Mediaboss Marketing

National Security

Roxane Farmanfarmaian claims Tehran would not use a nuclear weapon against Israel

Iran should be allowed to build a nuclear weapon, according to the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft's newest hire, Roxane Farmanfarmaian.

Farmanfarmaian, a policy analyst who focuses on Iran, earlier this month became a nonresident fellow at the isolationist think tank bankrolled by billionaires George Soros and Charles Koch. In a 2013 policy debate, Farmanfarmaian argued in favor of Iran building a nuclear bomb, saying the country would never use it to destroy Israel, even though the hardline regime has been threatening to do so for years and sponsors the top jihadist terrorists waging war on the Jewish state.

Farmanfarmaian joins a growing roster of Quincy Institute scholars who have pushed for increased engagement with Iran and promoted anti-Israel conspiracy theories from their perch at the think tank. This includes Trita Parsi, who formerly helmed the National Iranian American Council, a groupaccusedof secretly lobbying on Iran's behalf, andStephen Walt,a longtime Israel critic who has pushedconspiracy theories about the Jewish state. Like many of her Quincy Institute colleagues, Farmanfarmaian has downplayed the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran and argued that Israel should learn to live with the threat of an Iranian bomb.

"If Iran was to bomb Israel, it would destroy Jerusalem, the third-holiest site in Islam," Farmanfarmaian was quoted as saying during the debate, according to a press report published at the time. "It's inconceivable that Iran would bomb Israel because it would isolate it."

Israeli leaders and a wide array of regional experts disagree with this assertion.

Farmanfarmaian also argued in a 2020 op-ed published in the Nation that then-president Donald Trump's assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was "a colossal strategic blunder." Like other Quincy scholars and pro-Iran analysts, Farmanfarmaian argued the assassination would spark a global terror spree by Iran, a fear that never came to fruition.

She also described the general, who helmed Iran's regional terror operations, as "charismatic and highly effective."

Soleimani, "largely immune from the ambivalence with which many Iranians view the ruthless Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, operated for the most part outside the country as the respected head of the IRGC's foreign arm, the elite Quds Force," she wrote at the time. "Charismatic and highly effective, he gained admiration even among reformists for expanding Iran's reach across the Shia Crescent, the land bridge connecting Iran to Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon."

Farmanfarmaian went on to claim that the Soleimani assassination genuinely upset ordinary Iranians, even though the general was widely seen as the face of Tehran's massive spending on foreign wars.

"The expressions of grief on the streets of Iran are genuine," she wrote. "His assassination has brought the population closer to the leadership, despite recent protests, in shared outrage not only at Trump's actions but also at the administration's apparent disdain for Iran's sovereign rights and its insulting rhetoric demanding that Iran change its behavior.'"

See more here:
Give Iran Nukes, Says Quincy Institutes New Iran Expert - Washington Free Beacon

The logo of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is seen at their headquarters during a board of governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, June 7, 2021. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comRegister

DUBAI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Germany expressed regret on Monday that Tehran had not responded positively to European proposals to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, underlining the dim prospects for a deal soon, as Israel urged action to stop Iran becoming a nuclear armed state.

Two days after European powers said they had "serious doubts" about Iran's intentions over the deal, Iran said it was ready to continue cooperating with U.N. nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

But it also urged the IAEA "not to yield Israel's pressure" over Tehran's nuclear activities and revealed a drone capable of hitting cities in Israel, which has threatened to attack Iranian nuclear sites if diplomacy fails to save the deal.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comRegister

On Saturday, France, Britain and Germany questioned Iran's commitment to reviving the deal curbing its nuclear programme in return for a lifting of sanctions, comments that were rejected by Tehran and called "very untimely" by Moscow. read more

The IAEA's Board of Governors meets on Monday, three months after adopting a resolution urging Iran to give credible answers to the agency's investigations into uranium traces at three sites in Iran. Western nations have accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful and that the IAEA investigations are politically motivated.

