The IRGC announced an attack - on
an Amazon data centre in Bahrain
April 2nd, 3:40pm
(RT.ru)
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) --- has announced
an attack on the data centre of US company Amazon in Bahrain.
"As the first operation against American companies engaged
in espionage and the development of terrorist technologies,
Amazon's cloud computing centre in Bahrain was attacked
--- and destroyed," IRIB said in a statement.
On April 1, the Finacial Times newspaper reported that
Iran ---- had struck an Amazon data centre in Bahrain.
On March 4th, there was also -- a reported
drone strike on a cloud computing centre.
The IRGC has stated that Google, Tesla, Boeing, and other
major US companies will become legitimate targets for
Iran - if the United States continues its aggression.
_______________________________________________________
‘Locked, loaded, standing tall’: Qalibaf,
a war veteran, challenges US
after Trump’s threat
April 2nd, 1:16pm
(PressTV)
In a defiant message, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad
Baqer Qalibaf on Thursday warned that millions of Iranians
are ready to take up arms in defense of their country,
invoking his own experience.. in the 1980s Holy
Defense war as a young fighter to underscore
the nation's willingness to resist
and sacrifice.
It came hours after Trump, in his White House speech, claimed
that the war was “nearing completion” while adding that the
US is prepared to scale up its military aggression in the
next few weeks and threatened to bring Iran “back
to the stone ages.”
"Listen up," Qalibaf stated, addressing US President Donald
Trump and his war cabinet. "Back when I was eighteen
years old, I grabbed my rifle and ran straight into the
fight to defend the soil of my beloved, unbreakable
Iran, the only home I ever knew."
The parliament speaker then spoke of his brother, Hassan, who
fell in the same war, in which the Iraqi Ba'athist regime was
backed by the US and other Western governments.
"He laid it all on the line in that same fight for our homeland.
He never came back home. To this day, I still ache to wrap
my arms around him one more time. That kind of pain
never leaves a man," he wrote, recalling the
painful separation
Qalibaf hastened to add that his brother
was not the only loss he carried.
"I lost brothers who weren't blood but were family just the same,
men who fought like lions and became part of me forever,"
referring to many of his comrades who were martyred
in the Holy Defense war, or in the subsequent years,
mostly at the hands of the Israeli-US war machine,
from Syria to Iraq to Lebanon and Iran.
Describing the Iranian character, Qalibaf declared: "We are
not warmongers. But when the time comes to defend our
homeland, every last one of us becomes a soldier."
He said a massive national campaign over the past week
has already mobilized millions amid threats of a land
invasion by the US.
"Right now, in less than a week, a powerful national campaign
sweeping across the country has brought forward around
7 million Iranians who have already stepped up and
declared they're ready to pick up arms and stand
in defense of our nation," he stated.
Qalibaf contrasted Iranian resolve --- with
what he characterized as empty rhetoric.
"Let me tell you something straight from the gut: Iranians don't
just talk about defending their country, we bleed for it. We've
done it before, and we're ready to do it again."
In a stark warning directed at Iran's enemies, Qalibaf delivered a
memorable closing line: "You come for our home… you're gonna
meet the whole family. Locked, loaded, and standing tall. Bring
it on."
The full text of the message:
Listen up. Back when I was eighteen years old, I grabbed my rifle
and ran straight into the fight to defend the soil of my beloved,
unbreakable Iran, the only home I ever knew.
My brother, Hassan, he laid it all on the line in that same fight for
our homeland. He never came back home. To this day, I still
ache to wrap my arms around him one more time. That
kind of pain never leaves a man.
And he wasn’t the only one. I lost brothers who weren’t blood
but were family just the same, men who fought like lions
and became part of me forever.
But that’s what we do. We give everything – everything we have
got – for the land we love. We poured out our youth, our blood,
and every tomorrow we had, for Iran.
We are not warmongers. But when the time comes to defend
our homeland, every last one of us becomes a soldier.
Right now, in less than a week, a powerful national campaign
sweeping across the country has brought forward around
7 million Iranians who have already stepped up and
declared they’re ready to pick up arms and
stand in defense of our nation.
Let me tell you somethin’ straight from the gut: Iranians don’t just
talk about defending their country, we bleed for it. We’ve done it
before, and we’re ready to do it again.
You come for our home… you’re gonna meet the whole family.
Locked, loaded, and standing tall. Bring it on.
