Iran

The Movement of the Noble Ones (harakat al-nujaba)

The Movement of the Noble Ones (harakat al-nujaba) [henceforth "the Noble Ones"] is an Iraqi Shi'ite militia established in 2013 by Sheikh Akram al-Kaabi. The sheikh had close relations with Iran during his extensive guerrilla attacks against the American forces when they were in Iraq. Ostensibly the Noble Ones are subordinate to the "popular mobilization,"
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Spotlight on Iran (December 10- December 24, 2017)

Against the backdrop of the defeat of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Iranian officials continue to highlight Tehran’s success in utilizing the campaign,Meanwhile, there are increasing calls in Iran to exploit the country’s growing political and military clout to increase its economic influence in the region. In the Iraqi arena, Iran is working to thwart any effort to undermine the standing of the Shi’ite militias supported by it.
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Spotlight on Iran (November 26 – December 10, 2017)

Iran avoided issuing any official reaction to the strikes on the Iranian base in the area of the village of al-Kiswah. Israeli sources reported that the October 2017 visit of the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces to Syria was unsuccessful. In Iraq too, Iran is acting to cement its influence in the era following the collapse of the Islamic State. Iran cast the blame on Saudi Arabia for the collapse of the alliance between the Houthi rebels in Yemen and former Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was killed last week by the Houthis. Iran condemned the decision made by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to declare Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and called for a resumption of the armed struggle against Israel .
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Strong condemnation of Iran for its support of terrorism and calling Hezbollah a terrorist organization at an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Cairo

On November 19, 2017, the Arab League's foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in Cairo at the request of Saudi Arabia. The meeting focused on Iranian intervention in the internal affairs of the Arab states. Saudi Arabia complained of the launching of an Iran-manufactured ballistic missile into Saudi territory by the Iranian-supported Houthis.
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Iran in the Post-Islamic State Era: Aims, Opportunities and Challenges Updated Review

In Syria and Iraq, the gradual collapse of the Islamic State, established in Iraq and Syria, has come to an end. Following the conclusion of this process of disintegration, ISIS has returned to its “natural state” of a jihadist terror organization, which does not need to administer or protect a state with territorial borders.
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Spotlight on Iran (November 12 – 26, 2017)

On November 21, following the capture of the city of Albu Kamal in Syria and Rawa in Iraq from ISIS, Iran declared “victory” in the campaign against the organization in Syria and Iraq. Senior Iranian officials and Iranian media outlets claimed that the victory against ISIS thwarted the conspiracy of the United States and its allies to establish “a new Middle East,” intended to serve the interests of the West and Israel.
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Iran

Exporting the Islamic Revolution was one of the Iranian Revolution’s original, basic objectives. Iran seeks regional hegemony and more than that – dominance of the Muslim world. To that end, Iran has developed a network of underground organizations and terrorist groups within Islamic (especially Shiite) communities in the Middle East and around the world, including Africa, Latin America, Asia and beyond. In the Middle East, Iran is leading an anti-American and anti-Israeli Shiite axis struggling against the Middle Eastern Sunni countries led by Saudi Arabia. The Iranian axis (the “Axis of Resistance”) includes Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Bahrain. In these countries, Iran handles proxy organizations operating to promote Iran’s interests.

Israeli-Iranian relations had their ups and downs. During the reign of the Shah of Iran, the two countries were allied politically. After the revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Iran revoked its recognition of Israel and ended all official relations with it.

To implement its anti-Israeli policies, Iran has broadened its ties to the terrorist organizations operating against Israel. Iran instigates terrorist organizations, especially the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah, to attack Israel, and finances and arms both organizations. In recent years, large shipments of weapons from Iran have been intercepted as they were en route to the Palestinian terrorist organizations.


To promote its regional and global interests and aspirations, Iran is developing military nuclear capabilities. It is also developing long-range missiles and warheads which can reach Israel, the rest of the Middle East, and Europe.