Iran Aids Assad in Blood Bath

Report: Assad's family attempts to escape Syria - Jerusalem Post

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=255681

Report: Iran Quds Forces March into Syria - Reza Kahlili

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/02/07/report-iran-quds-forces-march-into-syria/

Syria: Iran Military Chief Said to be in War Room with Assad

p://www.ibtimes.com/articles/295040/20120208/iran-syria-homs-russia.htm

Syria: Iran's elite Quds force 'advising Assad regime'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9072798/Syria-Irans-elite-Quds-force-advising-Assad-regime.html

Egypt: Honoring religious freedom after 'Arab Spring'

Written by Leonard A. Leo and Elizabeth H. Prodromou

Friday, 10 February 2012

Leonard A. Leo and Elizabeth H. Prodromou
U.S. Commission of International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

National constitutions should recognize freedom of religion, thought, conscience, and belief as a universal right. 

National constitutions should also affirm that religious freedom includes the right to keep or to change one’s own religion or belief without coercion and to manifest it publicly, as well as to persuade others to change their beliefs or affiliations voluntarily.

As Egypt marks the first anniversary of Hosni Mubarak’s historic departure on February 11, urgent challenges await it and other Middle Eastern and North African states. From Tunisia to Egypt, elections raise hopes for democracy.

Yet the ballot box alone will not ensure the triumph of human rights and freedom over tyranny and oppression. What happens after the elections is as critical.

Will the rule of law be enforced? Will women’s rights be defined and protected? Will minority rights be respected? Will the full panoply of human rights be guaranteed under law and applied by government officials? Will the freedom of religion or belief be recognized as central to democracy? The answers to these questions will determine whether democracy will take hold.

None is more important than whether religious freedom will be protected. Studies show a positive correlation between this freedom and civil and political rights, economic liberty, and personal and national security -- and a negative correlation with social conflict and state violence and repression. Egypt’s frightening sectarian violence, threatening religious pluralism and religious minority communities, underscores these linkages.

One of the most crucial ways that elected leaders can bolster religious freedom and related rights is by enshrining them in their constitutions. It is not all that must be done, but it’s an essential first step. Egypt can set the standard. By protecting religious freedom, Egypt’s parliament can send a message to the region about the intrinsic linkages between this foundational right and broader liberties.

Elsewhere, Prime Minister Erdogan recently announced his government’s intent to proceed with long-delayed reforms to Turkey’s constitution. Jordan’s King Abdullah II is being pressed by political opposition parties for reforms to his country’s constitution. Bahrain’s King Hamad has met with opposition critical to recently-announced constitutional amendments. While contexts vary, such efforts must ensure that international standards are respected in constitutional drafts. There are a number of key touchstones to consider.

First, national constitutions should recognize freedom of religion, thought, conscience, and belief as a universal right. By signing the UN Charter, each of the 193 member states of the United Nations concurred, as did the drafters of numerous international instruments, beginning with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Egypt and other nations should act accordingly through their own constitutions.

Constitutions must recognize religious freedom for individuals and communities alike. Each person’s freedom to hold and to manifest any religion or belief -- and, equally important, not to hold any religious belief -- should not be abridged, aside from exceptions spelled out in international law. Whether part of a religious minority or majority, whether an adherent of a traditional religion, a newer religion, or no religion, and whether a citizen or a non-citizen, every human being should possess the freedom of religion or belief.

Besides recognizing it as a universal right and empowering individuals and communities to exercise it, national constitutions should also affirm that religious freedom includes the right to keep or to change one’s own religion or belief without coercion and to manifest it publicly, as well as to persuade others to change their beliefs or affiliations voluntarily. Any limitations on these freedoms must be prescribed by narrowly construed law consistent with international agreements.

Finally, for countries declaring one religion as the official religion, religious freedom must be respected for all, without bias. Providing benefits to state religions not available to other faiths would constitute discrimination, as would excepting them from processes normally required for faith communities to establish legal personality.

As Egypt marks the one-year anniversary of Mubarak’s fall, its leaders can set an example by drafting a new national constitution that upholds these international legal standards for religious freedom. Such a constitution would enhance the prospect that democracy, marked by principles of equality and tolerance, takes root. To be sure, neither elections nor constitutions that respect religious freedom can guarantee democracy, but they are necessary steps along its path.

Leo and Prodromou serve as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Paul Liben at pliben@uscirf.gov or (703) 870-6041.


https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150669945269369&id=537079368

Syrian Christians for Democracy: "Stop Assad Now!"

For Immediate Release

Stop Assad Now!

4th of February, 2012

Press Contact:

Communications Director: George Stifo, 508-667-6599, George@syrian-christian.org
Executive Director: Ayman Abdelnour, 514-317-2744, ayman@syrian-christian.org

Syrian Christians for Democracy calls on the free world to condemn the vicious crimes committed by Assad’s forces tonight in different cities of Syria. The humanitarian situation is precarious and the sectarian peace is in peril. Civil war might become a reality if the International community does not act now to protect the Syrian people from their dictator.

Our organization is sickened by the 200 innocent Syrians who were killed by Assad’s death squads and a canon barrage targeting their homes. The death toll is expected to be higher in the morning hours. The Assad media arm is propagating that the initiator of this new offensive is the Christian minister of defense, General Daoud Ragha, who was appointed to his current position last march when the revolution started, albeit all outside observers know that in Syria, the military orders come straight from Assad’s palace.

