30+ Year War
with
the
Iran: The world's largest state
sponsor of terrorism must
not get nuclear weapons.
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Iran has waged a deadly war against the
United States. This war started at the
outbreak of the Iranian Revolution and
has since claimed the lives of literally
hundreds of American men and women.
Anti-Americanism helped fuel the Iranian Islamic Revolution –
indeed, it challenged America’s substantial role in the Middle
East. Until today, hard-core anti-Americanism remains the
central focus of Iran’s foreign policy.
On November 4, 1979, a group of radical Iranian “students”
stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. They took 63 Americans
hostage. Eight U.S. servicemen died in an ill-fated attempt to
rescue the hostages.
Since the Islamic revolution in that
country, the clerical regime in Tehran
has carried out scores of terrorist
attacks against the U.S. a nd its
allies throughout the world. Iran’s
Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds
Force (IRGC-QF) is the regime’s
primary mechanism for cultivating
Photo credit: Shauni / Wiki Commons
and supporting terrorism abroad,1
Smoke rises from bombed marine
barracks in Beirut, Lebanon
primarily doing so through the use
of bombings, abductions, kidnappings, and assassinations.
Additionally, Iran commits terrorism through wholly owned
subsidiaries, like Hezbollah.
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Iran’s
Terrorist
Activities
Earned Them
The Following:
–– On January 19,
1984, the U.S.
Department of
State officially
declared Iran a
state sponsor of
terrorism.2
–– In 2002, President
George W. Bush
labeled Iran part
of an axis of
evil – which also
included Iraq and
North Korea.
–– In 2007, the U.S.
Department of the
Treasury added
the IRGC to its list
of foreign terrorist
organizations.3
–– Today, the U.S.
considers Iran “the
world’s most active
state sponsor of
terrorism.”4
–– Iran’s support for Hezbollah
In 1982, Hezbollah was formed as the terrorist arm of the Islamic regime in
Tehran. Ali Akbar Mohtashemi, Iran’s then-ambassador to Syria, helped create
Hezbollah, a Lebanese based Shi’ite Muslim terrorist organization. The group’s
original goal was to establish an Islamic republic in Lebanon.
Most notably, the radical brand of Islam which Iran’s Spiritual Leader Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini espoused during his reign served as the inspiration for
Hezbollah’s platform. Among other things, the terrorist group’s platform pledges
loyalty to Iran’s Supreme Leader; urges the establishment of an Islamic regime;
and calls for the expulsion of the United States, France, and Israel from Lebanese
territory, as well as for the destruction of the Israeli state.5
From 1980-1988 the U.S. supported Saddam Hussein in the Iran-Iraq war. During
that time, 96 foreign nationals (including 30 Westerners) were taken hostage,
mainly by Hezbollah, in systematic abductions. Iran then used the hostages as
leverage to obtain arms from the Reagan administration.6
Iran regularly provides Hezbollah with personnel, terrorist training, intelligence,
logistics, finances, guidance, and weaponry. On November 4, 2009, for example,
Israel interdicted the merchant vessel FRANCOP, which had 36 containers, 60 tons,
of weapons for Hezbollah to include 122mm katyushas (Soviet-style short-range
rockets), 107mm rockets, 106mm antitank shells,
hand grenades, and light-weapon ammunition.
Additionally, Iran provides roughly $100-200 million
per year in funding to support Hezbollah.78
In exchange for support from Tehran, Hezbollah
provides material, financial, and political support to
“several Palestinian terrorist organizations, as well
as a number of local Muslim militias in Lebanon.”
In 2009, for example, Hezbollah operatives provided
photo credit: Magnus Manske
training to Iraqi Shiite insurgents, including
training on “the construction and use of shaped charge IEDs (improvised explosive
devices) that can penetrate heavily-armored vehicles” – a tactic that killed and
injured U.S. military personnel in Iraq (see “Iran’s influence in Iraq” below).9
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Additionally,
Iran provides
roughly
$100-200
million per
year in funding
to support
Hezbollah.
