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☆ Federal prosecutors charge Iranian Revolutionary Guards official in assassination plot on US soil
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The charges made public Tuesday against the official, Ruhollah Bazghandi, are the first to accuse an Iranian government official by name in the alleged plot to kill journalist Masih Alinejad. Prosecutors allege they were enlisted to carry out the assassination of Alinejad in the United States. Bazghandi allegedly discussed the plot to murder Alinejad with a second defendant, Haj Taher. Taher, in turn, communicated about the plot defendants Hossein Sedighi and Mohammad Forouzan, prosecutors say, including about payment for the murder. Taher, Sedighi and Forouzan also have connections to the Iranian government, prosecutors allege.

Persons: Ruhollah Bazghandi, Masih Alinejad, Bazghandi, Alinejad, General Merrick Garland, ” Alinejad, Ali Khamenei’s IRGC, “, ”, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, General ”, Qasem Soleimani, Javad, Haj Taher, Taher, Hossein Sedighi, Mohammad Forouzan, Sedighi, Forouzan, Rafat Amirov, Amirov, Polad, Zailat, CNN’s Kara Scannell Organizations: CNN, Federal, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Eastern, ”, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Treasury Department, Qods Force, Amirov Locations: New York, Iran, United States, Iran’s, American, Iranian, New York City, IRGC, Syria, ”, France

☆ Israel has not briefed U.S. military officials on its plans for retaliation against Iran, U.S. officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Courtney-Kube-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Courtney Kube | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

After Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel last week, U.S. military officials discussed options for joining Israel in its retaliation against Iran, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. The U.S. has long supported Israel with intelligence and that support could continue during Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Iran, the two officials said. Senior U.S. military officials have also discussed conducting very limited strikes against Iranian targets, the two officials said. Strikes inside Iran have been discussed, as have strikes on targets outside Iran, though strikes of any kind are less likely than intelligence sharing, the officials said. And U.S. officials say Israel has made it clear that it is not ruling out a response during the Yom Kippur holiday this week.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Israel, Gallant, Austin, Hassan Nasrallah, Benjamin Netanyahu, Washington . Austin, Nasrallah, Pat Ryder, ” Ryder, “ We’ve, …, Michael “ Erik ” Kurilla Organizations: Defense, Israeli, U.S, Austin, Israel, Senior U.S, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran, Pentagon, United Nations General Assembly, “, ” Senior U.S, U.S . Central Command Locations: United States, Iran, Washington, Israel, U.S, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Beirut, New York, Washington .

☆ Netanyahu rides wave of euphoria in Israel over Hezbollah assassinations as his political fortunes turn around
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“It’s clear enemies of Israel,” she said, referring to those whom Israel says it is targeting. The next day, an explosion in a Tehran government guest house killed Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh. But that scheme drew withering criticism from national security veterans and was finally quashed when Israel escalated the war in Lebanon. Jalaa Marey/AFP/Getty ImagesBroader political supportNadav Shtrauchler, a political strategist who has worked closely with Netanyahu, told CNN that bringing Sa’ar into government was intended to have three effects. Finally, he told CNN, broader political support is important as the war with Hezbollah escalates, and the possibility of a ground invasion looms.

Persons: Israel CNN —, Minister’s Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Netanyahu, pollster, Dahlia Scheindlin, “, Amir Cohen, Israel, Hezbollah’s, Fu’ad, Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, Gideon Sa’ar, Sa’ar, ” Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Gideon Sa'ar, Jalaa Marey, Nadav, Sa’ar –, –, Itamar Ben, Gvir, ” Shtrauchler, Netanyahu “, Gallant, ” Scheindlin, Benny Gantz, ” Gantz, toasting Organizations: Israel CNN, Hamas, Likud, Israel’s, CNN, Reuters, Revolutionary Guards, Getty, National, Israel Defense Forces ’ Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Beirut, Tehran, Yemen, AFP, Sa’ar