Therefore, we solemnly ask the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to take immediate legal action against the Syrian Army field officers, their general commander and his deputy Daoud Ragha.

The impact of this desperate act of resistance might tear up the Syrian social fabric and plunge the country in a violent period of sectarian strife.

Syrian Christians for Democracy
2300 M Street NW, Suite 800

Washington, DC 20037
Office phone: +1 202 973 2800
email: scd@syrian-christian.org

website: www.syrian-christian.org
501(c)3 – nonprofit organization

http://syrian-christian.org/scd-press-release-04022012-stop-assad-now/

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Hillary Clinton to UN: Stand with Syrian people or be “complicit” in crackdown

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/hillary-clinton-un-stand-syrian-people-complicit-crackdown-212742585.html

Gillibrand, Schumer Unveil Sanctions Bill Against Syria

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The Syrian Human Rights Accountability Act: S. 2034: A bill to impose sanctions with respect to human rights abuses committed 

https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s2034

Jeffrey D. Feltman on Syria Policy: US State Department Testimony to US Senate Foreign Relations Committee 

http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/176948.htm

CAIR & Affiliates Complaint on NYPD to NY Attorney General - Islamic Counterterrorism Institute

From:

Sam Bazzi, Director, Islamic Counterterrorism Institute

http://wiki.islamiccounterterrorism.org/article/Main_Page

[& Please scroll down to review the list of CAIR affiliates]

Friends,

I am writing to alert you about a new campaign by several ethnic and religious organizations, including known Khomeinist entities, against the New York Police Department (NYPD). It is absurd to see the citizens in charge of protecting New York, a traumatized city, be subjected to unfair and audacious attacks by domestic organizations that certainly include known Taqiyya-practicing Islamofascist forces.

The initiators of the campaign against NYPD complained in a newly published letter (see below) that "a film containing inaccurate and inflammatory depictions of Islam and Muslims seeking world domination, was being shown to NYPD officers." There is no inaccuracy here. The teachings of Khomeini, Khamenei, Bin Laden and their likes are not arcane secrets: These sad brutes and murderers are violently anti-America (not to mention anti-humanity) and promote their personal versions of berserk Jihad with the aim of enslaving the world, all of it.

"Should one permit an infidel to continue in his role as a Corrupter of the Earth, the moral suffering of the infidel will be all the worse. Should one kill the infidel, and this stops him from perpetrating his misdeeds, his death will be a blessing to him." —Ruhollah Khomeini

Unfortunately, such dangerous Islamofascist leaders have their dedicated followers here, among us, in the United States, especially in New York. It is crucial for the security of the United States that our law enforcement personnel develop true and comprehensive understanding of the threat posed to our country. American Muslims should be among the first to welcome this and cooperate with the police and the FBI because the American Muslim community is the ecosystem for the bad apples operating in its midst. That's a fact!

"I say to all of Europe, I say to America, we will set up suicide bombers who are now in your countries, if you bomb Syria or Lebanon." —Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, Grand Mufti of Syria (Source: http://goo.gl/2enXZ. See Hassoun making his threats at: http://goo.gl/JVXnT)

The NYPD is doing its job to keep us safe. Let's all stand united by the NYPD and for the security of our nation.

You can reach the Eric T. Schneiderman, the Attorney General of New York, to express your support for the efforts of the NYPD via this email form:

http://www.ag.ny.gov/online_forms/email_ag.jsp

Or directly via this email address: eric.schneiderman@ag.ny.gov

(Please feel free to circulate.)

Sincerely,

-Sam Bazzi

The Islamic Counterterrorism Institute

http://islamiccounterterrorism.org

—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—

ICNA and 31 other Organizations Join Muslim Advocates in Filing Complaint Demanding NY Attorney General Investigate NYPD

New York, NY – February 3, 2012: The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), one of the nation’s leading Muslim organizations, joined over 31 other faith based organizations in submitting a letter of complaint to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman demanding an immediate investigation into the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) continuous and systemic targeting of American Muslims based on their race, ethnicity, and religion.

Here is the letter submitted:

February 3, 2012
The Honorable Eric Schneiderman
Attorney General of the State of New York
The Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Re: Complaint and Request for Investigation of the New York Police Department

Dear Attorney General Schneiderman:

The undersigned American Muslim, Arab, South Asian, civil rights and civic groups¹ write to you regarding the New York Police Department’s (“NYPD”) promotion and use of anti-Muslim training materials, the NYPD’s violations of the civil rights of law abiding New Yorkers (as well as residents of New Jersey and Connecticut) who have been the targets of massive, abusive surveillance practices based on their ethnic or faith background, and the NYPD’s false and misleading statements about these discriminatory policing activities. The seriousness of this problem cannot be overstated, and we urgently request that you conduct a prompt investigation into this matter.²

