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This article is about the current international tensions between Iran and other countries, especially the United States and Israel. Image File history File links Padlock. ... Image File history File links Circle-question-red. ... Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Image File history File links Current_event_marker. ...

Since the Iranian revolution of 1979, Iran has had some difficult relations with Western countries, especially the United States. Iran has been under constant US unilateral sanctions, which were tightened under the presidency of Bill Clinton. Protestors take to the street in support of Ayatollah Khomeini. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ...

Iran has had a civilian nuclear program since before the 1979 revolution. However, since the revolution, there has been some worries that Iran could use this program to develop nuclear weapons. These worries have been raised by the revelation, on August 2002, by Alireza Jafarzadeh, a prominent associate of MKO, of the existence of two secret nuclear sites: a uranium enrichment facility in Natanz (part of which is underground), and a heavy water facility in Arak. There is however no proof at this stage that this program is not purely civilian. This article is about Irans nuclear power programme. ... Alireza Jafarzadeh Alireza Jafarzadeh (born 1957) is an expert on the Middle East, an author, a media commentator, and and an active dissident figure to the Iranian government who is best known for revealing the existence of clandestine nuclear facilities in Iran in 2002. ... MKO Logo The Peoples Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI) (Persian: سازمان مجاهدين خلق ايران sazmaan-e mujahedin-e khalq-e Iran) is a political party that advocates overthrowing the government in the Islamic Republic of Iran and replacing it with its own leadership. ...

At the same time, Iran has been accused by the United States of supporting Islamic movements in the Middle East, and supplying militias in Iraq. Iran has also directed strong rhetoric towards Israel, including questioning the legitimacy of its existence.

Because of these factors, tensions between between some states and Iran has degenerated into what some politicians, like Romano Prodi^[1], Prime Minister of Italy or journalists call an "international crisis", up the point where the United States and Israel have refused to exclude the use of force to stop the Iranian nuclear program, although they have always stressed that they consider the use of force as a last resort.   (born 9 August 1939) is a centre-left Italian politician. ... An international crisis is a crisis between nations. ...

Diplomatic activity linked to Iranian nuclear program

Main article: Nuclear program of Iran

The Iranian nuclear program has been controversial as, although the development of a civilian nuclear power program, including enrichment activities, is explicitly allowed under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, there have been allegations that Iran has been illicitly persuing a nuclear weapons program, in violation of the NPT (see Iran and weapons of mass destruction). This article is about Irans nuclear power programme. ... Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Opened for signature July 1, 1968 in New York Entered into force March 5, 1970 Conditions for entry into force Ratification by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and 40 other signatory states. ... As of 2006, Iran is not known to possess weapons of mass destruction and has signed treaties repudiating possession of them, including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). ...

Under the leadership of the United States and of the European Union, the international community has requested the end of enrichment activities in Iran. The 118 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement however have backed Iran's right to "acquire peaceful nuclear technology".^[2] These pie-graphs showing the relative proportions of uranium-238 (blue) and uranium-235 (red) at different levels of enrichment. ... Member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (2005). ...

This diplomatic effort culminated in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737, adopted (after a significant amount of diplomatic efforts) with the approval of both China and Russia (which held veto power). This resolution imposes specific, but light, economic sanctions solely linked to Iran's nuclear program. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 was unanimously passed by the United Nations Security Council on 23 December 2006. ...

The resolution mentions that in the event that "Iran has not complied with this resolution, [the security council will] adopt further appropriate measures under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations to persuade Iran to comply with this resolution and the requirements of the IAEA, and underlines that further decisions will be required should such additional measures be necessary." According to the resolution, Iran must comply within 60 days, i.e. before 20th February, 2007.

Iran has strongly rejected this resolution. Iran's parliament passed a bill on 27 December 2006 obliging the government to "revise" its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to accelerate its drive to master nuclear technology in a reaction to the U.N. resolution. The bill gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government a free hand to adopt a tougher line against the IAEA, including ending its inspections of Iran's atomic facilities.

