"The Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Ahmad al-Musawi, has said he cast doubts on the enemies' intentions towards the Darfur region.See Sudan Watch (in sidebar here).
In a press conference held at the Hilton hotel [in Khartoum] yesterday morning, he urged to end foreign interference in Darfur and let the Sudanese government work towards resolving the issue in a suitable way.
He further reiterated Iran's support for a Sudanese solution in this regard, and his trust in the mediation of the AU member states to resolve the crisis."
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Iran says "No" to foreign meddling in Darfur, Sudan
Today, Coaliton for Darfur publishes BBC Monitoring's text [no date] of a report by Sudanese newspaper Alwan claiming Iran says "No" to foreign meddling in Darfur. Excerpt:
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Sudan backs Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday pledged his country’s support for Iran’s position on peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Iranian Deputy President Ahmed Moussawi, who arrived in Khartoum earlier Wednesday on an official visit to Sudan, delivered a letter to the Sudanese president from his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmedinejad concerning the position of the Iranian authority toward its nuclear file and its right topeaceful use of nuclear energy, the Sudanese news agency reported.
See full report by Xinhua at SudanTribune 26 January 2006.
Iranian Deputy President Ahmed Moussawi, who arrived in Khartoum earlier Wednesday on an official visit to Sudan, delivered a letter to the Sudanese president from his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmedinejad concerning the position of the Iranian authority toward its nuclear file and its right topeaceful use of nuclear energy, the Sudanese news agency reported.
See full report by Xinhua at SudanTribune 26 January 2006.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Bombing in south west Iran - Amarji, A Heretic's Blog
Amarji - A Heretic's Blog by Syrian author Ammar Abdulhamid located in Maryland, USA.
[via Captain Marlow's post on Iran and Syria and bombing in south west Iran]
[via Captain Marlow's post on Iran and Syria and bombing in south west Iran]
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Iran: Blogger gets three-year suspended sentence
From Global Voices by Haitham Sabbah, January 20, 2006:
Journalist and blogger Ahmad Reza Shiri (Persian) will have a permanent threat hanging over him as a result of the suspended sentence (used to silence journalists who bother the authorities) of three years in prison handed down by a court in the northern city of Mashhad, Reporters Without Borders said today. He was reportedly accused of writing articles in his blog calling for a boycott of last February’s legislative elections.
China and Russia would fight Iran oil sanctions
Reuters report Jan 19, 2006 says U.N. Security Council heavyweights China and Russia have too much riding on Iran's energy sector to let the West slap sanctions on Tehran to punish its nuclear ambitions, experts say. Excerpt:
Fears of supply disruption from the world's fourth largest crude exporter, along with rising tensions in fellow OPEC member Nigeria, sent U.S. crude oil futures to a three-month high near $67 per barrel this week.
The United States and three European Union nations are pressing the 15-member U.N. Security Council to take up the Iranian nuclear issue, which could open the door to potential oil sanctions.
But two key U.N. Security Council members that carry veto powers -- China and Russia -- have multibillion-dollar oil and natural gas projects hanging in the balance, and China depends on Iran's imports to quench its oil thirst.
"I have a hard time seeing how oil investments could be targeted given the interests of Russia and China," said Julia Nanay, a senior director at PFC Energy in Washington.
Iran wants to sign a major oilfield deal to give China's Sinopec a stake in the giant Yadavaran oilfield in southern Iran, which could require investment of at least $2 billion (1.1 billion pounds).
And Russia's LUKOIL holds a minority stake in the Anaran field in western Iran near the Iraqi border.
Iran raised the stakes in its row with the West this month by removing U.N. seals on equipment that purifies uranium, which can be used for power, or if highly enriched, in bombs.
The United States and the European Union's three biggest powers said talks with Iran on the issue were at a dead end, and moved to refer the matter to the Security Council.
Tehran denies accusations it is seeking nuclear weapons and says it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity.
China has blocked Security Council efforts to sanction countries like Sudan, where China has a huge oil deal. Sudan's Darfur region is beset by widespread violence between fractious rebel groups, government forces and a government-backed militia.
Full story.
Fears of supply disruption from the world's fourth largest crude exporter, along with rising tensions in fellow OPEC member Nigeria, sent U.S. crude oil futures to a three-month high near $67 per barrel this week.
The United States and three European Union nations are pressing the 15-member U.N. Security Council to take up the Iranian nuclear issue, which could open the door to potential oil sanctions.
But two key U.N. Security Council members that carry veto powers -- China and Russia -- have multibillion-dollar oil and natural gas projects hanging in the balance, and China depends on Iran's imports to quench its oil thirst.
"I have a hard time seeing how oil investments could be targeted given the interests of Russia and China," said Julia Nanay, a senior director at PFC Energy in Washington.
Iran wants to sign a major oilfield deal to give China's Sinopec a stake in the giant Yadavaran oilfield in southern Iran, which could require investment of at least $2 billion (1.1 billion pounds).
And Russia's LUKOIL holds a minority stake in the Anaran field in western Iran near the Iraqi border.
Iran raised the stakes in its row with the West this month by removing U.N. seals on equipment that purifies uranium, which can be used for power, or if highly enriched, in bombs.
The United States and the European Union's three biggest powers said talks with Iran on the issue were at a dead end, and moved to refer the matter to the Security Council.
Tehran denies accusations it is seeking nuclear weapons and says it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity.
China has blocked Security Council efforts to sanction countries like Sudan, where China has a huge oil deal. Sudan's Darfur region is beset by widespread violence between fractious rebel groups, government forces and a government-backed militia.
Full story.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Iran nuclear stand-off escalates
Iran has broken the international seals at the Natanz plant.
Iran's dispute with the UN and Western countries has deepened after Tehran resumed nuclear research.
As Iran removed UN seals from equipment at Natanz facility, UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Tehran would start small-scale nuclear enrichment.
The move was condemned by the US and European countries, which fear Iran is seeking to produce atomic bombs.
Tehran denies the accusation, saying it wants to produce nuclear energy only.
Full story BBC 10 Jan 2006.
Iran's dispute with the UN and Western countries has deepened after Tehran resumed nuclear research.
As Iran removed UN seals from equipment at Natanz facility, UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Tehran would start small-scale nuclear enrichment.
The move was condemned by the US and European countries, which fear Iran is seeking to produce atomic bombs.
Tehran denies the accusation, saying it wants to produce nuclear energy only.
Full story BBC 10 Jan 2006.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Give Iran the Bomb?
Interesting post by Nate at Trust in One blog 29 Oct 2005, filed here for future reference.
Also, note Stupidity or Strategy? commentary at ComingAnarchy's plus Taking it back [makes sense]:
Also, note Stupidity or Strategy? commentary at ComingAnarchy's plus Taking it back [makes sense]:
Ahmadinejad’s comments were for domestic consumption only, and were not meant to get into the international press. Yet once the controversy started, he couldn’t take back his comments for fear of coming across as a charlatan to his supporters.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Iran to construct $16 million water treatment plant in Sudan
Note this copy of a report from Tehran dated Oct 1, 2005 - via SudanTribune:
An Iranian private company is to build second water treatment plant in Sudan at the cost of 16 million dollars garanted by a public financement institution.
The agreement was finalized after the Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) approved the credit facility for the project under the risk coverage of Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI), The Iranian Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.
EDBI offers 85 percent of total cost on a five-year repayment plan. The project commissioner of this plan, like the first one, is Kian Ab Company and the plant is expected to supply over 50,000 cubic meters of potable water to 120,000 households in Atbara, Sudan.
The first water treatment plant is to cover Jebel-Awlia area, near Khartoum.
According to MNA, the executive director of EDBI Noruz Kahzadi and Abdallah Khadir Bashir, Sudan's ambassador to Iran, signed the agreement in a ceremony held in Tehran.
Bashir considered these projects of paramount importance for developing Sudan's infrastructure and conveyed his country's interest in expanding economic ties with Iran.
"Such cooperation deepens and strengthens solidarity between Iran and Sudan in all spheres of activities," the report quoted him as saying.
Relations between Iran and Sudan is based on the principle of consolidation of ties and unity among Islamic countries to help preserve the independence of Muslims round the world which should be considered as a significant pole in globalization procedures.
In the past, many reports mentioned the role ponderant role played by Iran in the training of the Sudanese regime militia and the financement of miltary contracts conclued by Sudan.
Sudanese President pledged to Khatimi his country's support for Iran's right to possess and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and praised the way in which Iran is handling the question.
The visit of the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to Sudan in October 2004 constitute an turning point in bilateral ties.
An Iranian private company is to build second water treatment plant in Sudan at the cost of 16 million dollars garanted by a public financement institution.
The agreement was finalized after the Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) approved the credit facility for the project under the risk coverage of Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI), The Iranian Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.
EDBI offers 85 percent of total cost on a five-year repayment plan. The project commissioner of this plan, like the first one, is Kian Ab Company and the plant is expected to supply over 50,000 cubic meters of potable water to 120,000 households in Atbara, Sudan.
The first water treatment plant is to cover Jebel-Awlia area, near Khartoum.
According to MNA, the executive director of EDBI Noruz Kahzadi and Abdallah Khadir Bashir, Sudan's ambassador to Iran, signed the agreement in a ceremony held in Tehran.
Bashir considered these projects of paramount importance for developing Sudan's infrastructure and conveyed his country's interest in expanding economic ties with Iran.
"Such cooperation deepens and strengthens solidarity between Iran and Sudan in all spheres of activities," the report quoted him as saying.
Relations between Iran and Sudan is based on the principle of consolidation of ties and unity among Islamic countries to help preserve the independence of Muslims round the world which should be considered as a significant pole in globalization procedures.
In the past, many reports mentioned the role ponderant role played by Iran in the training of the Sudanese regime militia and the financement of miltary contracts conclued by Sudan.
