Iran Front Page, August 01 2019:… Rouhani has denounced the United States’ imposition of sanctions on Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying the move ran counter to Washington’s claim it is ready for unconditional talks. On the other hand, it seems that a visit by Maryam Rajavi, leader of the MKO terrorist group, and the launch of the recent attack was not a coincidence. Above all, the MKO’s perfect familiarity with the region after 30 years of presence there could have been taken advantage of by Israel for carrying out the attack. Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM .
MEK Terrorists in Albania Complicating Edi Rama’s EU Accession Talks
Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
1- What Does Israel Want in Iraq?
Abdolrahman Fathollahi, Iran Front page, August 01 2019
Link to the source
An Iranian political analyst has enumerated the reasons behind the Israeli regime’s willingness to get closer to Iraq, saying Tel Aviv’s main objective is to cut off Iran’s links with the axis of anti-Israel nations in the Middle East.
The following in an article by Abdolrahman Fathollahi, written exclusively for the Iran Front Page website:
Only 10 days after an Israeli attack on the Hashd al-Shaabi’s base in Amerli in the Saladin province of Iraq, media reports indicate that Tel Aviv has once again launched an attack, this time on “Abu Muntazir al-Mohammadawi” base, formerly known as Camp Ashraf, located in Diyali province north of Baghdad. However, Hashd al-Shaabi commander, Talib al-Mousawi, has dismissed the reports of such an attack, drawing a link between the attempts to prompt speculation about the issue and the Hashd al-Shaabi’s move to detonate and dismantle the remaining weapons of war inside Camp Ashraf. Moreover, news reports show that an investigation committee formed to probe into the Amerli incident has concluded that there has been no attack. On the other hand, it seems that a visit by Maryam Rajavi, leader of the MKO terrorist group, and the launch of the recent attack was not a coincidence. Above all, the MKO’s perfect familiarity with the region after 30 years of presence there could have been taken advantage of by Israel for carrying out the attack.
Furthermore, according to the estimates provided by a number of Iraqi security and intelligence officials, the July 19 attack has involved the launch of three “Harop” loitering munitions from F-16 fighter jets. Since Israel is the only actor in the Middle East in possession of such weapons, it seems that Tel Aviv has perpetrated the strike against that base in Amerli of Saladin province.
In addition, what has become apparent is that the actual developments taking place in the Middle East, particularly at the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, have resulted in an escalation of tensions. The path initiated by Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and the re-imposition of sanctions was also affected by a security approach later; meanwhile, the deployment and presence of warships from the European and Southeast Asian countries could add to the security atmosphere in the region.
In the wake of these developments, one of the focal centers of the White House’s attempts to mount pressures on Tehran will be definitely Iraq, a country and actor with which Iran has established the highest degree of economic, political, diplomatic, military and security cooperation. The two nations have also strong cultural and religious commonalities.
Specifically mindful of this fact, Washington is seeking to turn Iraq into its trump card in the pressure campaign.
While the US has imposed economic sanctions and has also put its forces in Iraq at a high level of alert –citing concerns about some military and security developments in the wake of a possible skirmish with the military forces allegedly affiliated with Iran, Hashd al-Shaabi in particular– the ground has been prepared for Israel to look for a role in Iraq in order to exert an influence over Iraq’s ties with Syria and over the ongoing developments in the war-hit country on the one hand and, on the other, to overshadow Tehran-Baghdad relations in the current delicate situation.
In this regard, the news reports that Israeli intelligence agents had patrolled and scouted around downtown Baghdad with American military forces in 2018 and early 2019 certainly reveal that Tel Aviv had been seeking a metamorphosis of Iraq in relation to the regional developments for the pivotal purpose of improving the West Asia’s view of Israel, amid the period of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington in the wake of Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA.
Israelis’ reasoning is that Iraq is the main bridge linking Iran to Syria, and then to Lebanon, Palestine and the occupied territories, so they believe that if Iraq’s role and position in such axis diminishes for any reason, it will definitely affect Tehran’s connection with those regions, and will therefore decrease Iran’s activities and role-playing along the border of Israel. All these facts have now made Iraq into a country with special significance for Israelis, especially after a series of anti-Israeli armed forces rose to power, like Hashd al-Shaabi which, after the defeat of ISIS, has turned into an influential actor in Iraq’s security, intelligence, military and even political-diplomatic interaction with Syria, Lebanon and Iran in the course of strengthening the anti-Israeli axis in the Middle East.
Israel’s concerns about the role of such Iraqi forces reached the highest degree in October 2018, when reports came out that a number of short-range ballistic missiles had been transferred from Iran to Iraq and to its western border regions near Jordan. As a result, it was already predictable that Israel’s focus on Iran’s presence and activities in Iraq on various pretexts would pave the way for the Israelis to launch attacks on Iranian-sponsored forces in Iraq.