☆ Killing of Nasrallah is a key prize for Israel, but it’s too early to write off Hezbollah
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In 2008, Israel killed Hezbollah’s military leader, Imad Mughniyeh, in Damascus, Syria, yet the group only gathered strength in the years that followed. Four years earlier, Israel killed a founder of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in an airstrike. The US has its own history of killing terrorist leaders in the hope that it will cripple its foes. ISIS also carried out devastating terrorist attacks in the West, for instance, in Paris in 2015 that killed 130 people. The UN estimates there are about four hundred members of al Qaeda living in Afghanistan today.

Persons: CNN — , Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, don’t, Imad Mughniyeh, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, masterminds, Mohammed Deif, Abu Musab al, Zarqawi, al, ”, Barack Obama, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, Donald Trump, Qasem Soleimani, Soleimani, Trump, “ Soleimani, Osama bin Laden, bin Laden, Bin Laden’s, Laden, Ayman al, Zawahiri, didn’t, Nasrallah, it’s Organizations: CNN, US, ISIS, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, Hamas, United, Taliban, Hezbollah, CIA, US Navy, UN, Israel Locations: Beirut, Israel, Damascus, Syria, Gaza, al Qaeda, Iraq, Qaeda, Portugal, Paris, Syrian Kurdish, Mosul, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Baghdad, Yemen, United States, Pakistan’s, New America, Abbottabad, Iran

☆ Lebanon sees deadliest day of conflict since 2006 as Israeli strikes kill more than 356
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Israeli military said Monday evening it had carried out a targeted strike in Beirut. Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad told a news conference in Beirut the earlier strikes hit hospitals, medical centers and ambulances. The Israeli military announced it hit some 800 targets, saying it was going after Hezbollah weapons sites. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in a statement that it fired dozens of rockets toward Israel, including at military bases. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the strikes hit a forested area in the central province of Byblos for the first time since the exchanges began.

Persons: Rabih Daher, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Abed, Hezbollah's, Firass Abiad, Mahmoud Zayyat, Daniel Hagari, Herzi Halevi, Israel, Halevi, Rafael, Ibrahim Aqil Organizations: Afp, Getty, Lebanese, National News Agency, Lebanese Health, Iran's, Guards, Hezbollah, Sunday, Hamas, Associated Press, Fighters Locations: Marjayoun, Lebanon, Israel, Sidon, Beirut, Lebanon's, Bekaa, Byblos, Lebanese, Syria, Haifa, Gaza, Iran, Beirut's

☆ F.B.I. Investigating Hacking That Trump Campaign Attributes to Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Adam Goldman | More About Adam Goldman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

said on Monday that it was investigating whether the Trump campaign had been hacked, days after the former president said Iran had launched a cyberattack. The bureau did not specifically name Iran or former President Donald J. Trump but referred to news reports about a “campaign cyberintrusion.”“We can confirm the F.B.I. has said Iran, China and Russia were at the top of the list. Russia has a long history of trying to sow chaos in American elections, targeting the Democratic National Committee in 2016. The Trump campaign has so far provided no evidence of Iran’s involvement, but on Friday Microsoft said a hacking group run by the intelligence unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had breached the account of a “former senior adviser” to a presidential campaign.

Persons: Trump, Donald J, ” Organizations: Democratic National Committee, Microsoft, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Locations: Iran, U.S, China, Russia

☆ Hamas leader Sinwar wants a ceasefire deal, mediators say, but Netanyahu’s stance unclear
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Nobody knows what Bibi wants,” one Israeli source said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, a powerful voice in Israel, has also called on Israel and Hamas to finalize a hostage and ceasefire deal. At the same time, Netanyahu’s coalition partners have made it clear they do not want Israel to strike a deal with Hamas. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the proposed ceasefire deal a “surrender deal” on Friday. But negotiations are already underway with technical delegations working “around the clock” through key details ahead of Thursday’s meeting, the Israeli source said.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, “, Bibi, Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, ”, John Kirby, Smotrich’s, Itamar Ben Gvir, Fu’ad Shukr, Ismail Haniyeh, Sinwar, Haniyeh, Israel, Kamala Harris Organizations: CNN, Israeli, House, Smotrich, National Security, Hamas, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Democratic Locations: United States, Israel, Cairo, Doha, Lebanon, Iran, Lebanese, Tehran, Gaza

