AS regular readers of The National will know, I’ve spent a fair amount of time over these past four decades reporting from countries where the extent of Iran’s political, intelligence and military influence is undeniable. Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Afghanistan are the obvious four that spring to mind. Not to mention visiting Iran itself. It was with some considerable interest then that I read the latest story in The Times citing a study published by the Henry Jackson Society think tank indicating that Iran is peddling disinformation to influence the outcome of Scotland’s parliamentary elections in favour of pro-independence parties to help destabilise the UK.
Sunday, 2 May, 2021 - 08:00
An IRGC boat intercepts a US ship in Gulf waters late last month. (AFP) London, Tehran - Asharq Al-Awsat
Sweden’s Security Service disclosed in its 2020 intelligence report that Iran is seeking Swedish technology for its nuclear weapons program, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The report stated that Iran also is conducting industrial espionage, which is mainly targeted against the Swedish hi-tech industry and Swedish products that can be used in nuclear weapons programs. Iran is investing heavy resources in this area and some of the resources are used in Sweden.
The Swedish report was released after a German intelligence document declared last week that Iran’s regime had not ceased its drive to obtain weapons of mass destruction in 2020.
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel s diplomatic reporter
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif listens to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during talks in Moscow, Russia, January 26, 2021. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has found himself under fire after an interview leaked to the press in which he decries the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Iran’s foreign policy.
Though Zarif has sought to downplay the remarks which were leaked ahead of the June presidential elections in Iran, and as Tehran and world powers discuss ways to revive the 2015 nuclear accord amid a furious reaction from conservative figures and media outlets speculation still swirls around who leaked the three-hour segment.
Sunday, 2 May, 2021 - 11:00
Pro-Iran militias in eastern Syria. (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights) Deir Ezzor, London - Asharq Al-Awsat
Iran-backed militias have set up rocket launchpads in the Deir Ezzor region where the missiles have been directed towards areas under the control of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is backed by the international coalition.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the militias have established 13 launchpads equipped with surface-to-surface Iranian-made missiles in al-Mayadeen in eastern Deir Ezzor, while nine others were placed in a barn in the Hawi al-Mayadeen area.
All the launchpads are pointed towards the eastern Euphrates region. The nearest position to the platforms is the al-Omar oil field on the opposite bank of the river.
April 30, 2021
Clashes broke out April 20 in neighborhoods of Qamishli, between the Asayish internal security forces affiliated with the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the National Defense Forces, which includes fighters loyal to the Syrian government and is receiving support from Iranian militias. The fighting began after Khaled al-Hajji, an Asayish security official, was killed in an attack by members of the National Defense Forces at a military checkpoint near al-Wahda roundabout, close to the Tayy neighborhood, in southern Qamishli. The Asayish responded and targeted several National Defense Forces checkpoints in the same neighborhood, and managed to kill three members and arrest others.