Iran

Iran Is Going To Stop Using The Us Dollar In Response To Donald Trump’s 'muslim Ban

... converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty. People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty. People listen to speakers at a demonstration against racism and conservative presidential candidate Donald Trump's recent remarks concerning Muslims on December 10, 2015 in New York City. Dozens or demonstrators and activists converged at Columbus Circle to denounce the politics of Trump and the treatment of Muslim refugees both in America and Europe. Spencer Platt/Getty. People listen to speakers at a demonstration against ...

Iran Confirms Missile Test, Drawing Tough Response From Trump Aide

... carried on state media on Wednesday. The state news agency IRNA quoted Ali Shamkhani, head of Iran's National Security Council, as saying Iran would not seek "permission from any country or international organization for development of our conventional defensive capability". The Security Council resolution was adopted to buttress the deal under which Iran curbed its nuclear activities to allay concerns they could be used to develop atomic bombs, in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. The resolution urged Tehran to refrain from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons. Critics say the resolution's language does not make this obligatory. Tehran says it has not carried out any work on missiles specifically designed to carry nuclear payloads. The test on Sunday, according to U. S. officials, was of a type of missile that had also been tested seven months ago. Iran has one of the Middle East's largest missile programs but it has been dogged by a poor record for accuracy. However, Hossein Salami, deputy head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, said on the day of the test that the country was now one of the few ...

White House Puts Iran 'on Notice' After Missile Test And Houthi Attack On Saudi Ship

... that “Iran continues to threaten U. S. friends and allies in the region.”. Resolution 2231 calls on Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”. The U. N. has not yet determined whether the launch was a violation, but Iran has repeatedly maintained that missile development is within its rights to self-defense against attack from Israel, its longtime regional adversary. Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denied any violation as a result of the test and cautioned Washington over escalating tensions, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. "We hope that Iran's defense programs — which are out of the sphere of the Resolution 2231 and the nuclear deal — will not become a pretext for political games," Zarif said Tuesday. Separately, Houthi rebels launched ...

Trump And The Saudi King Discuss Major Pact To Confront Iran

... participate in a summit of Arab and South American leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Within hours of ascending to the Saudi throne, King Salman announced sweeping changes that would recast the kingdom’s line of succession, and rework its security and economic decision-making processes. It marked the start of what would be a tumultuous year for King Salman, who completes one year as monarch on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. ()(Credit: AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File). This article originally appeared on Alter Net. President Donald Trump and the monarch of the repressive Saudi regime spoke on the phone for more than an hour on Sunday. According to a White House  statement , “The two leaders reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia.”. The official Saudi Press Agency  reported  that Trump and Saudi King Salman stressed the “depth ...

Don't Punish Iran's Citizens And Iranian-americans, Punish Iran's Government

... as evidence the U. S. remains hostile to all Iranians. In Iran more than 60 percent of the population was born after the Islamic Revolution. Although 85 percent are literate, according to United Nations agencies , between 12 percent (official figure) and 30 percent (unofficial estimate) are unemployed. They push for liberty and opportunity. Many women wear the latest western fashions rather than the state-prescribed hijab despite harassment from state-paid morals squads. Others produce music, graffiti, and internet media denouncing the radicalism of ayatollahs. They attempt to vote progressive politicians into office. They circumvent their government's control over information via the internet using smart phones. They travel to the U. S. to gain education and to benefit from our principles and norms. Whereas approximately 1,500 Iranians entered the U. S. annually between 1950 and 1977, mainly as students, 65 percent have arrived since the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79. They come for freedom from social, political, and religious oppression rather than financial gain and ...

Trump Administration Says It’s Putting Iran ‘on Notice’ Following Missile Test

... be no doubt about that.”. While a number of Republican lawmakers have called for the agreement to be torn apart, Trump avoided that language during his campaign, calling it a “bad deal” that he intended to review. Iran made no public statement in response but said the missile test was discussed during a high-level national-security meeting Wednesday. “We discussed Iran’s missile tests and. reaffirmed that Iran would not wait for any country’s permission in defense issues,” Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Ravanchi said, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency. He also repeated an earlier statement that Tehran plans to take “reciprocal measures” in response to Trump’s new temporary ban on U. S. entry for individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. Iran’s launch Sunday of a medium-range Khorramshahr missile ended in failure, with the missile reportedly traveling about 600 miles before exploding in the air. The United States called for an emergency meeting of the U. N. Security Council. Following the Tuesday session, Nikki Haley, the new U. S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the world should ...

Trump's Moves Don't Embolden Isis, Iran

... to offer Iran sanctions relief in exchange for measures aimed at ensuring it stood down on nuclear weapons development. And retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a supporter now serving as national security adviser, made his disdain for the deal a mainstay of his public appearances. On Wednesday, Flynn said the United States was putting Iran "officially on notice" after a missile test, saying from the White House briefing room: "The Obama administration failed to respond adequately to Tehran's malign actions.". Gorka said whether or not the administration pulled out of the deal, Iran would continue to act in opposition to the United States. "The idea that this would make a big difference hither or yon is fallacious," Gorka said. Gorka also offered some details about his role in the White House, as part of a group whose immediate function was not yet clear. A report from "The Daily Beast" referred to it as a "new node of power" for chief strategist Steve Bannon, the former executive chairman of Brietbart, and said it could challenge the National Security Council. Gorka described the group as a focal point for task forces collaborating with people outside government, ...

You’re Officially ‘on Notice

... Dubowitz told Congress. Obama also gave Iran $1.7 billion in hard currency just prior to Tehran releasing four American hostages. Obama’s State Department then was caught admitting to lying to the public about the deal  and ultimately trying to conceal the admission from reporters. It also was revealed , according to a United Nations nuclear watchdog, that the Obama administration gave Iran secret exemptions to the nuclear deal, allowing the terror-sponsoring state to stockpile uranium in larger amounts than the limits imposed by the 2015 pact. It was on July 14, 2015, the Obama administration negotiated and signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, a nuclear deal between Iran, the United States and the “P 5+1,” which included France, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia and the European Union. The Obama administration pushed the deal through and agreed to major terms without consulting with the U. S. Senate. The White House championed the plan as “the ...

White House Warns Iran But Plans No Immediate New Action

... about the effect of relieving Western sanctions on Iran in exchange for its agreement not to build a nuclear weapon. Obama tried to ease their worries by offering more American-built military hardware, including fighter aircraft and missile defense systems. One option for Flynn is to urge Trump to do even more along those lines as Haley pursues an international diplomatic response at the U. N. The White House also could order a big military show of force, possibly with American warships in Middle Eastern waters or warplanes stationed around the region. But the new rhetoric also creates risk for the White House. Flynn made a bold statement for the TV cameras about putting Iran "on notice" but then had no subsequent action to announce. Critics excoriated Obama for saying in 2012 that if Syria used chemical weapons in its civil war, it would constitute the crossing of a "red line" – then ultimately decided not to take major military action. The danger for Trump and Flynn is that putting Iran "on notice" could provoke a crisis if Iranian hardliners respond somehow to test them — forcing the White House to choose between ...