![]() ![]() The Students’ Association hosted online discussions between senior commanders from the IRGC and Muslim students at British universities, revealed The Sunday Times.Įarlier this year, the Islamic Center of England, affiliated with the Iranian Embassy, has been shuttered after using its premises to praise Soleimani. These posts described Soleimani as a "leader of "resistance.”Īnother prominent Iranian figure, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who is the assassinated chief scientist of Iran's nuclear program was lauded in these posts. The Association's Telegram channel had reportedly made posts praising Qasem Soleimani, who was a senior military officer in the Revolutionary Guards, and was killed by the US. He met Khamenei there and there is a picture of him kneeling solemnly before him (84). In January, Mohammad Hussain Ataee, a former chairman of the Association and a master's degree student at the University of Bradford, made a trip to Tehran. The Association is currently holding discussions with Iranian government officials and hardline clerics, added the report. In February, a plan to ban IRGC in the UK for being a terrorist organization has been temporarily shelved by the government upon the objection of Cleverly.Īccording to The Sunday Times’ report, the regime in Tehran has close links with the Islamic Students Association of Britain, which is based at a former Methodist church in west London. Iran's most senior diplomat in Britain has been summoned by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly after threats were made against journalists living in the UK.Īhead of that, Director General of MI5 Ken McCallum said that Iran's intelligence services have made at least 10 attempts to kidnap or even kill British nationals or individuals based in the United Kingdom regarded by Tehran as a threat. “They are very defensive to anyone challenging their regime and just want to stamp it out. “It’s a big issue because they are getting much more aggressive and their appetite is increasing,” the source said. Suella Braverman expressed concern over reports that Iranian intelligence agents are recruiting members of criminal gangs to take out regime opponents, with a Home Office source telling The Sunday Times that the threat from Tehran “worries us the most.” Iran has become one of the biggest threats to UK national security, the British home secretary warned on Sunday. Erik Kurilla, who heads Central Command, said the additional forces "provide unique capabilities, which alongside our partner nations in the region, further safeguard the free flow of international commerce and uphold the rules based international order, and deter Iranian destabilizing activities in the region.” The fighter aircraft are intended to give air cover for the commercial ships moving through the waterway and increase the military’s visibility in the area, as a deterrent to Iran. Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz early this month, opening fire on one of them. There also have been A-10 attack aircraft there for several weeks in response to the Iranian activity. The deployment comes on the heels of decisions in recent weeks to send the USS Thomas Hudner, a destroyer, and a number of F-35 and F-16 fighter jets to the region. It was unclear Thursday if all three ships would continue into the Gulf region. The group left Norfolk, Virginia, earlier this month. In an announcement, US Central Command said the deployment will provide "even greater flexibility and maritime capability in the region.” The announcement did not name the ships, but US officials detailed the units involved in the deployment on condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements, The Associated Press said.Īlong with the Bataan, the group includes two other warships, the USS Mesa Verde and the USS Carter Hall. An expeditional unit usually consists of about 2,500 Marines. The readiness group consists of three ships, including the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship. The US is sending additional warships and thousands of Marines to the Middle East to increase security in the wake of Iranian attempts to seize commercial ships there.ĭefense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday approved the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious readiness group and the 26th Marine Expeditional Unit to the Gulf region, according to US officials.
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