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Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Country Reports on Terrorism 2009
August 5, 2010
State sponsors of terrorism provide critical support to many non-state terrorist groups. Without state sponsors, these groups would have greater difficulty obtaining the funds, weapons, materials, and secure areas they require to plan and conduct operations. The United States will continue to insist that these countries end the support they give to terrorist groups.
State Sponsor: Implications
The designation of countries that repeatedly provide support for acts of international terrorism as state sponsors of terrorism carries with it four main sets of U.S. Government sanctions:
1. A ban on arms-related exports and sales.
2. Controls over exports of dual-use items, requiring 30-day Congressional notification for goods or services that could significantly enhance the terrorist-list country’s military capability or ability to support terrorism.
3. Prohibitions on economic assistance.
4. Imposition of miscellaneous financial and other restrictions, including:
Requiring the United States to oppose loans by the World Bank and other international financial institutions;
Exception from the jurisdictional immunity in U.S. courts of state sponsor countries, and all former state sponsor countries (with the exception of Iraq), with respect to claims for money damages for personal injury or death caused by certain acts of terrorism, torture, or extrajudicial killing, or the provision of material support or resources for such acts;
Denial to companies and individuals tax credits for income earned in terrorist-list countries;
Denial of duty-free treatment of goods exported to the United States;
Authority to prohibit any U.S. citizen from engaging in a financial transaction with a terrorist-list government without a Treasury Department license; and
Prohibition of Defense Department contracts above US$ 100,000 with companies in which a state sponsor government owns or controls a significant interest.
Designated State Sponsors of Terrorism
Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism. Iran’s financial, material, and logistic support for terrorist and militant groups throughout the Middle East and Central Asia had a direct impact on international efforts to promote peace, threatened economic stability in the Gulf and undermined the growth of democracy.
Iran remained the principal supporter of groups that are implacably opposed to the Middle East Peace Process. The Qods Force, the external operations branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is the regime’s primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting terrorists abroad. Iran provided weapons, training, and funding to HAMAS and other Palestinian terrorist groups, including Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC). Iran has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in support to Lebanese Hizballah and has trained thousands of Hizballah fighters at camps in Iran. Since the end of the 2006 Israeli-Hizballah conflict, Iran has assisted Hizballah in rearming, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Iran’s Qods Force provided training to the Taliban in Afghanistan on small unit tactics, small arms, explosives, and indirect fire weapons. Since at least 2006, Iran has arranged arms shipments to select Taliban members, including small arms and associated ammunition, rocket propelled grenades, mortar rounds, 107mm rockets, and plastic explosives.
Despite its pledge to support the stabilization of Iraq, Iranian authorities continued to provide lethal support, including weapons, training, funding, and guidance, to Iraqi Shia militant groups that targeted U.S. and Iraqi forces. The Qods Force continued to supply Iraqi militants with Iranian-produced advanced rockets, sniper rifles, automatic weapons, and mortars that have killed Iraqi and Coalition Forces, as well as civilians. Iran was responsible for the increased lethality of some attacks on U.S. forces by providing militants with the capability to assemble explosively formed penetrators that were designed to defeat armored vehicles. The Qods Force, in concert with Lebanese Hizballah, provided training outside of Iraq and advisors inside Iraq for Shia militants in the construction and use of sophisticated improvised explosive device technology and other advanced weaponry.
Iran remained unwilling to bring to justice senior al-Qa’ida (AQ) members it continued to detain, and refused to publicly identify those senior members in its custody. Iran has repeatedly resisted numerous calls to transfer custody of its AQ detainees to their countries of origin or third countries for trial; it is reportedly holding Usama bin Ladin’s family members under house arrest.
Senior IRGC, IRGC Qods Force, and Iranian government officials were indicted by the Government of Argentina for their alleged roles in the 1994 terrorist bombing of the Argentine-Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA); according to the Argentine State Prosecutor’s report, the attack was initially proposed by the Qods Force. In 2007, INTERPOL issued a “red notice” for six individuals wanted in connection to the bombing. One of the individuals, Ahmad Vahidi, was named as Iran’s Defense Minister in August 2009.
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/140889.htm
Iranians involved in 1988 massacres remain in public life GEOFFREY ROBERTSON June 14, 2010
The anniversary at the weekend of Iran's rigged election turned the spotlight on the man who approved it - the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei - and the man who was cheated of the presidency, Mir Hossein Mousavi.
