Category: Iran

After Report That Iran Can Build 5 Nuclear Bombs, Top Biden Advisor Calls for Resumption of Talks With Regime

National security adviser Jake Sullivan called on May 4 for the resumption of negotiations with Iran in response to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s warning that Iran has enough material to build five nuclear bombs. “While one Iranian arm spreads weapons and [terrorist] proxies, the other continues its program to obtain nuclear military capabilities. And…


After Report That Iran Can Build 5 Nuclear Bombs, Top Biden Adviser Calls for Resumption of Talks With Regime

National security adviser Jake Sullivan called on May 4 for the resumption of negotiations with Iran in response to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s warning that Iran has enough material to build five nuclear bombs. “While one Iranian arm spreads weapons and [terrorist] proxies, the other continues its program to obtain nuclear military capabilities. And…


CSIS Report Says China Committing Espionage Against Canadian Institutions, Defence Contractors

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) 2022 report stated that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is continuing to engage in espionage against Canadian academic institutions, defence contractors, and civil society organizations. “As a global leader in research and innovation, Canada is a prime target for the PRC’s intangible technology transfer efforts. China targets research through…


Religious Freedom Commission Calls Out Violations in Iran, China, Elsewhere

Commentary It’s an image of contrasts, courage, and confrontation: A faceless Iranian woman protester holds Catholic rosary beads against the backdrop of a poster featuring Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died last year while being held by the country’s morality police. Her alleged crime: standing up to the country’s theocratic regime by violating laws…


Bipartisan Group Introduces Bill to Make Energy Sanctions Against Iran Permanent

A bipartisan coalition of Congress members has introduced a bill that would make permanent U.S. sanctions on Iran’s energy sector. The Solidify Iran Sanctions Act—introduced on May 1 by Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), and Susie Lee (D-Nev.)—would make the sanctions under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 permanent as the latter is…


Leaders of Syria, Iran Meet in Damascus, Reaffirm ‘Strategic’ Ties

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Damascus on May 3, where he signed a “strategic cooperation” agreement with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad. Raisi’s two-day visit to Damascus is the first trip to Syria by an Iranian head of state since 2011, when protests against Assad and his government rapidly escalated into full-blown civil conflict….


Saudi-Iran Deal Was Secured Due to Personal Intervention From China’s Xi: Senior Chinese Diplomat

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping reportedly played an active role in persuading the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Iran to resolve diplomatic relations. According to a high-ranking Chinese diplomat, Xi took the initiative to broker the deal between the two Middle Eastern countries. Hong Kong-based media South China Morning Post reported on April 30 that…


US and Allies Should Seize More Iranian Oil

Commentary Iran seized a U.S. oil cargo destined for Houston on April 27. The seizure of Kuwaiti oil transiting the Gulf of Oman was apparently in retaliation for a U.S. seizure of Iranian oil off the coast of South Africa a few days earlier. The original U.S. seizure was part of sanctions against Iran’s nuclear…


US Announces Sanctions on Russia Over Detainment of WSJ Reporter

The United States announced on April 27 sanctions against Russia’s security service, the FSB, in light of Moscow’s detainment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The Biden administration also announced sanctions against Iran over wrongfully detaining Americans. “These actors in Russia and Iran have tried to use Americans for political leverage or to seek…


Iran Seizes Oil Tanker Headed for Texas: US Navy

Iran seized an oil tanker headed for Texas on Thursday, according to the U.S. Navy. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) took over the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, called the Advantage Sweet, in the Gulf of Oman, said the Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The tanker issued a distress signal as this was happening. The IRGCN seized…