Sudanese President pledged to Khatimi his country's support for Iran's right to possess and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and praised the way in which Iran is handling the question.
The visit of the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to Sudan in October 2004 constitute an turning point in bilateral ties.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Iran in nuclear sanctions warning
BBC news report today says Iran warns the US and EU it would be a "grave mistake" to refer its nuclear programme to the UN.
- - -
Pakistan fires new cruise missile
Pakistan says it has fired its first cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads.
The Babur missile has a range of 500km (310miles), a military spokesman said.
The launch comes days after Pakistan and neighbouring rival India agreed to give each other advance notice of future nuclear missile tests.
India had not been informed about Thursday's test because the agreement did not cover the type of missile fired on Thursday, the spokesman said.
Pakistan has joined a select group of countries which have the capability to design and develop cruise missiles
Pakistan military statement
The agreement "does not cover pre-notification of cruise missile tests," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Naeem Khan told Associated Press.
There was no immediate reaction to the test from Delhi.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4140692.stm
- - -
Pakistan fires new cruise missile
Pakistan says it has fired its first cruise missile capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads.
The Babur missile has a range of 500km (310miles), a military spokesman said.
The launch comes days after Pakistan and neighbouring rival India agreed to give each other advance notice of future nuclear missile tests.
India had not been informed about Thursday's test because the agreement did not cover the type of missile fired on Thursday, the spokesman said.
Pakistan has joined a select group of countries which have the capability to design and develop cruise missiles
Pakistan military statement
The agreement "does not cover pre-notification of cruise missile tests," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Naeem Khan told Associated Press.
There was no immediate reaction to the test from Delhi.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4140692.stm
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Iran removes UN's nuclear seals
Excerpt from a report by the BBC today:
Iran says work will begin in sealed-off areas of the Isfahan plant
Iran has started to break the remaining UN seals placed on its nuclear plant at Isfahan, enabling it to operate fully.
"The removal of seals has begun with the presence of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors," Iranian official Mohammad Saeedi said.
The move comes as members of the UN's nuclear watchdog hold urgent private talks on Iran's decision to re-start uranium conversion activities.
The IAEA wants to persuade Iran to resume a voluntary suspension.
The organisation's spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming, confirmed the breaking of the seals. "Once the removal is completed we will confirm this to the [IAEA] board," she said.
The IAEA has installed equipment to monitor activities at the plant.
Iran says work will begin in sealed-off areas of the Isfahan plant
Iran has started to break the remaining UN seals placed on its nuclear plant at Isfahan, enabling it to operate fully.
"The removal of seals has begun with the presence of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors," Iranian official Mohammad Saeedi said.
The move comes as members of the UN's nuclear watchdog hold urgent private talks on Iran's decision to re-start uranium conversion activities.
The IAEA wants to persuade Iran to resume a voluntary suspension.
The organisation's spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming, confirmed the breaking of the seals. "Once the removal is completed we will confirm this to the [IAEA] board," she said.
The IAEA has installed equipment to monitor activities at the plant.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Iran 'resumes nuclear programme'
From the BBC today - Iran 'resumes nuclear programme'
Iran says it has resumed work at its uranium conversion facility near the city of Isfahan.
Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, made the announcement at the Isfahan plant.
He said work at the plant where uranium conversion has taken place in the past had resumed under the supervision of the UN's nuclear watchdog.
The US and EU have warned that such a move will lead to Iran being referred to the UN Security Council.
This could lead to the imposition of Security Council sanctions.
Iran maintains its right to carry out nuclear activity for peaceful purposes, and has rejected recent European proposals for its nuclear programme, designed to give guarantees that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons.
Nuclear work at the Isfahan plant had been suspended since November 2004.
A reporter for the Reuters news agency witnessed what she says was the resumption of uranium conversion. The reporter describes two workers at the Isfahan plant lifting a barrel full of uranium yellow cake, opening its lid and feeding it into the processing line.
The reporter says that the plant had earlier been surrounded by dozens of anti-aircraft batteries.
Emergency meeting
Earlier on Monday inspectors from the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrived at the Isfahan plant to install surveillance equipment and oversee removal of seals.
The IAEA board is due to hold an emergency meeting of the IAEA board on Tuesday. It was called by European Union states following deadlock in the talks they have been conducting with Tehran.
The Iranian government on Monday replaced its chief negotiator, Hassan Rohani, with Ali Larijani, a conservative former head of state broadcasting who is known to have close ties with Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
The appointment was made by the conservative president, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, two days after he was sworn in. It is being seen as a hardening of Iran's position.
Iran says it has resumed work at its uranium conversion facility near the city of Isfahan.
Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, made the announcement at the Isfahan plant.
He said work at the plant where uranium conversion has taken place in the past had resumed under the supervision of the UN's nuclear watchdog.
The US and EU have warned that such a move will lead to Iran being referred to the UN Security Council.
This could lead to the imposition of Security Council sanctions.
Iran maintains its right to carry out nuclear activity for peaceful purposes, and has rejected recent European proposals for its nuclear programme, designed to give guarantees that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons.
Nuclear work at the Isfahan plant had been suspended since November 2004.
A reporter for the Reuters news agency witnessed what she says was the resumption of uranium conversion. The reporter describes two workers at the Isfahan plant lifting a barrel full of uranium yellow cake, opening its lid and feeding it into the processing line.
The reporter says that the plant had earlier been surrounded by dozens of anti-aircraft batteries.
Emergency meeting
Earlier on Monday inspectors from the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, arrived at the Isfahan plant to install surveillance equipment and oversee removal of seals.
The IAEA board is due to hold an emergency meeting of the IAEA board on Tuesday. It was called by European Union states following deadlock in the talks they have been conducting with Tehran.
The Iranian government on Monday replaced its chief negotiator, Hassan Rohani, with Ali Larijani, a conservative former head of state broadcasting who is known to have close ties with Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
The appointment was made by the conservative president, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, two days after he was sworn in. It is being seen as a hardening of Iran's position.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Some Bombs Used in Iraq Are Made in Iran, U.S. Says
By ERIC SCHMITT in today's New York Times:
"Many of the new, more sophisticated roadside bombs are specially designed to destroy armored vehicles, experts say."
Quotation of the Day
Via today's NYT:
"Let no one be in any doubt. The rules of the game are changing."
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, on plans for new measures in Britain's antiterrorism policy.
"Many of the new, more sophisticated roadside bombs are specially designed to destroy armored vehicles, experts say."
Quotation of the Day
Via today's NYT:
"Let no one be in any doubt. The rules of the game are changing."
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, on plans for new measures in Britain's antiterrorism policy.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
UK warns Iran over nuclear plans
From the BBC today - UK warns Iran over nuclear plans - Iran says it wants to resume nuclear enrichment:
The British government says Iran's threat to restart part of its nuclear programme - uranium conversion - is "unnecessary and damaging".
The UK Foreign Office (FCO) urged Iran not to take unilateral steps that could jeopardise talks with three European Union nations - known as the E3.
The remarks came after a top Iranian official set a Sunday deadline for the EU to propose economic incentives.
The UK - the current EU president - said these would be given in a week.
This was in accordance with the decisions of the Geneva meeting in May between Iran and the three European countries - Britain, France and Germany - as well as the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana, said the FCO spokesman.
This is threatening to become a dangerous escalation, says the BBC's Jon Leyne.
The US believes Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb, but Iran insists its programme is for civilian use only.
Iran suspended all uranium conversion and enrichment activities in November 2004 as a result of international pressure.
However, it has always insisted that the suspension was temporary and that it would resume some of its nuclear activities regardless of EU proposals.
The European states have threatened to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions if Iran resumes its nuclear activities.
The British government says Iran's threat to restart part of its nuclear programme - uranium conversion - is "unnecessary and damaging".
The UK Foreign Office (FCO) urged Iran not to take unilateral steps that could jeopardise talks with three European Union nations - known as the E3.
The remarks came after a top Iranian official set a Sunday deadline for the EU to propose economic incentives.
The UK - the current EU president - said these would be given in a week.
This was in accordance with the decisions of the Geneva meeting in May between Iran and the three European countries - Britain, France and Germany - as well as the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana, said the FCO spokesman.
This is threatening to become a dangerous escalation, says the BBC's Jon Leyne.
The US believes Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb, but Iran insists its programme is for civilian use only.
Iran suspended all uranium conversion and enrichment activities in November 2004 as a result of international pressure.
However, it has always insisted that the suspension was temporary and that it would resume some of its nuclear activities regardless of EU proposals.
The European states have threatened to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions if Iran resumes its nuclear activities.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
UK policy invited attacks - Iran
Copy of a report from the BBC today:
Iran has condemned the bomb attacks in London as inhumane, and offered its condolences to the victims.
But one of the country's top clerics, Ayatollah Mohammed Emami-Kashani, said they were the direct result of the UK's support for US and Israeli policies.
The ayatollah called al-Qaeda an "illegitimate child" of the West.
The Friday prayer leader said it was divine justice that a group which had nothing to do with Islam had now conspired against its backers.
The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says Iran's view is that US funding for extremist Sunni Muslim groups opposing the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s set the stage for the emergence of the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
A commentary on Iranian state radio, meanwhile, blamed the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, for the attacks.
It said Mossad was the only group capable of carrying out such operations in London and had often tried to attract attention to its opponents during G8 meetings in the past.
Ayatollah Kashani condemned the blasts, but also launched a stinging attack on Western foreign policy, punctuated with cries of "death to America, Britain and Israel".
"You talk about al-Qaeda. Have you forgotten who has bred al-Qaeda?" he asked, in remarks addressed to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"It's the illegitimate child of America and Israel, but you name it Islam. This savagery is not Islam. It is coming from inside of you and it is now punching you."