On February 20, 2007, before the expiration of the United Nations Security Council deadline asking Iran to suspend uraninium enrichement, Ali Larijani, Iran's Head of the National Security Council, warned that “double standards will severely damage the credibility of international bodies“. “I think certain countries are seeking adventure on Iran’s nuclear case. You know that some countries until now have not signed the NPT, but are conducting nuclear activities,“ he said, regretting that no action has been taken against such countries while the UN Security Council has passed a resolution against Iran. ^[3] The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the organ of the United Nations charged with maintaining peace and security among nations. ... A double standard is an ethical rule applied more stringently to one party than to others. ...

On March 2, 2007, six key nations, including the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, which hold veto power, have agreed to pass a new resolution to impose tougher sanctions on Iran regarding its nuclear issue at the United Nations Security Council, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said.^[4]

Opposition inside Iran to non-cooperation with UN

On 20 February 2007, one small radical reformist political party, the Islamic Revolutionary Mujahadin Organisation, has complained that Iran's drive to produce nuclear energy has endangered national security, the national interest and the destiny of the Iranian people.^[5]

On 26 February, 2007, the conservative daily Resalat chided Ahmadinejad, saying "neither weakness nor unnecessarily offensive language is acceptable in foreign policy."^[6]

Statements by Iranian leaders against Israel

Main article: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israel

See also: Iran-Israel relations

Iranian leaders have made vehement declarations against Israel. Ahmadinejad was widely reported as calling for Israel to be "Wiped off the map."^[7] However, this translation is disputed, and some have considered it a psyop^[8] (See: Translation of phrase "wiped off the map"). During his presidency, Mahmoud Ahmadinejads speeches and statements have contributed to increased tensions between Iran and Israel, and between Iran and a few Western nations. ... Relations between Iran and Israel have alternated from close political alliances between the two states during the era of the Pahlavi dynasty to hostility following the rise to power of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. ... Psychological Operations or PSYOP or PSYOPS are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to specific audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals. ... During his presidency, Mahmoud Ahmadinejads speeches and statements have contributed to increased tensions between Iran and Israel, and between Iran and a few Western nations. ...

The Iranian government has stressed they did not call for an attack on Israel. Rather, they wish to allow Palestinian refugees to return to Palestine, whereupon all inhabitants will vote on its political future.^[9] These "clarifications" are seen in Israel as a diplomatic smokescreen. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a Palestinian refugee is a refugee from Palestine created by the Palestinian Exodus, which Palestinians call the Nakba (نكبة, meaning disaster). History Most of the refugees had already fled by the time the neighboring Arab states intervened on the side of Palestinians...

"For many long years, we have followed Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons, in the guise of a civilian nuclear program," said Prime Minister of Israel Olmert.^[10]

In November 2003, Israel’s defence minister Shaul Mofaz has made what sources have described as a warning of "unprecedented severity." Mofaz set out his government’s position last week during a visit to the United States stating that "under no circumstances would Israel be able to tolerate nuclear weapons in Iranian possession".^[11]

Israel's fear of Iran grew after former CIA Director James Woolsey told the January 2007 security conference that "Iran is not remotely interested in nuclear power for purposes of electricity." He described the Islamic republic as "a theocratic totalitarian movement for which destruction of Israel and the United States is not a policy but its very essence. It defines itself in that way. Saying that it should change its policy with respect to destroying Israel and the United States is like trying to persuade Hitler away from anti-semitism." ^[12] Robert James Woolsey, Jr. ... Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ... The Eternal Jew: 1937 German poster. ...

Support of "Islamism"

The Islamic Republic funds and arms militant groups Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad.^[13] Iran (Persian: ایران) is a Middle Eastern country located in southwestern Asia. ... For other uses, see Hezbollah (disambiguation). ... Hamas (Arabic: ‎; acronym: Arabic: ‎, or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement; the Arabic acronym means zeal) is a Palestinian Islamist organization that currently (since January 2006) forms the majority party of the Palestinian National Authority. ... Islamic Jihad (Arabic: ‎, Harakat al-Jihad al-Islami) is a terrorist Islamist group based in the Syrian capital, Damascus. ...

