Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [4/24-4/30] major news events regarding Iran.

Iran's Presidential Elections:

• The Washington Times published an analysis of the coming Iranian Presidential election, plus my thoughts. Plus an Iran Press Service report.
• Adnkronos International reported that European diplomats have reacted enthusiastically to Iran's former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's decision to run for Iran's Presidency.
• AlJazeera.com reported Rafsanjani confirmed he’s running for Iran’s presidency.
• The Christian Science Monitor wrote about Rafsanjani and his past.
• The Washington Times described Rafsanjani as a "radical moderate?" Plus radical quotes from Rafsanjani.
• BBC News reported that Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi's human rights group has criticisms the fact that women will not be allowed to run in Iran's June presidential elections.
• Hoder reported Iranian Presidential candidate Larijani has been officially announced as the preferred candidate of conservatives.
• The New York Times reported that even with promises of $60 to vote, Iranian candidates fail to rouse Iran's voters.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that for the U.S. "who becomes Iran 's president doesn't really matter. What's important is what he does with the job."

The EU3 Negotiations with Iran:

• Reuters reported that Rafsanjani said uranium enrichment is a right that Iran will never give up and Iran's suspension of uranium enrichment activities, which can produce bomb-grade fuel, will not last long.
• Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Spain will seek to help resolve Iran's nuclear dossier.
• Reuters reported the EU3 and Iran failed to reach agreement over Tehran's nuclear program. The EU3 are waiting for the June 17 elections. Plus, why this was the worst possible response.
• The Associated Press reported that Iran warned the EU3 that it is "very critical" for progress be seen in the talks scheduled for Friday or Iran will restart its uranium enrichment program.
• Financial Times reported that the EU3 is facing one of the biggest tests yet of its policy on Iran's nuclear programme.
• I predicted the EU3 will find a way to postpone the negotiations until after the Iranian Presidential elections, June 17.
• Reuters reported a EU3 diplomat saying "We are on the defensive now," in our negotiations with Iran.
• Expatica reported that the EU3 are to ask Iran to postpone the resumption of nuclear talks until after presidential elections, 17 June - then it was officially denied.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that the Council of Europe Tuesday called on Iran to abide by the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
• FOX News reported that Iranians shrug off the prospect of U.N. sanctions for good reason: Tehran has powerful friends.
• Reuters reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin, hardened his line toward Iran's nuclear program, and that Tehran needed to do more to assure the world.
• United Press International reported on Russia's Position on Iran.

Iran's Nuclear Program:

• The Wall Street Journal reported on why Iran is in violation with the NPT.
• The VOA News reported that delegates from more than 180 countries will take part in the Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference, May 2-27.
• The Christian Science Monitor said we need a stricter NTP treaty.
• The VOA News reported that the IAEA held a special closed-door session to decide whether to give its current chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, another term as director general.
• Reuters reported that the Russian nuclear fuel shipments for a Moscow-built nuclear reactor in Iran are set to begin soon.
• Adventures of Chester posted his thoughts on the FoxNews Special on Iran: The Nuclear Threat.

Iran's trouble making outside of Iran:

• The VOA News reported on the latest terrorist convention in Tehran.
• Islamic republic News Agency reported "For the People of Iran, Vote Blair Out."

US Policy and Iran:

• The White House, President Bush's Remarks - excerpts on Iran.
• U.S. Department of State published its Country Reports on Terrorism 2004 saying Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism in 2004.
• The Forward reported that American action against Iran's nuclear program is being threatened by a stalled presidential nomination and the sudden dismissal of two officials at AIPAC.
• The Los Angeles Times reported that the Bush administration has decided to avoid any immediate confrontation Hezbollah.
• Tehran Times, a mouth piece of the Iranian regime is worried about the possibility of John Bolton becoming the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.
  