If there was justice in the world, both men would be still be serving prison sentences, along with Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and a number of the nation's top judges and politicians. All were complicit in one of the gravest crimes against humanity since World War II, the mass slaughter of political prisoners at the close of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988.
Mir-Hossein Mousavi 'involved in massacre', says report
Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the leader of Iran's opposition green movement was involved in the massacre of more than 10,000 political prisoners in 1988, according to a report.
Mr Mousavi, the defeated candidate in last June's presidential election, served as Iran's prime minister when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the regime's spiritual leader, issued a fatwa that sentenced thousands of political prisoners to death without trial, according to the report by one of Britain's leading human rights lawyers.
Mr Mousavi is one of several prominent Iranian politicians who are accused of implementing the order. According to a detailed report published by Geoffrey Robertson QC, who specialises in human rights law, the prisoners were executed for refusing to recant their political and religious beliefs.
International institutions defending security and Human Rights Human Rights Organisations
To the attention of:
18 May 2010
International institutions defending security and Human Rights
Human Rights Organisations
Democratic and freedom seeking parties and organizations
Political, intellectual and freedom seeking activists
Kurdish nation in Iran have been living under suppression for centuries and they have sacrificed thousands for their very basic rights. During the governments prior to the Islamic Republic as well the Islamic Republic era have Kurds being treated as second class citizens,
they have been persecuted, all their rights have been revoked and their basic demands have been answered by bullets.
Iran detains Iraqi soldier in border shooting incident
ARBIL, Iraq
Fri May 14, 2010 8:32am EDT
Sun, May 9 2010
ARBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iranian troops fired into the air and detained an Iraqi border patrol officer after mistaking Iraqi border guards for Kurdish rebels on a northern stretch of the two countries' border, officials said Friday.
There was no exchange of fire between the two sides in Thursday's incident, contrary to some reports, said Major General Jabbar Yawar, spokesman for Iraq's Kurdish peshmerga security forces.
"The Iranians thought the Iraqi forces belonged to the Kurdish opposition PJAK (the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan)," Yawar said.
"After no more than five minutes of shooting, which was from the Iranian side only, the incident ended when the Iraqi soldiers explained ... that they are Iraqi border guards."
An Iraqi officer was detained when he went over to the Iranian forces to identify himself, said Brigadier General Ahmed Gharib, head of Iraq's border guards in Iraq's northern Kurdish province of Sulaimaniya.
"Detaining the Iraqi officer was not justified. We have made calls through official channels to release him, which was supposed to happen today, but did not," he said.
"The Iraqi forces did not open fire, so there was no reason to detain the officer."
The Iranian authorities were not immediately available for comment.
Iranian security forces often clash with rebels from the PJAK, an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which took up arms in 1984 for an ethnic homeland in southeast Turkey.
Thursday's incident took place in a border area near the town of Darbandikhan in Sulaimaniya, 260 km (160 miles) northeast of Baghdad.
Iran and Iraq fought a ferocious eight-year war in the 1980s in which a million people died.
But relations have improved enormously since Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein was ousted in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and Iraq's Shi'ite majority rose to political prominence. Iran is also a predominantly Shi'ite Muslim state.
Still, long-running border disputes have not been fully settled.
In December, a small group of Iranian troops took over an oil well for a few days in a remote region along a disputed part of the border. The well is considered by Iraq as part of its Fakka oilfield and the incident caused oil prices to rise.
Like Iraq, Turkey and Syria, Iran has a large Kurdish minority, mainly living in the Islamic Republic's northwest and west.
Iran designates PJAK, which seeks autonomy for Kurdish areas in Iran and finds shelter in Iraq's northeastern border provinces, as a terrorist group. The United States, Iran's arch foe, in February last year also branded PJAK as a terrorist organization.
(Reporting by Shamal Aqrawi; Writing by Rania El Gamal; Editing by Jon Boyle)
Kurds to protest over Iran executions
All the main Kurdish parties deny that five people hanged in Tehran for 'anti-revolutionary activities' were involved in terrorism
Iranian Kurds are organising protests today after the execution of five people, including a woman, who were convicted of membership of a terrorist group or anti-revolutionary activity.