The U.S. State Department claims this makes Iran an active sponsor of terrorism.^[14] Iran was added in 1984 on the U.S. list of state sponsors of international terrorism. According to the State Department, Iran "continued to provide Lebanese Hezbollah and the Palestinian rejectionist groups—notably Hamas, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, and the PFLP-GC—with varying amounts of funding, safe haven, training, and weapons. It also encouraged Hezbollah and the rejectionist Palestinian groups to coordinate their planning and to escalate their activities." The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... Terrorist redirects here. ... The U.S. list of state sponsors of international terrorism is a list, compiled by the U.S. State Department, of countries that the United States sees as sponsoring terrorism. ... Hamas (Arabic: ‎; acronym: Arabic: ‎, or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement; the Arabic acronym means zeal) is a Palestinian Islamist organization that currently (since January 2006) forms the majority party of the Palestinian National Authority. ... Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ, Arabic Harakat al-Jihad al-Islami al-Filastini) is a militant group, widely regarded as terrorist throughout the world, whose goal is the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with an Islamist state for Palestinian Arabs. ... The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command is a left-wing Palestinian nationalist organization. ... For other uses, see Hezbollah (disambiguation). ...

Iran, like several countries, does not recognize these groups as terrorist groups, instead qualifying them as resistance movements to Israeli occupation.

Iranian activity in Iraq

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani meets supreme leader of Iran Khamenei in November 2006.

Iran has taken an active role in Iraq. Talks between the two nations (Iran and Iraq) have been successful, with Iran even going so far as to build a major Iranian Bank branch inside Iraq.^[15]. Iran stresses that it supports the government of Iraq. Indeed the main party that supports the Iraqi government and the US coalition, SCIRI, is also close to Iran. Its leader, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who has been invited at the White House, was a refugee in Iran when Saddam Hussein was the leader of Iraq. On 21 February 2007, his own son, coming from Iran with armed guards, has been arrested by US forces and later released with excuses by US forces.^[16] Image File history File links Meeting_of_Irap_president_Jalal_Talabani_with_supreme_leader_of_Iran_Khamenei. ... Image File history File links Meeting_of_Irap_president_Jalal_Talabani_with_supreme_leader_of_Iran_Khamenei. ... Jalal Talabani (Kurdish: / Celal Talebanî / Jelal Talebaní Arabic: ‎, ) (born 1933), is an Iraqi politician, who was elected President of Iraq on April 6, 2005, (sworn in the next day, April 7, and once again on April 22, 2006, by the Iraqi National Assembly. ... Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (Persian: آیت‌الله سید علی خامنه‌ای) (born July 15, 1939) is the Supreme Leader of Iran. ... The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) is an Iraqi political party; its support comes from the countrys Shia Muslim community and from their fellow religionists in neighbouring Iran. ... Sayyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim (Arabic: عبدالعزيز الحكيم ) (born 1953) is an Iraqi theologian and politician and the leader of SCIRI, the largest political party in the Iraqi Council of Representatives. ...

The US have, however, contended that Iran supports some Shiite militias that are alleged to be against the Iraq government, especially the Mahdi army of Muqtada al-Sadr. According to the Iranian ambassador to Iraq, the US is currently detaining 6 Iranian diplomats and 30 Iranian nationals in Iraq.^[17] This number has neither been confirmed nor denied by US officials. On February 28, 2007, the United States however agreed to participate to an international conference to be called by the government of Iraq to discuss Iraq security crisis, where the government of Iran is also invited. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the United States would join the meeting and that Washington supported the Iraqi government's invitation to Iran and Syria.^[18] Members parade in Sadr City The Mahdi Army, also known as the Mahdi Militia, Mehdi Army or Jaish al Mahdi (Arabic جيش المهدي) , is a militia force created by the Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June of 2003. ... Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr ( Muqtadā aṣ-Ṣadr) (b. ...