He said the West had also nurtured former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein by supplying him with weapons during the Iran-Iraq war.
"You armed Saddam with every weapon against us," he said. "But your feet are still bogged down in the Iraqi quagmires and you cannot get out."
He also attacked US George W Bush's war on terror and Middle East policies.
"Where have you reached by cracking down on terrorism? It has happened again because you do not want to use your head."
"You train terrorists and state terrorism. If you want to succeed you have to leave Palestine alone," he added.
"Acting against terrorism must be honest ... and you will not succeed unless you wise up and change your ways."
Iran has condemned the bomb attacks in London as inhumane, and offered its condolences to the victims.
But one of the country's top clerics, Ayatollah Mohammed Emami-Kashani, said they were the direct result of the UK's support for US and Israeli policies.
The ayatollah called al-Qaeda an "illegitimate child" of the West.
The Friday prayer leader said it was divine justice that a group which had nothing to do with Islam had now conspired against its backers.
The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says Iran's view is that US funding for extremist Sunni Muslim groups opposing the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s set the stage for the emergence of the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
A commentary on Iranian state radio, meanwhile, blamed the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, for the attacks.
It said Mossad was the only group capable of carrying out such operations in London and had often tried to attract attention to its opponents during G8 meetings in the past.
Ayatollah Kashani condemned the blasts, but also launched a stinging attack on Western foreign policy, punctuated with cries of "death to America, Britain and Israel".
"You talk about al-Qaeda. Have you forgotten who has bred al-Qaeda?" he asked, in remarks addressed to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"It's the illegitimate child of America and Israel, but you name it Islam. This savagery is not Islam. It is coming from inside of you and it is now punching you."
He said the West had also nurtured former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein by supplying him with weapons during the Iran-Iraq war.
"You armed Saddam with every weapon against us," he said. "But your feet are still bogged down in the Iraqi quagmires and you cannot get out."
He also attacked US George W Bush's war on terror and Middle East policies.
"Where have you reached by cracking down on terrorism? It has happened again because you do not want to use your head."
"You train terrorists and state terrorism. If you want to succeed you have to leave Palestine alone," he added.
"Acting against terrorism must be honest ... and you will not succeed unless you wise up and change your ways."
Friday, May 20, 2005
MEDIA FAST FOR MOJTABA
Excerpt from a post at Committee to Protect Bloggers Thursday, May 19, 2005:
The CPB is asking bloggers and other concerned people to observe next Thursday, May 26 as a Media Fast for Mojtaba.
Mojtaba Saminejad, a blogger from Iran, has declared a hunger strike. He is being held at Tehran’s Gohar Dashat prison, which has a reputation for mistreatment of detainees. He is being held in the general population, the overwhelming majority of which are common criminals.
Mojtaba was arrested for reporting the earlier arrest of three of his fellow Iranian bloggers. (Iran has arrested over 20 bloggers over the last year.) Iranian bloggers who have been released have reported being the victims of torture.
Read full story at Committee to Protect Bloggers: MEDIA FAST FOR MOJTABA.
[via Curt with thanks] Tags: Tehran Iran Mojtaba Blog Bloggers Committee+to+Protect+Bloggers
The CPB is asking bloggers and other concerned people to observe next Thursday, May 26 as a Media Fast for Mojtaba.
Mojtaba Saminejad, a blogger from Iran, has declared a hunger strike. He is being held at Tehran’s Gohar Dashat prison, which has a reputation for mistreatment of detainees. He is being held in the general population, the overwhelming majority of which are common criminals.
Mojtaba was arrested for reporting the earlier arrest of three of his fellow Iranian bloggers. (Iran has arrested over 20 bloggers over the last year.) Iranian bloggers who have been released have reported being the victims of torture.
Read full story at Committee to Protect Bloggers: MEDIA FAST FOR MOJTABA.
[via Curt with thanks] Tags: Tehran Iran Mojtaba Blog Bloggers Committee+to+Protect+Bloggers
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC RADIO IN THE AGE OF PODCASTING: Anybody can create their own public radio online
Note Rebecca MacKinnon's post linking to a live webcast from Harvard's Berkman Center today, May 17, 2005.
Jake Shapiro of the Public Radio Exchange will talk about the future of public radio in the age of podcasting, which enables anybody to create their own public radio online.
This is history in the making. Keep it for your archives.
Tags: Podcasting Radio Audioblogging MacKinnon Shapiro Berkman Harvard
Jake Shapiro of the Public Radio Exchange will talk about the future of public radio in the age of podcasting, which enables anybody to create their own public radio online.
This is history in the making. Keep it for your archives.
Tags: Podcasting Radio Audioblogging MacKinnon Shapiro Berkman Harvard
Monday, May 16, 2005
Open Source. It'll be a radio show. May 30, 2005
Here is a don't miss, must-do: listen to Open Source's pilot on podcasting and bloggers without borders. Hear phone interviews and discussions with Rebecca and Ethan of Global Voices, and several other bloggers, hosted by smooth (and thankfully not-so-fast) talking American Christopher Lydon at Harvad's Berkman.
Historic stuff. Keep it for your archives.
See Ethan's follow-up post "On hold with Chris Lydon".
Note also GlobalCoordinate.com Geo-Community. Click on the map to zoom in. You can add your own comments, stories, or photos at any location.
Tags: Tehran Iran Podcast Blog
Historic stuff. Keep it for your archives.
See Ethan's follow-up post "On hold with Chris Lydon".
Note also GlobalCoordinate.com Geo-Community. Click on the map to zoom in. You can add your own comments, stories, or photos at any location.
Tags: Tehran Iran Podcast Blog
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Europeans warn Iran not to resume nuclear work
My post at Sudan Watch May 2, 2005 titled EU's Solana to start dialogue with US on China - CIA supports genocide in Sudan? was linked to today within the comments at a post by Little Green Footballs, and caused a spike in the traffic at Sudan Watch.
Here is a copy of LGF post Thursday, May 12, 2005:
European Union Springs into Action
The European Union has broken out their most feared weapon to threaten Iran - the dreaded toughly worded letter: Europeans warn Iran not to resume nuclear work (Hat tip: Ethel.)
VIENNA (Reuters) - France, Britain and Germany have warned Iran they will break off talks and join Washington in seeking U.N. Security Council action if Tehran makes good on its threats to resume atomic work, EU officials said on Thursday.
The foreign ministers of the European Union’s three biggest powers sent a toughly worded letter to Hassan Rohani, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, warning that resuming potentially arms-related nuclear work “would bring the negotiating process to an end,” an EU diplomat quoted the letter as saying.
“The consequences could only be negative for Iran,” it said.
That’s telling ’em.
Here is a copy of LGF post Thursday, May 12, 2005:
European Union Springs into Action
The European Union has broken out their most feared weapon to threaten Iran - the dreaded toughly worded letter: Europeans warn Iran not to resume nuclear work (Hat tip: Ethel.)
VIENNA (Reuters) - France, Britain and Germany have warned Iran they will break off talks and join Washington in seeking U.N. Security Council action if Tehran makes good on its threats to resume atomic work, EU officials said on Thursday.
The foreign ministers of the European Union’s three biggest powers sent a toughly worded letter to Hassan Rohani, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, warning that resuming potentially arms-related nuclear work “would bring the negotiating process to an end,” an EU diplomat quoted the letter as saying.
“The consequences could only be negative for Iran,” it said.
That’s telling ’em.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Russia-Iran nuclear deal signed
Here is a copy of a BBC News online report published 27 February, 2005:
Russia and Iran have signed an agreement for Moscow to supply fuel to Iran's new nuclear reactor in Bushehr.
Under the deal Iran has to return spent nuclear fuel rods from the reactor, which was designed and built by Russia.
The clause is a safeguard meant to banish fears that Iran might misuse the rods to build nuclear weapons, a concern of the US, Israel and others.
The agreement sets out a time-frame for delivery of the fuel, but officials said the dates would be kept secret.
The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says the deal is significant because Bushehr will be Iran's first reactor to go on stream - a project that has become an issue of national prestige in the face of intense US opposition.
The signing, which had been expected on Saturday, was apparently delayed over disagreements about when the spent fuel should be returned.
Russia had been insisting that no spent fuel should be diverted for the manufacture of weapons.
Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear programme is solely for the generation of power.
'Strongest indication yet'
But despite Iran's denials, diplomats said investigations showed Tehran had had full possession of enrichment know-how for two decades, after acquiring the information from Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan's black-market network.
The Washington Post on Sunday quoted officials as saying that the programme originated at a secret meeting in Dubai 18 years ago between Iranian officials and Mr Khan's associates.
The officials said Tehran, which was then at war with Iraq, bought centrifuges and an enrichment starter kit but also used the meeting as a guide before purchasing more expensive items elsewhere.
The offer "was the strongest indication to date" that Iran had a nuclear weapons programme, a diplomat was quoted as saying.
'Confidential protocol'
Iran's nuclear energy chief Gholamreza Aghazadeh and his Russian counterpart, Alexander Rumyantsev, agreed the deal.
"We have signed a confidential protocol that sets out the timetable for the delivery of fuel to the nuclear power plant at Bushehr," Mr Rumyantsev said, quoted by Russian news agency Itar-Tass.
Russia has rejected US pressure to cut nuclear co-operation with Iran.
Washington is also concerned that the nuclear project could allow for the covert transfer of weapons technology to Iran.
At a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President George W Bush in Slovakia on Thursday, both sides agreed Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
The signing of the nuclear fuel deal has been delayed several times, apparently over technical and financial issues.
Our correspondent says Iran is currently in negotiations over its nuclear programme with Europe, and one of the incentives on the table is an offer of a nuclear reactor from the West.