Hezbollah is
perhaps most
infamously
known for
being the
originator of
using suicide
bombings as a
weapon.
Outside of al-Qaeda, it is also the
terrorist group responsible for the most
deaths of Americans. In addition to
the aforementioned terrorist attacks,
Hezbollah is also known or suspected to
have been involved in:
–– The 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut, Lebanon (63
people killed, including 17 Americans). Hezbollah operatives responsible for the
bombing received both financial and logistical support from Tehran. The attack
constituted the deadliest terror attack on Americans outside of U.S. soil until the
U.S. Marine Barracks bombing six months later.10
–– The 1983 U.S. Marine Barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon
(241 U.S. servicemen killed and more than 100 wounded). The bombing – which
consisted of 15,000-21,000 pounds of TNT – was the “largest non-nuclear
explosion that had ever been detonated on the face of the Earth.”11
–– The 1984 kidnapping, torture, and murder of CIA Beirut
Station Chief William F. Buckley Buckley was kidnapped outside
his apartment and whisked to a terrorist safehouse. The U.S. embassy received
a package containing a video of the kidnapped CIA officer. In it, Buckley was
shown lying on the floor, appearing beaten and naked, and holding a file marked
“Top Secret” to cover his genitals. Another video was sent less than a month
later, showing Buckley in an even worse condition. CIA experts concluded he
was being regularly drugged, had undergone long periods of torture, and was
being held in a makeshift cell with no light. The barbaric operation was the work
of Hezbollah mastermind Imad Mughniyeh.12
–– The 1984 hijacking of Kuwait Airways Flight 221 The plane,
on its way from Kuwait to Pakistan, was hijacked and diverted to Tehran. The
hijackers demanded the release of the Kuwait 17, seventeen terrorists who
were convicted by Kuwait for participation in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy
in that country. The hijackers killed two American officials from the U.S. Agency
for International Development. Iran arrested the hijackers, saying they would
be brought to trial. The trial never took place, however, and the hijackers were
allowed to leave the country.13
–– The 1985 hijacking of TWA flight 847 Terrorists aboard the plane,
which was en route from Athens to Rome, forced it to land in Beirut, Lebanon,
where the hijackers held the plane for 17 days. They demanded the release of
the Kuwait 17 as well as the release of 700 fellow Shiite Muslim prisoners held
in Israeli prisons and in prisons in southern Lebanon run by the Israeli-backed
South Lebanon Army. When these demands weren’t met, the terrorists shot
Robert Dean Stethem, a U.S. Navy diver, and dumped his body on the airport
tarmac.14
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–– The 1988 kidnapping, torture, and killing of Marine Lt. Col. William Richard
Higgins Lt. Col. Higgins was driving on a coastal highway in southern Lebanon when he was pulled
from his jeep by Iranian-backed terrorists. About a year later, his kidnappers released a videotape
of him bound and gagged, dangling from a rope on a makeshift gallows. He was declared dead on
July 6, 1990, and his remains were dumped on a dusty street in Beirut on Dec. 23, 1991 – the day
he and his wife would have celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary.15
–– The 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina (29
people killed and 250 wounded). In 2008 Judge Ellen Huvelle ruled that Tehran must pay $63
million to the family of an Israeli diplomat who was killed in the attack. She said the bombing was
carried out by Hezbollah and could not have taken place without assistance from Iran.16
–– The 1994 attack on the seven-story Jewish-Argentine Mutual Association
(AMIA) community centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina considered the deadliest
attack in Argentina’s history (85 killed and 300 wounded). Mohsen Rezai and Ali Akbar Velayati, who
are believed to have planned the 1994 attack, were among the eight candidates approved for the
2013 presidential election by Iran’s Guardian Council to succeed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.17
–– The 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Khobar, Saudi Arabia (19 killed, including
17 U.S. servicemen). In 1996 a federal judge ruled that Iran is responsible for the bombing and
ordered that the government pay $254 million to the families of the 17 Americans who died in the
attack.18
–– The 2011 failed plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabia ambassador to the U.S.
