Nuclear pact and Iran’s increasing meddling in the Middle East

September 2015

How can we analyze the general policies pursued by the regime ruling Iran vis-à-vis its neighboring countries, especially Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Lebanon following the July 14^th nuclear agreement signed in Vienna? Will Iran’s meddling in these countries decrease, as hoped for by US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry? Or will Tehran get a hold of an influx of billions of dollars, and consider the deal a green light to actually increase its interferences?

Why Iran opposes the ratification of Iraq’s National Guard legislation

Which party is worried about the ratification of Iraq’s National Guard legislation? Which party benefits if the Iraq’s National Guard is not established?

Abduction of Turk workers in Baghdad with green light from Qassem Suleimani

September 2015

In Arab media I came across a report that gained my attention: Quds Force chief Qassem Suleimani gave green light for abduction of Turk workers in Baghdad

Following the abduction of 18 Turk workers, the main question was who profited from this and what goal were they pursuing?

Death Squads, militant groups associated to the Quds Force

September 2015

On the morning of Thursday, September 3^rd masked armed men wearing SWAT uniforms and using 20 black vehicles with tinted windows abducted 18 Turk workers in the Habibiya district of Baghdad’s Sadr City, transferring them to an unknown location with their hands tied behind their backs.

Gulf Countries in All-Out Confrontation Against Iran

Why are the Gulf Cooperation Countries in a flagrant confrontation against Iran?

The answer to this question can be easily found in the events seen in Arab countries and GCC members states. Currently the leaders of these nations view Iran as a destabilizing country that goes the limits to create a crisis in the stable areas of the region.

Al-Abduli cell trained in Lebanon Hezbollah camp

September 2015

After the plot to wreak havoc in Kuwait was foiled and the terrorist al-Abduli cell was arrested, allegations against Iran and its participation in such operations took to a new level. Information coming out these days shows that such interventions by Iran are only the tip of the iceberg. During the past decades, this cell has been under the supervision of the IRGC and Lebanese Hezbollah.

In an Arabic newspaper I saw a cartoon that showed the Iranian regime as an octopus that had extended its arms in not only Gulf countries but all Arabic capitals.

Mustafa Abdul-Hamid Hussein al-Atabi A ringleader of Quds Force terror network in Iraq

Biography and background of Mustafa Abdul-Hamid Hussein al-Atabi

Advisor to Iraqi Minister of Interior

A ringleader of Quds Force terror network in Iraq

After Mohamed al-Qaban took over Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, he hired into this ministry some of the long-standing Badr Brigade commanders, whom had a long history of cooperation with the Quds Force. Recently, Mustafa Abdul-Hamid Hussein al-Atabi, also known as Abu Mustafa Sheibani, who is a ringleader of the Quds Force’s terror network in Iraq, has begun his work as an advisor to the Iraqi Minister of Interior.

Gulf Countries in All-Out Confrontation Against Iran

Why are the Gulf Cooperation Countries in a flagrant confrontation against Iran?

The answer to this question can be easily found in the events seen in Arab countries and GCC members states. Currently the leaders of these nations view Iran as a destabilizing country that goes the limits to create a crisis in the stable areas of the region.

Developments in Iraq and the Role played by Iran

 September 2015

Three weeks after Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Haider al-Abadi launched his reforms, Iran is attempting to neutralize some of these steps that are in contrast to its interests in Iraq. Tehran’s initial steps are to relive former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki from the threat of judicial action. After the reforms were announced Iran’s divides with Prime Minister al-Abadi intensified over issues that were directly undermining its interests and hegemony. Prime Minister al-Abadi announced his third reform package, yet developments in Iraq show that the issue of Maliki and Iran’s support for him has placed these reforms facing many obstacles.

Iraqi Army, police clashing with Quds Force-associated Hezbollah militants in Baghdad

One day after 18 Turk nationals were abducted from a stadium construction site in Baghdad’s Sadr City, carried out on Wednesday, September 2^nd by a group of Katayeb Hezbollah militants wearing SWAT uniforms who raided the site with 20 bullet-proof, double axes vehicles, Baghdad Operations Command issued a statement saying:

Iran’s defeats in Yemen

September 2015

The military launched by the Saudi-led Arab coalition against Houthi militants to Yemen aimed at ending their coup d’état and returning the legitimate government to Sana’a is one of the most significant defeats suffered by Iran’s Quds Force chief Qassem Suleimani, as this force is considered as Tehran’s military wing in a number of countries of the region.

Quds Force actions in Iraq after the start of reforms

Qasem Soleymani & Hadi Ameri

After popular demonstrations broke out against the situation of the economy and electricity in the 50 Degree heat of Iraq, Mr. Al-Abadi was forced to announce reform packages. Although al-Abadi’s reform packages – 4 announced to this date – have not been implemented, yet it has clearly upset the Iranian government. Iran held an urgent Supreme National Security Council meeting in early September 2015 meeting to assess the situation in Iraq and Yemen. In previous articles we mentioned the decisions made regarding Yemen, yet in this article we want to explain about the issues talked about Iraq.