Last year, it was first reported that The Third Jihad, a film containing inaccurate and inflammatory depictions of Islam and Muslims seeking world domination, was being shown to NYPD officers.³ In response, the NYPD assured the public that the film had only been shown “a few times” to some officers.⁴ This claim was recently revealed to be false when newly released documents showed that the film was played for three months, viewed by almost 1,500 officers, and even more troubling, that its producers conducted a ninety-minute interview with Ray Kelly.⁵ The NYPD’s continuous false and misleading statements about its role in the production and dissemination of the film and its use of a patently bigoted film that paints the entire American Muslim community as a national security threat are not only insulting to millions of Americans, but also appears to be a misguided effort to train officers that using religion as a proxy for criminal activity is permissible.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that the NYPD has demonstrated a pattern of blanket suspicion towards the American Muslim community based on race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs and practices. In August 2011, the Associated Press began publishing a series of investigative reports about the NYPD’s intelligence gathering program specifically targeting the American Muslim community, and the CIA’s involvement in this program.⁶ The NYPD was exposed as targeting the entire Muslim community – and approximately 250 mosques, schools, and businesses – without any evidence of wrongdoing.⁷ AP reports indicate that, as part of ethnic mapping programs throughout the city, the NYPD targets Muslim neighborhoods, maintains a list of “ancestries of interest,” and receives daily reports from informants who visit cafes and clubs to collect information about Muslim patrons.⁸ Most recently, on February 2, 2012, an AP report also revealed that the NYPD has engaged in rampant surveillance of thousands of Shi’a Muslims, their mosques, and community spaces in preparation for possible international conflict with Iran without any evidence of wrongdoing taking place in those institutions.

Taken together with Commissioner Kelly’s active participation in an interview for an offensive and hateful film that was subsequently used to train police officers, the above described measures uncover a disturbing picture about the NYPD’s institutional approach to American Muslim, Arab, South Asian, Iranian and Middle Eastern communities. Furthermore, such measures are the newest manifestation of the NYPD’s well documented discriminatory practices against other communities of color. The NYPD’s historical use of widespread ethnic, racial, and religious profiling to target Americans for stops, frisks, arrests, and surveillance is a threat to the rights of all Americans. It also erodes the public’s trust and confidence in the NYPD and instead sends the message that law enforcement is not accountable for upholding the law and rights of all Americans.

In response to the AP investigative reports, on October 5, 2011, at least seven members of the New York Senate requested that you conduct an investigation into the NYPD’s massive, abusive surveillance and mapping of the Muslim community.⁹ In light of Commissioner Kelly’s recent false statements and cover-up about The Third Jihad and the newly released information about wholesale surveillance of the Shi’a community, the need to hold the NYPD accountable for its flagrant use of discriminatory policing practices has never been more glaring and urgent.

We therefore respectfully request that your office undertakes an immediate investigation into the practices outlined above. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

ACCESS Michigan
Al Kauser
American Coalition For Good Government
Arab American Association of New York
Arab American Institute
Arab Muslim American Federation
Council of Shia Professionals
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM)
Emerge USA
Florida Muslim Bar Association
Imam Husain Islamic Center (IHIC)
Imamia Medics International
Independent Viewpoints
Islamic Center of Zahra-SA (ICZ-SA)
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
Islamic Information Center (IIC)
Labor for Palestine
Muslim Advocates
Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA)
Muslim Bar Association of Chicago
Muslim Bar Association of New York
Muslim Consultative Network (MCN)
Muslim Foundation Inc. (MFI)
Muslim Law Students Association at Fordham Law School
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
Muslims for Peace, Inc.
National Network for Arab American Communities
New England Muslim Bar Association
New York City Labor Against the War
Shia Association of North America (SANA)
Shia Association of the Bay Area (SABA)
Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA)

1 Several civil rights groups and individuals who are party to this letter have been directly affected by the NYPD’s surveillance tactics described.
2 The Attorney General is statutorily responsible for the enforcement of civil rights laws of the U.S. and of New York State, pursuant to N.Y. Exec. Law § 63(1), (9), (10).
3 “New York NYPD Cops’ Training Included an Anti-Muslim Horror Flick,” Tom Robbins, Village Voice Jan 19, 2011, available at http://www.villagevoice.com/2011-01-19/columns/nypd-cops-training-includedan-anti-muslim-horror-flick/.
4 “In Shift, Police Say Leader Helped with Anti-Islam Film and Now Regrets It,” Michael Powell, The New York Times, Jan 24, 2012, available at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/nyregion/policecommissioner-kelly-helped-with-anti-islam-film-and-regrets-it.html.
5 Id.
6 “What’s the CIA Doing At NYPD? Depends Whom You Ask,” Apuzzo & Goldman, Associated Press, Oct 17, 2011, available at http://www.ap.org/pages/about/whatsnew/wn_101711a.html.
7 Associated Press’ reporting on NYPD Intelligence Operations, available at http://www.ap.org/nypd/.
8 “Inside the Spy Unit That Doesn’t Exist,” Apuzzo & Goldman, Associated Press, Aug 31, 2011, available
at: http://www.ap.org/FOI/foi_083111c.htm.
9 Letter to Hon. Eric Schneiderman, Oct 5, 2011, available at www.nysenate.gov/files/pdfs/Schneiderman%20NYPD%20Investigation%20Letter.pdf.

To interview ICNA representatives, contact Jillian Nannery at The TASC Group. Phone: (646) 723-4344; Email: Jill@thetascgroup.com.

About The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA):

The Islamic Circle of North America is a leading American Muslim organization dedicated to the betterment of society through the promotion of Islamic values. Since 1968, ICNA has worked to build relations between communities by devoting itself to education, outreach, social services and relief efforts.