Rumors of War:

• The International Herald Tribune reported that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that he did not foresee a military strike by the United States on Iran.
• United Press International reported that Britain will not support the United States in military action against Iran.
• The Financial Times reported that the Bush administration has proposed providing Israel with 100 “bunker-buster” bombs capable of destroying underground targets. Israel already has this technology.
• FOX News spoke with two retired generals and a military expert, who outlined some of the options on the table for the Pentagon regarding Iran.
• WorldNetDaily.com reported that Iran is already testing EPT ballistic missiles specifically designed to destroy America's technical infrastructure, effectively neutralizing the world's lone superpower. Then an Iranian military journal discusses the idea.
• The American Thinker reported that the London Arab daily Al-Hayat published a report on Iran's current preparedness for an American or Israeli attack.
• AmericanDaily.com asked "Could Iran Checkmate America?"

Iran's economy:

• Turkish Press reported that an Iranian hardline political watchdog has ordered that a contract with Turkish telecoms company Turkcell for Iran's second mobile telephone network must undergo more changes.
  

Human Rights/Freedom of the press inside of Iran:

• Iran Focus reported that the European Parliament adopted a resolution yesterday, calling on Iran to end its increasing human rights violations.
• Iran Mania reported that police in the Iranian capital are poised to launch a fresh crack down targeting "models of corruption" (women not politicians).
• IranMania reported Iran's parliament voted to suspend a law passed by their reformist predecessors that was aimed at giving journalists fairer trials.
• Reporters Without Borders called for the immediate release of reformist Iranian Arab journalist Yosef Azizi Banitrouf.

Popular struggle for freedom inside of Iran:

• Agence France-Presse reported that an Iranian student detained for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars and 76 lashes.
• Khaleej Times Online reported that the mayor of Iran’s second largest city has been beaten up after he challenged workers on an illegal construction site. It was reported to have been set upon for five hours.
• Reuters is reported that Iranian authorities are rounding up ringleaders of ethnic unrest in the oil-rich southwest.
• Adnkronos International reported that amid ongoing ethnic unrest in southern Iran, a well-known human rights activist and spokesman for the ethnic Arab minority, Youssef Azizi ben Torof, was arrested.
• ICFTU OnLine reported that independent labour activists in Iran are planning once again to hold May Day celebrations, despite fears of a repetition of last year's arrests.
• Iranian.ws reported that the Islamic Republic is the biggest threat to Iran's territorial integrity.

Popular struggle for freedom outside of Iran:

• The Adventures of Chester suggests we could see the first digital coup in Iran.
• National Iranian American Council, promoted a "poll" claiming that 4 out of 5 Iranian/Americans oppose House Resolution 282 and S.333. Iranian expatriate disputes it.
• WorldNetDaily.com reported that Dr. Corsi's 'Atomic Iran' TV ad have been rejected by some broadcasters.
• The Jerusalem Post reported on a worldwide day of protest last week hoping to "break the silence" of the violation of human rights in Iran.
• WorldNetDaily.com reported that the organizers of the "Iran Liberty Walk" to promote peaceful, democratic change in Tehran announced the 209-mile route.

Iran and the world community:

• BBC News, published On This Day In History: 1980,Tehran hostage rescue mission fails. Plus more reflections on the day: WorldNetDaily.com and American Forces Press Service.
• Zeenews.com reported that Iraq's new leaders are saying that an Islamic regime will not be allowed in Iraq.
• Deutsche Welle reported Iran dismissed a report that it bought equipment from Germany for its ballistic missile program.
• Iran Focus reported that Iran's President Khatami said "Today’s world is suffering from the legitimising of fascism and ... the United Nation’s General Secretary is leading the way."

Middle East Experts:

• Payvand's Iran News published a report on Iran’s Foreign Policy & its Key Decision Makers.
• FrontPageMagazine.com hosted another symposium, Terrorism: How to defeat it the future of terror. Our friend Dan Darling was a participant.

And finally, The Quote of the Week:

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said:

"human rights are a weapon in the hands of our enemies to fight Islam."