The Iran government made its first official contact with the Libyan rebels by inviting the rebel chief to Tehran, Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akabr Salehi stressed a desire to “deepen bilateral ties,” and said Iran “discreetly” gave humanitarian aid to the rebels in Libya prior to Col. Gaddafi’s fall.
Many throughout the world have been speculating as to what direction Libya will take post-Gaddafi. Will the “new” Libya be dedicated to jihad or to democracy and human rights? With Tehran officially reaching out to the Libyan rebels’ National Transitional Council, fears of the rebels focusing on jihad become even greater.
Iran leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed once again that Iran does not need nuclear weapons and that the regime opposes the acquisition of such capabilities.
The President said that nuclear weapons are not worthwhile, as they did not save the former Soviet Union from collapse.
But with the Soviet Union, the principle of Mutually Assured Destruction was a deterrent. When it comes to the Islamic Republic, its radical ideology, and calls for “a world without America,” M.A.D. is only an inducement.
A recent poll by the Arab-American Institute shows that the Iran government has lost Arab support.
In 2006 and 2008, Arab public opinion favored Iran’s nuclear program and viewed Tehran Iran as an “active defiance to the West.” However, today amidst the so-called “Arab Spring,” the Middle East is no longer looking for America’s greatest opponent, but rather focusing on internal issues. Furthermore, the Iranian regime has been accused of interfering in several Arab countries.
Iran’s leaders, who crushed peaceful protests in the aftermath of the 2009 presidential elections, expressed their support for the Arab protests currently sweeping the region.
News from Iran: the Iranian regime has plans to deploy warships to the Atlantic Ocean to increase its presence in international waters. In a statement published Tuesday, RearAdmiral Habibollah Sayari said “Presence in the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, south of the Indian Ocean and in international waters is on the top agenda of the Navy.”
These ships will be equipped with Noor cruise missiles, which have a range of 125 miles (200 kilometers).
Let’s hope this is not what is happening:
In February, the Iranian navy moved warships to the Mediterranean Sea, a move which Israel called “political provocation.”
Two weeks ago President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemned the partition of Sudan, but Saturday the Iran government stated that it “respects” South Sudan’s choice of independence.
The mainly Christian and Animist South Sudan declared independence on July 9th from the mostly-Muslim north.
Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has stated his support of talks with the United States.
Tehran and Washington have not had diplomatic relations since 1979.
Rafsanjani, who is a bitter opponent of current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said that Ahmadinejad had already “broken the taboo of negotiations with the United States” by “sending letters to American officials (Bush and Obama) that remain unanswered.”
The former President added that he had attempted to initiate dialogue with the U.S. during his time in office but his efforts were vetoed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Public policy groups have plans to testify today on Hezbollah’s Latin American expansions before the House Homeland Security subcommittee on counterterrorism and intelligence. Congress will be reviewing its defense options in face of this growing threat of terrorism.
In recent statements on the subject to a Senate committee, Air Force General Douglas Fraser said Iran and Hezbollah are utilizing friendly relations with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Iran is expanding the number of its Latin American embassies, and teaching Islam to residents in the area.
In a speech Tuesday, IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps) commander Gen.Mohammad Ali Jafari divulged that his military branch is overseeing Iran’s domestic politics, and is heavily involved in the country’s economy and energy sector.
Jafari said U.S. claims that Iran could have a nuclear bomb in the next few years are nonsense. “Whenever they become disappointed or fail to achieve their goals, they resort to political accusations or assassination,” he said.
He also accused the U.S. of causing the uprisings in Syria.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has reportedly transferred new weapons to its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan in an attempt to speed up the U.S. withdrawals from these countries.
Defense officials have said that weapons smuggled into Iraq by the Iranian regime have already resulted in the deaths of American troops. In June, 15 servicemen were killed in Iraq. The U.S. attributed all the attacks to militias trained by the IRGC.
Iranian officials have denied the role of the IRGC in arming militants in Iraq and Afghanistan, and have claimed the U.S. concocted these stories to justify maintaining an American military presence in the region.
Arab support.
the United States.
before the House Homeland Security subcommittee on counterterrorism and intelligence. Congress will be reviewing its defense options in face of this growing threat of terrorism.
Mohammad Ali Jafari 
