Iran dispatching Afghan mercenaries into Syria war quagmire

June 2016

As the Iranian people continue to oppose taking part in the Syria war, the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force has been forced to dispatch its most senior IRGC commanders to support the Levant dictator Bashar Assad. To this end, heavy casualties have been inflicted to senior IRGC commanders and these ranks no longer have any temptation to participate in the Syria war.

Iran’s Quds Force meddling in Bahrain

June 2016

Bahrain is a country of the Persian Gulf and Iran continues to argue it was once amongst its territories, and therefore claims sovereignty over this important island. Back in August 2008, Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of Keyhan – the known mouthpiece of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei – wrote an article declaring Bahrain an Iranian province. This raised major tension between in the bilateral relations between the two countries, and finally Manouchehr Mottaki, then foreign minister of Iran, was forced to visit Bahrain and resolve the matter.

Iran: Quds Force efforts in Iraq to reunite Shiite groups

June 2016

As recent developments have made it crystal clear in Iraq, the Shiite coalition formed through the efforts of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Quds Force following the toppling of the former Iraqi government (Saddam Hussein) by the United States is now crumbling from within and literally torn apart. Demonstrations and rallies in the past few months, staged by the Shiite majorities in Baghdad and southern Shiite provinces, witnessed a main slogan against the presence of the Iranian regime and the Quds Force in Iraq. This came as a heavy blow for Tehran in its efforts in Iraq.

Iran: Khamenei threatening to “set nuclear deal ablaze if U.S. tears it apart”

June 2016

On June 14^th the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei delivered a speech at the presence of the three government branch chiefs and a group of senior regime officials. The most important portion of his remarks that gained widespread coverage in Iranian media and the press included, “If the next U.S. president tears apart the nuclear deal, Iran will set it ablaze.”

Iran pushing for no-confidence vote against al-Abadi

June 2016

The occupation of the Iraqi Parliament and Prime Ministry Office afterwards by protesters proved Iran has lost control of the situation on the ground in Iran and this regime is no longer dictating its will to Shiite groups.

In most demonstrations despite the fact that the Iranian ambassador in Iraq would call on its associated elements to refrain from voicing anti-Iranian regime slogans, the protesters – infuriated over poverty and lack of security – were heard chanting “Iran, Out, Out.” This slogan disrupted all the Iranian regime’s calculations and in a senior Iranian regime official has reportedly said Tehran spent billions in Iraq and they still chant slogans against the Islamic republic of Iran in their demonstrations.

Iran arming Shiite militias in Iraq

June 2016

After Iran lost its political hegemony in Iraq with former Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki being set aside, and following the military defeats it suffered in operations targeting Salahadin and Tikrit, from late April of this year Iran has launched new military measures under the pretext of liberating the city of Fallujah in Anbar Province, west of Baghdad. Revolutionary Guards Quds Force chief Qassem Suleimani in his new round of military activities in Iraq attempted realize his objective through official and government channels, and by using Shiite military forces, parallel to equipping and arming these units with new weapons. Qassem Suleimani sought to enhance the Popular Mobilization Units (a conglomerate of Iran-backed Shiite militia groups) into a regional military power and downgrade the role played by the Iraqi Army. This Quds Force policy is in line with the same policy Iran sought to implement through the PMU from 2013 and integrating this unit into an entity similar to the IRGC. Arming the PMU with light and medium weapons, along with rockets/missiles through transferring the technology of this weaponry to Iraq are amongst the objectives of the IRGC Quds Force.

Iran-associated militias’ crimes in Fallujah operations

June 2016

The goals pursued by Shiite militia groups associated to Iran and the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force in their presence in the Fallujah operations is no longer a mystery for anyone. The sectarian nature of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and other Shiite militia groups and their approach vis-à-vis the residents of the towns of Garma, Saqlawiya and locals in Fallujah who were able to flee from ISIS control have made it crystal clear the objectives they are following in the Fallujah operations of seeking vengeance against the Sunni community. This has raised major protests and resulted in deep concerns amongst Arab and regional states over the role played by Iran-backed Shiite militia groups in the Fallujah operations. On the other hand, the public announcement made by Hadi al-Ameri and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in various press conferences of Fallujah being liberated by PMU forces showed that the PMU and Shiite militias are the main parties involved in the Fallujah operations. Al-Ameri had previously announced the PMU mission will finalize following the Fallujah operations. More recently, however, he has said, “After we have ensured that all non-civilians have exited Fallujah we will attack the city and no one will stop us. No one can liberate Fallujah without PMU participation.”

Iran’s attempts to resolve differences amongst Iraq Shiite coalition

May 2016

With the reform movement gaining momentum in the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, along with measures taken by Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr to achieve these reforms, a serious rift and divide inside the Shiite coalition has become visible more than ever before. Considering the fact that rooted reforms have been the demand of the senior Shiite clergy, various members of the Shiite coalition have publicly supported the reforms proposed by al-Abadi and Sadr, yet behind the scenes they continue to emphasize on the quota system of appointing ministers. This has caused major divides amongst the establishing currents of the National Alliance. Iran is extremely concerned of the Shiite coalition in Iraq crumbling, and therefore to this day Tehran has dispatched a significant number of delegations to resolve these disputes in Iraq. Significant is the fact that none of the Shiite coalition currents are willing to accept the requests raised by Iranian representatives.