U.S. Airstrikes Target Iran-Backed Militia; Several Killed
The U.S. confirmed Monday that it launched airstrikes against facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria.
Iran
Iraq, Egypt and Jordan hold joint summit in Baghdad
Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq agreed to bolster security and economic cooperation at a tripartite summit on Sunday that saw an Egyptian head of state visit Iraq for the first time in three decades.
US carries out air strikes against Iran-backed militia in Iraq, Syria
The United States said on Sunday it carried out another round of air strikes against Iran-backed militia in Iraq and Syria, this time in response to drone attacks by the militia against US personnel and facilities in Iraq.
Iran: Nuclear site images won’t be given to IAEA, since inspection deal expired
Iran said Sunday it will not hand over images from some Iranian nuclear sites to the UN nuclear watchdog, as the monitoring agreement between the sides has expired, according to state media.
Iran Christians Fear Persecution Under New President
Christians said Thursday they fear that the election of Ebrahim Raisi as Iran’s president will lead to more persecution of religious minorities.
Iran uses criminal law to persecute Christians
Iran is persecuting Christians in the country by wielding against them a new law that severely punishes “any deviant education that contradicts sacred Islamic shari’a,” Christian Today reports.
Bennett: Israel consulting allies on Iran, but we will protect ourselves
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for the first time on Thursday publicly presented the shift on Iran policy from the previous government, saying that Israel will work closely with its allies on countering Tehran’s nuclear program, while maintaining a credible military threat.
Washington vows no Iranian nukes as Kochavi wraps up US visit
The Biden administration reaffirmed a U.S. commitment not to allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons as IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi wrapped up four days of discussions with American defense and intelligence officials.
Attack on Iranian nuclear site damaged centrifuge production facility
The attempted attack on an Iranian nuclear site outside Tehran that was reported on Wednesday targeted a facility used in the construction of centrifuges needed to enrich uranium, Iranian opposition sources said.
Gantz: Raisi election shows Iran is becoming more extremist
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Tuesday that the Iranian election last week of ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi as the country’s president shows that Iran is headed toward “greater extremism” Israel News reports.
US seizes three dozen Iranian websites for spreading ‘misinformation’
Top security officials seized approximately three dozen Iranian-based websites Tuesday, citing concerns over the spread of misinformation a national security official told Fox News.
IDF chief calls return to Iran nuclear deal ‘dangerous’ at Pentagon meetings
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi said during a visit to the Pentagon that a U.S. return to the Iran nuclear deal would be “dangerous” and that all options should be exhausted to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear military capabilities, the Israeli military said in a statement Monday.
US to continue talks on rejoining Iran deal, although says Raisi election was unfair
The United States has said it will continue indirect talks with Iran on rejoining the 2015 nuclear deal, despite asserting that the June 18 election of ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi as Iran’s new president had not been a free and fair process, the Times of Israel reports. Raisi is viewed as an ally of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s sole nuclear power plant undergoes unexplained emergency shutdown
Iran’s sole nuclear power plant underwent an unexplained temporary emergency shutdown, state TV reported on Sunday.
Blinken, Lapid discuss US-Israel ties, efforts to expand normalization agreements
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his new Israeli counterpart Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday, discussing a range of issues from the U.S.-Israel relationship, Iran and a push for more normalization agreements with Arab countries.
US to pull Patriot batteries from key MidEast countries
The US is moving up to eight Patriot air defense batteries from key countries in the Middle East, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Friday.
Ayatolloah’s protege wins Iran presidency in questionable election
Iran’s hard-line judiciary chief won the country’s presidential election in a landslide victory Saturday, propelling the supreme leader’s protege into Tehran’s highest civilian position in a vote that appeared to see the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history.
Ultraconservative cleric expected to win Iran’s presidential election
Iran may be about to take an even harder stance against the West, as it is expected ultraconservative cleric Ebrahim Raisi will replace “moderate” President Hassan Rouhani in the country’s presidential election on June 18, the Times of Israel reports. After three of the seven candidates dropped out of the race on Wednesday, the election is widely viewed as a foregone conclusion in favor of Raisi, and a record low turnout is anticipated.
Biden Says US Could Strike Russia in “Cyber Way”
U.S. President Joe Biden says he has made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin he would not accept more cyberattacks and election interference. Biden suggested that America could respond in a “cyber way.”
Iran says it has 6.5 kg of 60%-enriched uranium, inching closer to weapons-grade
Iran said Tuesday that it has produced 6.5 kilograms (14.3 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity and 108 kilograms of uranium enriched to 20% purity in five months, far ahead of the schedule set by a law passed earlier this year by Tehran.