Tehran Archives

Report: Iran warned Moscow days before 144 killed in terrorist attack

April 2, 2024

It’s getting harder for Russia to brush off reports that it had received multiple terror attack warnings before the concert hall massacre near Moscow on Friday, March 22. Now, Russia’s ally, Iran, is saying it tipped off the Kremlin days before Russia’s deadliest terror attack in 20 years, which left at least 144 people dead.

Tehran said it forewarned Moscow about a possible “big terrorist attack.” Iranian intelligence reported it learned of a potential attack during interrogation of alleged terrorists arrested in connection with a pair of bombings in the Iranian city of Kerman.

“As Iran has been a victim of terror attacks for years, Iranian authorities fulfilled their obligation to alert Moscow based on information acquired from those arrested terrorists,” a senior security official told Reuters.

However, when asked by Reuters about the intelligence, a Kremlin spokesperson claimed he did not know “anything about this.” Meanwhile, a second Reuters source, who asked to remain anonymous, claims that Iranian intelligence lacked specific details, like timing and location.

U.S. intelligence also said it learned of a planned ambush by eavesdropping on “chatter” among Islamic State militant group fighters, and repeatedly warned Russia about a possible terror attack. However, Moscow dismissed the intelligence, reportedly skeptical of a foreign adversary.

ISIS-K has since claimed responsibility for the bombings in Iran and the concert hall killings near Moscow. Despite the reported claims, the Kremlin has linked Ukraine to the attack, without any evidence. Kyiv and the U.S. have said there’s no truth to Russia’s claim.

The acts of terror in Iran and Russia both reportedly involve Tajik nationals. ISIS-K reportedly recruits heavily from poverty-stricken Tajikistan, which was part of the former Soviet Union.

The Iranian intelligence reports come as Tehran and Moscow have deepened ties militarily during the war in Ukraine, and both remain under Western sanctions.

However, recently Iran has raised concerns about the capabilities of Russian security forces amid the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall.

Iran says top commander killed after Israeli airstrike

April 1, 2024

At least seven people are reportedly dead and Iran’s Consulate building in Damascus, Syria, is destroyed. Iran claims it’s the result of an Israeli airstrike on Monday, April 1. A Lebanese security source told Reuters that among those killed are three senior Iranian commanders.

Israel has not said whether or not its military was behind the strike.

“We do not comment on reports in the foreign media,” an Israeli military spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the Iranian ambassador condemned Israel for the alleged attack and vowed revenge.

This latest incident comes as Israel continues its war in Gaza and is reportedly targeting supporters of Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces have hit several Iranian targets in the Gaza Strip and initiated airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Reut ers reporters at the scene of the blast, in the Mezzeh district of Damascus, said they saw smoke rising from the ruins of the building. The Syrian foreign minister and interior minister were both at the scene.

“We strongly condemn this atrocious terrorist attack that targeted the Iranian Consulate building in Damascus and killed number of innocents,” Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said.

First responders were at the scene of the airstrike, searching for bodies among the rubble.

The White House did not immediately comment on the incident. However, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told Reuters that the United States remains “concerned about anything that would be escalatory or cause an increase in conflict in the region.”

If the airstrike does happen to be from Israel, it would signal a major escalation in tensions between the Jewish state and Islamic Republic.

Iran triples output of near-weapons grade enriched uranium

December 27, 2023

Iran is producing 60% enriched uranium and has tripled its production levels in recent weeks. It’s the only country in the world not declared a nuclear power that is capable of producing such highly enriched uranium.

Uranium can be converted to weapons-grade material within days. New reports show Iran growing its arsenal at unprecedented levels.

Iran is said to have high enough stock to fuel at least three nuclear weapons — a growing threat amid increasing tensions from the Israel-Hamas war.

Iran and Iranian-backed militant groups are supporting Hamas while the U.S. is backing Israel, putting Iran and the U.S. further at odds. Since the war began, more than 100 attacks on U.S. bases by Iran’s proxy groups have been carried out.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an autonomous organization within the United Nations that oversees countries’ use of nuclear weapons. However, Iran has not always been forthcoming with the agency.

Last year, Iran was caught turning off cameras monitoring inside its nuclear facilities, and Tehran has been accused of failing to comply with the IAEA’s investigations.

The investigations also eventually led to the discovery that Iran produced a small amount of 83% highly enriched uranium — just shy of the 90% weapons-grade level.

While Iran is not a nuclear world power, it has power over militant groups that are currently launching strikes at U.S. bases and in the Red Sea in retaliation over the war.

Iran not only has influence over Houthi rebels and Hamas militants, but the country is also their largest supplier of weapons.

The U.S. is calling on Iran to de-escalate the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and is adamant on keeping nukes out of Iran’s arsenal.

Report: Iran warned Moscow days before 144 killed in terrorist attack

Iran says top commander killed after Israeli airstrike

Iran triples output of near-weapons grade enriched uranium

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