Iranian officials arrested by US forces in Baghdad

Main article: Qods Force#2006 Arrests in Iraq

On December 25, 2006, the United States arrested at least four senior military officials on their visit to Baghdad.^[19] It has been mentioned that the Iranians have been arrested after US soldiers raided the compound of Shiite leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the influential Shiite Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). President of Iraq Talabani, a strong US ally, has asked for their release. Hiwa Othman, Talabani's media adviser, told Reuters: "The president is unhappy. He is talking to the Americans about it as we speak." Othman said the Iranian diplomats came to Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi leader but he was not aware if they had met with him."The invitation was within the framework of an agreement between Iran and Iraq to improve the security situation." Finally, it seems that they have been released on 30 December. One of the commanders, identified by officials simply as Chizari, was the third-highest-ranking official of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' al-Quds Brigade, the unit most active in aiding, arming and training groups outside Iran, including Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, U.S. officials said. Qods (Jerusalem) Force is an elite unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) that carries out operations outside of Iran. ... December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 6 days remaining in the year. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Sayyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim (Arabic: عبدالعزيز الحكيم ) (born 1953) is an Iraqi theologian and politician and the leader of SCIRI, the largest political party in the Iraqi Council of Representatives. ... The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) is an Iraqi political party; its support comes from the countrys Shia Muslim community and from their fellow religionists in neighbouring Iran. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

According to the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which mentions as a source "American intelligence officials", without naming them, Iran "is working closely with both the Shiite militias and Sunni Jihadist groups" in order to stymie a secular government in Iraq.^[20] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Private militias in Iraq is a phenomenon that has not been common after complete revolutions that terminate a nations constitution. ... The Iraqi insurgency is the armed resistance by diverse groups within Iraq of the coalition occupation of Iraq. ...

On 4 January 2007, the BBC's flagship political programme Newsnight cited British authorities in Iraq as saying that while the arrests produced highly important intelligence information, there was no "smoking gun" about weapons supplies or attacks. "There was discussion of whether the Maliki government would succeed, who should be in which ministerial jobs... It was a very significant meeting," one official said. The BBC said US sensitivity to the matter comes from discovering evidence that Iran is trying to turn the situation in Iraq to its advantage, to the extent of trying to influence the make-up of the Baghdad government.

Attack by US forces on an Iranian consulate in Irbil

Main article: US attack on Iranian liaison office in Arbil

Five United States helicopters landed on the roof of the consulate in the northern city of Irbil. American soldiers broke down the doors, detained five people and took away papers and computers. The raid came as American leaders step up their rhetoric against Iran. US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Tehran is arming the insurgents in Iraq.^[21]

An Iranian foreign ministry official in a meeting with the Iraqi ambassador to Tehran here on Friday stressed that Baghdad should not allow the United States to interfere in Iran-Iraq relations. "We expect the Iraqi government to take immediate measures to set the aforesaid individuals free and to condemn the US troopers for the measure," the official stressed. For his part, Iraqi ambassador to Tehran expressed regret over the incident and pledged to pursue the case through the officials of his country.^[22] According to Associated Press, The Iraqi foreign minister called Sunday 14 January for the release of five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in what he said was a legitimate mission in northern Iraq.

US accusation of supporting attacks on American troops

Further information: Kill or Capture strategy ,  Karbala provincial headquarters raid, and Iranian Support for Lethal Activity in Iraq

In his January 10, 2007 address to the nation, President Bush asserted that succeeding in Iraq begins with addressing Iran and Syria. "Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We'll interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq," Bush said.^[23] Combatants United States Iraqi insurgents Strength at least 12 9-12 Casualties 5 killed (4 initially captured then killed), 3 wounded none The raid of the Karbala provincial headquarters was an infiltration attack carried out on 20 January 2007 by insurgent commandos, with possible Iranian involvement,[1] on a meeting... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

During the following weeks, Bush's statements were criticized for preparing the US for an attack on Iran without Congressional approval. His actions with regards to Iran were also called "offensive and provocative."^[24]

On 2nd February, 2007, Bush administration officials acknowledged that they had yet to compile evidence strong enough to back up publicly their claims that Iran is fomenting violence against U.S. troops in Iraq.^[25]

On 12th February, 2007, US administration organized a briefing in Bagdad to make their case. Journalists were told that the use of the deadliest form of roadside bomb known as EFP's - explosively formed penetrators - had nearly doubled last year. They were said there was a "growing body of evidence pointing to Iranian supply of EFPs to Iraqi extremist groups".