Opposition sources reported protests were planned at Tehran University as well as in Piranshahr and Kamyaran in north-west Iran. Martial law was reportedly declared in the predominantly Kurdish cities of Mahabad and Sanandaj.
The woman, Shirin Alamhouli, claimed to have been tortured into making a false confession. The others, Farzad Kamangar, Ali Haydarian, Farhad Vakili and Mehdi Eslamian, who was not a Kurd, were described by the authorities as members of the Free Life of Kurdistan party (PJAK), an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers party (PKK) which fights for a homeland in south-east Turkey and north-west Iran.
The five were convicted in 2008 and hanged in Tehran's Evin prison yesterday. The official IRNA news agency said three of them were involved in bombings that killed members of the Revolutionary Guard. Each was also convicted of being a mohareb (an enemy of God) – a crime punishable by death in Iran.
All main Kurdish parties have denied that any of the five were involved in terrorist activities. "A regime which relates earthquakes to the way women dress has no credibility when it tries to link civilian activists to bombings," said Kaweh Ahangari, of the Kurdish Democratic party.
Fifteen other Kurdish prisoners remain on death row in Iran.
It was unclear whether the executions were designed to deter opposition activists in the runup to next month's anniversary of last year's presidential election, in which the incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was widely accused of having stolen victory from Mir Hossein Mousavi, triggering mass protests unprecedented since the 1979 revolution.
Four other activists were executed before planned opposition protests in February to mark the anniversary of the revolution.
Iran has often accused western governments, especially the US, of backing separatist groups among the country's ethnic minorities, in Baluchistan and Khuzestan as well as in Kurdish areas.
Farzad Kamangar: EI Outrage at Iranian Teacher's Execution
[h2 h2 05/11/10 Bookmark and Share
h2 Farzad Kamangar: EI Outrage at Iranian Teacher's Execution
Source: Education International
Education International is deeply troubled to hear reports that Iranian teacher trade unionist Farzad Kamangar was among five people who were summarily executed in secret on 9 May.
Farzad Kamangar
Farzad Kamangar, a 35-year-old married man and member of the Teachers' Union of Kurdistan, was accused of "endangering national security" and "enmity against God". He had lived with the threat of the death penalty since February 2008, when it was imposed upon him after a sham trial that lasted less than five minutes.
Although the Iranian authorities had accepted Farzad's appeal, the case stalled when it should have been sent to the Supreme Court for review. After further delays, Farzad's lawyer was told that his file had been lost. Despite the evident lack of independent inquiry into the allegations and the absence of a fair judicial process, Farzad has still been reportedly executed.
EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen, said: "We are all deeply shocked and saddened to hear that Farzad has been executed. His case was particularly troubling to our 30 million members because of the opaque and secretive manner in which his trial was conducted, the lack of basic rights he had access to whilst in prison, and the fact that neither his family or legal representatives were informed of his execution. This is a terrible day for teachers, union activists and human rights. EI expresses our solidarity with Farzad's family, colleagues and students."
He added: "EI recognises the rights and responsibilities of all governments to bring to justice those suspected of criminal offences but this must be in line with international and national standards of fair trial. EI is also unequivocal that the Iranian government must ensure respect for all trade union and human rights."
The trade union and human rights community had campaigned against the death penalty and prosecution of Farzad. EI and its affiliates have been particularly vocal and lobbied the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association, which subsequently 'urge[d] the Government [of Iran] to immediately stay the execution of Farzad Kamangar's death sentence, annul his conviction and secure his release from detention.'
Call for action:
*
EI is joining international networks and campaigns to remember Farzad and support other Iranian teachers and union activists, including Rasoul Bodaghi, Hashem Khastar and Bahman Goudarzzade, who remain in prison within Iran.
*
EI is writing to the Supreme Leader and Iranian authorities to request a transparent investigation into the execution of Farzad and to halt any further executions.
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EI is informing and calling on all EI affiliates to write to their respective country's foreign office to express their shock at the execution of Farzad, to call for open and fair trials, and an end to the death penalty.
*
EI is encouraging its affiliates to hold vigils to mark the sad news of the death of Farzad.
... Payvand News - 05/11/10]
EDITORIAL: Voice of the mullahs
Public diplomacy takes a pro-Islamist tilt
By THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Voice of America is becoming the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Recent programming choices have revealed a creeping bias toward opponents of the pro-democracy movement and de facto supporters of the regime. This ill befits the VOA mission and the purpose of U.S. public diplomacy.