Top NewsA rocket attack targeting U.S. personnel housed at a base in Iraq’s western desert injured several American troops late on Monday, according to U.S. defense officials. Initial reports were that at least five people were injured in Monday’s attack and that the wounded included both U.S. troops and contractors. Those Iraqi militants have typically attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria and targeted Israel using longer-range rockets. The chief goal of Iran-backed groups in Iraq is to force the U.S. troops to leave the country entirely. There are about 2,500 American troops in Iraq, as well as 900 in Syria, where the Islamic State has once again become active.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Fuad Shukr, Israel, Haniyeh’s, Biden, Kamala D, Harris, Asad, — Organizations: Asad, Asad Air Base, U.S, Hamas, Mr, Iraqi, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, Revolutionary Guard, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, Pentagon, Islamic Locations: Ain, Asad Air, Iran, Gaza, U.S, Syria, Israel, Tehran, Beirut, Yemen, Iraq, Damascus, Al Asad Air, Islamic State, Jurf al, Baghdad

☆ Israel scored major intelligence wins in daring assassinations of Iranian proxy leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementA photo taken on July 30 shows the destroyed top floors of an eight-story building following an Israeli military strike on Beirut's southern suburb. AdvertisementA man waves a Hezbollah and a Palestinian flag during the funeral procession of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut's southern suburbs on August 1. AdvertisementA man waves a Hezbollah and a Palestinian flag during the funeral procession of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut's southern suburbs on August 1. Photo by AFP via Getty ImagesYoav Gallant, Israel's defense minister, said Thursday that "the operation was conducted precisely and professionally" by the IDF and Israeli security forces. In April, Israel's military intelligence chief resigned and said his directorate "did not live up to the task we were entrusted with."

Persons: —, Israel, Fuad Shukr, Shukr, Hasan Nasrallah, Jonathan Lord, KHALED DESOUKI, Bruce Hoffman, Ismail Haniyeh, Masoud, Axios, Hoffman, Mohammed Deif, Yoav Gallant, apparatuses Organizations: Service, Israel, Business, Getty, Jihad Council, US Marine Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Pentagon, Center, New, New American Security, Palestinian, Council, Foreign Relations, The New York Times, Getty Images Israel, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, AFP Locations: Lebanon, Iran, East, Beirut, Golan, New American, Beirut's, AFP, Tehran, Israel, Gaza, Hamas, Palestine

Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader of Hamas, was assassinated on Wednesday by an explosive device covertly smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse where he was staying, according to seven Middle Eastern officials, including two Iranians, and an American official. The bomb had been hidden approximately two months ago in the guesthouse, according to five of the Middle Eastern officials. The guesthouse is run and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and is part of a large compound, known as Neshat, in an upscale neighborhood of northern Tehran. The bomb was detonated remotely, the five officials said, once it was confirmed that he was inside his room at the guesthouse. Such damage was also evident in a photograph of the building shared with The New York Times.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh Organizations: American, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Revolutionary Guards, The New York Times Locations: Tehran

☆ Iran Has Accused Israel of Assassinations on Its Soil Before
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Qasim Nauman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Hamas and Iran on Wednesday accused Israel of assassinating Ismail Haniyeh, one of the Palestinian militant group’s most senior figures, in Tehran. Iran and Israel have fought a covert war for years, blaming each other for sabotage, abductions and targeted killings across the region. Tehran has also accused Israel of past assassinations inside Iran. Mr. Fakhrizadeh was one of Israeli intelligence’s top targets for years, and Iran angrily accused Israel of killing him. He wasn’t the first scientist linked to the nuclear program to be attacked on Iranian soil.