Source: http://www.icna.org/muslims-demand-ny-ag-investigate-nypd/

Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Human Rights Act of 2012

JOHNSON, SHELBY HAIL COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF BIPARTISAN IRAN SANCTIONS LEGISLATION

US Senate Banking Committee
February 2, 2012

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Banking Committee approved Chairman Tim Johnson’s (D-SD) and Ranking Member Richard Shelby’s (R-AL) Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Human Rights Act.  The bill which garnered overwhelming bipartisan support will put further economic pressure on Iran’s leaders to abandon their illicit nuclear program and support for international terrorism.

“With these new sanctions we are giving Iran’s leaders a clear choice,” said Chairman Johnson.  “Iran can end its suppression of its own people, come clean on its nuclear program, suspend enrichment, and stop supporting terrorist activities around the globe.  Or it can continue to face sustained, intensifying multilateral economic and diplomatic pressure deepening its international isolation. This bill is a bipartisan product and I thank Senator Shelby for his support.  I also appreciate the effort of all members of the Committee for their attention and efforts on this legislation.  In particular, I would like to acknowledge the work of Senator Menendez and Senator Kirk for their extremely important input into this legislation.”

“The measures provided in this legislation will further increase the pressure on Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of global terrorism,” said Senator Shelby. “I am pleased to work with Chairman Johnson to advance this important legislation through the Banking Committee, and I am hopeful that the full Senate will consider and pass it soon.”

The Senate Banking Committee has jurisdiction over sanctions legislation.  In 2010, the Committee passed sanctions legislation which became law and provided the President with powerful new tools to counter the Iranian threat.  These new sanctions together with other international efforts have prompted many foreign firms to withdraw from Iran, and slowed Iran’s illicit nuclear program. 

However, it is now clear that the steps taken thus far by the international community have not been sufficient to force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Senators Johnson and Shelby teamed up months ago and started working on this additional bipartisan legislation.  The legislation will now be sent to the full Senate for consideration.  

The Johnson-Shelby bill provides for a range of new measures for the President to increase pressure on Iran to comply with its international obligations. The legislation will broaden the list of available sanctions, require intensified targeting of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, require firms traded on US stock exchanges to disclose Iran-related activity to the Securities and Exchange Commission, sanction energy and uranium mining joint ventures with Iran’s government outside of Iran, penalize US parent firms for certain Iran-related activities of their foreign subsidiaries, mandate sanctions for those who supply Iran with weapons and other technologies used to commit human rights abuses, and provide other similar measures designed to increase pressure on Iran’s government. 

Below is a summary of provisions included in the Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Human Rights Act.

Highlights of Johnson-Shelby Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Human Rights Act of 2012

Expanding Human Rights Sanctions: Imposes broad sanctions, including visa denial and freezing of assets, on persons and firms which supply Iran with technologies – including weapons, rubber bullets, tear gas and other riot control equipment, and jamming, monitoring and surveillance equipment – which the President determines are likely to be used by Iranian security forces to commit human rights abuses. Also requires: sanctions against individuals and firms found to have engaged in censorship; a strategy to promote Internet freedom in Iran; and expedited processing of Iran-related humanitarian, human rights and democratization aid.

US Policy Statement on Iran: Declares US policy to be to prevent Iran from acquiring or developing nuclear weapons, continuing its support for international terrorism, and engaging in other activities designed to destabilize its neighbors in the region.

Intensification of US Diplomatic Efforts on Iran: The bill includes a Sense of Congress urging:

·         Prompt expansion and vigorous implementation of bilateral and multilateral sanctions against Iran;

·         Intensification of US diplomatic efforts, including broadening the UN sanctions regime to include additional restrictions on:

o   Iran’s human rights violators,

o   Iranian supporters of proliferation and terrorism,

o   An Iranian shipping firm and an Iranian airline designated for sanction by the US for arms proliferation and terrorism support;

·         Expanded sanctions on Iran’s energy sector; and expansion of US diplomatic and economic efforts to help key allies reduce their dependence on Iranian crude oil supplies.

Requires detailed, periodic reporting to Congress on the success of such diplomatic efforts.

Extends US sanctions to Iranian Energy Joint Ventures: For the first time, extends US sanctions under the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) to firms engaged in new energy-related joint ventures anywhere in the world in which Iran’s government is a substantial partner or investor, or by which Iran could otherwise receive critical advanced energy sector technology or know-how not previously available to its government.

Codifies and Expands US Sanctions on Suppliers to Iran’s Energy and Petrochemical Sectors: Codifies the President’s decision to extend US sanctions to Iran’s petrochemical sector, adopting the standards, monetary thresholds ($250,000 per transaction, or multiple transactions aggregating to $1 million in a 12-month period) and specific petrochemicals list contained in the November 21, 2011 Executive Order 13590.  Extends US sanctions to all suppliers who knowingly provide goods, services and technologies valued at $1 million or more, or $5 million annually, to a person or firm involved in Iran’s energy sector, including petroleum resource projects and domestic production of refined petroleum products (primarily gasoline) in Iran.

Applies mandatory US sanctions to Iranian Uranium Mining Joint Ventures: Requires at least 3 ISA sanctions to be imposed on firms who knowingly engage in joint ventures with Iran’s government, Iranian firms, or persons acting for or on behalf of Iran’s government in the mining, production or transportation of uranium anywhere in the world. Exempts from sanctions persons who agree to withdraw from such projects within 6 months after the effective date of the bill.

