“Iran Is Building Terror Network”

News wires

Israel’s defense minister is accusing Iran of building an international terror network that includes “sleeper cells” that are stockpiling arms, intelligence and operatives to be ready to strike on command in places including Europe and the U.S.

Moshe Yaalon says Iran aims to destabilize the Middle East and other parts of the world and is training, funding and arming “emissaries” to spread a revolution. He says Tehran is the anchor of a “dangerous axis” that includes Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, Sanaa and other cities in the region.

Israel considers Iran the biggest threat to the region, citing its support for anti-Israel militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.

Iran’s leader said that he was confident voters would return a parliament prepared to stand up to the United States at Friday’s election and that the West was falsely trying to portray a split between candidates.

Iranians will vote for representatives to parliament and to the body that will elect Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei‘s successor, in the first election since last year’s nuclear deal with world powers.

The polls pit centrists close to President Hassan Rouhani against hardliners backed by the conservative establishment, which has drawn criticism from the president after barring many of his allies from the race.

“The nation does not want a pro- or anti-government parliament, but rather a strong and faithful parliament that is aware of its duties and is not intimidated by the United States,” Khamenei said at a rally.