__________________________________________
Fact check: Trump’s speech on war
against Iran and familiar claims
that don’t hold up
April 2nd, 7:10am
(Press TV Website Staff)
US President Donald Trump’s speech on Thursday
had built anticipation that a major announcement
would be made regarding the war against Iran.
Many expected him either to signal an end to the costly
military campaign or to announce a significant
escalation. Instead, the remarks – and the
claims – were largely familiar, echoing
what he has repeatedly told friendly
media outlets and posted on
social media.
In the 20-minute address, he largely regurgitated the
same talking points that fueled this unprovoked
and unjustified war in the first place.
Here, we examine – and debunk – some of
the key claims made in the speech.
Trump said US military... has nearly
completed its goals in the Iran war
This claim - does not withstand scrutiny. As the US president
searches for an off-ramp after more than a month of a costly
military campaign, the reality is increasingly clear: the
aggressor has failed to achieve its stated objectives
despite deploying overwhelming force.
According to observers, the war’s primary goals – widely
described as unprovoked and unnecessary – have all
fallen short. These include “regime change,” curbing
Iran’s missile capabilities, dismantling its nuclear
program ----- and, more recently, reopening the
strategic waterway of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Islamic Republic remains intact and operational. A new
Leader has assumed office and continues to steer the
system, while assassinated military commanders
have been replaced, as also seen during the
12-day war, with successors actively
directing operations.
Iran’s missile capabilities -- also remain intact, evidenced by
sustained, high-intensity operations against US and Israeli
targets across the region. Key infrastructure --- including
underground missile bases, remains largely unaffected,
while Iranian forces continue to impose costs on
their adversaries.
Iran’s nuclear program – peaceful in nature – has likewise endured.
Despite illegal and unjustified strikes on certain nuclear facilities
and the assassination of nuclear scientists, the underlying
indigenous expertise and technological base remain
in place.
Finally, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to US and allied
vessels. Efforts to reopen it have thus far failed, with even
Washington ..signaling a shift in its priorities.
Trump said the US is "systemically dismantling the regime's
ability to threaten America or project power outside of
their borders."
Iran has never posed a threat to the US or any of the regional
countries. In fact, unlike the US, Iran has never initiated a
war in its history. The Islamic Republic has always acted
in self-defense, which is its legitimate right under
international law.
In the True Promise 1 and 2, Iranian armed forces struck the
occupied territories in self-defense after the Israeli regime
attacked Iranian commanders and assets in the region.
In the True Promise 3, it was the Israeli regime, followed by
the US, that initiated an unprovoked and illegal aggression
against the Islamic Republic, leading to the assassination
of a number of Iranian commanders, nuclear scientists,
and ordinary citizens.
This time, again, it was the Israeli-US war machine that
attacked the Islamic Republic and assassinated the
Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed
Ali Khamenei, along with some top-ranking military
commanders and political leaders.
As Iran had previously warned, it retaliated powerfully against
Israeli military and strategic facilities and US military bases
scattered across the region.
Trump said the US objectives are largely achieved,
claiming Iran's military, missile, and nuclear
capabilities have been "decimated."
This claim is a rehash of what the US president has repeatedly
stated in his social media posts over the past four weeks,
with facts on the ground scoffing at his assertions.
Iranian military capabilities, including its missile launches, are
very much in place, which is demonstrated by the fact that it
continues to launch barrages of missiles and drones at
Israeli and US targets across the region every single
day and night.
Already, 90 waves of missile and drone strikes have been
conducted under Operation True Promise 4, decimating
Israeli-US military infrastructure in the region.
It has been acknowledged by military observers worldwide that
the Iranian missile arsenal is by far the most expansive in the
world, featuring a number of underground missile cities.
Iran's indigenous nuclear program is also intact,
despite multiple fresh strikes against some
nuclear facilities in the past few weeks.
As Iranian officials have emphasized, it cannot be eliminated with
a few strikes on physical sites or the assassination of nuclear
scientists. The knowledge is indestructible.
Trump said Iran's navy and air force are
gone .....and its missiles are depleted
The Iranian Navy is still there, despite the cowardly US attack
on one of its frigates in international waters that led to the
martyrdom of over 100 sailors.
The Iranian Navy is still there, despite the assassination of the
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Brigadier
General Alireza Tangsiri and other commanders with him.
The Iranian Navy is very much alive and stronger than ever, which
was demonstrated by the operations it carried out in the past few
days, especially on Wednesday, involving the launch of more than
100 heavy missiles, attack drones, and 200 rockets across a vast
operational radius -------- spanning tens of thousands of kilometres
throughout West Asia, from north to south of the occupied
territories, targeting US and Zionist positions.