Expands the Current ISA Menu of Sanctions to Senior Corporate Officers of Sanctioned Firms: Expands the current menu of sanctions available to the President under the ISA to authorize exclusion from the United States of principal corporate officers (or other senior officers performing a similar function) or major shareholders in a sanctioned firm, and provides for applicable ISA sanctions to be applied to the CEO or other senior officers of a sanctioned firm, which could include a freeze of their US assets.

Accelerates and Expands Efforts to Target Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC):

• Requires the President to identify and designate for sanctions known officials, affiliates and agents of the IRGC within 90 days, and periodically thereafter; establishes priorities for investigations of IRGC entities. Requires exclusion of such persons from the US, and their designation for sanctions (related to WMD) under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), including freezing their assets and otherwise isolating them financially. Requires reports to Congress on progress in sanctions designations.

• Makes foreign persons and firms who are agents and affiliates of the IRGC, and anyone who materially assists them, or engages in any significant transaction with them – including through barter transactions – subject to at least 3 ISA sanctions. Also applies similar sanctions against any persons or firms who engage in significant transactions with UN-sanctioned persons, those acting for them or on their behalf. Provides for additional sanctions under IEEPA which the President deems appropriate. Requires the President to report on designations and waivers, as applicable.

• Extends US procurement ban to foreign persons who interact with the IRGC, requiring certification by all prospective government contractors that neither they nor any of their subsidiaries have engaged in significant economic transactions with designated IRGC officials, agents or affiliates.

Mandatory Sanctions on Shippers of WMD/Terror Materials:  Requires the blocking of assets of, and other sanctions on shippers, insurers, and reinsurers who knowingly provide ships or insure vessels used in the shipment of materials contributing to Iran’s WMD program or its terrorism-related activities.  Also applies to parent firms if they knew or should have known of the shipments, and to subsidiaries of violators if they knowingly participated in the activity.

Liability of US firms for Activities of their Foreign Subsidiaries: Requires the imposition of civil penalties of up to twice the amount of the transaction on US parent companies for the activities of their foreign subsidiaries which, if undertaken in the US or by a US person, would violate US sanctions law. This includes activities under the current US trade embargo with Iran, and would apply regardless of whether the subsidiary had been established to circumvent US sanctions, as under CISADA.

Mandatory Disclosure of Iran-related Activity to the Securities and Exchange Commission: Requires all firms whose stock is traded on US stock exchanges to disclose whether they or their affiliates have engaged in activities which may be subject to sanction under US law (related to Iran’s energy sector; conducting or facilitating certain banking violations supporting WMD activities/terrorism, money laundering, and the IRGC; transferring weapons and certain other technologies to Iran; transferring sensitive communications jamming or monitoring technology; interacting with person or firms who have been designated for WMD/terrorism sanctions, or engaging in transactions with entities representing the government of Iran).  Provides for detailed public disclosure of any such information by the SEC, and conveyance of that information by the SEC to Congress and the President. Requires that the President initiate an investigation into whether such disclosed activities are sanctionable, and that the decision on sanctionability be made within 6 months.

Exclusion of Iranian Students Who Intend to Work in Iran’s Energy Sector or Nuclear Program: Requires that the Secretary of State deny visas to Iranian university and graduate students seeking to come to the US to study in energy-related fields, if the Secretary determines they intend to return to Iran to work in its energy sector or nuclear program.

http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Newsroom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=3ecf9a86-fb47-f18a-ee14-1aa86d4a8b07

Iran-Russia Oil and Defense Deal (in English and Persian)

Breaking: Iran-Russia Oil and Defense Deal 

February 1, 2012

English Translation (above): http://pecangroup.org/archives/6259 

Original Persian (below): http://www.greencorrespondents.com/2012/01/blog-post_18.html

via Secular Democracy and Human Rights in Iran: https://www.facebook.com/IranNewsFlash

Iran gives up 64% of her massive new oil, in exchange for Russian protection of “regime” in case of Face-Off with opposition – foreign or domestic!

By TellTales

In yet another humiliating deal, Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has agreed to surrender to the Russians a significant parcel of the newly discovered reservoirs of oil and natural gas in Iran’s Caspian waters, in exchange for Russia’s support. Based on the agreement a garrison of 80,000 Russian soldiers will have permission to penetrate Iran’s soil as far as 70 kilometers south of Anzali Harbor, under the pretext of protecting the resources, but in reality Ayatollah’s regime.

A similar contract had previously been entered into by both sides in 2008, signed by Massoud MirKazemi, Iranian oil minister at the time and his Russian counterpart. The contract included a military clause in an addendum signed by Iranian General Firoozabadi on behalf of Ayatollah Khamenei and a Russian Naval Commander.

In the following two years the discoveries began to produce results, however, the subsequent 2011 studies proved that the newly discovered reservoirs had the capacity to produce significantly higher volumes of oil and natural gas than previously reported.

In a press conference in May 2011, Iranian officials formally announced the discovery of 46 new reservoirs of oil and natural gas at 7300 feet depth of the Caspian basin and that the extraction process will soon begin. However, based on statistical information obtained, GEI reports the real number of new discoveries to be 71 not 46, and that the Islamic Republic’s betrayal of the country does not stop at reporting inaccurate information, but it also includes giving up the Northern land, the security of Caspian shores and plundering the national wealth.

