ANALYSIS/OPINION:

An Iranian Yono-class “midget” submarine attempted to launch a cruise missile from the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to U.S. officials. The only two countries in the world that operate this type of submarine are Iran and North Korea. The test launch was not successful, reported Fox News. Iran had previously announced it had successfully tested a sea-launched missile and it is not know if this was the first actual submarine launch of the weapon.

The Washington Free Beacon reports that Iranian officials announced late last month that Iran’s defense budget had increased by 145 percent under President Hassan Rouhani and that the military is moving forward with a massive restructuring effort aimed at making it “a forward moving force.” The Obama administration unlocked over $100 billion for Iran in the ‘nuclear deal’ that was signed in 2016.

Iran has been purchasing sophisticated weapons from Russia including air-defense systems, nuclear assistance, and possibly fighter jets and tanks. The S-300 surface to air missile system now deployed by Iran will make airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States or Israel much more difficult. Iran has also discussed licensing T-90 tank technology from Russia and producing the vehicles in-country.

U.S. intelligence has also confirmed that a portion of the $1.7 billion in cash flown to Tehran in the middle of the night by President Obama has been used to support terrorist activities by Hezbollah, the Iranian terrorist army militia based out of Lebanon, which has been very active in the Syrian civil war, fighting for the Syrian government.

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