TV Breaking
@BREAKING_PTV
Report: SaudiArabia arrests 11 princes protesting outside King’s palace in Riyadh.

Russia needs to call urgent UN security meeting....

[charrob]

U.S. House to take up resolution slamming Iran for protest crackdown:

Two top House Republicans have introduced a resolution supporting the Iranian people and condemning the regime in Tehran after a week of street protests that have resulted in more than 20 deaths across the country.

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce said Friday the House will vote Tuesday on the measure, which comes as the Trump White House is trying to increase international pressure on Tehran over its handling of the demonstrations.

“The radical regime in Tehran denies basic freedoms and crushes opposition with deadly force while pushing billions of dollars to terrorist activities abroad,” the two California Republicans said in a statement.

The measure, which its authors say is expected to attract bipartisan support, “condemns the regime’s crackdowns on legitimate protest, and makes clear that America stands with Iranians who want peace, freedom and a better life.”

Amid signs the protests that began Dec. 28 in cities across Iran are easing somewhat, the U.N. Security Council at the urging of the United States on Friday took up the issue of the recent unrest, although Russia was objecting to U.S. demands for an open hearing on the crisis.

The House resolution comes a day after Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, Tennessee Republican, and Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, the panel’s ranking Democrat, introduced their own resolution in support of the Iranian demonstrators, calling on the U.N. to condemn “ongoing human rights violations” in the Iranian government’s handling of the protests.

[goldenequity]

‘Fix or cancel’: Tillerson says a change to law on Iran deal could come next week
https://www.rt.com/usa/415125-tiller...C1d3ts.twitter

The Trump administration is working on a “legislative fix” it claims it needs to remain in the Iran nuclear deal – despite numerous international agencies and bodies calling on Washington to honor the original agreement.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been meeting with congressional leaders “on a very active basis” to draw up legislation which will “fix” the Iran deal. The proposed changes will likely “strengthen the way the US enforces the agreement,” and could come as early as next week, according to the Associated Press.

Lawmakers are also considering changing the legislation so that Trump would no longer be required to certify Iran’s compliance with the deal. Another legislative proposal reportedly brought up would allow more time in between US certification deadlines. Any of these changes, however, would have to get significant support among Republicans and Democrats in Congress.

“The president said he is either going to fix it or cancel it,” Tillerson told AP. “We are in the process of trying to deliver on the promise he made to fix it.”

However, many dispute whether the deal needs “fixing” at all. Brokered and signed by the US, UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) places limitations on Iran’s controversial nuclear energy program in return for the lifting of economic sanctions on Tehran. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly confirmed that Iran is sticking to the agreement.

In October, Trump announced that he would not certify Iran’s compliance with the deal, despite his administration acknowledging that Tehran was in “technical compliance” with the JCPOA. His decision came less than two weeks after top US military officials confirmed Iran’s compliance to Congress.

In response, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on Washington to honor the deal, and EU foreign ministers issued a joint statement describing the 2015 accord as vital to preventing the global spread of nuclear weapons. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also warned of the “immediate danger of war” if the US pulled out of the deal. He added that the European Union should “tell the Americans that their behavior on the Iran issue will drive us Europeans into a common position with Russia and China against the USA.”

In accordance with a mechanism set up by the US Congress, the nuclear agreement has to be re-assessed by an American president every 90 days. With the deadline for the next certification approaching, Tillerson says that proposed changes to the legislation could salvage the deal.

Tehran says it remains committed to the agreement, despite Trump’s threats.

“We won’t be the first [to] withdraw from the deal… we will be committed to our obligations. We will not be the first who violate the agreement,” Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in October. He also pointed out that Trump’s refusal to certify Tehran’s compliance despite no wrongdoing being found was in itself a violation of the JCPOA.

“Everyone says that Iran should comply with the deal, [but] the US doesn’t comply with their part of the bargain which is totally unacceptable,” said Araghchi.