The following is a partial list of the components of this anti-nationalist agreement:

1- Based on the original 2008 Iran-Russia agreement, TAT Oil-Iran Sadr Consortium was formed to organize and oversee the economic and diplomatic aspects of this giant project. The legal department of TAT is located in Astara province (NW Iran) and its operations and accounting departments in Moscow. The chief purpose of the organization is to protect the mutual oil deals from the sanctions, and to conceal the extent of diplomatic, economic and military ties between the two countries – certainly not intended for protection of the crisis-ridden Iranian population, but for safeguarding the interests of the ruling Military-Intelligence, under the protective umbrella of the office of Ayatollah Khamenei and that of the Russian oil companies, the majority shareholders of which are none other than Vladimir Putin and his wife.

2- Russian shareholders of the consortium consist of Gazprom, LukOil and RosNeft, with Vladimir Putin holding major stakes at the private oil company, LukOil, directly controlling the affairs of RosNeft, and having his representative as a constant member of the consortium.

3- As the first step in concealing facts, Iranian oil industry officials under-report the number of newly-discovered oil fields as 46, instead of 71.

4- Official reports of the new Caspian fields’ output is estimated at 7 billion barrels of oil and 50 trillion cubic foot of gas, while the real numbers exceed 11 billion barrels and 138 trillion cf.

5- Majority of the new oil/gas fields in the Iranian territory of Caspian are located in Sardar-Jangal, Azeri, Qamsar Alam and Anaran.

6- Iranian officials report the monetary value of the new oil and gas fields as $770 billion and $130 billion respectively, while based on the current market, the value of oil fields tops $1.26 trillion and gas $350 billion.

7- Consortium shares divided between Russia and Iran are agreed at 64.9% – 35.1% respectively. On the Russian side, 10% of total proceeds go to Putin and family, the rest to the oil companies. Iranian side will give 20% to TAT-Oil (and subsidiary TAT-Neft on Kish Island.) And 15.1% will be divided between approximately 400 of the country’s political, military, judicial and clerical members. Partial list of names include Khamenie’s children: Mojtaba, Mostafa, Maysam, Hasan, Nazyeh, Hoda and Massoud. Other notable names are: Ayatollahs: Jannati – Javani – Hedayatzadeh – Shariatmadari – Mohammad and Mojtaba Mesbah-Yazdi. Army Generals: Ali and Hassan Firoozabadi – Massoud Jazayeri – Abdollah Araqi, as well as MP Haddad Adel – Hossein Shahmoradi, Business man Asgaroladi and of course the Larijani Brothers … to name a few among the 400.

8- All financial accounting for both sides will be conducted in the Moscow based office and based on volume of production and export, shares will be calculated and funded to each party accordingly. Of course, a substantial portion of the (concealed) proceeds — multitudes of $100 billion – has already been allocated to covert expansion of Military, Intelligence and Nuclear activities of “Both Countries.”

9- Agreements already signed by Iranian General Firoozabadi and Russian Naval command, hold the Russian Navy responsible for security of Caspian peninsula including but not limited to oil and gas field regions, related drills, piers, distribution networks (despite being entirely in Iranian territory) plus an interesting request made by Iran for permanent presence of Russian navy in Iranian waters.

10- Russian military is allowed not only to install its defense bases on Iranian soil, but also in cases of emergency, to penetrate into Iran as far as 70 kilometers south of Anzali Port, in collaboration with Iranian Sepaah – Revolutionary Guards; except for instances warranting security measures involving the use of S-300 missiles which would solely be operated by Russian military officers.

11- Russian military forces will stand ready for immediate response to Iran’s call for action, and moving further into Iran than the 70-kilometer mark, will be contingent on Ayatollah Khamenei’s permission.

12- In case of a military conflict, Russia is allowed to deploy to Iran as many as 80, 000 of its soldiers for a period of 3 months. Additional time or numbers, to be determined by Iran at the time.

13- Russia will defend Iran on political and military fronts and will side with the regime against any domestic or Western-induced opposition. To that end, any military strike or acts of aggression by Nato or regional forces that may jeopardize “Russian” interests in Caspian oil and gas (inside Iran) will be construed as a threat against Russian national security, therefore, faced with Russian defense. The statement made by the Russian representative at Nato press conference in Brussels on January 13, clearly stemmed from this agreement. “Any military conflict in Iran will be taken as a direct threat against Moscow’s security.”

14- Both Iran and Russia will conduct military maneuvers in the Caspian region, when deemed necessary, attended by military representatives of both sides. As such, a major Russian military maneuver is expected in the near future.

* * * Source: http://www.greencorrespondents.com/2012/01/blog-post_18.html

اختصاصی/ افشای قرارداد واگذاری منابع نفت و گاز ایران در خزر به روسیه به ازای دفاع از حکومت علی خامنه ای

چهارشنبه، ۲۸ دی ۱۳۹۰

خبرنگاران سبز/ کار‌شناسان ایران سبز: آیت الله علی خامنه‌ای برای جلب حمایت روسیه از حکومت اسلامی، موافقت کرد بخش عمده‌ای از منابع عظیم نفت و گاز تازه کشف شده ایران در دریای خزر طی یک قرارداد ننگین به روسیه واگذار شود و همچنین نیروهای روسی اجازه داشته باشند به بهانه دفاع از این منابع، اما عملا برای دفاع از حاکمیت وی، به همراه ۸۰ هزار نیروی نظامی تا عمق ۷۰ کیلومتری جنوب بندر انزلی وارد خاک ایران شوند.

