Iran boosts budget for missiles, Revolutionary Guards

[Babak]

Iran's parliament has overwhelmingly voted to increase spending on Tehran's ballistic missile programme and the elite Revolutionary Guards in retaliation for new sanctions imposed by the United States.

In a session on Sunday, a total of 240 politicians out of 244 present voted to allocate $520m to develop the country's missile programme and boost foreign operations of the paramilitary troops, with only one abstention.

Parliamentarians approved the outlines of the bill to "counter America's terrorist and adventurist actions in the region" as some chanted "Death to America" after the vote results were announced.

READ MORE: Rouhani vows to end isolation amid fresh US sanctions

The vote came in reaction to legislation passed by the US Congress and signed by US President Donald Trump in early August to impose new sanctions on Iran over its missile programme.

The sanctions followed Iran successfully testing a rocket that can deliver satellites into orbit.

"The Americans should know that this was our first action," said speaker Ali Larijani after announcing the overwhelming majority vote for the package on Sunday.


Iran accuses US of undermining nuclear deal with sanctions
Iran denies its missile programme violates a UN resolution that endorsed Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and calls upon the Islamic Republic not to conduct activities related to ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons.

Tehran says it does not design such missiles.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who was sworn in for a second term earlier this month, called the nuclear deal "a sign of Iran's goodwill on the international stage".

Iran has launched ballistic missiles in tests, something it is allowed to do under the deal, despite American criticism.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told members of parliament the government and the foreign ministry backed the bill, which he said "was designed wisely so that it does not violate the nuclear deal and provide excuses for opposing sides".

READ MORE: 'It is in Trump's interest to keep the Iran deal alive'

"Iran boasts potential and actual options to confront hostile US actions," said Araqchi.

The Iranian plan would require Iran's government and armed forces to draw up a strategy to counter US violations of human rights around the world, and to support Iranian bodies and individuals affected by American sanctions.

The bill must now pass a second vote before being submitted to a clerical body for final approval and passage into law.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/0...085026024.html

[Böri]

Not as impressive as Kim Jong Un tho.

[Babak]

Not as impressive as Kim Jong Un tho.

True

[N1019]

There they go again, pushing the boundaries against an infinitely stronger opponent, inching ever closer to war, in typical Iranian fashion as we have seen throughout the last century.

They know the US is basically treating the ballistic missile programme as an extension of the nuclear programme, whether that is true or not, and that the nuclear programme will be used as a partial basis for a future war.

Oh well. I guess it's too late for them to change direction now.

[Pahli]

There they go again, pushing the boundaries against an infinitely stronger opponent, inching ever closer to war, in typical Iranian fashion as we have seen throughout the last century.

They know the US is basically treating the ballistic missile programme as an extension of the nuclear programme, whether that is true or not, and that the nuclear programme will be used as a partial basis for a future war.

Oh well. I guess it's too late for them to change direction now.

Thing is we don't even know if the Iranian government already got their hands on a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead, one thing is for sure, if they decide to launch it things are definitely going to go worse.

[Babak]

I dont understand why these fucking retarded mullahs have so much ego? For fucks sake

[N1019]

Thing is we don't even know if the Iranian government already got their hands on a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead, one thing is for sure, if they decide to launch it things are definitely going to go worse.

I highly doubt they have a nuke, but it won't matter. The US will make the case that they either have a nuke or are still trying to get one. Even trying to get one is enough for them to strike.

[Pahli]

I highly doubt they have a nuke, but it won't matter. The US will make the case that they either have a nuke or are still trying to get one. Even trying to get one is enough for them to strike.

Yeah, tensions are very high unfortunately.

[N1019]

Yeah, tensions are very high unfortunately.

H.J. Res 10 makes it pretty clear. Iran does not need to actually have nukes in order for the POTUS to order military action against Iran. The idea is to take action to prevent Iran from getting nukes. Now, what Iran is doing here is playing right into the hands of the American warhawks. This can only go on for so long before things are brought to a head.

[Babak]

H.J. Res 10 makes it pretty clear. Iran does not need to actually have nukes in order for the POTUS to order military action against Iran. The idea is to take action to prevent Iran from getting nukes. Now, what Iran is doing here is playing right into the hands of the American warhawks. This can only go on for so long before things are brought to a head.

Pretty interesting. Lmk what you think http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/0...151145632.html


The government of Saudi Arabia has sought the help of Iraq's prime minister to mend relations between Riyadh and Tehran, according to news reports.

Citing Qasim al-Araji, Iraq's interior minister, the Iraqi satellite channel Alghadeer reported that Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, has asked Haider al-Abadi to lead the mediation with Iran.

"During our visit to Saudi Arabia, they also asked us to do so, and we said that to [the] Iranian side. The Iranian side looked at this demand positively," Araji was quoted saying by Alghadeer on Sunday.

"After the victories that Iraq has achieved, it [Saudi Arabia] began looking to Iraq, at its true size and leading role.

"The calm and stability and the return of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have positive repercussions on the region as a whole."

Araji visited the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Saturday to discuss "several issues" with top Iranian officials, according to reports. He also visited Saudi Arabia in July.

The Iranian news agency ISNA quoted Araji in Farsi as saying that Mohammed bin Salman wanted to "ease tensions" with Iran.

Separately, Muqtada al-Sadr, the influential Iraqi Shia leader, announced on his website that he would be visiting the UAE on Sunday.

In July, Sadr made a rare visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met Mohammed bin Salman and other officials.

Sadr, an anti-American figure, commands a large following among the urban poor of Baghdad and the southern cities, including Saraya al-Salam, or Peace Brigades armed group.

He is now seen as a nationalist who has repeatedly called for protests against corruption in the Iraqi government, and his supporters have staged huge protests in Baghdad calling for electoral reform.