by blowing up a Washington restaurant Iranian-born U.S. dual-national Mansour
Arbabsiar was arrested by U.S. authorities and pled guilty in a New York court to participating in the
plot.19
–– The 2012 bombing of a bus carrying Israeli tourists at the Sarafovo Airport
in Burgas, Bulgaria (5 Israelis and the Bulgarian driver killed and 32 Israelis wounded).20
Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov announced the identities of two suspects, Australian
citizen Meliad Farah, 32, also known as Hussein Hussein, and 25-year-old Hassan El Hajj Hassan, a
Canadian citizen. The suspects are said to be members of the armed wing of Hezbollah.21
–– Repeated Congressional testimony has revealed Hezbollah cells are now
present in the U.S. engaging in surveillance, fund raising, and acquisition
of military technology For example: In June 2002, two men in North Carolina were tried
and convicted for providing material support to Hezbollah through racketeering and conspiracy
to commit money laundering by channeling profits from cigarette smuggling to purchase military
equipment for Hezbollah.22
–– In July 2007, the Department of the Treasury declared that Goodwill
Charitable Organization, Inc. in Dearborn, Michigan, was a fundraising
front for Hezbollah The Treasury closed the offices, and froze the organization’s assets in U.S.
financial institutions.23
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–– Iran’s influence in Iraq
Iran has and continues to provide money, weapons, and training to several Shia
militias operating in Iraq (and to the Taliban in Afghanistan). This has directly
contributed to American and allied deaths in the region, as alluded to in the
quotes shown directly below.
–– In December 2009, now-retired Gen. David Petraeus told ABC News that, “Iran
continues to fund, train, equip, and give some direction to the residual Shiite militias
and extremists elements in Iraq. There are daily attacks with the so-called signature
Iran has and continues to provide money, weapons, and
weapons only made by Iran – the explosively formed projectile, forms of improvised
training to several Shia militias operating in Iraq (and to the
explosive devices, etc.”24
Taliban in Afghanistan). This has directly contributed to
–– In June 2011, then-Defense American
Secretary Robert
that, “Iran
is furnishing
andGates
alliedsaid
deaths
in the
region, as alluded to in the
new, more deadly weapons toquotes
Shiite Muslim
militias
targeting
U.S.
troops
in Iraq
shown below.
as part of a pattern of renewed attempts to exert influence in the region. About 40
In July
2011, then-Adm. Mike Mullen,
percent of the deaths of American
soldiers2009,
sincenow-retired
the official end of U.S.
combat
In December
Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
operations almost 10 monthsGen.
ago David
have occurred
theABC
pastNews
few weeks as a result
Petraeusintold
25
said Iranian-backed Shiite militias
of the attacks.”
that, “Iran continues to fund, train,
“are killing our troops” in Iraq with
equip, and give some direction
–– In July 2011, then-Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ofsophisticated
Staff, said weapons that include
to the residual Shiite militias and
Iranian-backed Shiite militias “are killing our troops” in Iraq with sophisticated
lethal armor-piercing versions of IEDs
extremists elements in Iraq. There
weapons that include lethal armor-piercing versions of IEDs and rocket-boosted
and rocket-boosted mortars.26 are daily attacks with the so-called
26
mortars.
signature weapons only made
by Iran
– the
explosively
formedU.S. Central Command
–– In March 2012, then-U.S. Marine
Corps
Gen.
James N. Mattis,
In March 2012, then-U.S. Marine
projectile,
formsCommittee
of improvised
commander, told the Senate Armed
Services
that, “Iran poses the single
24
Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, U.S.
explosive
etc.”and
greatest threat to U.S. interests
and todevices,
our friends
stability in the region, and
Central Command commander, told
poses a global threat through its world-wide proxy network as recent attacks have
the Senate Armed Services Committee
demonstrated.”27
that, “Iran poses the single greatest
In June 2011, then-Defense
threat to U.S. interests and to our
Secretary Robert Gates said that,
friends and stability in the region, and
“Iran is furnishing new, more deadly
poses a global threat through its worldweapons to Shiite Muslim militias
wide proxy network as recent attacks
targeting U.S. troops in Iraq as part
have demonstrated.”27
of a pattern of renewed attempts
to exert influence in the region.