If Iran is already receiving nuclear fuel and technology from Russia, she says, it is in a stronger negotiating position.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4301889.stm
Russia and Iran have signed an agreement for Moscow to supply fuel to Iran's new nuclear reactor in Bushehr.
Under the deal Iran has to return spent nuclear fuel rods from the reactor, which was designed and built by Russia.
The clause is a safeguard meant to banish fears that Iran might misuse the rods to build nuclear weapons, a concern of the US, Israel and others.
The agreement sets out a time-frame for delivery of the fuel, but officials said the dates would be kept secret.
The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says the deal is significant because Bushehr will be Iran's first reactor to go on stream - a project that has become an issue of national prestige in the face of intense US opposition.
The signing, which had been expected on Saturday, was apparently delayed over disagreements about when the spent fuel should be returned.
Russia had been insisting that no spent fuel should be diverted for the manufacture of weapons.
Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear programme is solely for the generation of power.
'Strongest indication yet'
But despite Iran's denials, diplomats said investigations showed Tehran had had full possession of enrichment know-how for two decades, after acquiring the information from Pakistani nuclear scientist AQ Khan's black-market network.
The Washington Post on Sunday quoted officials as saying that the programme originated at a secret meeting in Dubai 18 years ago between Iranian officials and Mr Khan's associates.
The officials said Tehran, which was then at war with Iraq, bought centrifuges and an enrichment starter kit but also used the meeting as a guide before purchasing more expensive items elsewhere.
The offer "was the strongest indication to date" that Iran had a nuclear weapons programme, a diplomat was quoted as saying.
'Confidential protocol'
Iran's nuclear energy chief Gholamreza Aghazadeh and his Russian counterpart, Alexander Rumyantsev, agreed the deal.
"We have signed a confidential protocol that sets out the timetable for the delivery of fuel to the nuclear power plant at Bushehr," Mr Rumyantsev said, quoted by Russian news agency Itar-Tass.
Russia has rejected US pressure to cut nuclear co-operation with Iran.
Washington is also concerned that the nuclear project could allow for the covert transfer of weapons technology to Iran.
At a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President George W Bush in Slovakia on Thursday, both sides agreed Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
The signing of the nuclear fuel deal has been delayed several times, apparently over technical and financial issues.
Our correspondent says Iran is currently in negotiations over its nuclear programme with Europe, and one of the incentives on the table is an offer of a nuclear reactor from the West.
If Iran is already receiving nuclear fuel and technology from Russia, she says, it is in a stronger negotiating position.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4301889.stm
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Iran warns BP it 'will not forget' oil firm's refusal to do business
The following editorial is compiled by Daily Star staff - Lebanon - Tuesday, January 25, 2005:
Iran warned on Monday it would not forget a decision by British oil giant BP to pull out of the Islamic Republic because of U.S. sanctions against companies investing in the country's vital energy industry.
"We do not consider this to be a friendly attitude and we will not forget it. This is a gesture by BP in favor of the United States and this company has ruined its long-term interests in Iran," Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanghaneh told reporters.
BP's chief executive John Browne was quoted as saying last week that it was "impractical" for his company to do business in Iran due to its massive operations in the United States.
"To do business with Iran at the moment would be offensive to the United States, and therefore against BP's interests,'' Browne said at the London headquarters. "We're very heavily influenced by our American position.''
BP, with origins in the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company formed in 1909, was forced out of Iran in the 1970s during a phase of rampant nationalization of oil industries in the Middle East.
BP has spent almost $100 billion on acquisitions, including Amoco Corp. and Atlantic Richfield Co., and currently gets almost half of its revenue from the U.S. Most of the company's growth is centered on Russia, the second largest oil exporter in the world.
The U.S. Iran-Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 imposes mandatory and discretionary sanctions on non-U.S. companies investing more than $20 million annually in Iranian oil and gas. In late July 2001, the U.S. Congress voted to renew the sanctions for five more years.
But Zanganeh played down the importance of BP's decision.
"Basically BP has not had any oil projects in Iran during its 10-year presence here, except for some small research activities. We never counted on BP," he said.
Brown said he has not been in any talks with Iran since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which "changed everything."
BP is allegedly unhappy with Iran's investment policies, so-called "buybacks," where foreign companies operate a project in Iran to cover development and running costs, and earn a profit before handing the project over to the state.
"You can't plan for the long term in this area,'' Brown said. "When we were talking to Iran some time ago, we were trying to explore other ways.''
This "exploration" is focusing on Iraq. "We want to help Iraq build its oil and gas business, if the circumstances are right,'' Browne said. "We want to participate in it. Step one is to do the study for Iraq.''
Browne conceded however that due to the hazardous security situation in Iraq BP would only be carrying out studies over the next year at the Rumaila oil field.
"For a company like BP it is not the right moment to physically go into Iraq, the real issue if the security of our personnel,'" Browne said. "People joined BP to do oil and gas, not to be a soldier.'" - Agencies
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=12048
Iran warned on Monday it would not forget a decision by British oil giant BP to pull out of the Islamic Republic because of U.S. sanctions against companies investing in the country's vital energy industry.
"We do not consider this to be a friendly attitude and we will not forget it. This is a gesture by BP in favor of the United States and this company has ruined its long-term interests in Iran," Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanghaneh told reporters.
BP's chief executive John Browne was quoted as saying last week that it was "impractical" for his company to do business in Iran due to its massive operations in the United States.
"To do business with Iran at the moment would be offensive to the United States, and therefore against BP's interests,'' Browne said at the London headquarters. "We're very heavily influenced by our American position.''
BP, with origins in the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company formed in 1909, was forced out of Iran in the 1970s during a phase of rampant nationalization of oil industries in the Middle East.
BP has spent almost $100 billion on acquisitions, including Amoco Corp. and Atlantic Richfield Co., and currently gets almost half of its revenue from the U.S. Most of the company's growth is centered on Russia, the second largest oil exporter in the world.
The U.S. Iran-Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 imposes mandatory and discretionary sanctions on non-U.S. companies investing more than $20 million annually in Iranian oil and gas. In late July 2001, the U.S. Congress voted to renew the sanctions for five more years.
But Zanganeh played down the importance of BP's decision.
"Basically BP has not had any oil projects in Iran during its 10-year presence here, except for some small research activities. We never counted on BP," he said.
Brown said he has not been in any talks with Iran since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which "changed everything."
BP is allegedly unhappy with Iran's investment policies, so-called "buybacks," where foreign companies operate a project in Iran to cover development and running costs, and earn a profit before handing the project over to the state.
"You can't plan for the long term in this area,'' Brown said. "When we were talking to Iran some time ago, we were trying to explore other ways.''
This "exploration" is focusing on Iraq. "We want to help Iraq build its oil and gas business, if the circumstances are right,'' Browne said. "We want to participate in it. Step one is to do the study for Iraq.''
Browne conceded however that due to the hazardous security situation in Iraq BP would only be carrying out studies over the next year at the Rumaila oil field.
"For a company like BP it is not the right moment to physically go into Iraq, the real issue if the security of our personnel,'" Browne said. "People joined BP to do oil and gas, not to be a soldier.'" - Agencies
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=12048
Monday, January 17, 2005
Report says US preparing strikes in Iran
The following is a copy of a report published by ISN Security Watch, January 17, 2005:
Veteran US journalist Seymour Hersh writes in the latest edition of The New Yorker weekly magazine that US Special Forces are conducting reconnaissance operations in Iran in preparation of possible future military strikes against suspected nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons installations there.
The report, posted on Monday, is entitled “The Coming Wars – What the Pentagon can now do in secret”. Citing high-ranking defense officials, Hersh says that the so-called “neoconservatives” in the administration regard US President George Bush’s election victory in November as a vindication and legitimization of their militant foreign policy. As a result, the role of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld can be expected to increase, a former high-level defense official said. Responsibility for the expanded “war on terror” will be taken away from the CIA – which will be downgraded to serve as a “facilitator” of White House policy – and given to the Pentagon, which has the freedom to run “black” operations “free from legal restrictions imposed on the CIA”, Hersh writes.
Such secret operations have been authorized by Bush in up to ten Middle Eastern and South Asian states, according to The New Yorker. Iran in particular has been a nuisance for so long that patience with EU-led negotiations over its nuclear program is said to be fading in Washington.
One senior official of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told Hersh that “the civilian leadership in the Pentagon” considered negotiations “a bad deal” because they did not exert enough pressure on Tehran, and thought Iran needed “to be whacked”.
The extent of Iran’s nuclear program is difficult to assess, and leaders in Tehran say that they are only conducting research for peaceful applications. US and other Western intelligence agencies believe that Iran is three to five years away from producing its own nuclear warheads, while the Islamic state is already believed to possess an advanced delivery system.
A government consultant with close ties to the US Defense Department told Hersh that US Special Forces had conducted secret reconnaissance missions in Iran since the summer of 2004 to identify three dozen or more target installations for destruction by air strikes or commando raids.
Sources also told Hersh that Pakistan was cooperating closely with US officials on this issue, allowing US military task forces to infiltrate Iran from across the Pakistani border and supplying information on Iran’s alleged nuclear developments. In return, Washington is turning a blind eye on the nuclear proliferation activities of the former head of Pakistan’s nuclear program, Abdul Qadeer Khan, and is allowing Pakistan to purchase spare parts for its nuclear arsenal on the international black market, Hersh writes.
The transfer of primary responsibility for Washington’s “global terror war” from the CIA to Rumsfeld’s Defense Department dovetails with recent reports of a Presidential Finding signed by Bush that allows unilateral clandestine military operations in countries seen as hosting terrorists. That list of countries may include Algeria, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Malaysia, and Tunisia, and others, Hersh indicates.
Some US officials say they are concerned about the legal implications of the Pentagon getting carte blanche to operate without Congressional oversight and say that the militarization of counter-terrorism could result in the formation of death squads such as those backed by the US in El Salvador’s civil war during the 1980s.
