Monday, October 29, 2012

Obama Acted to Restore Diplomatic Ties with Iran – Ma’ariv

Iranians Feared Public Backlash

Israeli daily Ma’ariv on Sunday reported that few months after Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, he tried to restore diplomatic ties with Iran, even establishing full diplomatic relations and reopening embassies. The Islamic Republic fearing a public backlash rebuffed Obama’s proposal, Ma’ariv reported. The newspaper based its reporting on two Western diplomatic sources who are very close to Obama Administration. The media site Al Monitor, today published the English translation of the article. To read Al-Monitor's English translation, please click here.

Iran Navy '22nd Fleet' task force at Port Sudan

From PressTV:
In line with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s strategy of expanding its naval presence in international waters, Iran Navy’s 22nd fleet of warships has called at a Sudanese northeastern port in the Red Sea. The fleet which comprises Kharg helicopter carrier and Admiral Naqdi destroyer arrived at the Sudanese port on Monday. The Navy’s 22nd fleet was dispatched to the coasts of Djibouti and Bab el-Mandeb Strait in late September to convey Iran’s message of peace to the regional countries and maintain the security of shipping corridors against maritime terrorism. The Iranian commanders of the fleet are scheduled to meet with Sudanese Navy commanders during their stay in the North African country.
Identified warships are corvette IRINS Admiral Naqdi (84) and replenishment ship IRINS Kharg (431).

File photo: IRINS Kharg (431) replenishment ship

 
File photo: IRINS Admiral Naqdi (82) corvette

General Dempsey In Israel


The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, arrived in Israel on Sunday to oversee the largest air defense drill of its kind, which is currently under way. Gen. Dempsey met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak in the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv Sunday night. (Jerusalem Post, 29 October).

Photo: Ariel Harmoni/GPO/JP

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Israeli Attack on Sudanese Missile Plan a “Dry Run” for Iran Attack - Mehr


Iran’s Mehr News Agency, citing the Sunday Times, said Israeli attack on the Sudanese missile factory on Wednesday was a ‘dry run’ for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. A squadron of eight Israeli F-15 jets dropped four one-ton bombs on Yarmouk missile factory on the outskirts of Sudan's capital Khartoum.     

“A long-range Israeli bombing raid last week that was seen as a dry run for a forthcoming attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities has destroyed an Iranian-run plant making rockets and ballistic missiles in Sudan,” Sunday Times reported today. The Yamrouk facility reportedly produced Shahab missiles.

The attack occurred in the early morning of 24 October. Four of the F-15Is carried two one-ton bombs, escorted by four others – struck a gigantic Yamrouk missile site. The 2,400-mile return flight took the Israelis four hours, with the jets flying south along the Red Sea. The planes entered the Sudanese air space from the east to avoid Egypt’s missile defenses.

The F-15Is were refueled during the operations. Other Israeli aircraft equipped with anti-radar electronics dismantled the Sudanese early warning and air defense systems.
  
Photo credit: What is left of the Sudanese factory after the Israeli attack. (Satellite Sentinel Project/Mehr News Agency, 28 October 2012)

Iraq Inspects Iran Aircraft


Iraqi authorities on Saturday ordered an Iranian cargo plane heading to Syria to land for inspection in Baghdad, because officials were concerned the plane might be carrying arms. It was carrying medical supplies (AP, 28 October). 
File photo: Russian-made Iranian-owned Illyshin cargo plane. (AFP, 2008).

Rial @ 33,000


The open market exchange rate for Iranian currency, the rial, remains at 33,000 rials to the dollar, well below its low of 40,000 of two weeks ago. (Mehr News Agency, 28 October)