This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Iran Buys Jets From UK To Fly Spy Commandos To Syria In Violation Of Nuke Deal
If you were Tehran, you’d have a lot of incentives these days to simply ignore the terms of the “landmark” P5+1 nuclear deal on the way to cementing your regional influence.
For starters, preserving the Assad government in Syria takes precedence over almost all other concerns so it’s really immaterial whether the Iranian ground incursion in support of Syrian forces is compatible with the nuclear agreement or not. That is, making sure that the Shiite crescent remains intact is of the utmost importance and if protecting Assad and Hezbollah means putting troops in Syria and enraging the US, then so be it.
On top of that, Moscow’s involvement in the conflict has effectively given Tehran the superpower stamp of approval to do whatever it pleases. It’s now clear that no matter what Washington says, Moscow is going to stand with the Ayatollah and that means Iran effectively has a Security Council seat. This, we contend, helps to explain why Iran was “allowed” to test fire a new ballistic missile last month (something which clearly violates the spirit if not the letter of the nuclear deal).
Finally, the IRGC’s influence among Iraqi politicians and military personnel is doing wonders for what amounts to an effort on The Kremlin’s part to muscle Washington out of the country.
In short, Iran can now openly flout its “agreement” with the US with impunity.
This week, we learn that a private Iranian airline with deep connections to the IRGC bought a passenger jet from Britain in order to ferry Qassem Soleimaini and the Quds to Syria. Here’s IB Times with more:
One of Iran’s commercial airlines last week bought a U.K.-manufactured jet with the aim of using it to deliver Iranian soldiers and weapons to Syria in support of the embattled regime of President Bashar Assad, International Business Times has learned. The purchase of the aircraft by an Iranian concern represents a clear violation of the deal brokered by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, under which Iran pledged to scale back its nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of sanctions, said senior American officials and attorneys who handle issues associated with sanctions compliance.
“Temporary sanctions relief ... currently in place does not cover the sale or lease of complete aircraft to Iran,” said Betsy Bourassa, a representative of the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence within the Treasury Department in Washington. And a representative of the State Department told IBT that it was aware of the sale and is investigating the transaction.
Under the terms of the ongoing sanctions, Iran is barred from purchasing aircraft from U.S. and European entities -- and U.S. and European entities are barred from selling them to Iran -- until Tehran has satisfied inspectors with the
International Atomic Energy Agency that it has begun rolling back its nuclear program, according to sanctions lawyers at Sheppard Mullin. Calls to Iran’s Foreign Ministry in Tehran were not returned.
The aircraft purchase marks the second time within five months that the Iranian airline, Mahan Air, one of the country’s largest domestic and international carriers, has purchased aircraft to expand its Tehran-based fleet. Linking
Iranian cities to Asian and European destinations, Mahan also flies to Damascus, where it delivers crucial stores of weaponry and troops of the elite ranks of the so-called Quds forces, which are aiding in the defense of the Syrian regime.
“Mahan Air’s close coordination with the Quds Force -- secretly ferrying operatives, weapons and funds on its flights -- reveals yet another facet of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps extensive infiltration of Iran’s commercial sector to facilitate its support for terrorism,” David Cohen, the U.S. under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said at a press briefing in Washington in 2011.
Mahan flights take off from Tehran and Abadan, another Iranian city, at unspecified times and without publicizing their destinations. The flights frequently disappear from tracking systems once they enter Syrian airspace. Radar then shows them having landed in Damascus.
Additionally, Mahan has been in the Treasury’s proverbial dog house for years after being accused of facilitating Soleimaini’s admittedly bizarre plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in a DC restaurant back in 2011 (see excerpts from leaked diplomatic cables here):
In October 2011, the Treasury Department announced that Mahan would be sanctioned for providing financial, material and technological support to the Quds Force in the Islamic Republic Guard Corps. The airline was also accused of flying Quds Force members linked to a plot to kill Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to the U.S., Adel al-Jubeir.
There are two takeaways from this. First, note that the US is actively attempting to dictate who can buy commercial airliners which raises the very real prospect that Washington is preventing Iran from modernizing its fleet which could in turn present safety issues for Iranian civilians.
Second, it's nothing short of hilarious that Iran not only violated a UN travel ban by sending The Quds commander to Russia to map out the Syrian incursion, but Tehran is now ferrying Qassem Soleimani, his deputies, and soldiers to Damascus and Al-Hasakah in a jet they just bought from America's staunchest ally.
Additionally, it's worth noting that if you want to know who's really interested in fighting ISIS (as opposed to the West's feigned anti-terror "campaign"), just consider one last passage from IB Times and the map shown below:
IBT tracked several Mahan Air flights over the span of two days and found at least two flights that took off from Damascus, landing in Al-Hasakah, Syria, the site of intense fighting between the Islamic State group and regime forces and their allies, before flying back to Tehran.
This also suggests that the Quds are being delivered to areas where the YPG and US spec ops are expected to be operating in the very near future.
