Biden Reiterates Conditions for Final Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday that reaching a final nuclear deal requires Iran to accept demands for access to its military sites suspected of nuclear activities, lifting of sanctions phased out over time, and a clear snapback mechanism at the UN Security Council should it violates the deal.

Biden, speaking at a dinner gala at the Washington Institute for Near Eastern Policy, expressed support for the emerging final Iran nuclear deal, saying the agreement would provide “a historic opportunity to forge an enduring peaceful solution.” The emerging deal, Biden added, would “radically” alter the timeline on Iran’s ability to achieve breakout capabilities.

Biden said if Iran does not accept the demands he had outlined, President Obama was ready to walk away from the talks.

File photo: Vice President Joe Biden (Reuters)

U.S. Navy to Accompany American Ships in Persian Gulf

U.S. Navy will begin accompanying American commercial ships as they travel the Strait of Hormuz, Fox News reported today. 

The IRGC Navy seized a Marshall-Islands flagged vessel traveling the Strait on Tuesday. U.S. officials said the U.S. and Marshall Islands are in contact over the incident.

Photo: The Maersk Tigris (Damietta Port Authority via Defense News)

 

Al-Qaeda force in Syria operating U.S.-origin M113 APC

Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (JAN) promotional imagery depicting U.S.-origin M113A1 armored personnel carrier in use at a JAN training camp in Syria's Qalamoun region.

Crudely painted-over Lebanese Army marking seen on hull-side of M113A1, indicative of capture by JAN forces.

JAN-operated M113A1 armored personnel carrier being powered, with rear ramp door extended.

Al-Qaeda linked Jabhat al-Nusra (JAN) is currently finding battlefield success against Iran-allied Syrian Arab Republic forces, notably in Idlib Governorate.

RSAF efforts against Iran flight destined for Sana'a, Yemen

Photo published 28APR15 by Mashregh News claiming to depict Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle intercept of Iranian commercial flight destined for Sana'a International Airport (SAH / OYSN)

Iran claims flight was carrying humanitarian aid to Sana'a, while Anarullah sources claimed the return flight intended to evacuated wounded to Iran for treatment.

Aircraft from where above photo was taken inside appears possibly to be a Mahan Air Airbus A310-300 series.

Close-up of RSAF McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle air superiority fighter aircraft

Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, told Reuters that Sana'a International Airport was bombed after the Iranian aircraft "refused to coordinate with the coalition" and the pilot ignored orders to turn back. Iranian state news agency IRNA, confirming the incident, said the pilots had ignored "illegal" warnings from Saudi jets to turn back before the runway was bombed. [source: Reuters]

Photo published by Mashregh News claiming to depict the view from inside the commercial jetliner, as it was intercepted by RSAF McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft.

File photo: wing section of a Mahan Air Airbus A310-300 series aircraft

[photo: Mohammadreza Farhadi Aref]

File photo: Mahan Air Airbus A310-300 series long-range twin-engined wide-body jet airliner 

[photo: Terry Wade]

Video still from IRINN depicting 28APR15 attack by Saudi-led coalition tactical aviation on Sana'a International Airport. At left is a Felix Airways Bombardier CRJ-702ER regional airliner, while its sister aircraft can be seen in the distance ablaze. Two Ilyushin Il-76 "Candid" strategic airlifters are also visible in the imagery.

Video still depicting anti-runway operations being conducted by Saudi-led coalition tactical aviation, reportedly in efforts to prevent Iranian aircraft from utilizing Sana'a International Airport.

Burned wreckage of a Felix Airways Bombardier CRJ-702ER regional airliner, destroyed 28APR15 by attacking Saudi-led coalition aircraft. Aircraft registration 7O-FAA (cn 10267).

Iran Intercepts Cargo Ship at Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Moves to Respond

Iranian patrol vessels today fired shots across the bow of a cargo ship flagged to the Marshal Islands, forcing it to travel into Iranian waters. There are still gaps of information about how the incident began. The Iranian forces then boarded the cargo ship, the Maersk Tigris. The incident occurred at around 1:30 pm local time (5:00 am EST).