Persons: Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Mr, Haniyeh, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Fakhrizadeh, Sayad, Khodayee, Qassim Suleimani, Ayoub, Kamran Aghamolaei Organizations: Revolutionary Guards, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Quds Force Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, U.S, United States, Iraq

Read previewTop Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has been killed in Iran, according to a statement from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps early Wednesday. Haniyeh, 62, was the leader of Hamas' political wing. He had traveled to Tehran to attend the inauguration of Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's new president, according to multiple reports. Khan collectively accused Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza, and Mohammed Deif, commander of Hamas' military wing, of war crimes and crimes of humanity on October 7. When contacted for comment on Iranian state media reports, the Israeli military told CNN they "don't respond to reports in the foreign media."

Persons: —, Ismail Haniyeh, Israel, Haniyeh, Masoud, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Karim Khan, Khan, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Haniyeh's Organizations: Service, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Tasnim, Wednesday, New York Times, Associated Press, CNN, Business, Hamas, The Times, Criminal, Pentagon, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Iran, Tehran, Qatar, Israel, Gaza, Beirut, Golan

☆ Iran has no good options after two deadly strikes on senior allies
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

ET) in Tehran, will dictate what comes next, as Iran looks to present a narrative that justifies and fashions its response. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is seen with Haniyeh -- hours before his assassination. There is no shortage of furious rherotic the day after the strikes, but there is no easy route for Iran. Iran has also tried an unprecedented direct all-out attack on Israel before, in April, after senior IRGC commanders were killed in an Israeli strike on Damascus. In short, the 300 drone and missiles fired - straight from Iran at Israel - just didn’t get through.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Israel, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Qasem Suleinami, rherotic, Ahmad Al, Ali Khamenei’s, “, Masoud Pezeshkian, group’s, Fuad Shukr Organizations: CNN, Revolutionary Guards, Iran's Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, Beirut, Lebanon, Golan, Quds, Damascus

☆ Iran’s Leader Orders Attack on Israel for Haniyeh Killing, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued an order for Iran to strike Israel directly, in retaliation for the killing in Tehran of Hamas’s leader, Ismail Haniyeh, according to three Iranian officials briefed on the order. Mr. Khamenei gave the order at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning, shortly after Iran announced that Mr. Haniyeh had been killed, said the three Iranian officials, including two members of the Revolutionary Guards. Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of the assassination; Israel, which is at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has neither acknowledged nor denied killing Mr. Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new president. Israel has a long history of killing enemies abroad, including Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders. But even that show of force was telegraphed well in advance, nearly all the weapons were shot down by Israel and its allies, and little damage was done.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, Khamenei, Haniyeh, Israel Organizations: Iran’s, National Security, Revolutionary Guards, Hamas Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Gaza, Damascus, Syria

☆ Ismail Haniyeh: Hamas political leader killed in Iran, group says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Kareem El Damanhoury | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh has been killed in the Iranian capital Tehran, according to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps and Hamas on Wednesday. The new Iranian president was sworn in on Tuesday and Hamas released pictures the same day of Haniyeh meeting Iranian officials in Tehran. Haniyeh would be the second Hamas senior leader to be killed since the beginning of Israel’s war in Gaza. As Hamas grew in power, Haniyeh rose through the ranks – being appointed part of a secret “collective leadership” in 2004. In April, Israeli airstrikes killed three of Haniyeh’s sons and four of his grandchildren, according to Hamas.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, ”, Musa Abu Marzouk, “, Israel, Hezbollah’s, Fu’ad Shukr, Haniyeh, Saleh Al Arouri, Arouri, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, Barak Ravid, ” Ravid, –, Jimmy Carter, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, Wang Kejian, Haniyeh –, Qatar – Organizations: CNN, Revolutionary Guards Corps, ”, Hamas Locations: Tehran, Israel, Gaza, Beirut, Iran, Lebanese, Gaza City, United States, Qatar, Thani