Although Rumsfeld is unpopular among the US armed forces and has come in for heavy criticism for his handling of the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, Bush’s support would give him the freedom to operate in a “global free-fire zone”, a Pentagon adviser said. “It’s not empowering military intelligence. It’s emasculating the CIA,” he added. White House spokesman Dan Bartlett offered a formal rebuttal of Hersh’s report on Sunday: "I think it's riddled with inaccuracies, and I don't believe that some of the conclusions he's drawing are based on fact," Bartlett said.
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/infoservice/secwatch/details.cfm?id=10573
Veteran US journalist Seymour Hersh writes in the latest edition of The New Yorker weekly magazine that US Special Forces are conducting reconnaissance operations in Iran in preparation of possible future military strikes against suspected nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons installations there.
The report, posted on Monday, is entitled “The Coming Wars – What the Pentagon can now do in secret”. Citing high-ranking defense officials, Hersh says that the so-called “neoconservatives” in the administration regard US President George Bush’s election victory in November as a vindication and legitimization of their militant foreign policy. As a result, the role of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld can be expected to increase, a former high-level defense official said. Responsibility for the expanded “war on terror” will be taken away from the CIA – which will be downgraded to serve as a “facilitator” of White House policy – and given to the Pentagon, which has the freedom to run “black” operations “free from legal restrictions imposed on the CIA”, Hersh writes.
Such secret operations have been authorized by Bush in up to ten Middle Eastern and South Asian states, according to The New Yorker. Iran in particular has been a nuisance for so long that patience with EU-led negotiations over its nuclear program is said to be fading in Washington.
One senior official of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told Hersh that “the civilian leadership in the Pentagon” considered negotiations “a bad deal” because they did not exert enough pressure on Tehran, and thought Iran needed “to be whacked”.
The extent of Iran’s nuclear program is difficult to assess, and leaders in Tehran say that they are only conducting research for peaceful applications. US and other Western intelligence agencies believe that Iran is three to five years away from producing its own nuclear warheads, while the Islamic state is already believed to possess an advanced delivery system.
A government consultant with close ties to the US Defense Department told Hersh that US Special Forces had conducted secret reconnaissance missions in Iran since the summer of 2004 to identify three dozen or more target installations for destruction by air strikes or commando raids.
Sources also told Hersh that Pakistan was cooperating closely with US officials on this issue, allowing US military task forces to infiltrate Iran from across the Pakistani border and supplying information on Iran’s alleged nuclear developments. In return, Washington is turning a blind eye on the nuclear proliferation activities of the former head of Pakistan’s nuclear program, Abdul Qadeer Khan, and is allowing Pakistan to purchase spare parts for its nuclear arsenal on the international black market, Hersh writes.
The transfer of primary responsibility for Washington’s “global terror war” from the CIA to Rumsfeld’s Defense Department dovetails with recent reports of a Presidential Finding signed by Bush that allows unilateral clandestine military operations in countries seen as hosting terrorists. That list of countries may include Algeria, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Malaysia, and Tunisia, and others, Hersh indicates.
Some US officials say they are concerned about the legal implications of the Pentagon getting carte blanche to operate without Congressional oversight and say that the militarization of counter-terrorism could result in the formation of death squads such as those backed by the US in El Salvador’s civil war during the 1980s.
Although Rumsfeld is unpopular among the US armed forces and has come in for heavy criticism for his handling of the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, Bush’s support would give him the freedom to operate in a “global free-fire zone”, a Pentagon adviser said. “It’s not empowering military intelligence. It’s emasculating the CIA,” he added. White House spokesman Dan Bartlett offered a formal rebuttal of Hersh’s report on Sunday: "I think it's riddled with inaccuracies, and I don't believe that some of the conclusions he's drawing are based on fact," Bartlett said.
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/infoservice/secwatch/details.cfm?id=10573
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Iran's President Khatami to visit Algeria, Sudan, Oman next month
Tehran Times Political Desk reports October 2, 2004 - copy:
TEHRAN (MNA) -- President Mohammad Khatami is to start a three-nation tour on October 2 that will take him to Algeria, Sudan, and Oman.
Top on the agenda during his official visits to the three states will be a review of the latest regional and international developments and discussions of bilateral cooperation with senior officials of the three countries.
President Khatami’s visit to Algeria is in response to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s visit to Tehran last October.
Five major agreements on bilateral cooperation in the areas of judicial affairs, finance, industry, and air transport were inked by Iran and Algeria during Bouteflika's visit to Iran last year.
The Iran-Algeria Joint Economic Commission held its second session in Tehran in June 2004.
Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Rachid Harraoubia and Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Jafar Towfiqi signed four memoranda of understanding (MOUs).
Senior Iranian and Sudanese officials say President Khatami's visit to Sudan could open a new chapter in Tehran-Khartoum relations.
The participation of Iranian companies in several exhibitions held in Sudan has encouraged the government to finalize agreements already reached by the two sides, particularly one on eliminating double taxation.
Iran-Sudan relations have been steadily growing in recent years, and the 8th session of the Iran-Sudan Joint Economic Commission was held in Khartoum in early September, during which several MOUs were inked.
The Iranian president will visit Oman on the last leg of his three-nation tour.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=9/30/2004&Cat=2&Num=003
TEHRAN (MNA) -- President Mohammad Khatami is to start a three-nation tour on October 2 that will take him to Algeria, Sudan, and Oman.
Top on the agenda during his official visits to the three states will be a review of the latest regional and international developments and discussions of bilateral cooperation with senior officials of the three countries.
President Khatami’s visit to Algeria is in response to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s visit to Tehran last October.
Five major agreements on bilateral cooperation in the areas of judicial affairs, finance, industry, and air transport were inked by Iran and Algeria during Bouteflika's visit to Iran last year.
The Iran-Algeria Joint Economic Commission held its second session in Tehran in June 2004.
Algerian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Rachid Harraoubia and Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Jafar Towfiqi signed four memoranda of understanding (MOUs).
Senior Iranian and Sudanese officials say President Khatami's visit to Sudan could open a new chapter in Tehran-Khartoum relations.
The participation of Iranian companies in several exhibitions held in Sudan has encouraged the government to finalize agreements already reached by the two sides, particularly one on eliminating double taxation.
Iran-Sudan relations have been steadily growing in recent years, and the 8th session of the Iran-Sudan Joint Economic Commission was held in Khartoum in early September, during which several MOUs were inked.
The Iranian president will visit Oman on the last leg of his three-nation tour.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=9/30/2004&Cat=2&Num=003
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Iran cracks down on reformist web sites - BBC reports on Iran's bloggers in censorship protest
Hoder.com provides a round-up of crackdown on reformist website - and writes the following:
For the past few months, some judiciary officials in Iran have shown ultimate determination to shut down two reformist news websites, Emrooz and Rouydad.
First they officially ordered the Telecom company to filter them, then after a few months, since the websites hadn't stopped operating, they stormed their ISPs and arrested some technicians helping them.
Later, they arrested a few young journalists somehow related to the websites (among them two well-known bloggers, Babak and Shahram).
Last week they arrested the father of Sina Motallebi, well-known Iranian blogger who was himself arrested last year for three weeks which created a big splash both in the blogosphere and the mainstream press. After a few months, he fled to Netherlands where he started to write about his horrible situation in detention and described the ugly interrogation methods used by Iranian secret police and judiciary agents in great detail.
It's said that Saaed Mortazavi, the same judiciary officials who has allegedly been directly involved in the death of Canadian photographer, Zahra Kazemi, is leading all this crackdown. It was also him who first ordered to filter the two reformist websites last year.
Meanwhile, the results of a recent poll show that internet is the most trusted medium among Iranians.
Update:
- Hardline consrvatives are very concerned when it comes to foreign press. So please help us spread the word in the blogosphere -- by linking to the post or to other related resources -- and give the news maximum exposure.
Posted by hoder at September 14, 2004
Comments
It seems to me that the Mullahs are acting out of despiration. The more that Iranian people seek freedom of information through the internet, the more frightened the Mullahs become. They may be terrified that this freedom may lead to a revolution, as they know that they will probably be killed.
- By: David on September 17, 2004
---------
A blog in French specialising on Iran and Middle East related issues and notably on Iranians' forage for democracy whose URL is as follows: http://vahid-agha.blogspot.com
- By: vahid_agha on September 17, 2004
---------
Not very successfully last time I was there... but I'm sure they'll go to any lengths to retain power.
- By: Alex on September 16, 2004
---------
If you want to find up to date information about Internet censorship in Iran, visit the website of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/221/
- By: ifex on September 16, 2004
---------
The story is much more horrible as it is described here. Hossein Derakhshan can not write the whole story because he has relatives, who still live in Iran and he does not want to endanger them.
- By: Farhang on September 15, 2004
---------
I'm curious -- do many Iranians use pgp and similar applications?
- By: Faried Nawaz on September 15, 2004
---------
It's really sad to see the lengths that the rulers of the Islamic Republic will go to in order to stop the flow of information. The questions remains though how successfully are they really in stopping such a extensive medium as the internet?
- By: Babak on September 15, 2004
[via Joi Ito]
- - -
STOP CENSORING US
Watching Internet censorship in Iran
Excerpt from Stop Censoring Us | Watching Internet Censorship in Iran that explains what the site is about:
Iranian government has started to filter popular websites and weblogs in Iran, while the Internet is effecively the only unrestricted interactive medium accessable to Iranians. The purpose of stop.censoring.us is to provide official and unofficial accounts on Internet censorship in Iran so that International observers and activists have a better picture about the situation of freedom of information in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Contact stop -at- censoring -dot- us
- - -
IRAN RESTRICTS REFORMIST WEBSITE
Emrooz challenges Iranian conservatives
Here is a copy of a 7 January 2004 BBC report on Iran's restricting of a reformist website:
Iran's judiciary has ordered one of two main pro-reformist websites to be "filtered", making it unavailable to internet subscribers in Iran.
