Iran, Gulf Security, and U.S. Policy
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Iran's Evolving Military Forces
CSIS_______________________________ Center for Strategic and International Studies 1800 K Street N.W. Washington, DC 20006 (202) 775-3270 To download further data: CSIS.ORG To contact author: [email protected] Iran's Evolving Military Forces Anthony H. Cordesman Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy July 2004 Copyright Anthony H. Cordesman, all rights reserved. Cordesman: Iran's Military forces 7/15/2004 Page ii Table of Contents I. IRAN AND THE GULF MILITARY BALANCE: THE “FOUR CORNERED” BALANCING ACT..........1 The Dynamics of the Gulf Military Balance ..........................................................................................................1 DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NORTH GULF ........................................................................................................................2 II. IRAN’S ERRATIC MILITARY MODERNIZATION.......................................................................................9 THE IRANIAN ARMY ...................................................................................................................................................9 THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS CORPS (PASDARAN).................................................................................14 THE QUDS (QODS) FORCES ......................................................................................................................................15 THE BASIJ AND OTHER PARAMILITARY FORCES ......................................................................................................15 THE IRANIAN -
The IRGC in the Age of Ebrahim Raisi: Decision-Making and Factionalism in Iran’S Revolutionary Guard
The IRGC in the Age of Ebrahim Raisi: Decision-Making and Factionalism in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard SAEID GOLKAR AUGUST 2021 KASRA AARABI Contents Executive Summary 4 The Raisi Administration, the IRGC and the Creation of a New Islamic Government 6 The IRGC as the Foundation of Raisi’s Islamic Government The Clergy and the Guard: An Inseparable Bond 16 No Coup in Sight Upholding Clerical Superiority and Preserving Religious Legitimacy The Importance of Understanding the Guard 21 Shortcomings of Existing Approaches to the IRGC A New Model for Understanding the IRGC’s Intra-elite Factionalism 25 The Economic Vertex The Political Vertex The Security-Intelligence Vertex Charting IRGC Commanders’ Positions on the New Model Shades of Islamism: The Ideological Spectrum in the IRGC Conclusion 32 About the Authors 33 Saeid Golkar Kasra Aarabi Endnotes 34 4 The IRGC in the Age of Ebrahim Raisi Executive Summary “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] has excelled in every field it has entered both internationally and domestically, including security, defence, service provision and construction,” declared Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, then chief justice of Iran, in a speech to IRGC commanders on 17 March 2021.1 Four months on, Raisi, who assumes Iran’s presidency on 5 August after the country’s June 2021 election, has set his eyes on further empowering the IRGC with key ministerial and bureaucratic positions likely to be awarded to guardsmen under his new government. There is a clear reason for this ambition. Expanding the power of the IRGC serves the interests of both Raisi and his 82-year-old mentor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic. -
Country Report Iran March 2017
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Country Report Iran Generated on November 13th 2017 Economist Intelligence Unit 20 Cabot Square London E14 4QW United Kingdom _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Economist Intelligence Unit The Economist Intelligence Unit is a specialist publisher serving companies establishing and managing operations across national borders. For 60 years it has been a source of information on business developments, economic and political trends, government regulations and corporate practice worldwide. The Economist Intelligence Unit delivers its information in four ways: through its digital portfolio, where the latest analysis is updated daily; through printed subscription products ranging from newsletters to annual reference works; through research reports; and by organising seminars and presentations. The firm is a member of The Economist Group. London New York The Economist Intelligence Unit The Economist Intelligence Unit 20 Cabot Square The Economist Group London 750 Third Avenue E14 4QW 5th Floor United Kingdom New York, NY 10017, US Tel: +44 (0) 20 7576 8181 Tel: +1 212 541 0500 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7576 8476 Fax: +1 212 586 0248 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Hong Kong Geneva The Economist Intelligence Unit The Economist Intelligence Unit 1301 Cityplaza Four Rue de l’Athénée 32 12 Taikoo Wan Road 1206 Geneva Taikoo Shing Switzerland Hong Kong Tel: +852 2585 3888 Tel: +41 22 566 24 70 Fax: +852 2802 7638 Fax: +41 22 346 93 47 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] This report can be accessed electronically as soon as it is published by visiting store.eiu.com or by contacting a local sales representative. -