☆ The Israel-Hezbollah war that no one wants could finally blow up
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Analysis Elliott Gotkine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“We are approaching the moment of an all-out war against Hezbollah,” he said in an Israeli television interview on Saturday evening. And yet, over the past near-10 months of fighting, Israel, Hezbollah and Iran have always pulled back from what appeared to be the brink. All-out war failed to materialise. All-out war failed to materialise. The best way to avoid all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, says Blinken, is to get a ceasefire in Gaza.

Persons: Amos Hochstein, Joe Biden’s, ”, Majdal Shams, Will Hochstein’s, Israel Katz, Antony Blinken, We’re, Naftali Bennett, “, Aaron David Miller, Israel, can’t, Yoav Gallant, didn’t Organizations: CNN, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, UN, Israeli Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Golan, Chebaa, Lebanon, Majdal, United States, Iran, Beirut, Damascus, Gaza

☆ Iran elects reformist Masoud Pezeshkian in presidential runoff vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Masoud Pezeshkian shows the victory sign during a campaign event in Tehran, Iran June 23, 2024. Majid Asgaripour | Via ReutersIran elected Masoud Pezeshkian to its presidency, in an unexpected victory for the country's reformist camp amid deep social discontent, economic hardship, and regional war. Pezeshkian won 16.3 million votes, according to reports which cited the local authorities, with the election seeing a 49.8% turnout. The most moderate of the candidates, he formerly served as minister of health under Iran's last reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, from 1997 to 2005, and Khatami among other reformist politicians endorsed him. Iran's sole reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili are set to go to runoffs after securing the highest number of votes in Iran's presidential election, the interior ministry said.

Persons: Masoud Pezeshkian, Majid Asgaripour, Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Mohammad Khatami, Khatami, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh, Hashemi Alireza Zakani, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Iran's, ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, Atta Kenare, Ayatollah Khamenei, Sina Organizations: Via Reuters, Islamic Consultative Assembly, Afp, Getty, House, Revolutionary Guards, Center for International, CNBC, U.S, Supreme, Revolutionary Guard Locations: Tehran, Iran, Via, Via Reuters Iran, Washington, Israel, Iranian

☆ Amid Perilous Times, Iran Holds Vote to Pick a President
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | Alissa J. Rubin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After a testy campaign that featured strong attacks on the government by virtually all the candidates over the economy, internet restrictions and harsh enforcement of the hijab law on women, Iran was holding elections on Friday to pick a president. The vote comes at a perilous time for the country, with the incoming president facing a cascade of challenges, including discontent and divisions at home, an ailing economy and a volatile region that has taken Iran to the brink of war twice this year. With the race coming down to a three-way battle between two conservative candidates and a reformist, many analysts predict that none of them will achieve the necessary 50 percent of the votes, necessitating a runoff on July 5 between the reformist candidate and the leading conservative. That outcome may be avoided if one of the leading conservative candidates withdraws from the race, but in a bitter public feud, neither Gen. Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and a pragmatic technocrat, nor Saeed Jalili, a hard-liner, has budged.

Persons: Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, Saeed Jalili Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Locations: Iran

☆ Opinion: The real loser in the first presidential debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Opinion Cnn Contributors | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +28 min

CNN —CNN Opinion asked political contributors to weigh in on the first presidential debate of the 2024 race. On the other hand, President Joe Biden did not meet expectations and may have increased concerns about his age and ability to lead for another four years. Debates are always more about style than substance, and President Joe Biden’s style was simply awful. Did President Joe Biden come off as a leader or a loser? And yes, the visuals in this first presidential debate of the cycle were phenomenally important.