About 40 percent of the deaths of
American soldiers since the official
end of U.S. combat operations
almost 10 months ago have
occurred in the past few weeks as
a result of the attacks.”25 In 2007,
the U.S. Department of the Treasury
added the IRGC to its list of foreign
terrorist organizations.3
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In November 2012, the Treasury
Department designated Ali Musa
Daqduq, “a senior Hizballah
commander responsible for numerous
attacks against Coalition Forces in Iraq,
including planning an attack on the
Karbala Joint Provincial Coordination
Center (JPCC) on January 20, 2007,
which resulted in the deaths of five U.S.
soldiers.”28
Little, if any, change has occurred in Iran with regard to the
country’s war against the U.S. under the rule of President
Hassan Rouhani. In fact, the recently-elected Rouhani was
quick to appoint as the new defense minister Brig. Gen.
Hossein Dehghan. Dehghan spent his entire military career
in the IRGC, which he joined immediately after it was
established in the last months of 1979.29 Dehghan served as
commander of the training corps of the IRGC, first in Syria
and soon after in Lebanon – a role that made him responsible
for building up the military force of Hezbollah.
Moreover, Dehghan was commander of the IRGC in Lebanon
on October 23, 1983 – the day a Shiite suicide bomber
detonated a water tanker at the U.S. Marine barracks in
Beirut, killing 241 Marines and, simultaneously, another
Shiite suicide bomber blew up the French paratroopers’
barracks in Beirut, killing 58 soldiers. Imad Mughniyeh
dispatched both bombers. However, the order to carry out the
attacks was transmitted, and the funding and operational
training provided, with the help of the IRGC.30
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Hossein Dehgan:
Terrorist Commander &
Iranian Defense Minister
(Endnotes)
1 http://www.cfr.org/state-sponsors-of-terrorism/country-reports-terrorism-2009/p22771
2 http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm
3 http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/02/136595.htm
4 http://www.cfr.org/iran/state-sponsors-iran/p9362
5 http://www.cfr.org/terrorist-organizations-and-networks/open-letter-hizballah-program/p30967
6 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html
7 http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/iran-and-hizballah-significance-of-the-francop-interception
8 http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/IranReportUnclassified.pdf
9 http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R41446.pdf
10 http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2008/04/beirut-us-embas/
11 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/10/23/world/main579638.shtml
12 http://www.jpost.com/Features/Front-Lines/This-Week-in-History-CIA-agent-kidnapped-in-Lebanon
13 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/target/etc/cron.html
14 http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,142099,00.html
15 http://www.military.com/Content/MoreContent?file=ML_higgins_bkp
16 http://www.nysun.com/foreign/iran-ruled-responsible-for-92-israeli-embassy/71936/
17 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6085768.stm
http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Two-AMIA-bombing-suspects-running-for-Iran-president-314128
18 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/22/AR2006122200455.html
19 http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2012/209985.htm
20 http://www.jpost.com/International/Bulgaria-names-2-suspects-in-Burgas-bus-bombing-321017
21 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24069506
22 http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/hezbollah-finances-funding-the-party-of-god
23 http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/R41446.pdf
24 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Afghanistan/gen-petraeus-iran-backing-iraq-militias-afghan-taliban/story?id=9346173#.UIR2YGfQyCk
25 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-30/iran-again-arming-iraqi-groups-attacking-u-s-troops-gates-says.html
26 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/07/iranian-weapons-iraq-us-troops_n_892399.html
27 http://www.centcom.mil/en/about-centcom/posture-statement/
28 http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/maliki-governments-whitewashing-of-hezbollah
29 http://jcpa.org/irans-new-defense-minister-behind-the-1983-attack-on-the-u-s-marine-corps-barracks-in-beirut/
30 http://jcpa.org/irans-new-defense-minister-behind-the-1983-attack-on-the-u-s-marine-corps-barracks-in-beirut/
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