Iranian Strategy in Syria
*SBOJBO4USBUFHZJO4ZSJB #:8JMM'VMUPO KPTFQIIPMMJEBZ 4BN8ZFS BKPJOUSFQPSUCZ"&*ŦT$SJUJDBM5ISFBUT1SPKFDUJ/45*565&'035)&456%:0'8"3 .BZ All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. ©2013 by Institute for the Study of War and AEI’s Critical Threats Project Cover Image: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, and Hezbollah’s Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah appear together on a poster in Damascus, Syria. Credit: Inter Press Service News Agency Iranian strategy in syria Will Fulton, Joseph Holliday, & Sam wyer May 2013 A joint Report by AEI’s critical threats project & Institute for the Study of War ABOUT US About the Authors Will Fulton is an Analyst and the IRGC Project Team Lead at the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. Joseph Holliday is a Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War. Sam Wyer served as an Iraq Analyst at ISW from September 2012 until February 2013. The authors would like to thank Kim and Fred Kagan, Jessica Lewis, and Aaron Reese for their useful insights throughout the writing and editorial process, and Maggie Rackl for her expert work on formatting and producing this report. We would also like to thank our technology partners Praescient Analytics and Palantir Technologies for providing us with the means and support to do much of the research and analysis used in our work. About the Institute for the Study of War The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research organization. ISW advances an informed understanding of military affairs through reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education. -
IMAM KHOMEINI's VIEWS Dr. Ghulam Habib
IMAM KHOMEINI’S VIEWS ON EDUCATION, UNIVERSITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FRONT COVER TEACHERS AND ACADEMICIANS Edited by Dr. Ghulam Habib International Association of Muslim University Professors IMAM KHOMEINI’S VIEWS ON EDUCATION, UNIVERSITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS AND ACADEMICIANS Edited by Dr. Ghulam Habib International Association of Muslim University Professors CONTENTS PREFACE ...........................................................................................................................i SECTION I THE GREAT VALUE OF KNOWLEDGE The Aim of Education and Training .......................................................................... 3 Encouragement to Acquire Knowledge .................................................................... 8 Knowledge and Faith - Belief and Professional Expertise .................................. 15 SECTION 2 UNIVERSITIES BEFORE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION Colonial Culture and Lack of Real Progress ........................................................... 51 Suppression and Attacks on Universities ................................................................ 95 SECTION 3 UNIVERSITY AND CULTURAL REVOLUTION Universities and Anti-Revolutionary Groups ....................................................... 103 The Need for Cultural Revolution ......................................................................... 120 Establishment of Headquarter for Cultural Revolution ...................................... 156 SECTION 4 THE MISSION OF UNIVERSITIES Manufacturing Human Beings ............................................................................... -
USAF Counterproliferation Center CPC Outreach Journal #952
Issue No. 952, 28 October 2011 Articles & Other Documents: Featured Article: U.S. Releases New START Nuke Data 1. 'IAEA Report Can Stymie Iran-P5+1 Talks' 2. German Wavers over Sale of Sub to Israel: Report 3. Armenian Nuclear Specialists Move to Iran for Better Life 4. Seoul, US Cautiously Move on 6-Party Talks 5. N. Korea Remains Serious Threat: US Defence Chief 6. Seoul, Beijing Discuss NK Issues 7. Pentagon Chief Doubts N. Korea Will Give Up Nukes 8. U.S.’s Panetta and South Korea’s Kim Warn Against North Korean Aggression 9. Pakistan Tests Nuclear-Capable Hatf-7 Cruise Missile 10. Libya: Stockpiles of Chemical Weapons Found 11. U.S. Has 'Nuclear Superiority' over Russia 12. Alexander Nevsky Sub to Be Put into Service in Late 2012 13. New Subs Made of Old Spare Parts 14. Successful Test Launch for Russia’s Bulava Missile 15. Topol Ballistic Missiles May Stay in Service until 2019 16. U.S. Releases New START Nuke Data 17. Army Says Umatilla Depot's Chemical Weapons Mission Done 18. Iran Dangerous Now, Imagine It Nuclear 19. START Treaty: Never-Ending Story 20. The "Underground Great Wall:" An Alternative Explanation 21. What’s Down There? China’s Tunnels and Nuclear Capabilities 22. Visits Timely and Important 23. Surgical Strikes Against Key Facilities would Force Iran to Face Military Reality 24. KAHLILI: Iran Already Has Nuclear Weapons Welcome to the CPC Outreach Journal. As part of USAF Counterproliferation Center’s mission to counter weapons of mass destruction through education and research, we’re providing our government and civilian community a source for timely counterproliferation information. -