These strikes - targeted locations in "Eilat," "Tel Aviv," and "Bnei
Brak," focusing on military sites and gatherings of Israeli forces.
A hideout of US occupation forces in Bahrain, housing 80
personnel, was also struck with a precision missile.
Two early warning air radar systems operated by US forces in
the region ---- stationed on a maritime structure in the waters
and islands of the UAE, were destroyed with high precision.
An oil tanker belonging to the Israeli regime, operating under
the trade name "Aqua 1," was also precisely targeted and
is currently burning in the central Persian Gulf region.
A secret and covert assembly point of US forces outside the
perimeter of the enemy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain was struck
with multiple attack drones and ballistic missiles.
According to field reports, a large number of
senior naval officers were transferred to
hospitals in the city of Manama
following the attack.
The "Chinook" helicopter preparation centre and its equipment
storage hangars at Al-Udeid base ---- were struck using a
combination of ballistic missiles and drones.
Several formations of attack drones were also launched at the
"Abraham Lincoln" carrier strike group in the northern Indian
Ocean, which, according to documentation and satellite
imagery, has fled its previous position ..and retreated
deeper into the Indian Ocean.
Similarly, the Iranian Air Force is very much there, which
is demonstrated by its daily missile and drone strikes
at targets across the occupied territories, and the
wider region.
Trump said "regime change" has already occurred in Iran
This is a claim he has repeated in his interviews and social
media posts as well, and it has already been debunked by
many, including Western journalists and political pundits.
The war of aggression, launched amid indirect nuclear talks
between Tehran and Washington under Omani mediation
on February 28, was initially aimed at "regime change"
in Iran. The first wave, specifically targeted the
Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah
Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and some top-
ranking military commanders.
Unlike the 12-day war in June last year – which also came in
the middle of nuclear diplomacy – when all overt and covert
attempts to assassinate the Leader failed, this time
"regime change" proponents in Washington and
Tel Aviv presumed the foundations of the
Islamic Republic had been ''shaken''
and its collapse was imminent.
Immediately after launching the so-called 'Operation Epic Fury,'
Trump expressed his hope that the Iranian people would
overthrow their government once the US-Israeli
strikes ended.
"When we are finished, take over your government. It will be
yours to take," he said, addressing Iranians, while not
ruling out US boots ..on the ground.
According to one observer who spoke to Press TV, the plan
was to reenact the Venezuela scenario in Iran, albeit with
far greater military force than was deployed in Caracas.
Last week, after nearly all US military bases and assets in the
region -- were decimated in Iranian retaliatory strikes, Trump
claimed that "regime change" had already occurred in Iran,
referring to the election of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba
Khamenei as the new Leader.
Many social media users ---- mocked the claim, saying the US-
Israeli war machine failed to even change the revolutionary
slogans, let alone bring about "regime change."
The Islamic Republic is not individual-centric but system-centric.
Regimes fall, and democratic republics only become stronger.
Trump said Iran was 'right at the doorstep'
of making a nuclear weapon
Before the war, Trump repeatedly framed Iran's nuclear program
as a central threat and threatened military action to dismantle
Iranian nuclear infrastructure – over eight months after he
had claimed the program was "obliterated."
In his State of the Union address on February 24, the US president
– rebuffing his own intelligence agency – accused Iran of
restarting its nuclear program and claimed it was
pursuing capabilities capable of threatening
Europe and even the United States.
The fact is that Iran has repeatedly asserted that it is not pursuing
nuclear weapons and that its nuclear program... is purely for
peaceful purposes, rooted in the fatwa (religious decree)
issued by the martyred Leader of the Islamic
Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei.
It was Trump who unilaterally walked out of the Iran nuclear deal
in May 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. In
response, Iran was forced to ramp up its uranium
enrichment, but it remains nowhere close
to weapons-grade.
Unlike the Israeli regime, which is not a signatory to the NPT, Iran
has signed the treaty and has allowed regular inspections of its
nuclear sites. And so far, the UN agency has found nothing
that would give the impression that Iran's nuclear
program is not peaceful in nature.
Even IAEA chief Rafael Grossi --- who is closely aligned
with the Zionist regime, has acknowledged that Iran
is nowhere close to making a nuclear bomb.
Trump said his first preference was
always the path of diplomacy
The latest war of aggression was launched in the middle of
indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington
under Omani mediation on February 28. The war in
June last year ---- was also launched by the Israeli
regime, with US permission, in the middle of talks.