The Emrooz website was set up by people close to Iran's reformist President, Mohammad Khatami.
Since a crackdown on reformist press, the internet has become the main forum for dissident voices in Iran.
But with elections approaching, it is feared the judiciary's move may signal a new wave of political repression.
Emrooz carries news and current affairs articles that are broadly sympathetic to the reformist agenda, and challenge the wide-ranging powers of Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ayatollah Khamenei controls some of Iran's most powerful non-elected institutions, including the judiciary and the army.
The judiciary has closed down more than 90 newspapers in the past five years, and many of these responded by opening their own websites and continuing to publish online.
Censorship barrier
Individual writers also embraced new technology to write their own personal news diaries, known as weblogs or blogs.
Now it seems the judiciary may be turning its attention to these new websites.
The website was set up by supporters of President Khatami
Iranian internet service providers have always been prevented from permitting access to sites deemed pornographic or anti-Islamic by the authorities, most of which originate outside Iran.
But this is the first time the judiciary has banned an Iran-based domestic political website in this way.
Internet access in Iran is simple to arrange and affordable for most middle class families.
Some seven million Iranians have access to the internet - that is one in 10 of the population, and double the number two years ago.
In Iran's highly restricted media environment, the internet has until now been a way for writers and the reading public to get around the barriers of censorship.
Now it seems the Islamic authorities may be trying to bring new media under the same tight controls as the press.
- - -
IRAN'S BLOGGERS IN CENSORSHIP PROTEST
Here is a copy of a 22 September 2004 BBC report that says the reformist Emrooz website was blocked - but has now re-appeared:
Hundreds of Iranian online journals have been protesting against media censorship by renaming their websites after pro-reformist newspapers and websites that have been banned or shut down by the authorities.
Many of the websites, known as blogs or weblogs, have also posted news items from the banned publications on their websites.
The protest was started by blogger Hossein Derakhshan, a student at Toronto university in Canada.
He told the BBC that although he felt the action was symbolic, he wanted to show Iranian authorities "that they would not be able to censor the internet in the same way as they have managed to control other media".
He said he was delighted with the response.
The hardline Iranian press has published a personal attack on him, he said, "which is proof that the authorities must be worried by the bloggers' protest".
Earlier this month, three reformist websites - Emrooz, Rooydad and Baamdad - re-appeared in a stripped-down form after having been blocked by the authorities.
One of them moved the content of its site onto a blog as a means of getting around the block.
It is thought that the number of Iranians keeping blogs is now between 10,000 and 15,000.
However, some recent reports have now suggested that Iranian authorities are considering the creation of a national intranet - an internet service just for Iran - which would be separate from the world wide web.
This would potentially mean that users would not be able to access anything the authorities do not want them to see.
But Mr Derakhshan said he and his fellow bloggers are working on a strategy to get around the intranet, using email subscription services.
- - -
UPDATE Friday September 24:
IRANIAN TRUTH BLOG
Bloggers Unite Update
Iranian Truth has an update on the Iranian government's blocking of blogs out of Iran.
Also, Iranian Truth blog has a comprehensive list - in sidebar - of Iranian blogs news agencies publishing in English.
For the past few months, some judiciary officials in Iran have shown ultimate determination to shut down two reformist news websites, Emrooz and Rouydad.
First they officially ordered the Telecom company to filter them, then after a few months, since the websites hadn't stopped operating, they stormed their ISPs and arrested some technicians helping them.
Later, they arrested a few young journalists somehow related to the websites (among them two well-known bloggers, Babak and Shahram).
Last week they arrested the father of Sina Motallebi, well-known Iranian blogger who was himself arrested last year for three weeks which created a big splash both in the blogosphere and the mainstream press. After a few months, he fled to Netherlands where he started to write about his horrible situation in detention and described the ugly interrogation methods used by Iranian secret police and judiciary agents in great detail.
It's said that Saaed Mortazavi, the same judiciary officials who has allegedly been directly involved in the death of Canadian photographer, Zahra Kazemi, is leading all this crackdown. It was also him who first ordered to filter the two reformist websites last year.
Meanwhile, the results of a recent poll show that internet is the most trusted medium among Iranians.
Update:
- Hardline consrvatives are very concerned when it comes to foreign press. So please help us spread the word in the blogosphere -- by linking to the post or to other related resources -- and give the news maximum exposure.
Posted by hoder at September 14, 2004
Comments
It seems to me that the Mullahs are acting out of despiration. The more that Iranian people seek freedom of information through the internet, the more frightened the Mullahs become. They may be terrified that this freedom may lead to a revolution, as they know that they will probably be killed.
- By: David on September 17, 2004
---------
A blog in French specialising on Iran and Middle East related issues and notably on Iranians' forage for democracy whose URL is as follows: http://vahid-agha.blogspot.com
- By: vahid_agha on September 17, 2004
---------
Not very successfully last time I was there... but I'm sure they'll go to any lengths to retain power.
- By: Alex on September 16, 2004
---------
If you want to find up to date information about Internet censorship in Iran, visit the website of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/221/
- By: ifex on September 16, 2004
---------
The story is much more horrible as it is described here. Hossein Derakhshan can not write the whole story because he has relatives, who still live in Iran and he does not want to endanger them.
- By: Farhang on September 15, 2004
---------
I'm curious -- do many Iranians use pgp and similar applications?
- By: Faried Nawaz on September 15, 2004
---------
It's really sad to see the lengths that the rulers of the Islamic Republic will go to in order to stop the flow of information. The questions remains though how successfully are they really in stopping such a extensive medium as the internet?
- By: Babak on September 15, 2004
[via Joi Ito]
- - -
STOP CENSORING US
Watching Internet censorship in Iran
Excerpt from Stop Censoring Us | Watching Internet Censorship in Iran that explains what the site is about:
Iranian government has started to filter popular websites and weblogs in Iran, while the Internet is effecively the only unrestricted interactive medium accessable to Iranians. The purpose of stop.censoring.us is to provide official and unofficial accounts on Internet censorship in Iran so that International observers and activists have a better picture about the situation of freedom of information in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Contact stop -at- censoring -dot- us
- - -
IRAN RESTRICTS REFORMIST WEBSITE
Emrooz challenges Iranian conservatives
Here is a copy of a 7 January 2004 BBC report on Iran's restricting of a reformist website:
Iran's judiciary has ordered one of two main pro-reformist websites to be "filtered", making it unavailable to internet subscribers in Iran.
The Emrooz website was set up by people close to Iran's reformist President, Mohammad Khatami.
Since a crackdown on reformist press, the internet has become the main forum for dissident voices in Iran.
But with elections approaching, it is feared the judiciary's move may signal a new wave of political repression.
Emrooz carries news and current affairs articles that are broadly sympathetic to the reformist agenda, and challenge the wide-ranging powers of Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ayatollah Khamenei controls some of Iran's most powerful non-elected institutions, including the judiciary and the army.
The judiciary has closed down more than 90 newspapers in the past five years, and many of these responded by opening their own websites and continuing to publish online.
Censorship barrier
Individual writers also embraced new technology to write their own personal news diaries, known as weblogs or blogs.
Now it seems the judiciary may be turning its attention to these new websites.
The website was set up by supporters of President Khatami
Iranian internet service providers have always been prevented from permitting access to sites deemed pornographic or anti-Islamic by the authorities, most of which originate outside Iran.
But this is the first time the judiciary has banned an Iran-based domestic political website in this way.
Internet access in Iran is simple to arrange and affordable for most middle class families.
Some seven million Iranians have access to the internet - that is one in 10 of the population, and double the number two years ago.
In Iran's highly restricted media environment, the internet has until now been a way for writers and the reading public to get around the barriers of censorship.
Now it seems the Islamic authorities may be trying to bring new media under the same tight controls as the press.
- - -
IRAN'S BLOGGERS IN CENSORSHIP PROTEST
Here is a copy of a 22 September 2004 BBC report that says the reformist Emrooz website was blocked - but has now re-appeared:
Hundreds of Iranian online journals have been protesting against media censorship by renaming their websites after pro-reformist newspapers and websites that have been banned or shut down by the authorities.
Many of the websites, known as blogs or weblogs, have also posted news items from the banned publications on their websites.
The protest was started by blogger Hossein Derakhshan, a student at Toronto university in Canada.
He told the BBC that although he felt the action was symbolic, he wanted to show Iranian authorities "that they would not be able to censor the internet in the same way as they have managed to control other media".
He said he was delighted with the response.
The hardline Iranian press has published a personal attack on him, he said, "which is proof that the authorities must be worried by the bloggers' protest".
Earlier this month, three reformist websites - Emrooz, Rooydad and Baamdad - re-appeared in a stripped-down form after having been blocked by the authorities.
One of them moved the content of its site onto a blog as a means of getting around the block.
It is thought that the number of Iranians keeping blogs is now between 10,000 and 15,000.
However, some recent reports have now suggested that Iranian authorities are considering the creation of a national intranet - an internet service just for Iran - which would be separate from the world wide web.
This would potentially mean that users would not be able to access anything the authorities do not want them to see.
But Mr Derakhshan said he and his fellow bloggers are working on a strategy to get around the intranet, using email subscription services.
- - -
UPDATE Friday September 24:
IRANIAN TRUTH BLOG
Bloggers Unite Update
Iranian Truth has an update on the Iranian government's blocking of blogs out of Iran.
Also, Iranian Truth blog has a comprehensive list - in sidebar - of Iranian blogs news agencies publishing in English.
