iran

Iran threatens to block oil shipments in the Persian Gulf in response to sanctions

Presently, the Iranian government maintains control over the majority of the Persian Gulf and they claim that they are adequately prepared put into place a blockade on the exportation of any oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz as well. This measure is to be taken in response to the recently imposed sanctions from the United […]

Iran’s drug problem

Iran is notorious for the opium flowing within its borders. A significant portion of their population is plagued with addictions to opiates, and their meth problem is pretty severe as well. Some estimates in 2015 put the number of those addicted to illegal drugs at 2.2 million — 2.75% of the overall population. It has […]

Prime Minister of Iraq’s visit to Iran abruptly canceled

Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi’s press office canceled a planned trip to Iran this week. Oddly enough, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied that a visit by Abadi was even scheduled to begin with. Prime Minister Abadi’s office claimed the trip was canceled “because of his busy schedule,” but Abadi is still intending to […]

Kurdish militant groups call for unification against Turkish-Iranian alliance

The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) has released a statement calling for a unified front against the Turkish and Iranian border elements. PJAK is a militant group that maintains a close relationship with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Prior to the announcement, Turkish and Iranian border officials made their intentions and “determination” to combat the two groups […]

Iran and the situation they are in with US sanctions looming

Iran has continued to dismiss United States President Donald Trump’s talk that a confrontation of some kind will be in the near future. After the United States made its dramatic withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, the Iranian government has returned with threats. While President Trump has made the offer to discuss the situation “any time,” […]

Iranian currency rapidly dropping in value as US sanctions approach

The Iranian rial is falling in value again as a new set of sanctions from the United States are just around the corner. The rial dropped to 112,000 against the dollar over the weekend; it has been steadily dropping in value after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal earlier this year. The economic […]

United States and Turkish officials meet to discuss Iranian sanctions

Turkish and U.S. diplomats convened on Friday and held a meeting to discuss the upcoming sanctions to be imposed on Iran. The situation has the potential to put a serious strain on U.S.-Turkey relations, given Turkey’s economic ties to the Islamic Republic. Officials from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Ministry […]

Iran’s Supreme Leader threatens to cut off all oil exportation

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has made threats towards the distribution of oil should the nation’s sales be affected by the upcoming sanctions from the United States. Khamenei stated that, “If Iran’s oil export is blocked, no other country in the region will export oil either,” during a meeting between various diplomats, Ministry of Foreign […]

Iranian Minister of Education believes only Farsi should be used in schools

The Iranian Minister of Education claims that formal education in languages other than Farsi should be outlawed due to its “dangerous” connotations. The notion was dismissed as unconstitutional and absurd by Iranian members of parliament. Minister of Education Mohammad Bathaei stated that, “In some areas, we have seen teaching in local languages, which is a very dangerous […]

Iraq’s oil production threatened as protests continue

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil spokesman, Asim Jihad, claims that the country’s oil production is safe despite the ongoing protests throughout the nation. The civil unrest has gotten particularly bad in Basra, where the majority of Iraq’s oil fields are located. Asim Jihad told reporters that, “Production and exports from southern Iraq are stable as per normal levels,” […]

Israel Rocked By Rocket Attacks is the Iranian Two-Front Strategy Beginning

We’ve all seen how since late Friday, Israel has been facing an unending series of rocket and mortar attacks which has kept the country on alert. Hamas from their enclaves in Gaza has launched, to date over 200 rockets and mortars on the Israeli territory around Sderot. Most of the rockets fell into open fields […]

US recognizes Bahraini al-Ashtar Brigades as a terrorist group

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) proxy group, the al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB), has been labeled a “terrorist” organization by the United States. The AAB is based out of Bahrain and conducts training operations out of Iraq while receiving funding and logistics from Iran. This is a similar situation to the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi (PMU) paramilitary forces, another […]