If IB Times is correct about where the Quds are being inserted, then the potential for an escalation in Syria is even greater than we thought. That is, not only are US troops set to engage Hezbollah near Aleppo, there may well be a few shootouts between Delta Force and the Quds near Raqqa. Of course if the US is truly attempting to rout ISIS, then Obama's spec ops should be firing at the same targets as the Quds... Right? ...
»
- 198 reads
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -
So by selling Iran airplanes, the UK violated Western sanctions, no?
In retrospect Obama's AGW red line had more bite then the lives of 3 million Syrians + the thousands of dead troops in the MENA. Who knew.
please define "violation" .... LOL
Who is killing Christians ? ISIS. Who is the Terrorist? ISIS. Who is magically getting US made weapons ? ISIS. Makes me sick. And they still try selling the Bull shit that Iran and Syria are just as bad or worse than ISIS. Sorry I stopped buying that line of Bull Shit a long time ago.
I almost can hear the Stompy Feet Stompy Feeting!
With a fist shaking in the air. LOL
Gayrack hates the America and the Western model: Christianity, Democracy and Capitalism.
As a result, he will do everything in his power to destroy them.
"Violation" means that they "...did not buy planes or arms from the US or IDF"
Failure to do so, is a yuuuuge deal breaker.
I don't think Iran even signed the deal...
USN pulling back carrier patrols in the Gulf.
It's dawned on everyone that 1 sunk by a cheapo cruise missile = End of US PetroDollar Imperium.
Watch for this idea to permeate all USN strategy
Means nothing. If anything, this is a dangerous sign:
They pull the ships out of harm's way from Iranians, while still being able to fight from afar.
It's no longer the Iranians that are the immediate threat to US warships in the Gulf. It's those pesky cruise missiles that can be launched from the Caspian.
GO figure ..
Iran Is Being Courted by European Business and Big Oil $USORules are for the teams we don't like. Our friends don't have to worry about sanctions.
Enjoy the propaganda: An Iranian missile launch, a ME map and some menacing ISIS fighters in black pajamas. What's not to like?
no sanctions on Turkey for purchasing oil from Isis.
So the UK should sanction itself , yes ?
As long as they don't hit the Toyota dealership or the Nike Factory Outlet in Raqqa, it's all good.
And don't forget that the Settlers on the Syrian Golan can use their Iron Dome, to keep out all rockets.
This is just the Iranian MIC, flexing its muscle and waving its 'rocket' -- like all MICs.
Oh please. This is all about Iran violating those same sanctions. Please do tryand stick to the narrative.
Wait what does buying planes have to do with the nuclear research program, again? did Israel give up shit, too - or is it still no inspections, lots of nukes, and daily violations of the Geneva Conventions for those folks? no sanctions for Israel though, right?
https://theintercept.com/2015/03/02/brief-history-netanyahu-crying-wolf-...
http://original.antiwar.com/smith-grant/2012/07/03/netanyahu-worked-insi...
The last threat of EU sanctions against Israel resulted in the current MENA Refugee caravans.
Choose your threats carefully, when dealing with the Likudniks. Better to speak softly and use a big stick, than vice versa.
See this is the problem with people today. Threats, threats, and threats. This is one of the things that stands out about Mr. Putin. He didn't do a lot of talking about Syria. When invasion was threatened he parked his navy in a blocking position. When the invasion was transformed into a terrorist state he finally put planes in the air and started fighting. I do not recall any threats.
Add in that he has denounced the global warming farce as the fraud it is and I might start actually thinking he's more on the up and up than the down low.
It's ok, as long as the TSA isn't involved they should be safe.
Lightspeed retarded! I cant way for the HD GoPro videos to be uploaded onto the internet. Try not to get any blood on your new sneaker, boys! Fucking unreal....I wish i had a better comment....but how is a rational mind supposed to decipher all of this major history unraveling in real time!? i cant do it.
<grabs popcorn>
let hope they BOMB the city of london back to the stone age..
Well, looks like its time to sanction the UK. Why dosent the U.S just sanction the whole world. Then we can completley control all trade...
Geography isnt a strong suit of yours is it?
edit...ohh..........im usually good at that sort of thing.....well sarcasmed sir....
http://bellyup4blues.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Wheres-Da-Plane.jpg
US can unleash stuxnet and Israel can assassinate Iranian nuclear scientists but buying a civilain airliner violates the nuclear agreement with America?
No one complains that Obama's illegal war in Syria has killed 300,000, injured over 1,000,000 and created more tha 4 million refugees.
Anyone think the Iranians want a terrorist regime in Damascus ready to invade / occupy / annoy Teheran when Usrael snaps its fingers?
So, the US can dictate what a nation buys and what it can use it for?
Did I miss where we were bequeathed by God with the task of being Daddy of the world?
Maybe they can look into how dropping troops into a sovereign nation aligns with international law?
I'm pretty sure that dropping troops into another country without permission is an act of war.
pods
It is and is a "Violation" of international law but then again when has that ever stopped the nut jobs.
