Senior Fellow with @TheGoodISIS, covering Iran, North Korea, illicit trade, and nuclear weapons in general. Institute for Science and International Security
Washington D.C.
Joined October 2022
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Spencer Faragasso retweeted
The U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program. If you have firsthand knowledge of undeclared nuclear facilities, hidden nuclear material, or work related to developing a nuclear weapon, consider coming forward if you can do so safely. Your information could help uncover covert activities and prevent the regime from building nuclear weapons.
Coming forward takes courage. Helping protect Iran and its people from the dangers of the regime’s nuclear weapons efforts is an act of patriotism.
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Zelensky says preliminary data shows Russians used North Korean KN-23 missiles on one of the key energy facilities that was damaged.
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
It’s being reported that a US airstrike targeted an air defence battery in the city of Soza, Qeshm Island, southern Iran.
This same battery was likely responsible for the SAM missile launch earlier. (Image)
These reports are currently unconfirmed.
NOW: 4 explosions were just heard on Qeshm Island, Hormozgan Province of southern Iran.
It’s being reported that a surface-to-air missile was launched, with AAA activity recorded as well.
Contributed by: @BeamTracker_
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
According to a classified production document linked to the Russian defense manufacturer Vympel, provided to the Financial Times by Dallas Analytics, a Ukrainian private intelligence organisation, Russia agreed to export a total of 90 APU-L helicopter-mounted air-to-surface missile launchers to Iran in as early as May 2024.
An attached production schedule lists seven Russian customers and two foreign buyers for these kind of launchers, with China being named as one of them, ordering 192 APU-305s, while the other buyer, later identified as Iran but at the time only as “K-10,” ordered 90 APU-Ls.
One contract for Yak-130 jet trainers and light attack aircraft also seen by the Financial Times explicitly identifies the buyer as “K-10, Iran”. Another, a 2023 production schedule from a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec, lists six Yak-130s destined for K-10.
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
A Brief Reflection on Midterms:
In this week’s Shipment, the main story titled “Wake Up and Smell the Crushing Rejection of Current Policies” focuses on the midterms.
Specially how higher energy prices and tariffs contributed. Take a look!
#Midterms2026 #Trade #Trump #Tariff
americanactionforum.org/ship…
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
NEW!! State Department sanctions two individuals and a Nigeria-based company accused of helping Iran procure Chinese-made man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), escalating Washington’s campaign against Tehran’s military procurement networks.
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
I think this article from October 8 is pretty relevant right about now.
If only people had been warning about bad economic decisions and high prices for the last year or so.
americanactionforum.org/ship…
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
The U.S. attacked Iran’s Qeshm Island within the last few hours according to U.S. officials, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, the latest in a series of limited strikes the U.S. has carried out in recent weeks without announcing them. Explosions were reported on the Island beginning around 4 p.m. ET today. A U.S. official said the administration is “consistently addressing threats to American forces in the region.”
Some officials described the strikes as defensive, meant to stop Iran from having the freedom to attack commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. One said the campaign has been kept quiet so as not to signal any intention of resuming major combat operations. Qeshm sits at the mouth of the strait and has a large underground missile site, a naval base and a major desalination plant, according to the Journal.
Source: wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-…
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Is China ending its 40-year pause on producing weapon-grade uranium?
In a new piece for @BulletinAtomic, @BelferCenter's Hui Zhang analyzes satellite imagery showing a major expansion at China's uninspected Emeishan centrifuge site.
Here is what the analysis reveals 🧵👇
ALT Satellite imagery showing the Emeishan centrifuge enrichment site near Emeishan City, Sichuan in February 2022. (Image: CNES / Airbus, via Google Earth)
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Our long-range sanctions have targeted the Rostov region. The Kamensky Combine, a Russian defense industry enterprise involved in missile production, was hit.
A Pantsir-S2 system and a command and staff vehicle of the S-400 Triumf system were also hit. The total value of the air defense assets struck is around $70 million.
I thank the warriors of the Security Service of Ukraine @ServiceSsu and other units of the Defense Forces for their accuracy! We are justly defending ourselves against Russian aggression and doing everything to reduce Russia’s capability to continue it.
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
As I’ve been saying since 2014, if you think defending Ukraine is expensive, Russia winning would be exponentially more so.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warns a Russian victory in Ukraine could shatter global alliances, reshape the world economy, and force nations to question whether they can still rely on America. 🇺🇸
Asked what a Russian victory in Ukraine would mean for the global economy, Dimon responded:
“It could be a potential disaster.
