Vessel Off Yemen's Aden Reports Explosions In Sea, UKMTO Says

“Iran is not paying a cost,” CENTCOM Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

Repeated retaliatory strikes by US and UK forces – meant to limit the capacities of the Houthis to target ships – have so far failed to deter the militant group from hitting one of the world's busiest trade lanes.

This week alone, a Houthi missile attack killed three civilian seafarers on a merchant ship, marking the first deaths caused by the group's attacks on merchant vessels.

The Iranian regime-backed group started attacking ships in the Red Sea in November in what they say is a campaign in solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza.

CENTCOM needs POTUS approval to sink Iranian ships

Republican Senator Sullivan questioned Gen. Kurilla on why the US hasn't escalated its response to these attacks by targeting Iranian spy ships, which provide intelligence used to harm American sailors.

The CENTCOM Chief maintained he is not authorized to take action against Iranian naval vessels – without permission from POTUS to do so.

In response to largely Democratic lawmakers raising the alarm of a confrontation with Iran and the risk of “escalation”, parallels were drawn several times to Operation Praying Mantis.

That military operation on April 18, 1988, saw the US retaliate for the Iranian mining of the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War.

Republican lawmakers insisted that the US was able to destroy Iran’s naval capacity with that operation, without risking a wider war.

While Democratic Senator Jack Reed expressed optimism regarding a temporary pause in Iran-backed attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria, Gen. Kurilla maintained several times that Iran continues to be undeterred in its support to the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, and factions in the West Bank.

Despite these concerns, forceful words on Iran were notably absent from President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech on Thursday night.

For numerous analysts, this mirrors the absence of a coherent US policy aimed at deterring Tehran from its malicious activities throughout the Middle East.

Former CENTCOM Chiefs critical of US approach

But, Republicans aren’t the only critics of the current strategy to contain Iran’s proxy attacks.

Several high-ranking former senior armed forces officials have gone on record with their criticism for the lack of accountability the regime in Tehran faces.

Retired Vice Adm. John Miller, who oversaw all US naval activities in the Middle East until 2022, told POLITICO that his country is “not taking this seriously” and “not deterring anybody right now”.

Ret. Gen. Frank McKenzie, who commanded US forces in the Middle East during both the Trump and Biden administrations, also told the same news outlet recently, that Iran perceives the absence of a robust US military reaction to the recent Houthi attacks as encouragement to persist in its aggressive actions.

“We’ve given them no reason not to continue [attacking],” he said of the Houthis.

In an interview with Breaking Defense, Gen. Joseph Votel voiced his view that problems started when the US administration under President Barack Obama decided to “pivot” to Asia and reduced its involvement in the Middle East region.

The former US Central Command chief said that the administration focused only on brokering an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, which neglected the growing threat of its proxy groups in the region.

Meanwhile, the leader of Yemen’s Houthi militia seemingly bragged about his group’s missile striking capabilities in a televised speech on Thursday.

“In [Wednesday’s] strike, there was amazement at the precision of the attack and the power of damage,” Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said.

“Discovering ships and hitting them with such precision using ballistic missiles for the first time is an achievement in every sense of the word”, he said.

“Iran’s proxies have attacked Americans in Iraq and Syria over 170 times. We have responded 8 times,” Cotton (R-AR) said. “Iran and its terror groups know President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin won’t stand up to them.”

The Senator's comments underscore growing concerns among lawmakers about the Biden administration's approach to Iran, particularly in light of recent provocations by Iranian-backed militias. Many lawmakers argue that a stronger response is needed to prevent further escalation and protect American interests in the region.

Iran is currently at the helm of a regional proxy war which has seen its militias come out in support of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, in a war which has escalated to draw in international players including the US and UK. Particularly worrisome are attacks by Yemen's Houthi militants, armed and supported by Tehran, who have unleashed deadly drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

In a joint operation with Britain in February, the United States initiated dozens of strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria as well as its Yemeni proxy, the Houthis. The Houthis are currently blockading the Red Sea in a bid to force Israel into a ceasefire amidst the war in Gaza against the Iran-backed Hamas militia. Around 1,200 mostly civilians were murdered and at least 250 more taken hostage in the October 7 attack.

The Peruvian Police’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate (Dircote) identified the Iranian as Majid Azizi, Peruvian media reported Thursday. Police said Azizi was cooperating with two Peruvians, Walter Fernández Fukunoto and Felipe Trucios Leon, for the attack. Only the former has been arrested.

Azizi was arrested on Thursday afternoon after he withdrew money from the Interbank bank, located in the Plaza de Armas in the center of the capital Lima. The Peruvian police did not specify which exact meeting was the target of the alleged terrorist operation.

According to the work schedule and the usual practices and standards of the forum, Peru is responsible for organizing more than 160 meetings from the end of 2023 and throughout 2024.

According to the US State Department, Senior Official for APEC Ambassador Matt Murray travelled to Lima from March 4 to 8 to attend a series of meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagements.

This is the second time in the last decade that Iran in implicated in an attack in Peru.