"Iran announces its constructive cooperation with the agency as its obligation ... While Iran has obligations, it also has rights," Kanaani told a televised news conference.

"Naturally Iran expects constructive actions from IAEA and the members of its governing board."

Kanaani called Saturday's European statement "unconstructive".

"Both the U.S. and Europe should prove that they do not prioritize the interests of the Zionist regime (Israel) when taking political decisions," he said.

After 16 months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Aug. 8 the bloc had laid down a final offer to overcome an impasse over the revival of the agreement.

Earlier this month, Iran sent its latest response to the EU's proposed text. Western diplomats said it was a step backwards, with Tehran seeking to link a revival of the deal with the closure of IAEA investigations into the uranium traces.

In Berlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said there was no reason why Iran should reject the European proposals on reviving the nuclear deal.

"We are in agreement with Israel that Iran cannot obtain nuclear weapons ... I regret that Iran has so far not managed to give a positive response to the suggestions from the European coordinator," he said.

"There is now actually no reason for Iran not to agree to these proposals. But one has to accept that this is not the case. That's why this will certainly not happen in the near future."

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, speaking alongside Scholz, called for collective action to prevent Iran getting a nuclear weapon and said it was time to move past previous failed negotiations. read more

Israel, which is widely believed to have the Middle Easts only nuclear arms and which sees Iran as a existential threat, says it will attack Iranian nuclear sites if diplomacy fails to contain Tehrans nuclear ambitions.

Iran, which has called for the elimination of Israel, has vowed a "crushing" response to any Israeli aggression.

Irans ground forces chief Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari said on Monday that Tehran has developed an advanced long-range suicide drone "designed to hit Israel's Tel Aviv, Haifa", the semi-official Mehr news agency reported. read more

The director of Israel's Mossad spy service, David Barnea, warned Iran's clerical rulers against "resorting to force against Israel or Israelis".

"The top Iranian echelon must be aware that resorting to force against Israel or Israelis, directly from Iran or via proxies, will meet a painful response against those responsible - on Iranian soil," Barnea said in a speech at Reichman University near Tel Aviv on Monday.

"This will happen in Tehran, in Kermanshah, in Isfahan," he added, referring to areas of Iran where authorities have reported sabotage operations against facilities or personnel linked to the country's military or nuclear programmes.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comRegister

Additional reporting by Dan Williams in Jerusalem and Rachel More and Matthias Williams in Germany; writing by Parisa Hafezi/Tom Perry; editing by Philippa Fletcher

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

More here:
Germany says regrettable that Iran has yet to accept nuclear offer - Reuters

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

EXCLUSIVE: A bipartisan group of House lawmakers will introduce legislation Thursday that would solidify U.S. sanctions against Iran in order to apply pressure to the regime as it attempts to obtain nuclear weapons.

The lawmakers say the legislation, titled the Solidify Iran Sanctions Act (SISA), would create a necessary deterrent by targeting the country's energy sector and making it more difficult to finance terrorist operations or develop ballistic missiles.

"From brutal abuses committed against its own people, to its never-ending threats towards free and democratic societies, the Iranian regime has proven time and again that they are a rogue state with no interest in preserving regional or global peace," said Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif., who is leading the bill in the House.

"It is more important than ever that we prevent the unacceptable threat of a nuclear Iran from becoming a reality. Existing sanctions have proven successful in preventing such a catastrophe, and we must ensure that we can continue to place economic and strategic pressures on Iran to prevent them from developing nuclear weapons or supporting terrorists. Im proud to partner with Senator Scott on this issue, and to lead this bipartisan group of my House colleagues to send a clear signal that the United States will not tolerate existential threats against us, our allies, or freedom and democracy around the world."

LAWMAKERS URGE BIDEN TO DENY IRANIAN PRESIDENT ENTRY INTO US FOR UN MEETING OVER 'GROSS VIOLATIONS' OF RIGHTS

FILE PHOTO: A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf July 25, 2005. (Reuters/Raheb Homavandi/File Photo)

The bill would require the "imposition of sanctions with respect to Irans illicit weapons programs, conventional weapons and ballistic missile development, and support for terrorism, including Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps."

