A Report on Iran’s Growing Military Involvement in Syria

Iran Formed a Second Hezbollah in Syria’ - IRGC General

Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor’s staff writer, photographer for Getty Images, and the author of “Swords Encircle Me: Iran – A Journey Behind the Headlines,” on Friday filed a report from Tehran on the country’s growing military involvement in Syria. Following are some excerpts form Peterson’s report. To read the full report, please click here.

“Iran’s military this week is mourning another senior Revolutionary Guard officer killed while fighting in Syria… Abdollah Eskandari was, by one count, the 60th Iranian officer to die as a ‘martyr’ in Syria.”

“Iran has supplied troops, cash, and know-how to Syria's President Assad. That support has been vital, but comes at a cost to Iran.” 

“Some 130,000 Iranians are ‘trained’ and ready to go, and already ‘Iran has formed a second Hezbollah in Syria,’ claimed Brig. Gen. Hossein Hamedani, an IRGC commander who oversaw Iran’s involvement (in Syria).”

“Besides deploying Iranian advisers and lining up its own recruits, Iran is also reported to have mustered volunteer Shiite fighters from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Photo credit: The anniversary remembrance of Iranian Brig. Gen. Hassan Shateri, killed a year earlier in Syria. Tehran, 6 February 2014. (Scott Peterson/TCSM/Getty Images)

ICG Proposals for Nuclear Talks in Vienna

Christian Science Monitor’s Scott Peterson, reporting from Tehran, outlines a blueprint by the International Crisis Group (ICG) on reaching a final and comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers. Peterson says IGC proposals, written by ICG’s Ali Vaez, do not fully satisfy anyone, but could be the basis of a win-win solution in the talks in Vienna.

To read Peterson’s report on ICG's proposals, please click here.