[AdmSmith]

Iran Update, May 31, 2023

Iran has bolstered its defensive position in eastern Syria since the end of the escalation cycle that occurred in March, likely to facilitate the transfer of advanced conventional weapons into Syria. The escalation cycle between Iran, Israel and the United States may have prompted Iran to halt transferring advanced conventional weapons through Deir ez Zor.

The Raisi administration is reconfiguring personnel to economically benefit from Iranian and Syrian reintegration into the region.

Iran is likely attempting to coerce Iraq into complying with Iranian security concerns about Israeli activities in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iran and the Taliban are signaling they seek to avoid further border clashes over water disputes while preparing for further border clashes.

The Iranian Parliament approved Reza Morad Sahraei as Iran's new education minister on May 30, which could lead to intensified government indoctrination efforts and crackdowns on university student protests.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-may-31-2023

[AdmSmith]

Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of Hizballah. Muhammad Ja’far Qasir, also known as Shaykh Salah and Hossein Gholi, is a key Hizballah financier, who provides funding for Hizballah operations through a number of illegal smuggling and procurement activities and other criminal enterprises.

Qasir is also a critical conduit for financial disbursements from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) that are used to fund Hizballah’s activities. He helps to oversee several front companies used to mask the IRGC-QF’s role in the sale of oil and other extractives, a crucial source of income for Hizballah, IRGC-QF, the brutal regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and other illicit actors. In addition, Qasir leads Hizballah’s Unit 108, which coordinates closely with the IRGC-QF to facilitate the transfer of weapons, technology, and other support from Syria to Lebanon.

https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/muhammad-jafar-qasir/

[AdmSmith]

Iran Update, June 1, 2023

Iran has been building and training forces to target and kill US personnel and expel US forces from Syria.
Some of the arms and training that Iran has provided to militias in Syria could also support transfers of advanced conventional weapons.
Iran is attempting to assuage Western concerns about its nuclear program, likely to preempt the upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report that will detail Iran’s noncompliance with its nuclear safeguard obligations.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-june-1-2023