Free Republic

Startling new evidence from German intelligence reports shows the Tehran regime is working to illegally obtain technology and know-how to advance its nuclear weapons and missile programs, despite the 2015 agreement to curb its nuclear program. A report from the state of Hamburg holds that “there is no evidence of an complete about-face in Iran’s atomic polices in 2016” [after the Islamic Republic signed the JCPOA deal with Western powers in 2015, aimed at restricting Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief]. Iran sought missile carrier technology necessary for its rocket program.” The report noted that the federal prosecutor...

THERE is, I would guess, somewhere between a 30 and 40 per cent chance that the Bush administration will bomb Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year. This is, naturally, a personal judgment. It is based on two weeks of intense conversations I have had with American national security figures. Washington, all the capitals of Europe and Canberra are united in their determination to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran are obvious. Its leaders are theologically motivated and believe Israel should be wiped off the map. It is the chief global sponsor...

WASHINGTON: Israel carried out a major military exercise earlier this month that American officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. Several American officials said the Israeli exercise appeared to be an effort to develop the military's capacity to carry out long-range strikes and to demonstrate the seriousness with which Israel views Iran's nuclear program. More than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters participated in the maneuvers, which were carried out over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece during the first week of June, American officials said.

Obama's many conflicting positions on Iran.The Iranian regime supports violent extremists and challenges us across the region. It pursues a nuclear capability that could spark a dangerous arms race, and raise the prospect of a transfer of nuclear know-how to terrorists. Its president denies the Holocaust and threatens to wipe Israel off the map. The danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and my goal will be to eliminate this threat. --Barack Obama, June 4, 2008 So begins the great transformation, whereby a dovish primary candidate mutates into a (moderately) hawkish nominee. It's a tall order in Obam a's...

<p>There’s some interesting insight into the mood of the Iranian street in a Washington Post article today. From the author’s experience as an on and off resident of Iran, Ahmadinejad’s stock is plummeting while America’s is climbing.</p> <p>Starting in about 2005, Iranians’ historic esteem for the United States gave way to a deep ambivalence that is only now ending. President Bush’s post-9/11 wars of liberation on both of Iran’s borders — in Iraq to the west and Afghanistan to the east — rattled ordinary Iranians, and Washington’s opposition to Iran’s nuclear program — a major source of national pride — added to their resentment. In early 2006, when I lived in Iran as a journalist, I had only to step outdoors to hear the complaints. Standing in line for pastry, I heard indignant matrons suggesting a boycott of U.S. products. The pious bazaar merchant who lived across the street grumbled that America was trying to “boss Iran around.” On the ski slopes outside Tehran, I heard liberal college kids in designer parkas lionize Ahmadinejad for “standing up to the U.S. like a man.” … But on a recent two-week trip to Iran, I found the shift in sentiment palpable. This year...</p>

TEHRAN, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The Iranian defense minister said Sunday the country has developed new missiles with a 1,240-mile range. "We have new 2,000-kilometer surface-to-surface missiles and new warheads to place on them," Defense Minister Mohammad-Najjar said in remarks cited by the Islamic Republic News Agency, YNet News reported. "Although we cannot announce all our achievements due to security reasons and preventing misuse of enemies, production of different anti-armor and surface-to-surface missiles with warheads and a range of 2,000 kilometers are just parts of our defense capabilities," Mohammad-Najjar said at a rally celebrating the anniversary of the Islamic revolution...

N. Korea removes second Taepodong-2 missile from launch site:officials SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea may have relocated a long-range missile from a launch site from which it test-fired missiles last month, but the reason for its removal and its new location were not immediately known, a government official said Friday. The purported missile was one of two Taepodong-2 missiles assembled at the launch site in the eastern district of Musudan-ri, North Hamkyong Province, where the first missile was launched on July 5 along with six other short- and mid-range missiles from other launch sites.