پیش از این در سال ۲۰۰۸ میلادی یک قرارداد نفتی مشترک بین ایران و روسیه به امضاء رسیده بود که عملیات اکتشاف نفت و گاز جدید ایران در دریای خزر را به روس‌ها واگذار می‌کرد. این قرارداد به امضای مسعود میرکاظمی ووزیر نفت وقت ایران و اشناتکو از روسیه رسید. در این قرارداد یک الحاقیه نظامی هم وجود داشت که سردارفیروز آبادی به نمایندگی از سوی دفتر علی خامنه‌ای و فرماندهی نیروی دریایی روسیه آن را امضاء کردند.

پس از دو سال، اکتشافهای انجام شده در این منطقه به نتیجه رسید و مقدمات بهره برداری از آن هم به عمل آمد. نتیجه بررسی‌های اکتشافی در سال ۲۰۱۱ اما نشان داد که منابع نفت و گاز قابل استخراج بسیار بیش از آن بود که پیش‌تر تصور می‌شد.

در ماه مه سال ۲۰۱۱ مقامهای نفتی کشور در مصاحبه‌های خودرسما اعلام کردند که در عمق ۲۴۰۰ متری آبهای دریای خزر ۴۶ حوزه گاز و نفت را کشف کرده‌اند و بزودی استخراج نفت و گاز از آن منطقه آغاز خواهد شد. در حالیکه آمارهای رسمی تحت اختیار کار‌شناسان ایران سبز نشان می‌دهد تعداد حوزه‌های نفت و گاز کشف شده نه ۴۶ مورد بلکه ۷۱ مورد است و در عین حال خیانت حکومت جمهوری اسلامی نیز محدود به اعلام آمارهای غلط اکتشافی نیست. بلکه خیاتی است که به واگذاری اراضی شما کشور، امنیت نظامی دریای خزر و تاراج منابع و منافع ملی ایران منتهی می‌شود.

موارد ذیل بخشی از این قرارداد ضد ملی و خائنانه حکومت است

۱ - بر اساس قرارداد اولیه (سال ۲۰۰۸ میلادی) هم اینک یک کنسرسیوم نفتی به نام «تات اویل ایران صدر» بین ایران و روسیه تشکیل شده تا مناسبات سیاسی و اقتصادی این پروژه عظیم را سازماندهی نماید. دفتر حقوقی این شرکت در آستاراخان مستقر شده و دفتر مالی و مدیریتی آن در مسکو قرار دارد. هدف این شرکت پنهان سازی فعالیت‌های نفتی حکومت از تیررس تحریمهای و فراهم ساختن پیوندهای توامان سیاسی، اقتصادی و نظامی بین دو کشور است. البته نه در جهت تامین منافع مردم بحران زده ایران، بلکه در راه تامین منافع گروه نظامی امنیتی حاکم بر کشور و نیز زیر مجموعه‌های دفتر علی خامنه‌ای از یک سو، و از سوی دیگر شرکت‌های نفتی روسیه که سهم زیادی از آن‌ها به ولادیمیر پوتین و همسرش تعلق دارند .

۲ - سهامداران روسی این کنسرسیوم شرکت‌های گاز پروم نفت، لوک اویل و رزنفت هستند. به علاوه طبق قرارداد مذکور نماینده پوتین در کنسرسیوم حضور دائمی خواهد داشت. ولادیمیر پوتین همچنین سهم قابل توجهی از شرکت خصوصی نفت روسیه (لوک اویل) و نیز کنترل مستقیم بر فعالیت‌های رز نفت را به خود اختصاص داده است .

۳ - در نخستین قدم برای پنهان سازی واقعیت، مسئولان نفتی ایران طی گزارشهای رسمی تعداد حوزه‌های نفتی جدید خزر را ۴۶ مورد اعلام کرده‌اند در صورتی که آمار واقعی این حوزه‌ها ۷۱ مورد است.

۴ - مقامهای رسمی کشور ذخایر نفت و گاز کشف شده در دریای خزر را ۷ میلیارد بشکه نفت و ۵۰ تریلیون فوت مکعب گاز اعلام کردند. در حالیکه بر اساس مدارک و مستندات تحت اختیار کار‌شناسان ایران سبز، میزان نفت قابل استخراج در این ۷۱ حوزه ۱۱ میلیارد بشکه و میزان گاز قابل استخراج ۱۳۸ تریلیون فوت مکعب محاسبه شده است!

۵ - بیشترین تعداد حوزه‌های نفت و گاز کشف شده خزر - که فقط بخش ایرانی آن مورد نظر است - در منطقه نفتی «سردار جنگل»، «آذری»، «کن سری آلمو» و «اناران» قراردارند .

۶ - حکومت ایران ارزش منابع جدید نفتی در دریای خزر را ۷۷۰ میلیارد دلار اعلام کرده است. حال آنکه رقم واقعی پیش بینی شده در اسناد بر مبنای نرخ‌های کنونی، بالغ بر ۱۲۶۰ میلیارد دلار برآورد می‌شود. مبلغ گاز قابل استخراج از این منابع جدید نیز توسط حکومت ۱۳۰ میلیارد دلار اعلام شده که رقم حقیقی آن ۳۵۰ میلیارد دلار است!