Both times, Iran's good faith was betrayed by the
Trump administration, resorting to foolhardy
military adventurism --- in the middle of
nuclear diplomacy.
In the recent talks in Muscat and Oman, Iranian mediators went
out of their way to reassure that the Iranian nuclear program
had no diversions and was completely peaceful. They
maintained that Iran was not looking to build a
nuclear weapon. In fact, both sides and the
Omani mediators had acknowledged
progress in the talks.
It was Trump who pulled the US from the landmark 2015
nuclear deal, under which Iran had agreed to restrict
its nuclear enrichment, in exchange for
sanctions relief.
So, it is clear who is in favour of diplomacy to resolve the issues.
It is not the US, nor the Trump administration. It has always
been the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The wars have been imposed on the Islamic Republic since the
Trump administration was hijacked by Zionist interests. This
is even admitted by Western commentators. 'Israel First'
has effectively replaced 'America First.'
Trump said the US imports 'almost no
oil' through the Strait of Hormuz
According to the US Energy Information Administration, as cited
by some US media outlets as well, the US imported 0.5 million
barrels per day of crude oil and condensate through the
Strait of Hormuz in 2024.
That accounted for 7 percent of US crude oil and condensate
imports and 2 percent of petroleum liquids consumption. So,
contrary to Trump's claim, the US does receive oil through
the Strait of Hormuz, which has now been halted in the
wake of the unprovoked and illegal war against Iran.
The effective shutdown of the strait has disrupted global supply
and triggered a sharp surge in oil prices, with Brent crude
climbing toward record levels. Analysts warn prices
could reach $200 per barrel --- if the war of
aggression persists and the US refuses
Iranian demands.
The rise in crude prices - has quickly filtered into the US gasoline
market. Average prices have climbed above $4 per gallon, while
diesel has approached $5–$6 per gallon in many states – levels
not seen in years. This surge is fueling growing discontent...
across the United States.
Beyond crude, the closure of the strait to US and allied vessels
has also disrupted LNG, fertilizer, and other key commodities.
Logistics costs and insurance premiums have surged,
intensifying inflationary pressures in the US,
particularly through higher transportation,
food, and industrial costs.
US consumers are increasingly feeling the strain, both at the
pump... and in their household budgets, as rising energy
prices ripple through everyday expenses, according
to US media reports.
Democrats in the US, and some Republicans too, have sharply
criticized Trump and his administration over the spike in
energy prices. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
(D-NY) posted on X a screenshot of a New York
Times article, stating that the "White House
failed to prepare for rising oil prices from
his reckless war."
Trump said Iran's ballistic missiles
could have reached the US soon
This is another claim that fails the fact-check test. The range of
Iranian missiles is limited to 2,000 kilometres, and that hasn't
changed up to this moment. The recent claim about an
Iranian attack on Diego Garcia island, roughly
5,000 km away, was denied by Iran.
So, to this day, Iran has not developed an ICBM that could hit
targets across continents, because Iran has no intention of
doing so. Iranian missiles are meant for self-defense and
primarily to deter the Israeli regime.
As witnessed, Iranian armed forces have targeted Israeli and
US assets in the region during this war, not the mainland US.
That proves Trump's claim is unsubstantiated.
As observers note, Trump's claim is rooted in remarks by Israeli
premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who previously claimed that Iran
was developing missiles that could reach US cities. It was
meant to instill fear in US citizens and push the US
government into direct confrontation with the
Islamic Republic.
Trump said the war is "a true investment"
for US children and future generations
This claim is debunked by the US people themselves.
They are firmly opposed to the war against Iran
- and similar military adventures across the
world that do not serve US interests.
Trump's approval rating has dropped to 36 percent amid this war,
the lowest since his return to the White House, according to a
Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday.
Another poll by Fox News placed Trump's disapproval rating at
59 percent, the highest recorded across both of his terms,
amid mounting dissatisfaction over the war against Iran.
The survey, published on Wednesday, found that nearly
60 percent of US citizens disapprove of Trump's
performance – the highest level since his
initial election in 2016.
A striking 59 percent of respondents said they disapprove
of Trump's performance as president, while 47 percent
indicated that they "strongly disapprove."
This weekend, more than seven million Americans took to the
streets across the US in 'No Kings' demonstrations against
Trump's disastrous domestic and foreign policies,
particularly the unprovoked and illegal war
against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
More than 3,200 marches were held across all 50 states, with
organizers describing it as the "single largest non-violent
day of action" in US history – against Trump.