"They condemn us for making problems in Iraq, but they don't have any documentary proof," Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hossaini told reporters. "Lots of this evidence is fake, artificial. For example, when they wanted to start a war in Iraq, they made plenty of evidence that there were lots of weapons in Iraq, though the investigators of the International Atomic Energy Agency said they couldn't find any weapons in Iraq," he said. "Right now they're using weapons [with certain markings], but it doesn't prove where these weapons came from.^[26]

Iranian envoy kidnapped by Iraqi gunmen

Main article: Baghdad kidnapping of Iranian diplomat (February 2007)

Iraqi gunmen dressed in military uniforms kidnapped the second secretary of the Iranian embassy, Jalal Sharafi, on February 4, 2007 as he drove through central Baghdad. One official of the Iraqi government stated that the abduction occurred at the hands of a special army unit that reports directly to the US military command, but this was denied by American military officials.^[27] Iran's Foreign Ministry has condemned the kidnapping and pinned the blame on the US.^[28] February 4 is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

Economic sanctions against Iran

Since the 1979 revolution in Iran, the country has been under constant US unilateral sanctions. The first U.S. sanctions against Iran were formalized in November of 1979, and during the hostage crisis, many sanctions were leveled against the Iranian government. By 1987 the import of Iranian goods into the United States had been banned. In 1995, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12957, banning U.S. investment in Iran's energy sector, followed a few weeks later by Executive Order 12959 of May 9, 1995, eliminating all trade and investment and virtually all interaction between the United States and Iran. For details of current US sanctions, see the page of US Treasury.

The United States have not been followed yet by other countries. But the UN sanctions are the first international sanctions levied on Iran. The United States is pushing for more economic sanctions against Iran ^[29]. Under a proposal by Germany, which holds the EU presidency during the first semester of 2007, the European Union is also considering imposing sanctions that go beyond the UN sanctions^[30] but has not made any decision yet. Presidency of the Council of the European Union refers to the responsibility of presiding over all aspects of the Council of the European Union, when exercised collectively by a government, on a pre-established rota of the member states, of the European Union. ...

Alleged preparation for a war

Further information: Plans for strikes against the Iranian nuclear program

United States and Israel have refused to exclude the use of force to stop the Iranian nuclear program. They have, however, always stressed that they consider the use of force as a last resort. As negotiations continue over the Iranian nuclear program, many press reports have revealed possible military plans for airstrikes against facilities connected to the program by the Israeli and or US military. ...

Starting in 2005, several analysts, including Seymour Hersh,^[31] former UN weapons of mass destruction inspector in Iraq from 1991-1998, Scott Ritter^[32], Joseph Cirincione, director for non-proliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace^[33], Professor at the University of San Francisco and Middle East editor for the Foreign Policy in Focus Project, Stephen Zunes^[34] claimed that the United States planned a military attack against Iran. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Seymour Myron Sy Hersh (born April 8, 1937 Chicago) is an American Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist and author based in Washington, DC. He is a regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine on military and security matters. ... For the album, see Weapons of Mass Destruction (album). ... Iraq and weapons of mass destruction concerns the Iraqi governments use, possession, and alleged intention of acquiring more types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Scott Ritter speaks at SUNY New Paltz on March 16, 2006. ... Joseph Cirincione (b. ... The Endowments headquarters at 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private nonprofit organization promoting international cooperation and active international engagement by the United States of America. ... The University of San Francisco (often abbreviated USF, or sometimes USFCA) is a private, coeducational Jesuit university in the United States. ... Stephen Zunes (b. ...