۷ - سهام این کنسرسیوم بین دو طرف قرارداد بر مبنای ۶۴/۹ درصد سهم روسیه و ۳۵/۱ درصد نیز سهم طرف ایرانی محاسبه شده است! از سهم روس‌ها ۱۰ درصد رسما به پوتین و خانواده‌اش تعلق می‌گیرد و مابقی سهام به شرکت‌های نفتی روسی تعلق دارد. از سهم کنسرسیوم ایرانی هم ۲۰ درصد متعلق به شرکت «تات اویل ایران صدر» تعلق دارد (یکی از شرکت‌های مرتبط با صدرا، شرکت «تات نفت ایران اویل کمپانی کیش است). ۱۵/۱ درصد سهام نیز به حدود ۴۰۰ نفر از مقامهای سیاسی، نظامی، قضایی و روحانی کشور تعلق خواهد داشت. در این فهرست اسامی کسانی مانند مجتبی، مصطفی، میثم، حسن، نزیه، هدی و مسعود خامنه‌ای دیده می‌شود. همچنین اسامی علی فیروزآبادی، حسن فیروزآبادی، جنتی، جوانی، هدایت‌زاده، حسین شریعتمداری، عسکراولادی، محمد تقی و مجتبی مصباح یزدی، مسعودجزایری، برادران لاریجانی، حداد عادل، عبدالله عراقی و حسین شاهمرادی هم در این لیست ۴۰۰ نفره دیده می‌شود.

۸ - بر اساس تصمیم این کنسرسیوم، سهم همه سهامداران (روسی و ایرانی) در مرکز مالی شرکت در مسکو محاسبه و بر اساس میزان تولید و صدور نفت و گاز و به تناسب سهم تعیین شده به حساب آنان واریز می‌گردد. البته اصلیترین سهم درآمدهای پنهان این کنسرسیوم که بالغ بر صد‌ها میلیارد دلار است برای توسعه مخفیانه فعالیت‌های نظامی، امنیتی و اتمی بین دو کشور صرف خواهد شد.

۹ - بر اساس توافق حکومت‌های ایران و روسیه که به امضای سردار فیروزآبادی و فرماندهی نیروی دریایی روسیه رسیده، نیازهای امنیتی منطقه خزر از جمله حوزه‌های نفت و گاز شامل دکل‌های حفاری، اسکله‌ها،، شبکه‌های انتقال نفت و گاز (علیرغم اینکه بطور کامل در آبهای ایران قرار دارند) به فرماندهی نیروی دریایی روسیه واگذار می‌شود! جالب توجه اینکه در این قرارداد قید شده است دولت ایران تقاضای حضوردائمی ناوگان روسیه در آبهای خود را دارد.

۱۰ - نیروهای نظامی روسیه مجازند علاوه بر استقرار ساختارهای دفاعی در منطقه نفتی خزر، در مواقع اضطراری نیروهای خود را تا عمق ۷۰ کیلومتری جنوب بندر انزلی وارد خاک ایران نمایند. اقدامات نظامی روسیه در آبهای خزر ایران و مناطق شمالی کشور با هماهنگی نیروهای سپاه پاسداران انجام می‌شود جز موارد نظامی و امنیتی مربوط به استفاده از موشک‌های اس/ ۳۰۰ که تماما تحت فرماندهی افسران روسی مدیریت خواهد شد.

۱۱ - مقامهای ایران و روسیه توافق کرده‌اند هر‌گاه لازم باشد روسیه به درخواست حضور نظامی در ایران پاسخ دهد. فرا‌تر رفتن از شعاع ۷۰ کیلومتری مورد توافق در قرارداد برای سربازان روسی، منوط به توافق دفتر آیت الله خامنه‌ای خواهد بود.

۱۲ - ارتش روسیه مجاز است در زمان حضور نظامی در ایران ۸۰ هزار سرباز را برای مدت ۳ ماه در کشورمان مستقر سازد. تمدید این مدت زمان یا افزایش تعداد نیرو‌ها منوط به درخواست حکومت ایران است.

۱۳ - طبق این قرارداد روسیه از مواضع سیاسی و نظامی حکومت ایران حمایت خواهد کرد و چنانچه این کشور از سوی مخالفان داخلی یا دولتهای غربی‌ها مورد تهدید واقع شود، روسیه بعنوان هم پیمان با ایران همراه خواهد شد. در همین راستا، هر گونه حمله نظامی به ایران به دلیل به خطر افتادن منافع نفت و گاز روسیه در دریای خزر (در آبهای ایران!) و نیز خطر حضور نیروهای ناتو درهمسایه جنوبی این کشور، به عنوان تهدید امنیت ملی روسیه تلقی می‌شود و آنان خود را موظف به مقابله می‌دانند. سخنان نماینده روسیه در ناتو نیز که روز جمعه ۱۳ ژانویه در یک کنفرانس مطبوعاتی در بروکسل عنوان شد و گفت که مسکو هرگونه درگیری نظامی در ایران را تهدیدی مستقیم علیه امنیت خود تلقی می‌کند نیز دقیقا بر اساس این توافقنامه صورت پذیرفت.

۱۴ - ایران و روسیه هر‌گاه لازم بدانند مانورهای نظامی را در منطقه خزر برگزار خواهند کرد و از نمایندگان نظامی طرف دیگر برای بازدید دعوت خواهند کرد. در همین چارچوب روس‌ها بزودی مانور بزرگ نظامی خود را برگزار خواهند کرد.

* باز نشر نوشتارهای کارشناسان ایران سبز صرفا با ذکر منبع مجاز است *