In 2014, Peruvian authorities arrested a suspected operative of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lima on suspicion of planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets. Mohammed Amadar, a Lebanese citizen, was gathering intelligence on places frequented by Israeli hikers and on Jewish institutions. A search of his apartment discovered TNT, detonators and flammable substances. Peruvian authorities were tipped off to Amadar’s alleged activities by the Israeli intelligence service Mossad.

In what largely sounded like an early campaign speech, Joe Biden mentioned the word Iran only once –and the word nuclear not even once, as Iran is now on the verge of a nuclear breakout.

“Creating stability in the Middle East also means containing the threat posed by Iran,” he said, "that's why I built a coalition of more than a dozen countries to defend international shipping and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. I’ve ordered strikes to degrade Houthi capabilities and defend US Forces in the region.”

The Houthis in Yemen have turned out to be Iran’s wild card in the past few months, often stealing the limelight from Iran’s more prominent proxies like the Lebanese Hezbollah or the armed groups in Syria and Iraq –who killed 3 American soldiers in a US base in Jordan in late January.

“As Commander in Chief, I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and military personnel,” Biden warned, without elaborating on what those measures may be and against what adversary.

Iranian government-controlled media was silent about Biden's remarks Friday morning, perhaps because it is weekend in Iran and reactions were slower.

Many critics of the President were quick to point out the conspicuous absence of Iran in his speech, especially his silence on the loss of American lives.

“Zero mention of the 3 American heroes tragically killed in a drone attack carried out by Iran-backed proxies in Jordan,” posted the Republican Congressman Andrew Clyde on X. “Have you no shame, Mr President?”

Biden largely abandoned Donald Trump's 'maximum pressure' against Iran and engaged in long negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. Meanwhile, Iran began increasing its oil exports to China despite the sanctions and earned much needed foreign currency amid its economic crisis.

“In Joe Biden’s America, billions flow to Iran while Iranian intelligence agents operate in the United States, plotting to assassinate senior U.S. government officials,” wrote Senator Ted Cruz, pillorying Biden’s State of the Union address in a post titled ‘The Real State of the Union.’

The speech Thursday night was President Biden’s third State of the Union address. Fearing that it could be his last, Biden abandoned tradition and attacked a political opponent –in this case, his expected rival in the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump.

Trump, true to form, reacted in real time on his own platform Truth Social, mocking Biden, especially on immigration, but also on his foreign policy, including relations with Russia, China and Iran.

“He made Iran rich. This is why we have the problems in the Middle East,” Trump posted. “With me, Iran was broke. He is the reason the Middle East is blowing up!”

President Biden attacked Donald Trump on several occasions, referring to him as “my predecessor.” Most notably, he denounced the former President for saying he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to Nato countries, calling it “outrageous and dangerous.”

At the end of Biden’s speech, Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) delivered the Republicans’ rebuttal, attacking the President for his “weakness” in the face of threats against US interests.

"Biden's weakness isn't just hurting families at home," she said, “he's making us a punchline on the world stage. We've become a nation in retreat. And the enemies of freedom, they see an opportunity."

At 81, Joe Biden is the oldest president in US history. His age, his fitness and his mental capacity have been a constant theme in US politics ever since he took office –and will almost certainly be so in the months ahead leading to November.

"Right now, our Commander in Chief is not in command," said Senator Katie Britt, who some believe may be a candidate for Donald Trump’s VP. “The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader."

The campaign Alliance Against Islamic Regime of Iran Apologists (AAIRIA) wrote in its Wednesday statement that “In the seven years Mousavian served as IRI’s ambassador in Germany, more than 23 Iranians were killed in terrorist attacks on European soil orchestrated by IRI...These heinous acts underscore the direct involvement of the IRI embassy in Bonn and Mousavian’s role in Iran's state-sponsored terrorism and orchestrating violence against innocent civilians.”

AAIRIA presented statements from a witness of the Mykonos restaurant assassination in Berlin in 1992 and victims of the Iranian regime’s persecution of dissidents.

Parviz Dastamalchi, who witnessed the assassination, said Mr. Abolghasem Mesbahi, known as 'Witness C,' was one of the founders of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In February 1997, Misbahi, under oath, testified, before the German court regarding the role of Seyed Hossein Mousavian in the assassination of Kurdish leaders at the Mykonos restaurant.

Mesbahi stated, "Mr. Mousavian has participated in most of the assassinations committed in Europe." His statements were widely reported in the German media during the trial."

Dastamalchi continued that “He could have pursued legal recourse, even claiming damages, but he chose not to. The question arises: why? Is it because Mesbahi likely possessed enough evidence and documents of support his claims? It appears that Mesbahi's testimony was accurate, and the German government's decision not to pursue a legal case against Mousavian was driven by political considerations rather than the absence of criminal culpability.”

Iran International obtained a 1997 archived Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel article that states Mesbahi told the court during the Mykonos trial that “Mousavian participated in most of the crimes that took place in Europe.” The German security services said Meshbai was a “credible” witness, according to the article. The crimes referenced that Mousavian allegedly participated in were the assassinations of Iranian dissidents.