Current co-sponsors include Reps. Susie Lee, D-Nev.; Grace Meng, D-N.Y.; Angie Craig, D-Minn.; Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J.; Joe Wilson, R-S.C.; Maria Salazar, R-Fla.; Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla.; Randy Weber, R-Texas; and Mike Waltz, R-Fla.

Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif.

Last month, Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.; and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., introduced the Senate version of the legislation. The bill is designed to make the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 permanent in order to keep the U.S. and its allies safe from the threat of a nuclear Iran.

The legislation comes as the Biden administration is still negotiating the final details of a renewed nuclear deal with Iran.

The legislation comes as the Biden administration is still negotiating the final details of a renewed nuclear deal with Iran. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers urged President Biden last week to deny necessary "entry visas" for Iranian President EbrahimRaisiand his delegationto attend the upcoming 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York City due to the foreign president's record of supporting terrorism and violating human rights.

Kelly Laco is a politics editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Kelly.Laco@Fox.com and on Twitter: @kelly_laco.

Continued here:
House Dems, GOP working together to make Iran sanctions permanent - Fox News

On January 3, 2020, the United States killed Qassem Soleimani with a drone strike just outside Baghdad International Airport. In an instant, the most powerful Iranian soldier of his generation was reduced, with his carpool companions, to smoldering bits of flesh surrounded by mangled SUV parts. The operation was not quite over. The message sent via missile was followed, a former U.S. intelligence official told me, by a verbal message, like a love note attached to a box of chocolates. The official, who worked on the Soleimani portfolio and requested anonymity to speak freely, did not see the message but says it was calculated to menace, reassure, and avoid uncontrolled escalation. He summarized it: The killing of Soleimani is an isolated event. It is not the start of a new campaign. But if you retaliateand retaliation is defined as harming even one U.S. citizen, anywherewe will hit you back harder than you hit us. You will lose every round. Your only decision is how many rounds we go, and how badly you want to be humiliated.

Read: Qassem Soleimani haunted the Arab world

Although Iran vowed revenge, and days later sent a volley of missiles into an American base in Iraqs Anbar province, it seems to have taken the valentine seriously. (No one was killed in the Anbar strike. Iran did, however, test the boundaries of the threat: More than 100 U.S. personnel were later found to have lasting neurological effects from the blasts.) But in the past six weeks, three incidents suggest that Iran is ready for another round, this time with new, more amateurish tactics.

Afshon Ostovar, a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, told me that since the Soleimani assassination, Irans military and intelligence services have obsessed over proving that they, too, can kill senior officials of hostile countries. They desperately want to achieve some form of revenge, Ostovar said. But this covert stuff, like the U.S. assassination of Soleimani or Israels killing of Irans top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, is something they just havent mastered. Instead they have tried and failed to execute overseas operations, Ostovar says, and each failure has reminded them of their weakness. Killing Bolton or Pompeo, the second target in the Bolton plot, would restore confidence in their status on the international assassination scene.

But even assuming a solid connection to Iran, these three recent cases would not demonstrate that it can kill with the same professionalism and brio as the Americans and Israelis. (The Fakhrizadeh assassination is widely thought to have been carried out remotely, by killer robots that self-destructed on-site after completing their mission.) The plots to kill Bolton, Alinejad, and Rushdie are not even as sophisticated as the Mykonos affair in Berlin in 1992, which involved trained operatives, not freelance bumblers, in a Mob-style restaurant slaying.

These plots may more closely resemble Islamic State attacks in 2015, many of which involved little more than moral support from ISISs home office, in Raqqah. One of the Islamic States great strategic innovations over its doddering predecessor, al-Qaeda, was to realize that it didnt need spectacular, expensive plots like September 11, and could terrorize much more cheaply by encouraging jihadist knuckleheads abroad to stab and run down infidels using knives and rented trucks. It didnt need to train assassins and outfit them with fake IDs or diplomatic cover. It could just use volunteer or cheap contract labor, a gig assassin.