On March 17, Rep. Trent Franks, Arizona Republican, sent a letter to President Obama signed by 69 members of Congress requesting that the White House "investigate reported mismanagement and bias at Voice of America's Persian News Network (VOA-PNN)." The lawmakers expressed concern over "the apparent lack of oversight regarding the management, staffing, mission and content of VOA-PNN broadcasting." The letter notes that the service "may have harmed the plight of those seeking human rights, rather than helping it."
Cases in point are two recent VOA broadcasts that gave preferred treatment to pro-regime messages. On March 29, VOA-PNN interviewed Hooshang Amir-Ahmadi, an anti-sanctions activist called "Iran's pseudo U.S. lobbyist" by Iranian democracy groups. Mr. Amir-Ahmadi expressed the view that Iran's belligerent posture and nuclear program are the natural results of being surrounded by U.S. missiles and bombs; hence, progress can come only through the United States softening its policies toward Tehran.
On April 1, VOA gave airtime to Trita Parsi, head of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), which has received millions of dollars in federal funds to promote democracy in Iran. Mr. Parsi expressed various odd positions, such as that Israel prefers to have hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power in Tehran, that members of the Obama administration know sanctions won't work but pursue them only as a bargaining position, and - most strangely - that even if Iran succeeded in establishing a democracy, the United States would nevertheless keep sanctions in place. VOA gave Mr. Parsi preferential treatment by banning callers while he was on the air even though he appeared on a call-in show; those who later took issue with his views were quickly cut off.
Mr. Parsi was the subject of an investigation by the Senate federal financial management subcommittee, which revealed that most of the federal funds received by NIAC were not used for their intended purpose and that he was working with a regime-controlled front posing as an Iranian nongovernmental organization. These and other developments have generated buzz in the pro-democracy Iranian blogosphere that VOA has become a pro-mullah outlet.
The rub is that the Iranian people may not even get to hear these messages because Tehran routinely jams VOA broadcasts. Voice of America recently drafted a strongly worded protest against the jamming, but the National Security Council intervened in an attempt to block the protest and, failing that, to water down the language. Republican Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Sam Brownback of Kansas sent a letter to Broadcasting Board of Governors Executive Director Jeffrey N. Trimble on March 9 noting that such White House intervention constitutes "serious violations of U.S. law, policy and tradition related to the editorial independence of the taxpayer-funded" board of governors.
These events should be hot topics when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds hearings on nominations for new members of the broadcasting board. Meanwhile, if VOA is telling Iranians struggling for freedom that resistance is futile, we hope Tehran keeps jamming it.
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The German news magazine Der Spiegel has reported that Saudi Arabia is hoping Israel will strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, and is even prepared to open its skies to Israeli warplanes to allow such an operation to take place. Similar reports were published in 2009, and denied by both Israel and Saudi
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Barbara Lochbihler
MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
His Eminence Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic
Most Honourable Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, The Chief of the Judiciary
His Excellency Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
His Excellency Manouchehr Mottaghi , Minister of Foreign Affairs
Situation in Iran
European Parliament resolution of 10 February 2010 on Iran
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran,
– having regard to the statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, of 5 February 2010 on the imminent executions in Iran,
U.S. and EU fear fresh government crackdown in Iran
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and the European Union said on Monday they feared the Iranian government may crack down on opponents during this week's anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. Washington and the EU issued a rare joint statement on Iran, warning the country's leaders to live up to their international human rights obligations.
CNN REPORT FROM IRAN 11Feb Ravolotion day the Mohlas
U.S. Speeding Up Missile Defenses in Persian Gulf
nytimes
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is accelerating the deployment of new defenses against possible Iranian missile attacks in the Persian Gulf, placing special ships off the Iranian coast and antimissile systems in at least four Arab countries, according to administration and military officials.
Iran: Halt executions of Kurdish and other political prisoners
Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities not to execute at least 17 members of Iran’s Kurdish minority, including one woman – Zeynab Jalalian - who are on death row after their conviction of political offences. The organization fears that they could be executed at any time, particularly in light of the execution of two other Kurds in Iran in recent months, most recently Fasih Yasmini in Khoy on 6 January 2010.