Besides, Israel is pursuing a step-by-step plan for Iraq apart from those attacks. Tel Aviv is trying to force Iraq into a situation that would encourage it to seek normalization of ties with Israel, like a number of Persian Gulf littoral Arab states. Some cases of the Israeli ploy include a recent visit to Israel by Nobel Peace Prize 2019 laureate, Nadia Murad, and by Lamiya Aji Bashar, winner of 2016 Sakharov Prize, with a 15-strong delegation. Nadia Murad had already visited Israel back in July 2017. The other clues include the comments by Iraq’s Ambassador to Washington Fareed Yasseen a few weeks ago on the possibility of normalization of Iraq’s relations with Israel, as well as the last year’s trips to Israel by three Iraqi delegations comprised of Sunni and Shi’ite figures.
For the second step, Tel Aviv is trying to change the policies of Baghdad towards the ongoing developments in Syria, the military and security cooperation between Baghdad and Damascus along the common border, and above all towards the broad interaction between Iran and Iraq in all areas, in an attempt to exclude Iraq from the anti-Israeli axis in the region.
Nonetheless, the Iraqi political leaders, including Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, Prime Minster Adil Abdul-Mahdi, Head of the Badr Organization Hadi Al-Amiri, national security adviser Falih Al-Fayyadh, President Barham Salih, and many others emphasize the necessity for Iraq to stay away from any foreign or regional tension, and even stress the need for Iraq’s role in reducing the tensions.
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2- Iran President Raps US Ban on Zarif as ‘Childish Behaviour’
Iran Front Page, August 01 2019
Link to the source
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has denounced the United States’ imposition of sanctions on Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying the move ran counter to Washington’s claim it is ready for unconditional talks.
Addressing a ceremony on Thursday, Rouhani said the Americans say they would like to hold talks with Tehran on the one hand, but impose sanctions on the country’s top diplomat on the other.
“They say every day that they are ready for unconditional talks with Iran, but they impose sanctions on its foreign minister,” said Rouhani, dismissing this approach as “childish behaviour”.
“Such a move shows the enemies have become so desperate that they have no time to think,” the president added.
“If they want to hold talk, is there any other path than the Foreign Ministry? He (Zarif) is the head of the foreign policy apparatus,” said President Rouhani.
He said the US is scared of the Iranian foreign minister’s logic.
“All pillars of the White House begin to shake in the face of Zarif’s interviews,” he added.
Iranian First Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri also criticized Washington’s move in a post on his Twitter account.
“Even Zarif’s wise enemies are aware of his almost unrivalled knowledge, skills and ability in negotiations and creating opportunities to ward off conflict and war,” Jahangiri tweeted.
“The imposition of sanctions on Zarif is yet another reason which shows their hypocrisy and lies when calling for negotiations,” he added.
(End)
Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
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Iran Blasts US , EU support for MKO Terrorists – Mersad Anniversary
Iran Press, July 27 2019:… The commemoration ceremony of the 31st anniversary of MKO defeat anniversary (Mersad operation) held in Strait of Mersad, Islamabad, Western Iran with the presence of provincial officials, commanders and combatants of the eight years imposed war of Iraq against Iran. The MKO has a dark history of assassinations and bomb attacks against the Iranian government and the Iranian people. It notoriously sided with Saddam’s regime during the eight-year war with Iran. Iran Blasts US , EU support for MKO Terrorists – Mersad Anniversary
Cult of Rajavi MEK , The Swamp of Political Dogmatism
Iran Blasts US , EU support for MKO Terrorists – Mersad Anniversary
Iran’s M.G. Rahim Safavi blasts US, Europe support of MKO
The top military aid to the Leader of Islamic Revolution Major General Safavi said that the terrorist group of MKO is the evilest anti-Iranian group.
Commemorating the thirty-first anniversary of the Mersad glorious operation in Kermanshah province, western Iran on Thursday, M.G Safavi noted that the terrorist group that has been assassinated and martyred countless Iranian civilians and senior clerics so far using terror attacks is under the US and European support.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a divine, invincible power which is increasing day by day, while on the contrary, the US and Zionists’ power is reducing year by year,” the top military aid to the Leader of Islamic Revolution stressed.
The commemoration ceremony of the 31st anniversary of MKO defeat anniversary (Mersad operation) held in Strait of Mersad, Islamabad, Western Iran with the presence of provincial officials, commanders and combatants of the eight years imposed war of Iraq against Iran.
The MKO has a dark history of assassinations and bomb attacks against the Iranian government and the Iranian people.
It notoriously sided with Saddam’s regime during the eight-year war with Iran.