George Packer: Killing Soleimani was worse than a crime

These operations by knucklehead-proxy probably reflect the limits of what Iran can do. They may also represent Irans testing of the valentine wire, to see what it can do without getting hit back. (And not for the first time. As mentioned, service members at the base in Anbar suffered lasting injuries.) Alinejad told me that Iranians overseas already know that in Turkey, Germany, and even Canada, Irans power is great enough to threaten the lives of its enemies. Now Iran may be trying to show that it can whack Americans in the United States, too.

The Biden administration is not powerless here. Nor is escalation its only option. It considers a nuclear deal with the Iranian regime preferable to no dealand a deal would probably be set back by years by any assassination of a U.S. official, even one retired from a now-disfavored administration. (All of this raises a question: How much does Iran want a deal, anyway?) A fitting response to the development of a new campaign of murder would be to make any agreement contingent, as the one under President Barack Obama was not, on Irans renunciation of its international terror operations. Otherwise, in light of these recent cases, any compromise with Iran will look like a sweetheart deal, box of chocolates or no.

See the rest here:
Iran's Knucklehead Assassination Strategy - The Atlantic

Seeing an America increasingly in decline, two famed scholars have proposed a more benign world order, and have praised Irans measured responses to acts of escalation by the United States as evocative of the world they envision.

American Stephen M. Walt and Turkish Dani Rodrik, both of them acclaimed scholars at Harvard University, wrote in a joint article for Foreign Affairs September/October 2022 issue that despite global upheavals, one can envision a more benign order in which the United States, China, and other world powers compete in some areas, cooperate in others, and observe new and more flexible rules of the road.

The global order is deteriorating before our eyes, they wrote. It is increasingly clear that the existing, Western-oriented approach is no longer adequate to address the many forces governing international power relations.

They offered a four-part framework in which all actions and issues would be grouped into four general categories: those that are prohibited, those in which mutual adjustments by two or more states could benefit all parties, those undertaken by a single state, and those that require multilateral involvement.

They said that approach would do much to increase trust and reduce the possibility of conflict, including when states, even hardened adversaries, refuse to escalate or to respond to escalation with equally unruly behavior.

In a section subtitled Acting, Not Escalating, Walt and Rodrik cited Irans behavior in responding to massively escalatory acts by the United States under former President Donald Trump, including the the shortsighted U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iran deal (known as the JCPOA) and the maximum-pressure campaign.

When the United States left the JCPOA in 2018, for example, Iran did not respond by immediately restarting its full nuclear program. Instead, it adhered to the original agreement for months afterward, they said. Even later, and as other signatories failed to uphold their end of the bargain, Iran reduced its commitment in an incremental and visibly reversible fashion, signaling its willingness to return to full compliance if the United States also did so.

Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran deal in 2018, and launched what he called a campaign of maximum pressure on Iran in the hopes that the country would cave in and agree to a new agreement on American terms.

Irans reaction to the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign was also measured, Walt and Rodrik said, citing the US assassination of revered Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq in 2020, an act of provocation that led many to believe the US was provoking war. That act, the US scholars said, did not lead Iran to escalate.

General Soleimani was assassinated by the US military in Baghdad. In a statement, the Pentagon claimed responsibility for the act of terror. Iran promised revenge, but also initially responded by firing missiles at a base hosting US soldiers in Iraq. At least 109 American soldiers received brain injuries in that attack, according to the Pentagon.

Since Trumps exit from the White House in 2021, the Iran deal has been the subject of renewed negotiations over its revival. Those negotiations have slowed down more recently, however, as US President Joe Biden refuses to reverse some of Trumps actions.

See the rest here:
Proposing 'more benign' world order, famed Harvard scholars cite Iran's 'measured' responses to US 'escalation' - Press TV