VI. Iranian Foreign Policy Since the Iranian Islamic Revolution: 1979–2006
Iranian Foreign Policy since the Iranian Islamic Revolution • 147 VI. Iranian Foreign Policy since the Iranian Islamic Revolution: 1979–2006 Eva Patricia Rakel Abstract This chapter analyzes Iranian foreign policy since the Iranian Islamic revolution of 1979. The main questions to be dealt with are: what in uences has the Iranian Islamic revolution had on foreign policy orientation and formulation of the Islamic Republic of Iran? What in uences has Shi’ism had on foreign policy for- mulation in Iran? What impact have Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and the three presidents Hojjatoleslam Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had on foreign policy orientation? Have there been major shifts in foreign policy orientation during their tenures or has the overall foreign policy approach that was introduced by Khomeini after the revolution in 1979 remained the same? The chapter will rst discuss the history of Shi’ism in Iran and its impact on politics since the introduction of Islam as state religion in the beginning of the sixteenth century by the Safavid Empire. It will then give an introduction to power relations in Iran since the Iranian Islamic revolution and ana- lyze foreign policy orientation in Iran in four phases: (1) from 1979 to 1989, when Khomeini was the Supreme Leader; (2) from 1989–1997, during the presidency of Rafsanjani; (3) from 1997–2005, during the presidency of Khatami; and (4) since Ahmadinejad’s presidency began in 2005. INTRODUCTION This chapter analyzes the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) since the Iranian Islamic revolution of 1979. -
PATTERNS of DISCONTENT: WILL HISTORY REPEAT in IRAN? by Michael Rubin and Patrick Clawson *
PATTERNS OF DISCONTENT: WILL HISTORY REPEAT IN IRAN? By Michael Rubin and Patrick Clawson * While international attention is focused on Iran’s nuclear program and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s bombast, Iranian society itself is facing turbulent times. Increasingly, patterns are re-emerging that mirror events in the years before the Islamic revolution. These include political disillusionment, domestic protest, government failure to match public expectations of economic success, and labor unrest. Nevertheless, the Islamic regime has learned the lessons of the past and is determined not to repeat them, even as political discord crescendos. This essay is derived from the authors’ recent book, Eternal Iran: Continuity and Chaos (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2005). Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s victory in Iran’s Ahmadinejad’s 2003 election as mayor of 2005 Presidential elections shocked both Tehran. Iranians and the West. “Winner in Iran calls The election of Ahmadinejad was only the for Unity; Reformists Reel,” headlined The latest in a series of surprises that Iran has New York Times.1 Most Western produced in recent decades. Indeed, a review governments assumed that former President of Iran's history over the last thirty years and Expediency Council chairman Ali Akbar suggests that Iran excels at surprising its own Hashemi Rafsanjani would win. 2 Many people and the world. This does not mean academics also were surprised. Few paid any that history will be repeated. But it is worth heed to the former blacksmith’s son who rose bearing in mind that nearly three decades to become mayor of Tehran. Brown after the shah's grip on power began to falter, University anthropologist William O. -
Statement on the American Citizens Held in Iran June 1, 2007
June 1 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2007 And so I want to thank you all for joining and finger-pointing. And we’ll spend energy on a really important piece of legislation. and time and effort to help you advance It’s the right thing to do. It’s the right a really important piece of legislation for approach to take. It is right to address a the good of this country. problem. It is right to work with people I’ve come by to say thanks. Chertoff and in both political parties. It is right to argue Gutierrez can tell you how the bill has got- for what you believe and recognize that ten this far and what we see in the future. compromise might be necessary to move But I’m looking forward to signing a bill, the bill along. And it is right to take polit- and I think we will. I truly believe that ical risk for Members of the United States when people with good will and good heart Congress. and with focus on helping this country I say—I don’t think this is risky, frankly. come together, that we can get a good I don’t view this as risk reward. I frankly piece of legislation out. And I’m looking view it as doing what you ought to do. forward to signing it. I hope you’ll be there See, people ought to be running for office when I do. to do what’s right for the United States God bless. -
