US on watch for Iranian meddling in Iraq voting

U.S. and Iraqi leaders are watching for signs that Iran is trying to meddle in the upcoming Iraqi elections, and keeping tabs on what they describe as an Iranian goodwill campaign in southern Iraq
The top U.S. military officer quizzed Iraqi leaders Friday about the influence and motives of next-door Iran as national elections approach, but made no promises when his hosts asked for surveillance equipment and other help to keep an eye on their neighbors.

Hours before Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the southern Iraqi city of Basra, near the Iranian border, Iranian troops crossed into Iraqi territory and seized an oil well in a disputed area along the border, Iraq's deputy foreign minister ... Read More

Pass this news on via -email or share it with social networks

Hamas Says Will Unite With Iran if Israel Attacks

All Islamist militant groups will form a united front with Iran against Israel if it attacks Iran,"
Islamist militant groups will fight alongside Iran if the country is attacked by Israel, exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said on Tuesday. Israel has not ruled out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to end a dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme, which the United States and its allies suspect is aimed at building an atomic bomb. Iran denies such an ambition, saying it wants to generate electricity using nuclear power. "All Islamist militant groups will form a united front with Iran against Israel if it attacks Iran," Meshaal, ... Read More

Pass this news on via -email or share it with social networks

In Iran Sanctions Plea, Obama Warns of Possible Israeli Strike

China's support for the resolution did not signify a wider shift in the nation's Iran strategy

The United States cannot indefinitely prevent Israel from launching strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities if China maintains its opposition to new punitive measures aimed at curbing the Middle Eastern state's disputed nuclear activities, U.S. President Barack Obama warned Chinese President Hu Jintao last month. Israel, the United States and a number of European powers have expressed concern that elements of Iran's nuclear program could support nuclear weapons development. China and Russia have typically taken a softer approach to Tehran, which ... Read More

Pass this news on via -email or share it with social networks

Iran troops 'seize Iraq oil well'

Iranian troops have entered southern Iraqi territory and taken control of an oil well, reports say. An Iraqi official played down the incident, saying the area was abandoned and right on a disputed border section. Iranian soldiers crossed the border and raised an Iranian flag over the Fakkah oil field, a US military spokesman told the AFP news agency. Iraq's Deputy Interior Minister confirmed the Iranians stayed in Iraq and were in control of the well. Earlier it was reported that they had withdrawn back across the border. Deputy Interior Minister Ahmed Ali al-Khafaji initially told the Reuters news agency the reports of the Iranian incursion were not true. But Mr Khafaji later confirmed the incursion had taken place, and said 11 Iranians had dug-in at the oil well and had not left. He said there had been no military response from Iraqi forces.. "We are awaiting orders from our leader," he said. The incursion is one of several that have occurred in the last few days, he said. The well is about 500m from an Iranian border fort and about 1km from an Iraqi fort, US Colonel Peter Newell told AFP Hyponews.

Pass this news on via -email or share it with social networks

Fallout of 2009 Iran Protests to Carry over into New Year

Supporters of Iran's defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi dressed in black during a mass protest in Tehran, 18 Jun 2009

When protests erupted over the declared outcome of the June presidential election, many Western analysts proclaimed Iran was on the eve of a new revolution that would topple the theocracy. But it did not happen. Not only was there was no revolution, but the theocratic rulers remain in power and many of the protesters have been arrested and tried.
No revolution - Some Iran-watchers say that was because the protesters were not able to draw support from the middle-class shopkeepers and merchants. But others say the explanation is simpler. ... Read More

Pass this news on via -email or share it with social networks