The process of the Quds Force’s infiltration into Yemen

                                    

General information

-         Yemen is a country in the Middle East; just south of Saudi Arabia. Its capital is the City of Sanaa.

-         Area: 527,968 km²

-         Population: 23,013,386 (based on a 2008 analysis)

-         Religion: A combination of different branches of Shiite and Sunni Islam, 42% of which are Shiite. Some 35% of the Shiites are Zaidiya (believe in 5 Imams) and the rest believe in 12 and 7 (Ismailia) Imams. The Sunnis are mostly Shafis and there is a small percentage of Christian and Jews.

-         Yemen has several islands; the most important of which are: Saghreh Island in the Arab Sea and Hanish Island in the Red Sea.

Who is responsible for the Syrian refugee catastrophe?

September 2015

People across the globe were shocked of seeing waves of innocent Syrian men, women and children forced to migrate and seek refuge in European countries. The heartbreaking scene of 71 asylum seekers dying in a truck in Austria, and many others drowning in the Mediterranean Sea while heading from Turkey to Greece is the continued trend of horrific violence committed by the Syrian dictator Bashar Assad with support provided by the Iranian regime against the Syrian nation. If the US government and European Union had not closed their eyes on the crimes committed by Khamenei in Iran, and the bloodbaths caused by Assad and Nouri Maliki in Syria and Iraq, the people of Syria and Iraq would not be displaced today and the terrorist ISIS group would not be controlling large swathes of both of these countries.

Iran meddling in Kuwait

September 2015

Iran’s meddling in Bahrain were not over yet when we were hearing news about further terrorist attacks, this time targeting Kuwait. Recently, authorities in this country unveiled reports of contacts between two Iranian embassy diplomats in Kuwait with members of the “al-Abduli” armed cell. This reality was unearthed after the discovery of an arms-ammunition cache near the Iraq-Kuwait border. These revelations prove the suspicious nature of the Iranian embassies’ measures under the cover of diplomatic steps. As the countries of Morocco, Sudan and Egypt have previously emphasized, Iranian embassies are considered one of the most dangerous sites threatening their security and stability of their host countries.

Who was behind the Bahrain bombings?

Septambr 2015

On Saturday, August 29^th in the news I read a report about a bombing in Bahrain in which a police officer was killed and 7 others were left injured. All of a sudden my mind became focused on this country’s northern neighbor, Iran. The report went on to explain that one of the individuals arrested in relation to the Bahrain bombing had received his training in coordination with various al-Dawa Party leaders in the city of Karbala in southern Iraq, and the boat for the attack was provided by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).

Fingers pointed at Iran & Hezbollah as arms, weapons found in Kuwait

2 September 2015

The Kuwait general prosecutor accused 26 individuals, including 25 Kuwaitis and 1 Iranian, of spying for Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah, and preparations for an attack against Kuwait’s sovereignty, security and stability. Now two questions come to mind:

What is the objective sought by Tehran and Hezbollah in Kuwait?

What is the impact of these accusations on future relations between Iran, and Kuwait and other Arab countries following the nuclear agreement?

Iran’s policy in backing Maliki

In this piece I would like to evaluate the volume of Iran’s meddling and its influence on the policies of the Iraqi government and reforms launched by Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Haider al-Abadi.

Following Prime Minister al-Abadi’s August 9^th announcement of these reforms against corruption, popular demonstrations gained strength day by day with people chanting for the prosecution of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and sacking judiciary chief Mid’hat Mahmoud.

Five protest organizers, civil activists assassinated in Iraq

Sources of the civil current organizing popular demonstrations in Iraq these days said unknown men have assassinated four protest organizers in the provinces of Ziqar and Basra in the south. Amongst those murdered is Sheikh Sabah al-Karmush, one of the most renowned sit-in organizers in Basra Province who died of his wounds after an IED placed into his vehicle detonated.

Iran’s plan to continue interventions in Yemen

The main task of the Iranian embassy in Sana’a is to provide financial, intelligence and military support for Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Ali Abdulla Saleh against the legal Yemeni government. The Iranian embassy in Sana’a has turned from a diplomatic center into an operations command center. Prior to the war that began in March of this year, Iran was supporting the Houthis by sending them weapons through air and land. Every week, 14 planes flew from Tehran to Sana’a.

Developments in Iraq and the Role played by Iran

September 2015

Three weeks after Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Haider al-Abadi launched his reforms, Iran is attempting to neutralize some of these steps that are in contrast to its interests in Iraq. Tehran’s initial steps are to relive former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki from the threat of judicial action. After the reforms were announced Iran’s divides with Prime Minister al-Abadi intensified over issues that were directly undermining its interests and hegemony. Prime Minister al-Abadi announced his third reform package, yet developments in Iraq show that the issue of Maliki and Iran’s support for him has placed these reforms facing many obstacles.