Demographics, Laboratory Parameters and Outcomes of 1061 Patients with COVID-19: a Report from Tehran, Iran
Journal Pre-proof Demographics, laboratory parameters and outcomes of 1061 patients with COVID-19: A report from Tehran, Iran Mihan Pourabdollah Toutkaboni, Elham Askari, Nastaran Khalili, Payam Tabarsi, Hamidreza Jamaati, Ali Akbar Velayati, Atosa Dorudinia, Mitrasadat Rezaei, Seyed Alireza Nadji, Abdolreza Mohamadnia, Neda Khalili PII: S2052-2975(20)30129-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nmni.2020.100777 Reference: NMNI 100777 To appear in: New Microbes and New Infections Received Date: 17 June 2020 Revised Date: 27 September 2020 Accepted Date: 29 September 2020 Please cite this article as: Toutkaboni MP, Askari E, Khalili N, Tabarsi P, Jamaati H, Velayati AA, Dorudinia A, Rezaei M, Nadji SA, Mohamadnia A, Khalili N, Demographics, laboratory parameters and outcomes of 1061 patients with COVID-19: A report from Tehran, Iran, New Microbes and New Infections, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nmni.2020.100777. This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. © 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Demographics, laboratory parameters -
Chronology of Events in Iran, April 2004*
Chronology of Events in Iran, April 2004* April 2 Home-made bomb shatters windows in Zahedan. (Agence France Presse / AFP) A home-made bomb blew up at night in a central square of the city of Zahedan, shattering windows but causing no casualties. April 4 Iran's Sunni population protest over book. (Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami) The Truth About the Penetration in the Religion , by Yaqubeddin Rastegar Juybari, led to protests by a number of Sunni inhabitants of Piranshahr and in Sunni-inhabited areas of West Azarbayjan Province. In this book, the sanctities of the Sunnis are insulted and the union between the Shiites and Sunnis is disapproved. In a statement, the Sunni clergy of Piranshahr have requested that the author of this book be punished. It is said that 20,000 copies of this book were distributed during the Nowruz holidays in the Sunni-inhabited areas of West Azarbayjan Province. In a meeting with the Sunni clergy of that region, the governor of Piranshahr has promised to follow up the case with the Kurd deputies in the Islamic Consultative Majlis and to ask the Minister of Islamic Culture and Guidance to provide explanations in this regard. April 6 Security fears prompt UNHCR to halt refugee convoys from Iran to south Iraq. (AFP) The UN refugeee agency froze weekly convoys carrying refugees from Iran to southern Iraq due to heightened fears of hijacking as the war-torn country spiralled into a third day of bloodshed. Earlier in the day, a convoy of 208 refugees was stopped just inside the Iranian border and told to wait for the situation in Iraq to improve and transport beyond the port city of Basra to become available. -
The New Hampshire Tnhdigital.Com Monday, March 7, 2016 Vol
Serving the University of New Hampshire since 1911 The New Hampshire TNHdigital.com Monday, March 7, 2016 Vol. 105, No. 35 Opinion: This week’s “From UNH exited the Hockey East Playo s in the INSIDE the Right” explores diversity rst round at Merrimack College. in the GOP. THE NEWS Page 12 Page 16 Student orgs collaborate, bring DarkMa er to UNH By RAOUL BIRON STAFF WRITER Hoping to foster solidarity, inspiration and acceptance, author and activist Dan Savage told LGBTQ+ youth around the world that “it gets better.” Since releasing his initial video in 2011, Savage’s message has exploded into a kind of marketed rallying cry for LGBTQ+ causes rang- ing anywhere from marriage equality to teen suicide. What happens when a three-word sentence - even one spoken on camera by hundreds of thousands - stops being enough? For Brooklyn based spoken word duo, DarkMatter, it gets bitter. On April 1, the fi rst day of UNH Campus Pride Month, the trans South Asian art and activist collaboration will occupy the Strafford room in the MUB. Sponsored in part by MUSO, UNH Alliance, Trans UNH, and The Kidder Fund, the event is largely designed to ignite a community-wide dialogue about perspective, the nature of privilege, and the missed subtleties of political movements as wide-ranging and general as LGBTQ+ rights. “We try to bring programs, artists and speakers that have a social justice-centered message because as a group we really believe in inclu- sion and activism,” said a spokesperson for MUSO. “We rarely get speakers who encompass multiple marginalized COURTESY PHOTO DARKMATTER DarkMatter, the trans South Asian art and activist duo, will speak in the Stra ord Room on April 1.