Dec 19, 2006: According to CBS News report, the Pentagon is planning to bolster its presence in the Persian Gulf as a warning to Iran's continuously defiant government. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin says the U.S. military build-up, which would include adding a second aircraft carrier to the one already in the Gulf, is being proposed as a response to what U.S. officials view as an increasingly provocative Iranian leadership.^[35]

Dec 22, 2006: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that an increased US naval presence in the Persian Gulf is not a response to any action by Iran but a message that the United States will keep and maintain its regional footprint "for a long time."

Jan 6, 2007, a news agency reported that Israeli military sources had revealed a plan to strike the enrichment plant at Natanz using low-yield nuclear "bunker-busters."^[36] The disclosure may have been done to increase pressure on Iran to cease enrichment activities. The Israeli government denied this report. In Tehran, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told a news conference that the newspaper report "will make clear to the world public opinion that the Zionist regime is the main menace to global peace and the region." He said "any measure against Iran will not be left without a response and the invader will regret its act immediately."^[37]. Categories: Wikipedia cleanup | Iran geography stubs | Cities in Iran ...

Jan 11, 2007: Administration officials said that the battle group would be stationed within quick sailing distance of Iran, a response to the growing concern that Iran is building up its own missile capacity and naval power, with the goal of military dominance in the Gulf.^[38].

Jan 12, 2007: President Bush accused Iran in a speech this week of helping launch attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq. His remarks were followed by combative comments from his top war advisors, new moves by U.S. naval forces and a raid Thursday in the Kurdish-controlled city of Irbil. The administration moved Friday 12 January to defuse concerns that it was planning or inviting a confrontation with Tehran. At a news conference, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow dismissed as an "urban legend" suggestions that the United States was preparing for another war. Similar denials were issued by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.^[39]

Jan 14, 2007: A former Russian Black Sea Fleet Commander, Admiral Edward Baltin, says he believes the presence of so many US nuclear submarines in the Persian Gulf meant a strike was likely.^[40]

Jan 24, 2007: Iranian officials said Wednesday that they had received a delivery of advanced Russian air defense systems that are designed to protect its nuclear facilities at Isfahan, Bushehr, Tehran, and eastern Iran from attack, primarily from Israeli or American aircraft.^[41]

Jan 24, 2007: Writing for Global Research, General Leonid Ivashov, vice president of the Academy on Geopolitical Affairs and former Joint Chief of Staff of the Russian Armies, forecasts an American nuclear attack on Iran by the end of April. He also believes, like Scott Ritter, that the US will use tactical nuclear weapons.^[42]

Feb 18, 2007: According to Scott Ritter, who reiterated his view that Iran will be attacked by the US, the Pentagon has negotiated basing rights in Romania and Bulgaria so that B-1 and B-2 bombers can operate out of airfields there.^[43]

Opposition to a possible war

Main article: Opposition to war against Iran

Opposition to a perceived risk of a military attack on Iran by the United States is known to have started during 2005-2006. ...

Opposition inside the United States

For opponents to war like Scott Ritter, there is no proof that Iran nuclear program is not peaceful, but the real reason for war is regime change, not nuclear weapons. "We are seeing history repeat itself", says Scott Ritter, comparing preparation of Iran war with preparation of Iraq war. Scott Ritter speaks at SUNY New Paltz on March 16, 2006. ... This article is about the act of overthrowing a government. ...

In reaction to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737, the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran issued a statement titled "A Terrible Day for International Diplomacy"^[44] dated December 24, 2006. In the statement CASMII expresses grave concern over the UN resolution. It characterizes the unanimous verdict as having been engineered by the US. The statement argues that the resolution could be abused and taken as a justification for war, just like the 2002 resolution -also unanimously passed- was used as an eventual justification for the US/UK invasion of Iraq. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 was unanimously passed by the United Nations Security Council on 23 December 2006. ... Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII) is a group of people, especially academics, students and professionals of both Iranian and non-Iranian backgrounds whose aim is to advocate against war and sanctions, especially as they pertain to current United States-Iran relations. ...