As soon as Iran has nuclear weapons, the Middle East will stabilize.
as a sea of glass.
did they get free Toyota trucks to seal the deal
How many different armies does the Bible say we need for that Armagedon thing to happen?
Oh, we're well past that point of no return!
White House, Media Silent One Year After Murder of US Reporter Who Exposed Western Links to ISIS
So Iran isn't supposed to do what it is legally allowed to do as a sovereign nation, and under the NPT, after years of sanctions? What do ballistic missiles or planes have to do with the alleged drive to nukes that Bibi claimed Iran was racing toward [AS HE BUILT MORE OF HIS OWN, AND MORE SETTLEMENTS, IN DEFIANCE OF UN RESOLUTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW] for over 20 years?
Netanyahu in 1992: Iran close to having nuclear bomb
Oh - and he was wrong [or lying] about Iraq, too - another longstanding target of International Zionist Jewry:
The fact of the matter is the nuclear issue was a ruse, and the Israelis and their 5th column wanted to make sure no deal happened - failing that they have made absurd claims about what Iran is not supposed to do as part of the "nuclear deal." What planes and ballistic missiles [by the way, why does Israel have very long range missiles?] are about is Iran defending itself from the long-desired Zionist attack, for its oil, for its central bank, and to remove state support for the Lebanese resistance. We've already seen George Jahn and AP get caught in deliberate lies about Iran 'inspecting itself' ~ re testing for residue, over a decade old, of alleged nuclear triggers.
Curiously - Netanyahu and a Jewish Zionist network stole nuclear tech from the US:
But - he's a Jew, so - no punishment, or sanctions would be appropriate. Meanwhile, what Iran is "entitled" to do is apparently up to Israel, which keeps murdering Palestinians, bulldozing only Palestinian homes, and importing crop and church burning Jewish fundamentalists as Israel never intended to do anything but steal the rest of Palestine - and then grab more of Syria, and into Lebanon and Sinai. Likud needs lebensraum, and you, cattle, must pay for it.
But Israel may continue to defy international law, UN resolutions, shelter racist murdering thugs from prosecution, and provoke violence to serve as pretext for additional ethnic cleansing - and its reward is more and more tax dollars.
But seriously, Raymond - does anybody expect the leaders of Israel to act other than like out-of-control psychopaths? I really don't think so. It seems to me that more and more Jews outside Israel recognise the nature of the beasts, and are distancing themselves from Israeli policies. Dissident Jewish writers in particular are to be greatly admired for their bravery.
If you don't like it, you can always complain to your AIPAC-approved Congressman.
I don't know why some parts of this article are written as though it's a bad thing to fight ISIS. Seriously, I don't give a shit who shoots those CIA/Mossad trained ISIS criminal bastards. If the Iranian Qud Commandos want to wipe them off the planet in Syria, they are very welcome to do it. We've all seen how those ISIS nutjobs have treated Syrians, especially Syrian Christians and destroyed priceless historical artifacts in Palmyra (ones that they couldn't take to sell in London, Tel Aviv and NYC).
For several years now, it's really odd how certain msm articles try to demonise those who are fighting against ISIS criminals. We now have the curious potential situation of US Delta force being caught red handed helping terrorist organizations under the guise of helping the fantasy "moderate" Syrian rebels. Anyone who signs up for that criminal, illegal duty needs his head examined.
If true, moar of the mantra now prevalent in the UK and the West in general :
When thieves fall out...
Off topic : Has ZH reported the news that heretic commie party Chinese leaders and apparatchik, now living in Africa (apparently 9000 of them), are being OFFICIALLy pursued by current government for having run away with 123 billion $ of chinese local government cash, put to good use to support Rogue China Inc. in Africa based on new passports issued to them by local allies in SUdan, Zimbabwe etc....a whole new Chinese Mafia network.
Some scam !
http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2015/11/06/la-chine-veut-rapatrier...
I'll have to look for a saved screenshot from flightradar24 but some time around the preparations for the Russian air strikes some misterious A320's with Ukrainian registration started to appear on the screen in that very North-East region and fly to Damascus or Iran. Some of the flights go to and from Kuwait. The call sign is SAW.
... America's staunchest ally or perfidious Albion?
http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2014/11/23/israel-americas-biggest-fr...
Friends dont let friends
Call "Israel" an ally, Frodo.
If killing Iranians is wrong, I don't want to be right.
If killing youmutti's blogs is wrong, I don't want to be right.
There are few people on here i apreciate more than yours kirk. and a good deal others....some are still here. Im new. I say dumb shit and will respond if im wrong. the ones around here that are frustrating to read are those with no coherent thoughts. if a person cant admit to be wrong then its only software. to err is human.
Ride the chicken as it swims through the desert
of one eyed camels and piss drenched toes.
A British Prime Minister secret love affair with
a can of Spam now concluded with an angry
letter from Spotted Dick.
Blogs?
Post?
I'm just impressed that the UK actually sold something produced from real engineering, rather than financial engineering.
Nuke deal is such a joke while America has distributed as gift, hundreds of ready to drop nuclear bombs to its allies.