Persons: Ana Marie Cox, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, Ana Marie Cox Faith Fonseca, Trump, mumbling, I’m, Shermichael Singleton, Joe Biden, Paul Begala, ” “, ” Paul Begala, meandered, —, Republicans — Biden, Bill Clinton’s, Clinton, Jeff Yang, Jeff Yang CNN, — Biden, Joe, Bruce, ”, “, ” Patrick T, Brown, Biden’s, Dobbs, Roe, Wade, Patrick T, CNN’s Dana Bash, David Mark, there’s, Kamala Harris, Harris, Nikki Haley, ” Geoff Duncan, Geoff Duncan Alex Slitz, Geoff Duncan, Peter Bergen, Abu Bakr al, General Qassem Soleimani, It’s, ” Susanne Ramirez de Arellano, Susanne Ramirez de Arellano Frank Moya, Biden “, ” Trump, Susanne Ramirez de Arellano, Roxanne Jones, Democrats — Biden, Nobody, Jones, Lanhee J, Chen, Chen Lanhee J . Chen, David, Diane Steffy, Romney, Ryan Organizations: CNN, Democratic Party, Biden, Trump, “, Global, Democrats, ” Paul Begala CNN, Republicans, Democratic, sonics, Public Policy Center, Economic, Republican, South Carolina Gov, Democratic National Convention, Washington, Peter Bergen CNN, US Border Patrol, ISIS, Islamic, Guards, Force, Walmart, New America, Capitol, New, Arizona State University, Social Security, Medicare, UCLA, Politics Initiative, America, Tonight, Univision Puerto Rico, ESPN, New York Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Public Policy, Hoover Institution Locations: Texas, Austin, America, Asian America, Washington , DC, bravura State, Canada, Abu, Uzbek, Manhattan, El Paso , Texas, New America, United States

☆ Iran votes for its new president amid economic strife, crackdowns and regional war
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Iranians will go to the polls against the backdrop of a battered economy, widespread popular discontent and harsh crackdowns on dissent. Iran is also dealing with high inflation, heavy Western sanctions, mounting tensions with the U.S., ramped-up Iranian nuclear enrichment and the Israel-Hamas war. On issues of foreign policy and war, the Iranian president wields some influence and is the country's public-facing messenger. But power and critical decision-making in Iran ultimately lies with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and unelected institutions like the Revolutionary Guards. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks with media after casting his ballot during the Iranian Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections at the Leadership office in Tehran, Iran, on March 1, 2024.

Persons: ATTA KENARE, Ebrahim Raisi, —, Iran's, Ali Vaez, Rafat, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Saeed Jalili, Masoud Pezeshkian, Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Alireza Zakani, Qalibaf, Jalili, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Masoud, Pezeshkian, Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Pourmohammadi, Ayatollah Khamenei, Morteza Nikoubazl Organizations: Western, U.S, Guardian Council, Council, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Supreme National Security Council, Islamic Consultative Assembly, Revolutionary, Iran's Ministry of Intelligence, House, Revolutionary Guards, Iran's, Iranian Parliamentary Locations: Tehran, AFP Iran, Iran, Israel, Iranian, Iran's, Washington

☆ Middle East Crisis U.S. Says It Is Trying to Bridge Gaps on Gaza Truce
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

But after more than eight months of war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas still appear to be far apart on an agreement. On Tuesday, Hamas issued a formal response to the cease-fire proposal to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, which officials in the Palestinian armed group said included some amendments. In the second phase, both sides would declare a permanent cease-fire, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza, and more hostage-for-prisoner exchanges would take place. Mr. Biden described the proposal as an Israeli initiative, and Israeli officials confirmed it was approved by the country’s top leadership. Asked about the ambiguous Israeli public stance, Mr. Sullivan said he could confirm that Israel stood behind the proposal.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Biden, Mr, Sullivan, Israel, Hamas’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, Farnaz Fassihi Organizations: U.S, Hamas, United Nations Security, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, Revolutionary Guard Locations: Egypt, Qatar, Israel, Gaza, Italy, Hamas, United States

