Iran Claims U.S. Drone Strike Killed Two Military Advisers In Iraq

A MQ-1B Predator. (Reuters/Lucas Jackson)

IBTimes: Iran US Drone Strike: Revolutionary Guard Claims America Killed 2 'Advisers' In Iraq

Iran is claiming the U.S. military killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard force in a drone strike in Iraq, the Associated Press reported. The accusations, which the U.S. denied, came a day before the deadline for the U.S. and four other countries to reach a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program.

The Revolutionary Guard said a U.S. drone strike killed two of its advisers, Ali Yazdani and Hadi Jafari, last week. During that time, the U.S. coalition against the Islamic State group conducted airstrikes in assistance of Iraqi forces in the city of Tikrit, which is held by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The Guard said Yazdani and Jafari were buried Sunday.

Update #1: Iran says US drone kills 2 advisers in Iraq; US denies claim -- AP
Update #2: US dodges accusation of killing Iranian advisers in Iraq -- RT

WNU Editor: All of this happening with nuclear talks becoming more intense between Iran and the P5 +1 in Switzerland.

Khamenei Calls ‘Death to America’ While U.S. Sec. Of State Kerry Hails Progress On The Iran Nuclear Talks

Ayatollah Khamenei has no appointed heir. Caren Firouz/Reuters

Times Of Israel/AP/AFP: Khamenei calls ‘Death to America’ as Kerry hails progress on nuke deal

Day after Obama urges Iran to seize ‘historic opportunity,’ supreme leader says US seeks to create insecurity

Iran’s Supreme leader Ali Khamenei called for “Death to America” on Saturday, a day after President Barack Obama appealed to Iran to seize a “historic opportunity” for a nuclear deal and a better future, and as US Secretary of State John Kerry claimed substantial progress toward an accord.

Khamenei told a crowd in Tehran that Iran would not capitulate to Western demands. When the crowd started shouting, “Death to America,” the ayatollah responded: “Of course yes, death to America, because America is the original source of this pressure.

WNU Editor: I posted this story on Saturday .... Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei: 'Death To America' .... and I have been digesting it ever since. But the more that I think about it .... the more that I realize that there is something terribly screwed up here. And what is even more screwy .... the U.S. press is basically ignoring this story.

Top Aide To Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Vows To 'Raise The Flag Of Islam Over The White House'

New flag? Shirazi conjured an image of an Iranian-led 'resistance front' that would overwhelm the West

Daily Mail: Top Iranian cleric vows to 'raise the flag of Islam over the White House' in revenge speech after attack on Hezbollah by Israel

 * Ali Shirazi, an aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made threat in a speech
 * Was speaking after Revolutionary Guardsmen reportedly killed by Israel
 * Said 'resistance front' led by Iran would one day overwhelm the West

A senior Iranian cleric made a vow to 'raise the flag of Islam over the White House' in retaliation for an attack that did not involved American troops.

Ali Shirazi, an aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation's supreme leader, reportedly made the threat in comments published by the nation's feared Revolutionary Guard.

He said the takeover of Washington would be part of a 'resistance front' led by Iranians in revenge for the deaths of its soldiers, and members of the militant group Hezbollah.

Update #1: Global war will result in ‘banner of Islam’ over White House, top Iranian official vows -- Washington Times
Update #2: Iran cleric vows to 'raise flag of Islam on White House' to avenge Israeli attack -- Jerusalem Post

WNU Editor: So these are the people that the White House feels comfortable with in doing a nuclear deal. Oh yeah ... I forgot the White House line .... it has nothing to do with Islam.

A Look AT The The 5 Weapon Systems That The U.S. Will Deploy Against Iran In The Event Of An Armed Conflict

B-2 Spirit: $2.4 billion
The B-2 bomber was so costly that Congress cut its initial 1987 purchase order from 132 to 21. (A 2008 crash leaves the current number at 20.) The B-2 is hard to detect via infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual or radar signals. This stealth capability makes it able to attack enemy targets with less fear of retaliation. In use since 1993, the B-2 has been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Zachary Keck, National Interest: 5 U.S. Weapons of War Iran Should Fear

WNU Editor: Of all of the weapons that are listed .... the B-2 is the weapon system that all countries should be fearful of. Interestingly .... in the even of a conflict with Iran, Israel only has the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator in its arsenal.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Fires Warning Shot At Iranian Sailboat In The Persian Gulf

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Monomoy. Wikipedia

Coast Guard Cutter Fires Warning Shot At Iranian Sailboat In Brief Altercation -- Washington Post

If things weren’t already tense enough in the Middle East, a U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat got into an altercation Tuesday with an Iranian sailboat in the Persian Gulf, the Pentagon announced.

U.S. military officials said the trouble started when the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Monomoy, which regularly patrols international waters in the Gulf, approached an Iranian dhow, a traditional sailing vessel used by fisherman and traders. According to the U.S. account, the cutter dispatched a smaller boat with some folks on board, apparently to try to get closer to the dhow and possibly climb aboard.

Read more ....

Update #1: Coast Guard team fires shot at Iranian dhow in Persian Gulf -- Stars and Stripes
Update #2: US ship fires warning shot in encounter with Iranian boat -- AFP

My Comment: Tensions are running high.

United States Is Drawing Up Plans To Strike On Iranian Insurgency Camp

From The Times Online:

The US military is drawing up plans for a “surgical strike” against an insurgent training camp inside Iran if Republican Guards continue with attempts to destabilise Iraq, western intelligence sources said last week. One source said the Americans were growing increasingly angry at the involvement of the Guards’ special-operations Quds force inside Iraq, training Shi’ite militias and smuggling weapons into the country.

Despite a belligerent stance by Vice-President Dick Cheney, the administration has put plans for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities on the back burner since Robert Gates replaced Donald Rumsfeld as defence secretary in 2006, the sources said.

Read more ....

Update: Last Efforts To Stop A Military Confrontation Between US And Iran -- Strata-Sphere

My Comments: You get the impression that the U.S. is daring Iran to do something.