After receiving a distress signal from the Maersk, U.S. Central Command’s Naval Forces Central dispatched the destroyer Farragut to proceed to the location of the vessel and dispatched a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to observe the situation, the Pentagon announced. (Defense News, 28 April)

Marshal Islands have security and defense arrangements with the U.S. But there were no American citizens onboard the vessel, which has a crew of 34. The ship was traveling from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to Jebel Ali in the UAE. It was now in the vicinity of Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Factors that could have affected Iran’s highly unusual decision to seize the cargo ship were not known at this time. Last week, the U.S. Navy blocked an Iranian convoy of several freighters led by IRGCN warships suspected of attempting to deliver arms to the Huthi insurgents in Yemen. The convoy reversed course in the direction of home. Public comments out of Iran on that incident manifest a high degree of frustration, even anger, at the U.S. move. Today, the Maersk was traveling between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The two countries are perceived by Iran as the leaders of an anti-Iran Sunnis coalition in Yemen and elsewhere.

UPDATE: Iran's official news agency IRNA reports that the seizure of the Maersk Tigris was because of an outstanding warrant by an Iranian court against the Maersk shipping lines. IRNA said the warrant was issued after a private Iranian company had filed a claim that Maersk owed money to the company.

The explanation offered by IRNA creates more questions than answers. The IRGC Navy is sent to intercept and seize a cargo ship at the Strait of Hormuz to enforce a civil law suit by an unnamed private company in Iran against a shipping giant during a tense period in the region. Highly unusual, indeed!

File photo: The Maersk Tigris (Damietta Port Authority via Defense News)

Saudi Arabia Bombs Sanaa Airport to Prevent Landing by Iranian Cargo Plane

Saudi-led coalition jet fighters today bombed runway at Sanaa airport in Yemen to prevent an Iranian cargo plane from landing there. The Saudis say they took the action after the pilot of the Iranian aircraft ignored their warning to turn back. Iran says the cargo plane was carrying humanitarian aid to Yemen, and had received permission from the AnsarAllah (Huthi) officials who control the airport. Saudis accuse Iran of attempting to transport arms to the Huthi insurgents.  Last week, Saudi fighter jets prevented another Iranian cargo plane from entering the Yemeni airspace. The Saudi-led coalition spokesman said they would repair the runway if the Huthis lifted their control of the airport.

Photo credit: Smoke billows from Sanaa international airport after its runway was hit by Saudi airstrikes. (Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

Combat Aircraft of Iran Military Day 2015

IRIAF and IRINA aircraft seen leading up to and during Iran Military Day at Tehran

Foreground: IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat, serial 3-6001 / 160299 (cn H-01) from  Esfahãn/Shahid Babei TFB-8 

Background: IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat, serial 3-6079 / 160377 (cn H-79) from  Esfahãn/Shahid Babei TFB-8 

[photographed 17APR15 by S.M.J.Tabib]

IRIAF Northrop (HESA) F-5F Saeghe II, serial 3-7182 of 23rd TFS from Tabriz/Shaheed Fakouri TFB-2

[photographed 17APR15 by S.M.J.Tabib]

IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Dowran, serial 3-6649 / 01551 (cn 4743) of 91st TFS from Bandar Abbas/Shahid Abdulkarimi TFB-9

[photographed 14APR15 by Shahram Sharifi]

IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Dowran, serial 3-6634 / 01536 (cn 4674) of 31st TFS from Hamadan/Shahid Nojeh TFB-3

[photographed APR15 by Alireza Khodakarami]

IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, serial 3-6662 / 50231 (cn 4923) of 31st TFS from Hamadan/Shahid Nojeh TFB-3

[photographed APR15 by Alireza Khodakarami]

IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat, serial 3-6067 / 160365 (cn H-67) from Esfahãn/Shahid Babei TFB-8

[photographed 08APR15 by Ehsan Biglari]

IRINA Fokker F-27-400M Troopship, serial 5-2601 (cn 10509) of Transport & Navy Patrol Squadron from Bandar Abbas/Havadarya

[photographed 08APR15 by Ehsan Biglari]

IRIAF Northrop (HESA) F-5E Saeghe, serial 3-7369 (cn S110-004) of 23rd TFS from Tabriz/Shaheed Fakouri TFB-2

[photographed 08APR15 by Ehsan Biglari]

IRIAF Northrop (Owj) F-5E Saeghe, serial 3-7367 / S110-002 (cn S110-002) of 23rd TFS from Tabriz/Shaheed Fakouri TFB-2

[photographed 08APR15 by Ehsan Biglari]

IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcats from Esfahãn/Shahid Babei TFB-8

[photographed 18APR15 by Saber Gaffarzadeh]

IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter-bomber

[photographed 18APR15 by Saber Gaffarzadeh]

IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcats from Esfahãn/Shahid Babei TFB-8

[photographed 18APR15 by Saber Gaffarzadeh]

IRIAF Boeing 747-131(SF), serial 5-8107 (cn 20082/151) of Tanker Squadron from Tehran/Shahid Lashkari TFB-1

[photographed 18APR15 by Saber Gaffarzadeh]

IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter-bomber

[photographed 18APR15 by Saber Gaffarzadeh]

IRIAF Boeing 747-131(SF), serial 5-8107 (cn 20082/151) of Tanker Squadron from Tehran/Shahid Lashkari TFB-1

[photographed 18APR15 by Saber Gaffarzadeh]

Foreground IRIAF Sukhoi Su-24MK "Fencer-D", serial 3-6858 of 72nd TFS from Shiraz/Shahid Dowran TFB-7
Background: IRIAF Sukhoi Su-24MK "Fencer-D", serial 3-6805 of 72nd TFS from Shiraz/Shahid Dowran TFB-7

[photographed 18APR15 by Saber Gaffarzadeh]

IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighter from Esfahãn/Shahid Babei TFB-8

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

Foreground: IRIAF Sukhoi Su-24MK "Fencer-D", serial 3-6805 of 72nd TFS from Shiraz/Shahid Dowran TFB-7

Background: IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter-bomber

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

Foreground: IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II fighter-bomber

Background: IRIAF Northrop F-5F Tiger II fighter-bomber

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF Sukhoi Su-24MK "Fencer-D", serial 3-6858 of 72nd TFS from Shiraz/Shahid Dowran TFB-7

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF Boeing 707-3J9C ELINT/SIGINT aircraft serial 5-8316 (cn 20834/894) of Reece Squadron from Tehran/Shahid Lashkari TFB-1

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF Sukhoi Su-24MK "Fencer-D", serial 3-6805 of 72nd TFS from Shiraz/Shahid Dowran TFB-7

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF Boeing 747-131(SF), serial 5-8107 (cn 20082/151) of Tanker Squadron from Tehran/Shahid Lashkari TFB-1

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF Northrop F-5F Tiger II fighter-bomber

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcat air superiority fighter from Esfahãn/Shahid Babei TFB-8

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF Northrop F-5F Tiger II fighter-bombers

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29UB (9-51) of 11th TFS from Tehran/Shahid Lashkari TFB-1

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

Three IRIAF Grumman F-14A Tomcats from Esfahãn/Shahid Babei TFB-8

[photographed 18APR15 by Habib Noei Oskuyi]

IRIAF McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, serial 3-6543 / 97738 (cn 4173) of 91st TFS from from Bandar Abbas/Shahid Abdulkarimi TFB-9

[photographed 18APR15 by Efran Arabzadeh]

IRGC Commander Accuse Saudis of ‘Killing a Nation’

IRGC Commander Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said in Tehran that Saudi Arabia was “shamelessly and disgracefully bombing and killing a nation” by carrying airstrikes in Yemen. (IRNA, 27 April)

Iran and Saudi Arabia support opposing sides in Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition of Sunni countries has conducted airstrikes against the Huthi (AnsarAllah) insurgents since late March to stop their advance into southern Yemen and the post city of Aden. They captured the capital Sanaa last September. IRGC’s Quds Force is major supporter of the Huthis, who are predominantly Shia.

In Syria and Iraq conflicts, Iran’s role is reversed where it supports the governments against the predominately Sunni insurgents.

File photo: IRGC Commander General Mohammad Ali Jafari (IRNA)

Kerry at Iran’s UN Ambassador’s Official Residence in NYC

Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif this afternoon at the official residence of the Iranian ambassador to the UN in New York City. This is a rare symbolic move to have a secretary of state entering Iran’s soil for the first time since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is accompanying Kerry in his visit to the Upper East Side residence.

Today when asked by reporters how Iran nuclear talks were progressing, Kerry replied, “We’re plugging away, we’re plugging away.”

Earlier in the day, speaking at the UN on the opening day of a month-long conference on nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Kerry said Iran and world powers were closer than ever to a historic Iran nuclear deal. 

Photo credit: Secretary of State John Kerry with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at the official residence of the Iranian Ambassador to the UN at the Upper East Side, New York City; also pictured Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi (@marieharf/Twitter)