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Oil Falls: Worst Year Since 2008 Crisis

Brent at $57

Crude oil continued its fall, capping biggest annual decline since 2008 global financial crisis. U.S. shale oil producers and the OPEC are ceding no ground in the battle for market share amid a supply glut. West Texas Intermediate for February delivery closed at $53.27 a barrel and Brent crude at $57.33 in the last day of the year. This is a 46 percent drop in 2014.

File photo: Getty Images
   

'Muhammad Rasullullah' multi-service maneuvers (4)

Photo highlights from 'Muhammad Rasullullah' multi-service maneuvers, day six (30DEC14):

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN)

IRINS Bayandar (81) Bayandor class (PF 103 type) corvette launching long-range Noor anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM).

Ignition of long-range Noor ASCM onboard IRINS Bayandor corvette

Foreground: IRINS Bayandar (81) Bayandor class (PF 103 type) corvette (FS)

Background: IRINS Alvand (ex-Saam) (71) Alvand class (Vosper Mk5 type) frigates (FFG)

IRINS Azadi (ex-Tiran) (202) Kaivan class coastal patrol craft (PB) launching Nasr anti-ship missile (AShM)

IRINS Azadi (ex-Tiran) (202) Kaivan class coastal patrol craft (PB)

IRINS Khadang (P223) Kaman class (Combattante II) patrol force vessel (PGGF)

IRINS Nayband (1410) Hendijan class offshore patrol vessel (PBO)

Pair of Hendijan class offshore patrol vessels 

 

Five Ghadir class midget submarines (SSM)

IRIN Aviation helicopter view of Bandar Abbas class replenishment ship

Foreground: IRIN Aviation Agusta SH-3D Sea King (AS-61), serial 8-2313

Background: three IRIN Aviation Fokker F-27-400M Troopships, including serials 5-2601 and 5-2603

Above aircraft from Bandar Abbas/Havadarya (OIKP)

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) Marines

IRIN Marine mock amphibious assault from BH.7 Wellington class hovercraft 

Teams of motorized IRIN Marines disembark from BH.7 Wellington class hovercraft 

IRIN Marine commando petty officer 1st class armed with PKM type general purpose machine gun

Foreground: Beach assault by IRIN Mariness armed with MP5 SMGs and PKM 

Background: IRIN Wellington and Tondar (modified Winchester) class hovercraft

Foreground: Beach assault by IRIN Marines armed with MP5 SMGs and RPG type launcher

Background: IRIN Wellington and Winchester class hovercraft

IRIN Marine petty officer 1st class armed with RPG type launcher

IRIN Aviation Agusta SH-3D Sea King (AS-61), serial 8-2309

IRIN Marine commando chief petty officer adjusts gear on petty officer 1st class 

IRIN Marines hit the beach armed with MP5 SMGs

IRIN BH.7 Mk5 Wellington class combat hovercraft (106)

Bow section of IRIN BH.7 Mk5 Wellington class combat hovercraft (106)

Three IRIN hovercrafts operated during 'Muhammad Rasullullah' maneuver:

IRIN SRNX Tondar (updated Winchester) class hovercraft

IRIN SR.N6 Winchester class hovercraft (05)

IRIN BH.7 Mk5 Wellington class combat hovercraft (106)

Photos:
Mahdi Marizad at Fars News Agency
M. Nazari at AJA.ir
Islamic Republic News Agency

'Muhammad Rasullullah' multi-service maneuvers (3)

Photo highlights from 'Muhammad Rasullullah' multi-service maneuvers, day four (28DEC14) and day five (29DEC14):

Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN)

IRIN launch of Noor coastal defense cruise missile (CDCM) from mobile multiple launcher vehicle

IRIN Noor CDCM, in flight

IRIN coastal defense missile crew (NCO ranks) before mobile multiple launcher

Three Noor CDCM mobile multiple-launchers, with command center vehicle

IRIN coastal launch of Nasr anti-ship missile (AShM) from from mobile multiple-launcher vehicle

Frontal view of Noor AShM multiple-launcher platform, Mercedes-Benz Ateco 916

Rear view of Noor AShM multiple-launcher

IRIN Aviation Agusta SH-3D Sea King (AS-61), serial 8-2301 undertaking air-launch of anti-submarine torpedo (appearing similar to the Mk 46, a type previously exported to Iran).

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF)

IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom fitted with what appear to be AGM-65 Maverick type air-to-ground tactical missiles.

IRIAF Sukhoi Su-24MK "Fencer-D" attack aircraft of 72nd TFS, fitted with Kh-29 "Kedge" air-to-surface missile

IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom streak low over a Nasr AShM mobile multiple launcher vehicle

Videos:

Photo credits:

Chavosh Homavandi at AJA.ir and JameJamimage.ir

M. Nazari at AJA.ir

Mahdi Marizad at Fars News Agency

Islamic Republic News Agency

Iraqi defense minister & military delegation in Tehran

Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi received 29DEC14 by Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan in Tehran

Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan shakes hands with members of Iraqi military delegation

Iraqi military delegation seated at round table with Iranian counterparts predominantly represented by  IRGC servicemen

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Earthquake Hits Southeast Iran

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake on Tuesday jolted sparsely populated district of Shonbeh, some 120 km (75 miles) southeast of Bushehr, home to Iran’s nuclear power plant. Last year a magnitude-6.1 quake hit the same region, killing 37 people and injuring hundreds. There were no casualties in today’s quake.

ISIL Claims Shooting Down Iranian Drone

Islamic Republic said today that it has shot down and Iranian Shahin drone in eastern Iraq earlier on Monday. ISIL broadcast a video reportedly showing the downed drone. There were no comments on ISIL's claim by the Iranian military. (Reuters, 29 December)

Earlier today, ISIL also claimed the killing of IRGC Brig. Gen. Hamid Taghavi, one of the most senior Iranian officer killed in Iraqi and Syrian campaigns.