Monday, September 20, 2004
Iran rejects UN nuclear demands
The following is a copy of a BBC Middle East report confirming that Iran rejects UN nuclear demands.
The UN wants Iran to end all enrichment activities.
Iran has said it will not agree to halt uranium enrichment, despite the UN nuclear watchdog's call for a suspension of all such activities. It will also block snap sites checks if the issue goes to the Security Council.
"Iran will not accept any obligation regarding the suspension of uranium enrichment," chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said.
Uranium enrichment can be used to make nuclear weapons, but Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes.
"If they want to send Iran to the Security Council, it is not wise, and we will stop implementing the Additional Protocol," Mr Rohani told a news conference in Tehran.
This demand is illegal and does not put any obligation on Iran. The IAEA board of governors has no right to make such a suspension obligatory for any country 
Hassan Rohani is Iran's chief nuclear negotiator. The Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allows snap nuclear checks.
"We are committed to the suspension of actual enrichment, but we have no decision to expand the suspension," Mr Rohani said.
"This demand is illegal and does not put any obligation on Iran. The IAEA board of governors has no right to make such a suspension obligatory for any country."
Iran suspended enrichment a year ago as a confidence-building measure, but has continued support activities such as building the centrifuges that refine the uranium.
European rift
Iran also accused Britain, France and Germany of breaking an accord reached last year on Iran's co-operation with the IAEA.
The Board of Governors considers it necessary, to promote confidence, that Iran immediately suspend all enrichment-related activities 
"The three Europeans have violated the terms of the accord regarding enrichment because the suspension of enrichment was voluntary," Mr Rohani said.
In its resolution, the IAEA said its board of governors had judged that an Iranian promise made to the three European nations last year to suspend uranium enrichment activities had fallen short of expectations.
On Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution calling on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities and asked Iran to grant access to its inspectors.
The resolution imposes an implicit deadline of 25 November, when the IAEA board of governors is next set to meet and review Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programme.
The IAEA keeps open the option of further steps if Iran fails to comply with its demands that could include taking Tehran before the UN Security Council.
It is investigating suspicions that Iran is enriching uranium to make weapons in secret, but Iran says it has a right to enrich uranium as part of its peaceful nuclear programme, including power generation.
The UN wants Iran to end all enrichment activities.
Iran has said it will not agree to halt uranium enrichment, despite the UN nuclear watchdog's call for a suspension of all such activities. It will also block snap sites checks if the issue goes to the Security Council.
"Iran will not accept any obligation regarding the suspension of uranium enrichment," chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said.
Uranium enrichment can be used to make nuclear weapons, but Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes.
"If they want to send Iran to the Security Council, it is not wise, and we will stop implementing the Additional Protocol," Mr Rohani told a news conference in Tehran.
This demand is illegal and does not put any obligation on Iran. The IAEA board of governors has no right to make such a suspension obligatory for any country 
Hassan Rohani is Iran's chief nuclear negotiator. The Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allows snap nuclear checks.
"We are committed to the suspension of actual enrichment, but we have no decision to expand the suspension," Mr Rohani said.
"This demand is illegal and does not put any obligation on Iran. The IAEA board of governors has no right to make such a suspension obligatory for any country."
Iran suspended enrichment a year ago as a confidence-building measure, but has continued support activities such as building the centrifuges that refine the uranium.
European rift
Iran also accused Britain, France and Germany of breaking an accord reached last year on Iran's co-operation with the IAEA.
The Board of Governors considers it necessary, to promote confidence, that Iran immediately suspend all enrichment-related activities 
"The three Europeans have violated the terms of the accord regarding enrichment because the suspension of enrichment was voluntary," Mr Rohani said.
In its resolution, the IAEA said its board of governors had judged that an Iranian promise made to the three European nations last year to suspend uranium enrichment activities had fallen short of expectations.
On Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution calling on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities and asked Iran to grant access to its inspectors.
The resolution imposes an implicit deadline of 25 November, when the IAEA board of governors is next set to meet and review Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programme.
The IAEA keeps open the option of further steps if Iran fails to comply with its demands that could include taking Tehran before the UN Security Council.
It is investigating suspicions that Iran is enriching uranium to make weapons in secret, but Iran says it has a right to enrich uranium as part of its peaceful nuclear programme, including power generation.
US says 'clock is ticking' for Iran
Today, China Daily reports that US says 'clock is ticking' for Iran. Here is a copy of the report, in full:
A senior U.S. official says Iran should comply with a resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and freeze all uranium-enrichment activities.
U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham says he is pleased with the IAEA resolution adopted Saturday calling for Iran to suspend parts of its program that could be used to make nuclear weapons.
"I think that the IAEA board of governors sent a very clear message that Iran must cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and answer questions, which the board has raised, and suspend its enrichment activity," he said. "We were very pleased by this consensus, by the closing of whatever gaps existed, in terms of tactical approaches, and we should all expect that Iran should follow the obligation and cooperate fully with the IAEA. The clock is ticking down now on Iran towards the next meeting."
The 35-member IAEA board is scheduled to meet again in November to decide whether the Iran issue should go to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
Secretary Abraham was in Vienna for a conference on combating nuclear smuggling. He said the United States supports a project, together with Russia and the IAEA, to return spent fuel from old reactors to the country of origin.
"We recognize that there is a world in which terrorists are attempting to gain access, either to nuclear weapons, or materials, and we intend to stop them," he said.
This month, the United States, Russia and the IAEA worked to return highly-enriched uranium from Uzbekistan to a nuclear facility in the Russian city of Dmitrovgrad. There, it will be blended down to low-enriched uranium and used in power plants.
The enriched uranium was used in a Soviet-designed research reactor near Tashkent, described as the largest of its kind in Central Asia.
The removal of such potentially dangerous nuclear material from Uzbekistan is seen as especially important, since the country has become a target for terrorists.
In July, suicide bombers set off explosives outside the U.S. and Israeli embassies in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. The government blamed foreign Islamic extremists for the attacks.
There are about 130 research reactors around the world running on weapons-grade uranium.
A senior U.S. official says Iran should comply with a resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and freeze all uranium-enrichment activities.
U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham says he is pleased with the IAEA resolution adopted Saturday calling for Iran to suspend parts of its program that could be used to make nuclear weapons.
"I think that the IAEA board of governors sent a very clear message that Iran must cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and answer questions, which the board has raised, and suspend its enrichment activity," he said. "We were very pleased by this consensus, by the closing of whatever gaps existed, in terms of tactical approaches, and we should all expect that Iran should follow the obligation and cooperate fully with the IAEA. The clock is ticking down now on Iran towards the next meeting."
The 35-member IAEA board is scheduled to meet again in November to decide whether the Iran issue should go to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
Secretary Abraham was in Vienna for a conference on combating nuclear smuggling. He said the United States supports a project, together with Russia and the IAEA, to return spent fuel from old reactors to the country of origin.
"We recognize that there is a world in which terrorists are attempting to gain access, either to nuclear weapons, or materials, and we intend to stop them," he said.
This month, the United States, Russia and the IAEA worked to return highly-enriched uranium from Uzbekistan to a nuclear facility in the Russian city of Dmitrovgrad. There, it will be blended down to low-enriched uranium and used in power plants.
The enriched uranium was used in a Soviet-designed research reactor near Tashkent, described as the largest of its kind in Central Asia.
The removal of such potentially dangerous nuclear material from Uzbekistan is seen as especially important, since the country has become a target for terrorists.
In July, suicide bombers set off explosives outside the U.S. and Israeli embassies in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. The government blamed foreign Islamic extremists for the attacks.
There are about 130 research reactors around the world running on weapons-grade uranium.
Monday, September 13, 2004
UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Iran
Over the past few months, I've noticed some disturbing talk about Iran. Today, after reading another news report, and Gavin Sheridan's blog, I have set up Iran Watch blog for storing reports and notes on Iran for future reference. Unfortunately, the blogspot name for Iran was already taken, so I've named this file Tehran Watch.
Gavin's post, entitled Jack Straw on Iran and dated September 12, 2004, is copied here in full, for reading and digesting later, along with other reports filed here:
Just came across this interview from July, with the UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw. He makes some curious points.
Well Israel, India and Pakistan are not signatories to the Non Proliferation Treaty. We want and very powerfully committed to a nuclear free Middle East but that has to happen in order. We now have a nuclear free Mahgreb with the decision by the leader of Libya to abandon their nuclear weapons’ programme. We also have a nuclear free Iraq. Iran and, and I have made this point on a number of occasions to President Khatami of Iran also needs to abandon its aggressive stance towards Israel. The fact that for example on national day parades they have three missiles with the legend written in English on the side death to Israel. Now this aggressive stance to Israel is bound to mean that Israel is going to take or seek to take steps to protect itself from annihilation.
And:
Well no one’s threatening Iran’s territorial integrity, no one is saying that Iran should not exist. Israel’s territorial integrity I’m afraid is threatened. I don’t happen to approve of a lot of the actions which the government of Israel takes and I make that very clear but I also say that if you want a nuclear free Middle East then you have to ensure that first of all it is the Arab and Islamic countries which remove their threat to Israel and then we can put a great deal more pressure on Israel to abandon its undoubted nuclear weapons’ programme which has been there whether people like it or not for defensive purposes. But I also just make this point because Iran is in rather paradoxical position. On the one hand as you say it may feel threatened by the presence of American, United Kingdom and other coalition troops on both its eastern and its western borders in Afghanistan and in Iraq but the paradox of our liberation of Afghanistan and our liberation of Iraq from Saddam is actually to make the Iranian position much stronger. Before they were threatened by Iraq and to a degree by the instability in Afghanistan.
But perhaps most curiously:
No one has any intention of launching military action against Iran. Iran has said itself that it does not want nuclear weapons nor in terms of regional stability does it have any reasons to acquire them or build up a programme for them.