This is the first war in Europe where a free, democratic nation was invaded by 200,000 or 300,000 Russian soldiers under the threat of nuclear blackmail.
We’ve never had nuclear blackmail before.
You’re also teaching the whole world that maybe having nuclear weapons is a pretty good thing, because people will be afraid of you, and you can abuse a neighbor if you feel like it.
Russia would be on the border of NATO. Obviously, NATO is rearming right now.
But the other thing is, it’s affecting all alliances, military alliances and global economic alliances.
And the nexus of Iran, North Korea, and China makes it very hard, in my view, for the Chinese-American relationship.
China says they’re neutral, but they’re helping. We are clearly not neutral.
If Russia wins, you might see a lot of people deciding: Will America stand up for Europe? Can you rely on them? And if you can’t rely on them, what are you going to do?
That includes economically.
Every nation is going to say, what makes me secure? Energy, food, all the things I need.
I’m worried that if Russia wins, you could see the world enter a little bit of chaos as people realign alliances and economic relationships.”
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Pickaxe Mountain Elevation Profile: Where are the tunnel site’s key features?
We used Google Earth terrain data to derive the elevation profile of the mountain, showing the elevation levels of four key points: the eastern and western primary tunnel entrances, the probable ventilation port/shaft north of the ridge, and the possible ventilation shaft south of the ridge. We previously reported on the elevation difference between the two pairs of tunnel entrances, which could mean that there are two separate tunnels; the facility has multiple levels; or the western tunnel progresses downwards to meet the other tunnel under the ridge. In our early 2022 reporting, we considered various options which remain plausible. We newly discuss the elevation of the probable ventilation port/shaft, first identified by the Institute in 2024, and situated north of the mountain ridge, closer to the Eastern tunnel entrances. Interestingly, it sits at the same elevation as the Western entrances, indicating it is able to service either tunnel, both tunnels, or a combined tunnel. It might also provide an opening for a horizontal tunnel into the western tunnel accessible operations area, i.e., an additional point for ingress and egress, such as for personnel. It should be noted that it is serviced by electricity, in addition to the primary eastern and the primary western tunnel portals. The attached ground photo from 2005 shows its future location on the north side of the mountain. Note: We confirmed the relative accuracy of the Google Earth elevation profile with high resolution elevation data.
Read the full report here:
isis-online.org/isis-reports…
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Section 338 Tariff Adjustments:
In this week’s Shipment, I discuss the recent changes to the 50% Section 338 tariff list for US imports from Canada.
Some products removed, many more added in the lead up to midterms next week. I also cover recent Section 232 announcements on wind turbines, robotics, and industrial machinery.
Take a look! #Tariff #Canada #Trade #Trump
americanactionforum.org/ship…
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Castro’s grandkids enjoy European vacations as Countless Cubans risk their lives on rafts fleeing the dire conditions of their country.
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Russia’s military-industrial complex has placed orders for more than 100,000 Kometa anti-jamming navigation modules in 2026, according to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR).
The modules use controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) arrays to reduce the effects of electronic warfare interference on satellite navigation signals. They consist of an antenna array and a signal-processing unit based on an Altera Cyclone FPGA.
According to GUR, 16-element arrays are already in widespread use, while serial production of 20-element versions is being prepared. The use of 32-element arrays manufactured in China and Russia’s Alabuga industrial zone has also been identified.
Kometa modules have been documented in various Russian missiles, attack drones and guided aerial bombs. The main developer and manufacturer is Russia’s VNIIR-Progress, part of the ABS Electro group, which relies on its own facilities, affiliated companies and external contractors to fulfil orders.
The order figure exceeds 100,000 units but does not establish how many modules have already been manufactured or delivered.
Source: Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
1/2 The number of confirmed air defense towers and ramps in Alabuga, the main production facility for Russian strike drones, has reached 33, as a new @planet high-res image taken today, Oct. 21, shows. Ukraine hasn’t attempted to strike the site since June 2025.
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Ukrainian forces continued to hunt down Russian missile production facilities with their UK-supplied Storm Shadows today, successfully striking the Yelets Energia Plant.
The plant, hit by multiple Storm Shadows, produced subcomponents for the Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon.
Spencer Faragasso retweeted
Renewed US strikes on Iran are “no longer a question of if, but when.” - US official to Israel’s I24