Photo credit: Screenshot of ISIL video reportedly showing an Iranian downed Shahin drone (Reuters, 29 December)

Crude Oil Slid to 5-Year Low

Brent at $57.88

 

Crude oil slid on Monday to a five-year low amid speculation the global oil supply glut will continue. WTI sank 2.1 percent to $53.61 in New York, and Brent crude slid 2.6 percent to $57.88 in London.

UPDATE: Iraqi Oil Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi said on Monday that Iraq supports Saudi Arabia’s decision not to cut oil output levels.  Iraqi decision to maintain oil production levels was announced when oil prices hit a five-year low.

Meantime, Russian ruble dropped 7 percent to 59.10 per dollar after Russia’s Economic Development Ministry announced on Monday that the country’s economy shrank by 0.5 percent in November, Russia’s first decline in five years. The ministry said sharp drop in manufacturing and investment led the economic downturn. 

Obama: Iran Nuclear Deal ‘Possible’

President Barack Obama said in an interview with National Public Radio (NPR) that a nuclear deal with Iran was “possible” and would be a necessary first step in any greater diplomatic engagement between the two countries. (NPR/VOA, 29 December)

Obama said he was hopeful about working to improve relations with Tehran under a scenario that Iran maintains a verified peaceful nuclear program, whose economy grows unhampered by sanctions and is integrated into the international community.

Asked about if that the United States would open an embassy in Tehran, Obama said he would “never say never,” but he cautioned, “These things have to go in steps.” 

The United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980 following the takeover of American Embassy in Tehran and taking American diplomats hostage by Iranians.

Photo credit: President Barack Obama during the interview with NPR Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep in the Oval Office (NPR)

ISIL Claims Responsibility for Killing of Iranian General in Iraq

The Islamic State has claimed the killing of Brig. Gen. Hamid Taghvai, an IRGC commander, according to images posted on ISIL’s forums on Monday. (AFP, 29 December)

The IRGC announced the death of Gen. Taghvai on Sunday, saying he was killed in the city of Samarra by a sniper bullet. His funeral was held in Tehran on Monday.

Photo credit: Iranians carry the coffin of IRGC Brigadier General Hamid Taghvai killed in Samarra region in Iraq during his funeral in Tehran; 29 December 2014 (AFP)

Three IRGC Officers Killed in Baluchistan

Three IRGC officers were killed in an attack by armed men on a border post near the city of Saravan in Iranian Baluchistan late on Sunday. The Iranian media called the attackers either “armed bandits” or “terrorists.” It was not clear if they belonged to the Iranian Baluch insurgent group Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice) that has been fighting the security forces in the region from their sanctuaries inside Pakistan.

File photo: An Iranian border guard in Baluchistan (FNA)

Iran Navy warns foreign naval vessels away from 'Muhammad Rasullullah' maneuvers

Iran on 28DEC14 claimed an Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) Aviation helicopter warned foreign naval vessels away from its ongoing 'Muhammad Rasullullah' maneuvers. Iranian media provided photos of claimed encounter, taken from IRIN Aviation helicopter:

Photo depicts USS Gridley (DDG 101) Arleigh Burke class destroyer

Photo depicts UAENF Al-Dhafra (P 173) Baynunah class (Combattante BR70) corvette

Photos: Fars News Agency

'Muhammad Rasullullah' multi-service maneuvers (2)

Photo highlights from 'Muhammad Rasullullah' multi-service maneuvers, day two (26DEC14) and day three (27DEC14):

NEZAJA (Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Force)

NEZAJA KBM 9M113-1 Kornet-E ATGM; projectile possibly Dehlaviyeh missile

Foreground: NEZAJA SPG-9 73 mm recoilless gun

Background: NEZAJA T-72S main battle tank

NEZAJA defensive fighting position, includes SPG-9 recoilless gun, G3 battle rifle, MGA3 general purpose machine gun and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle.

NEZAJA SKDI Zulfiqar-3 main battle tank

NEZAJA M60A1 "Samsam" variant main battle tank

NEZAJA T-72S main battle tank

NEZAJA BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle

NEZAJA M113 armored personnel carriers fitted with DShK type HMGs

NEZAJA Ranger light tactical vehicle fitted with Akhgar 6-barrel rotary machine gun

NEZAJA mile-laying dispenser vehicle

NEZAJA Strela-type "Sahand" MANPADS

NEZAJA ZU-23-2 towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin autocannon

NEZAJA officer and technician hauling Shaher 14.5mm anti-material sniper rifle

NEZAJA G3 variant "Azarakhsh" bullpup rifle

Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation

IRIAA Bell AH-1J International Cobra (209) type attack helicopter

Pair of IRIAA Bell AH-1J International Cobra (209) type attack helicopters

Background: IRIAA Bell 214 Isfahan medium-lift helicopter

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

Pair of IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter-bombers of 61st TFS, from Bushehr/Shahid Yassini TAB-6.

Five IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter-bombers at Chahbahar/Konarak TAB-10

Pilot of IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter-bombers at Chahbahar/Konarak TAB-10

IRIAF Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft at Chahbahar/Konarak TAB-10

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Defense Force

Shalamcheh surface-to-air missile (SAM) of Mersad air defense system

Launch of Shalamcheh surface-to-air missile of Mersad air defense system

Photos credits:
Mahdi Marizad at Fars News Agency
Islamic Republic News Agency
AJA.ir
Nahaja.aja.ir
Simanews.ir