Is the Russia-Iran nexus a real threat to the West?

[MenInG]

US seems to think so.

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Russia and Iran's relationship has warmed to a fully fledged defence partnership, the US has said.

Russia is giving an unprecedented level of military support, said US national security council spokesman John Kirby.

The US has seen reports that the two countries are considering joint production of lethal drones, he added.

Australia has announced it is sanctioning three Iranians and one Iranian business for supplying Russia with drones to use against Ukraine.

Co-operation between Russia and Iran has been highlighted recently, with Ukraine accusing Russia of using Iranian drones in its attacks.

After initially denying sending any drones to Russia, the Middle Eastern country later admitted it had supplied some before the invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Kirby said that a partnership between Iran and Russia to produce drones would be harmful to Ukraine, Iran's neighbours and the international community.

"Russia is seeking to collaborate with Iran in areas like weapons development, training," he said, adding that the US fears that Russia intended to "provide Iran with advanced military components" including helicopters and air defence systems.

"Iran has become Russia's top military backer..." he said. "Russia's been using Iranian drones to strike energy infrastructure, depriving millions of Ukrainians of power, heat, critical services. People in Ukraine today are actually dying as a result of Iran's actions."

In response to Mr Kirby's comments, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that Iran had become one of Russia's main military supporters and that the relationship between them was threatening global security.

The "sordid deals" between the two countries have seen Iran send hundreds of drones to Russia, he said.

BBC

 

[ex-q-zit]

UK Spy, Defence Chiefs Among 32 Sanctioned By Iran

Iran on Monday sanctioned the heads of the UK's domestic spy agency and military along with British and German political figures, hitting back at Europe before it imposes new sanctions of its own.

At his weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani blamed the Europeans and British for "intervening in the domestic affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran" and said the sanctions "are coming into effect today."

Britain and Germany have been particularly vocal in their criticism of Iran's response to almost three months of protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, 22.

The Kurdish-Iranian woman died in custody after her arrest by morality police who accused her of violating Iran's dress code for women.

Iran imposed its sanctions on 32 individuals and entities ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels. They were expected to impose additional sanctions of their own against Iran over its response to the demonstrations.

Iran's sanctions list named Ken McCallum, director general of domestic spy agency MI5, and Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin.

Others sanctioned include current and former members of the British parliament and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

Several German political figures and companies are also listed. These include Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, former head of the Christian Democratic Union party, and Claudia Roth, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

Also sanctioned is the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and the Persian-language division of Radio Free Europe.

Those sanctioned will not be able to enter Iran, and they will be subject to asset freezes.

Britain and the EU last month expanded sanctions against Iranian officials and organisations over Iran's protest crackdown.

On Friday Britain announced further sanctions after Iran carried out its first announced execution connected with the protests.

Iran's judiciary said Monday that a second death sentence had been implemented.

Majidreza Rahnavard had been sentenced to death by a court in the city of Mashhad for killing two members of the security forces with a knife and wounding four other people, the judiciary's news service said.

The first execution, on Thursday, of Mohsen Shekari followed his conviction for wounding a member of the security forces with a machete.

NDTV

 

[James]

Only if the West is provocative.

Otherwise it will continue to be a “Cold War II” indefinitely.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think China-Russia-Iran have weakened western monopoly on global order. I personally think it is a good thing to reverse western cultural imperialism.

 

[ex-q-zit]

Iran Sentences Belgian Aid Worker To 28 Years In Jail: Report

Iranian authorities have imposed a 28-year sentence on jailed Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, a spokesman for his family said Wednesday.
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The 41-year-old was arrested in Iran at the end of February and was at one point being held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison, reportedly suspected of spying.

Belgium and Mr Vandecasteele's family insist he is innocent, effectively held as a hostage in Tehran's efforts to force Belgium to release an Iranian agent convicted of terrorism.

"The family are devastated," spokesman Olivier Van Steirtegem told AFP, after the Belgian government informed the family of the news.

"Can you imagine? If there's no solution he could stay in prison until 2050. He'll be almost 70," he said, urging Belgium to find a way to revive a prisoner swap treaty.

Van Steirtegem said that Mr Vandescasteele's family had been invited to meet Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and several ministers on Tuesday.

Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne, the family ally said, had received a call from his Iranian counterpart communicating the court's verdict -- but that they had no details on the charges.

News of Mr Vandecasteele's sentence, which has not been publicly confirmed by Iranian authorities, will revive debate in Belgium over a prisoner exchange treaty with Iran.

De Croo's government has described this in the past as the only option for a transfer, and the family spokesman told AFP that this remained the position at Tuesday's meeting.

"There's no Plan B," he noted.

Last week, Belgium's constitutional court suspended the controversial treaty pending a final ruling on its legality in three months.

Opponents of the Iranian government challenged the deal, which they argue was "tailor-made" to permit the release of Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat sentenced last year to 20 years in prison.

An Antwerp court convicted Assadi of supplying explosives to a couple from Belgium who were to travel to Paris to target a meeting of Iran's exiled opposition.

Iran reacted with fury to the sentencing and the stalled prisoner exchange treaty was proposed as a way to win Mr Vandecasteele's release, despite concerns it would be seen to reward hostage-taking.

NDTV

 

[FearlessRoar]

Iran and Eurasian Economic Union forge historic agreement with Russia's support, paving the way for unprecedented economic opportunities and cooperation.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1739322611136377199