The fact that Iran is now bordered with two countries recently invaded by Western powers is an interesting one. I reckon we might see an effort by the US to see the regime in Iran fall, without the use of US forces to any large degree - they are pretty stretched as it is. But the use of Rumsfeld’s much loved light and quick special forces would also be a distinct possibility to halt the construction of Iranian nuclear facilities.
Gavin's post, entitled Jack Straw on Iran and dated September 12, 2004, is copied here in full, for reading and digesting later, along with other reports filed here:
Just came across this interview from July, with the UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw. He makes some curious points.
Well Israel, India and Pakistan are not signatories to the Non Proliferation Treaty. We want and very powerfully committed to a nuclear free Middle East but that has to happen in order. We now have a nuclear free Mahgreb with the decision by the leader of Libya to abandon their nuclear weapons’ programme. We also have a nuclear free Iraq. Iran and, and I have made this point on a number of occasions to President Khatami of Iran also needs to abandon its aggressive stance towards Israel. The fact that for example on national day parades they have three missiles with the legend written in English on the side death to Israel. Now this aggressive stance to Israel is bound to mean that Israel is going to take or seek to take steps to protect itself from annihilation.
And:
Well no one’s threatening Iran’s territorial integrity, no one is saying that Iran should not exist. Israel’s territorial integrity I’m afraid is threatened. I don’t happen to approve of a lot of the actions which the government of Israel takes and I make that very clear but I also say that if you want a nuclear free Middle East then you have to ensure that first of all it is the Arab and Islamic countries which remove their threat to Israel and then we can put a great deal more pressure on Israel to abandon its undoubted nuclear weapons’ programme which has been there whether people like it or not for defensive purposes. But I also just make this point because Iran is in rather paradoxical position. On the one hand as you say it may feel threatened by the presence of American, United Kingdom and other coalition troops on both its eastern and its western borders in Afghanistan and in Iraq but the paradox of our liberation of Afghanistan and our liberation of Iraq from Saddam is actually to make the Iranian position much stronger. Before they were threatened by Iraq and to a degree by the instability in Afghanistan.
But perhaps most curiously:
No one has any intention of launching military action against Iran. Iran has said itself that it does not want nuclear weapons nor in terms of regional stability does it have any reasons to acquire them or build up a programme for them.
The fact that Iran is now bordered with two countries recently invaded by Western powers is an interesting one. I reckon we might see an effort by the US to see the regime in Iran fall, without the use of US forces to any large degree - they are pretty stretched as it is. But the use of Rumsfeld’s much loved light and quick special forces would also be a distinct possibility to halt the construction of Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iran: The next big international story?
Gavin Sheridan's post entitled The next big international story?, dated September 12, 2004, is copied here - in full - for future reference:
Iran has popped up now and then on this blog over the last number of weeks. I had indicated that the situation looks set to worsen, and if one were to read between the lines, it seems that in the run up the US elections, Iran will figure prominently. It looks like it might turn into a showdown.
This report from Fox news indicates how the story might develop. Senior US figures like Rumsfeld are hinting at something down the line, it is something to watch for. The Fox news report indicates:
President Bush said Monday the United States was exploring whether Iran had any role in the Sept. 11 attacks.
“We’re digging into the facts to see if there was one,” Bush said in an Oval Office photo opportunity. “We will continue to look and see if the Iranians were involved … I have long expressed my concerns about Iran. After all, it’s a totalitarian society where people are not allowed to exercise their rights as human beings.”
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said it had been known that there were senior Al Qaeda members in Iran “for some time” and that Iran had been helping Lebanese Hezbollah in moving terrorists down through Syria into Lebanon, then down into Israel.
“So we know that Iran has been on the terrorist list,” Rumsfeld said. “We know that Iran has been notably unhelpful along the border of both Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Some experts wonder whether Tehran will be the next U.S. target in the War on Terror. Loftus said one option the United States could utilize to put pressure on Iran to stop its supposed dirty deeds — such as allegedly trying to make nuclear weapons — would be to establish a naval blockade.
American and British officials may ask the United Nations for action against Iran, Loftus added. Meetings are planned for September and November on the topic.
“My suspicion is, in September we’ll really have evidence that Iran is lying through their teeth,” Loftus said. “We’ll put in a naval blockade and without oil exports, in three weeks the economy of Iran will collapse and it will either be neutered or there will be a regime change from within.”
“We’re not going to invade Iran but [are] probably going to blockade it with the full backing of the United Nations,” he continued. “That’s what is in store for the fall.”
FOX News foreign affairs analyst Alireza Jafarzadeh noted that besides the Sept. 11 report detailing the known Iran-Al Qaeda ties, Iraqi officials have said Iran is the main source of foreign fighters behind the insurgency in Iraq.
“I think it all boils down to what policy the U.S. wants to pursue to contain the threat of Iran’s nuclear weapons and the bigger problems Iran is posing,” Jafarzadeh said. “They [U.S.] should pursue a zero-tolerance policy.”
This is amazing stuff, its very similar PR stuff to what happened in the lead up the Iraq war.
A naval blockade of Iran would certainly heighten tensions among the Shia community. Added to this are reports by American intelligence officials who believe that Iran has been supplying Shia rebels in Iraq with advanced weaponry, to aid the destruction of heavy armour, or even helicopters.
Further media reports dwell on the situation further, including this Reuters report:
The United States is determined to stop Iran getting atomic weapons, and has signalled Washington will not rule out an attack if peaceful diplomacy failed to achieve this.
President George W. Bush’s top official on nuclear on-proliferation, Undersecretary of State John Bolton, was asked during a brief visit to Israel if the United States could consider such an attack.
“President Bush is determined to try and find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the problem of Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons,” he said. “But we are determined that they are not going to achieve a nuclear weapons capability.”
It continues:
The United States wants Iran brought before the U.N. Security Council to face possible sanctions, but Bolton said Washington did not see such measures as automatic.
“The most important reason to take Iran to the Security Council is to heighten political pressure,” he said.
“It is by no means inevitable that the Security Council has to impose economic sanctions or take other steps, that’s why this really lies in Iran’s hands.”
Iran on Sunday rejected European demands it abandon sensitive nuclear activities but reiterated its readiness to provide assurances that its atomic ambitions are entirely peaceful.
Iran has popped up now and then on this blog over the last number of weeks. I had indicated that the situation looks set to worsen, and if one were to read between the lines, it seems that in the run up the US elections, Iran will figure prominently. It looks like it might turn into a showdown.
This report from Fox news indicates how the story might develop. Senior US figures like Rumsfeld are hinting at something down the line, it is something to watch for. The Fox news report indicates:
President Bush said Monday the United States was exploring whether Iran had any role in the Sept. 11 attacks.
“We’re digging into the facts to see if there was one,” Bush said in an Oval Office photo opportunity. “We will continue to look and see if the Iranians were involved … I have long expressed my concerns about Iran. After all, it’s a totalitarian society where people are not allowed to exercise their rights as human beings.”
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said it had been known that there were senior Al Qaeda members in Iran “for some time” and that Iran had been helping Lebanese Hezbollah in moving terrorists down through Syria into Lebanon, then down into Israel.
“So we know that Iran has been on the terrorist list,” Rumsfeld said. “We know that Iran has been notably unhelpful along the border of both Afghanistan and Iraq.”
Some experts wonder whether Tehran will be the next U.S. target in the War on Terror. Loftus said one option the United States could utilize to put pressure on Iran to stop its supposed dirty deeds — such as allegedly trying to make nuclear weapons — would be to establish a naval blockade.
American and British officials may ask the United Nations for action against Iran, Loftus added. Meetings are planned for September and November on the topic.
“My suspicion is, in September we’ll really have evidence that Iran is lying through their teeth,” Loftus said. “We’ll put in a naval blockade and without oil exports, in three weeks the economy of Iran will collapse and it will either be neutered or there will be a regime change from within.”
“We’re not going to invade Iran but [are] probably going to blockade it with the full backing of the United Nations,” he continued. “That’s what is in store for the fall.”
FOX News foreign affairs analyst Alireza Jafarzadeh noted that besides the Sept. 11 report detailing the known Iran-Al Qaeda ties, Iraqi officials have said Iran is the main source of foreign fighters behind the insurgency in Iraq.
“I think it all boils down to what policy the U.S. wants to pursue to contain the threat of Iran’s nuclear weapons and the bigger problems Iran is posing,” Jafarzadeh said. “They [U.S.] should pursue a zero-tolerance policy.”
This is amazing stuff, its very similar PR stuff to what happened in the lead up the Iraq war.
A naval blockade of Iran would certainly heighten tensions among the Shia community. Added to this are reports by American intelligence officials who believe that Iran has been supplying Shia rebels in Iraq with advanced weaponry, to aid the destruction of heavy armour, or even helicopters.
Further media reports dwell on the situation further, including this Reuters report:
The United States is determined to stop Iran getting atomic weapons, and has signalled Washington will not rule out an attack if peaceful diplomacy failed to achieve this.
President George W. Bush’s top official on nuclear on-proliferation, Undersecretary of State John Bolton, was asked during a brief visit to Israel if the United States could consider such an attack.
“President Bush is determined to try and find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the problem of Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons,” he said. “But we are determined that they are not going to achieve a nuclear weapons capability.”
It continues:
The United States wants Iran brought before the U.N. Security Council to face possible sanctions, but Bolton said Washington did not see such measures as automatic.
“The most important reason to take Iran to the Security Council is to heighten political pressure,” he said.
“It is by no means inevitable that the Security Council has to impose economic sanctions or take other steps, that’s why this really lies in Iran’s hands.”
Iran on Sunday rejected European demands it abandon sensitive nuclear activities but reiterated its readiness to provide assurances that its atomic ambitions are entirely peaceful.
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