☆ Iran election: Mostly hardline candidates approved for next presidential vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Iranian election committee has approved a slate of mostly hardline candidates to run in the presidential election on June 28, following the helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and other officials last month. Out of 80 initial candidates, only six individuals were approved in a vetting process by Iran’s Guardian Council, a powerful 12-member body charged with overseeing elections and legislation. The slate includes hardline parliament speaker and former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Saeed Jalili, ex-chief nuclear negotiator and former head of the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s top security body. Competition is expected to be fierce between Qalibaf and Jalili, both of whom backed Raisi in the 2021 presidential election. The Guardian Council has, however, also approved Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist lawmaker who served as parliament deputy speaker from 2016 to 2020.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Saeed Jalili, ”, Sina Toossi, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Alireza Zakani, Mostafa Pour Mohammad, Masoud, Pezeshkian, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ali Larijani, growingly restive Organizations: CNN, Iran’s Guardian Council, Revolutionary, Supreme National Security Council, Center for International, Guardian Council Locations: Iranian, Iran

Saeed Abiyar, an adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Syria, died in the attack, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Israel fired back, a US official told CNN, targeting a major Iranian military airbase near the city of Isfahan. Iran has deployed military advisers to Syria in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since civil war broke out there in 2011. “The era of strategic patience is over,” said Mohammad Jamshidi, deputy chief of staff to the Iranian president. Israel contested this, claiming the target was an Iranian military headquarters.

Persons: Saeed Abiyar, SANA, Israel, Bashar al, Assad, ”, Mohammad Jamshidi, Monday’s, Trita, Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Amir, “, ” Parsi, Joe Biden, Parsi Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Islamic, Washington DC, Quincy Institute, Foreign Locations: Syrian, Aleppo, Israel, Iran, Syria, Damascus, Lebanon, Isfahan, Gaza, Washington, Iranian, Tehran

☆ Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Iran’s ex-President Ahmadinejad to run again for leader, state TV says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Iran’s hardline former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has registered to run for president in the country’s June 28 election, organized after the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash last month, Iran’s state television reported on Sunday. However he could be barred from the race: the country’s cleric-led Guardian Council will vet candidates, and publish the list of qualified ones on June 11. Ahmadinejad, a former member of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, was first elected as Iran’s president in 2005 and stepped down because of term limits in 2013. In 2018, in rare criticism directed at Khamenei, Ahmadinejad wrote to him calling for “free” elections. Khamenei had backed Ahmadinejad after his 2009 re-election triggered protests in which dozens of people were killed and hundreds arrested, rattling the ruling theocracy, before security forces led by the elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) stamped out the unrest.

Persons: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ebrahim Raisi, Ahmadinejad, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “, Khamenei Organizations: Guardian, Revolutionary Guards, Guardian Council, Revolutionary Guards Corps

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Benny Gantz ultimatum, Netanyahu government in turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Rescue teams' vehicles are seen near the site of the incident of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Varzaghan in northwestern Iran, on May 19. It has also brought a decades-long shadow war between Iran and Israel out into the open. But the proxy war continues with Iran-backed militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah continuing to fight Israel’s forces. The powers of Iran's president are ultimately dwarfed by those of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the final arbiter of domestic and foreign affairs in the Islamic Republic. That means Iran's clerical establishment, headed by Khamenei, must now find a new leader they can throw their support behind against a backdrop of intense regional insecurity and domestic discontent.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Azin, Israel —, Israel, Mahsa, Raisi, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, —, Mohammad Mokhbar —, Khamenei Organizations: Moj News Agency, Hamas, Revolutionary Guards, United Locations: Varzaghan, Iran, Gaza, Israel, Damascus, Iranian, Isfahan, United Nations, Islamic Republic

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