Qassem Suleimani’s efforts to quell Iraq demonstrations

Informed sources in Najaf Province confirmed the presence of Iranian Quds Force chief Qassem Suleimani in this province to meet with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in order to reach an agreement aimed at quelling popular demonstrations.

Who was behind the Bahrain bombings?

On Saturday, August 29^th in the news I read a report about a bombing in Bahrain in which a police officer was killed and 7 others were left injured. All of a sudden my mind became focused on this country’s northern neighbor, Iran. The report went on to explain that one of the individuals arrested in relation to the Bahrain bombing had received his training in coordination with various al-Dawa Party leaders in the city of Karbala in southern Iraq, and the boat for the attack was provided by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).

Iran intervention in Iraqi rallies to prevent prosecution of Maliki

Following the rise in demonstrations by the people of Iraq, the direction of these rallies and people’s demands have focused on the arrest and prosecution of the main element behind corruption, being former Iraqi prime minister and dismissed vice president Nouri al-Maliki. This was the demand of demonstrators against corruption expressed in all cities across Iraq. The call by all protests for the arrest and prosecution of Maliki, and chanting slogans against Iran’s meddling in Iraq disrupted all scenarios prepared beforehand by Iran for the status quo in Iraq. In a matter of a few days Tehran attempted to resort to different methods, from using militants, Maliki’s club-wielders and its Quds Force chief Qassem Suleimani attempting to meet with senior religious leaders, all aimed at diverting the demonstrations from their main objectives. Currently, Suleimani’s main effort in Iraq is to confront all the demonstrations and bring an end to popular protests and rallies. That is his mission and the reason why he is mainly in Iraq these days.

Four protest organizers, civil activists assassinated in Iraq

Sources of the civil current organizing popular demonstrations in Iraq these days said unknown men have assassinated four protest organizers in the provinces of Ziqar and Basra in the south. Amongst those murdered is Sheikh Sabah al-Karmush, one of the most renowned sit-in organizers in Basra Province who died of his wounds after an IED placed into his vehicle detonated.

Fingers pointed at Iran & Hezbollah as arms, weapons found in Kuwait

2 September 2015

The Kuwait general prosecutor accused 26 individuals, including 25 Kuwaitis and 1 Iranian, of spying for Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah, and preparations for an attack against Kuwait’s sovereignty, security and stability. Now two questions come to mind:

What is the objective sought by Tehran and Hezbollah in Kuwait?

What is the impact of these accusations on future relations between Iran, and Kuwait and other Arab countries following the nuclear agreement?

Who rules over Iraq, Heydar al-Abadi or Qassem Suleimani?

For the first time and in an unusual act, Iraqi Prime Minister Heydar al-Abadi lashed out at Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani, who is the most influential Iranian figure in the region.

Since Ayad Alawi’s premiership in 2003 and afterwards during Ibrahim Jafari’s time in office and then Nouri al-Maliki and now Heydar al-Abadi, never has any Iraqi PM openly disagreed with general Suleimani. He was always considered by Iran as Iraq’s security advisor.

Hollow claims of change in Iran’s behavior

Iran’s promises for change in behavior following the nuclear deal have remained nothing but words despite much enthusiasm shown by the West to assure (Persian) Gulf countries over the July 14^th accord.

Hezbollah terrorists arrested in Kuwait

A report wired by Reuters indicated Kuwait authorities had discovered a large amount of weapons and ammunition hidden under a house adjacent to the Iraqi border belonging to a terrorist cell. These individuals were planning and plotting to destabilize Kuwait. The Kuwaiti [H1] Interior Ministry said the arrested individuals admitted they were connected to the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Trash Uprising in Lebanon (City Trash or Political Trash?)

The current government in Lebanon has become so weakened that it is not even able to round up the city trash in its own capital. This is what demonstrators are saying these days in Beirut.

Iran’s meddling in Bahrain

Iran’s latest remarks regarding Bahrain are not the first of such rhetoric. In fact, they are all repeats of remarks made many times by Iranian officials and they are currently carrying out their aggressions through such remarks. The question is that in such conditions after Iran has signed a nuclear agreement with the P5+1 and would logically have to refrain from such obvious meddling in Persian Gulf countries, why is Tehran actually doing all this? The answer to this question at a first glance may seem easy, that these provocative and irresponsible remarks by Iran are aimed at relieving itself of internal pressures. In my opinion this is a good start but one should not stop here and think it is as simple as that. We must also hunt for the reason behind these measures in their prospective, that Iran is seeking to conquer various other states through its “Export of Revolution” policy. These countries include Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Palestine.