On 26 January 2007, tens of thousands marched in Washington in an anti-war demonstration.^[45]

Opposition in the United States Congress

The War Powers Act of 1973 gives the US president legal authority to wage war against any country for 60 days. The War Powers Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-148) limits the power of the President of the United States to wage war without the approval of Congress. ...

However, some congressmen denied this: "The president does not have the authority to launch military action in Iran without first seeking congressional authorization," said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on January 18, 2007, at the National Press Club.^[46] The same day, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives pushed legislation to prohibit a U.S. attack on Iran without congressional permission. The effort, led by Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican. "The resolution makes crystal clear that no previous resolution passed by Congress authorizes a U.S. attack on Iran", Jones told reporters, referring to the 2002 vote by Congress authorizing the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The joint resolution would have to be passed by the House and Senate and signed by President George W. Bush to acquire the force of law. It would waive the congressional authorization only if Iran attacked the United States or its armed forces, or if such an attack was "demonstrably" imminent. So far, Jones' resolution has 11 co-sponsors in the 435-member House.^[47] Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      Senate composition following 2006 elections The United States Senate is...

International opposition to war by a majority of countries and the majority of the World Population

On September 16, 2006 in Havana, Cuba, all of the 118 Non-Aligned Movement member countries representing 55% of the world population and the majority of all the 192 UN member countries, at the summit level, declared supporting Iran's nuclear programme for civilian purposes and opposing any military attacks against nuclear facilities in their final written statement.^[48] Map of countries by population —showing the population of the Peoples Republic of China and India, the only two countries to have a population greater than a billion. ... Member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (2005). ... Map of countries by population —showing the population of the Peoples Republic of China and India, the only two countries to have a population greater than a billion. ...

Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Thursday, 25 January 2007 that An attack on Iran would be catastrophic and encourage it to develop a nuclear bomb.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also warned against an attack. "If there is military action, it will have catastrophic results, not only in the region, but the whole world," Aziz said during a panel discussion on nuclear proliferation at the World Economic Forum in Davos.^[49] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

See also

• Iran for all general information concerning Iran
• Nuclear program of Iran
• Iran and weapons of mass destruction
• Military of Iran
• United States-Iran relations
• Iran-Israel relations
• Opposition to war against Iran
• Islamism
• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israel
• Government-organized demonstration in Iran
• Anti-Iranianism

This article is about Irans nuclear power programme. ... As of 2006, Iran is not known to possess weapons of mass destruction and has signed treaties repudiating possession of them, including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). ... The Islamic Republic of Iran has two kinds of armed forces: the regular forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). ... Political relations between Iran (Persia) and the United States began when the Shah of Persia, Nassereddin Shah Qajar, officially dispatched Persias first ambassador, Mirza Abolhasan Shirazi (ميرزا ابولحسن شيرازی), to Washington D.C. in the mid to late 1800s. ... Relations between Iran and Israel have alternated from close political alliances between the two states during the era of the Pahlavi dynasty to hostility following the rise to power of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. ... Opposition to a perceived risk of a military attack on Iran by the United States is known to have started during 2005-2006. ... Political Ideologies Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      This article is about political Islamism. ...   (Persian: ‎ ​, IPA: ), transcribed into English as Mahmud or Mahmood, Ahmadinezhad, Ahmadi-Nejad, Ahmadi Nejad, Ahmady Nejad) (born October 28, 1956) is the current president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. ... During his presidency, Mahmoud Ahmadinejads speeches and statements have contributed to increased tensions between Iran and Israel, and between Iran and a few Western nations. ... Government-organized demonstrations or state demonstrations are demonstrations whereat government employees march and protest on behalf and at the behest of the government in civilian clothes. ... Teddy Bear with Nuke Iran T-Shirt. ...

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