According to AAIRIA, “Mousavian’s involvement in the assassination of Iranian dissidents became apparent during testimonies of witnesses in the German court. His role in orchestrating violence against innocent civilians is a testament to his complicity in Iran's nefarious activities, further highlighting the dangers of his continued presence at Princeton University.”

Golaleh Sharafkandi, the niece of Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi, one of the victims of the Mykonos assassination, said “One of the most brazen and public assassinations carried out by Hezbollah at the behest of its master, Islamic Regime of Iran, occurred in 1992, when IRI operatives killed my uncle, Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi," a Kurdish opposition leader.

Sharafkandi, a former political prisoner, who lives in Sweden, said, “The Mykonos restaurant assassination was carried out by the Iranian regime when Seyed Hossein Mousavian was Iran’s ambassador to Germany. We, especially in the academic world, need to be clear that using diplomatic immunity to cover up or facilitate the Islamic regime of Iran's terrorist actions on international soil is unacceptable and not condoned by academia.”

Dr. Narges Eskandari, the mayor of Frankfurt in Germany, and a former Iranian political prisoner, said “Seyed Hossein Mousavian, Iran's ambassador at the time, is considered one of the key masterminds behind the attack. He had prior knowledge of the assassination attempt, and evidence implicates the Iranian embassy in the attack. To date, there have been no consequences for Seyed Hossein Mousavian. Since 2009, he has been teaching in the United States and currently is a Middle East Security and Nuclear Policy Specialist in the Program on Science and Global Security, a program in Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs.”

Dr. Majid Mohammadi, who conducted his Post-Doctorate 2007-2008 work at Princeton University, said “During his tenure as a member of Resalat Daily in Iran (in the second half of the 1980s), Mousavian played a key role in legitimizing, promoting, and normalizing terrorism. Resalat published numerous pieces praising Iranians and Arabs involved in assassinating officials such as prime ministers and presidents.

As an alumnus of Princeton University, I believe the recruitment of Mousavian tarnished Princeton's reputation and he should be dismissed immediately.”

Mohammadi continued “I urge Princeton to release all correspondence and contracts associated with Mousavian leading up to his employment, as well as all financial information regarding donors to his program and any travel expenses to Iran since joining Princeton that were covered by the university or its donors.”

Lawdan Bazargan, the lead organizer of the AAIRIA campaign and a former political prisoner in Iran, said, "It's astounding that Princeton's Program on Science and Global Security, with the noble mission of advancing national and international policies for a safer and more peaceful world, has chosen to associate itself with Seyed Hossein Mousavian, who stands accused of involvement in terrorist attacks in Europe. By retaining Mousavian, Princeton jeopardizes its own reputation and undermines its commitment to human rights and global security.”

Bazargan, who lives in California, is the sister of Bijan Bazargan ,who was murdered by the regime in 1988 for his left-wing politics, went on to say that “Mousavian's defense of Iran's nuclear ambitions further highlights the ethical and moral dilemma posed by his presence at Princeton. By firing Mousavian, Princeton can reaffirm its commitment to upholding human rights, fostering global security, and preserving its reputation as a bastion of academic excellence and integrity.”

Bazargan and the members of AAIRIA launched a petition campaign to oust Mousavaian. The petition has secured over 1,000 signatures since last week.

Dr. Farhad Keyvan, a physicist and founder of Netservia LLC, said “Despite his academic credentials and prestigious position, Mousavian's work seems aimed at diverting public attention from the dangerously aggressive nuclear activities conducted by the Iranian regime. His writings and speeches downplay or justify the regime's nuclear ambitions, influencing public opinion in the US and the West. Mousavian must be fired for spreading Iranian regime propaganda and falsehoods, rather than fostering genuine academic discourse and integrity.”

Mina Ahadi, a popular political and women’s rights activist in Germany, said “Expelling Seyed Hossein Mousavian from Princeton University is crucial in this regard. I support this significant action and hope for Mousavian's prompt expulsion from Princeton University.”

Behrouz Asadi also a well-known political and human rights activist in Germany, said, “Representatives of the Islamic Republic, including embassies, consulates, mosques, and other regime infrastructures, as well as its lobbyists, directly engage in espionage, terrorism, and pressure tactics against opposition figures abroad. It is concerning that Princeton University collaborates with Seyed Hossein Mousavian, the former ambassador of the Iranian regime in Germany, amidst such acts of terrorism and disregards human rights issues.”

Numerous Iran International press queries to Mousavian and to Princeton University spokesman Michael Hotchkiss were not immediately returned.

AAIRIA’s campaign against pro-Islamic Republic of Iran academics gained significant momentum in November when Oberlin College ousted Iran’s former UN ambassador Mohammad Jafar Mahallati from his teaching post at the liberal arts college in Ohio.

The AAIRIA campaign triggered Mahallati’s dismissal after it revealed that he covered up the mass murder of 5,000 Iranian political prisoners in 1988, stoked lethal antisemitism; supported the assassination of British-American author Salman Rushdie, spread Hamas’ ideology, and reportedly sexually harassed a student at Columbia University.