Iran Blasts US , EU support for MKO Terrorists – Mersad Anniversary
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Ali Reza Jafarzadeh, Suicide bomber, Terrorist recruiter for Saddam Private Army with Mike Pompeo
Jafarzadeh has already published his suicide bombing note.
Wondering at those Americans who stand under the flag of Mojahedin Khalq (MKO, MEK, NCRI, Rajavi cult) only to LOBBY for the murderers of their servicemen
Ambassador Daniel Benjamin: I was at State when we took the MeK (Mojahedin Khalq, Saddam’s Private Army) off the terrorist list. But team Trump’s ties to the group still worry me.
Also read:
Ebrahim Khodabandeh, May 13 2019:… Since I left the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK, MKO, Rajavi terrorist cult) and came back to Iran in 2003, I have realized that this cult is now much more hated by Iranians than the Tudeh Party, and these Iranians include every opposition to the Islamic Republic inside and outside the country. The MEK assassinated thousands of… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Alexander Azadgan, Sputnik International, May 11 2019:… Let’s be frank here, France holds one of the worst terrorist groups in modern times. They are called MKO or MEK (Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization). They are based in Paris; they are an anti-Iran terrorist group who have been known to kill American citizens in the 1960s and 1970s in Iran. France has hosted them and to me, it is appalling that Iran… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Dan Spinelli, Mother Jones, May 10 2019:… Bolton once argued for a preemptive military strike to wipe out Iran’s nuclear program and received $40,000 in 2016 to speak before the Mujahideen-e-Khalq, a radical anti-regime organization formerly designated as a terrorist group by the United States. “The regime in Tehran needs to be overthrown at the earliest opportunity!” he told attendees at one MEK event. Bolton has his own proxy… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Paul Iddon, The New Arab, May 09 2019:… The Trump administration, despite what John Bolton’s dalliances with the cultist Iranian MEK opposition group might have suggested, has clarified that it is not actually pursuing regime change in Iran. Rather, it appears to want Tehran to make more concessions, on its nuclear programme and other issues, before returning to the negotiating table. Dangers of destroying… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Narges Mortazavi, Independent, May 08 2019:… Similarly, in 2017, at the gathering of Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e Khalq or MEK, Bolton said the policy of the United States should be “the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime in Tehran.” John Bolton was one of the main architects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq by George W Bush. And today he seems to be… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Russia Today, May 07 2019:… The Mossad doesn’t have the most trustworthy record when it comes to intelligence on Iran. It was likely the Mossad who, in 2004, passed fabricated documents to Iranian opposition group the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) which falsely portrayed Iran’s civilian nuclear energy program. Mossad MEK Iran. That Secret Iranian ‘Nuclear Facility’ You Just Found? Not So Much Link to… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Joshua Keating, The Slate, May 07 2019:… Bolton, who has given paid speeches to the controversial Iranian opposition group M.E.K., has long advocated regime change in Iran. As Dexter Filkins’ recent New Yorker profile of the national security adviser explained, President Donald Trump, a skeptic about military intervention, may be less enthusiastic about that strategy. MEK Iran and John Bolton regime change Noises John… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Kyle Drennen, MRC News Busters, May 07 2019:… Rudy Giuliani and John Bolton have spoken at gatherings sponsored by the Iranian MEK . The MEK is a terrorist organization. The Iranian MEK gives you money to appear at these speeches, and you talk about regime change in Iran. And Bolton and Rudy Giuliani have both been deeply tied into the Iranian… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Nejat Society, May 05 2019:… Mujahedin Khalq Organization (the MKO/ MEK/PMOI/ Cult of Rajavi) should be considered as part of the B-team. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused a ‘B-Team’ of pushing the US towards “disaster” by clashing with Iran. “President Trump believes putting pressure, bullying, will bring us to the negotiating table so he can make this ideal deal… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Iran Interlink, May 03 2019:… The main issue in Albania has been the closure of the UNHCR office in Tirana and withdrawal of RAMSA charity support for the dissociated MEK members. Commentators say it is ridiculous that Rajavi is so excited about it that she is claiming the MEK closed the UNHCR office as if they had overthrown the Iranian government. … Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Massoud Khodabandeh, Lobe Log, May 03 2019:… Hillary Clinton did not take money from the MEK while it was listed as a terrorist entity. And taking the group off the U.S. terrorist list, though controversial at the time due to the MEK’s own well-funded pressure campaign, was not wrong, as it enabled the UNHCR to relocate the members to the safety of… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM
Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, May 02 2019:… The MEK was removed from the U.S. terrorism list in 2012, in no small part due to a campaign by dozens of former senior U.S. officials, who received tens of thousands of dollars in speaker’s fees that experts say were secretly bankrolled by Saudi Arabia and Israel. Pro-MEK speakers included Mr. Giuliani and John… Supporting MKO Terrorist Cult , Bombing Iraq , Blacklisting Iranian FM