Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [8/21-8/27] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance)

Iran's Nuclear Program.

• Khaleej Times reported that German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer voiced alarm at the risk of military conflict over Iran's nuclear research and called on Teheran to be reasonable.
• The Guardian UK reported that Iran's hard-line president scolded Europeans, accusing them of being willing to sell their goods to Iranians while at the same time trying to strangle Tehran's nuclear program.
• The Wall Street Journal reviewed the achievements of European diplomacy to induce Iran to abandon its nuclear-weapons program.
• The Washington Times reported that Iran's outgoing Supreme National Security Council chief, Hasan Rohani, said Iran wants to re-operate a second nuclear center.
• The People's Daily - China said Bush's recent threat of using force against Iran serves more a psychological deterrent than a real one.
• Reuters reported the European powers have called off August 31 talks with Iran over its nuclear program.
• Gary Milhollin, The New York Times warned us not to underestimate the Mullahs intention to produce a nuclear bomb.
• The Chronwatch considers how to handle Iran's nuclear ambitions by contrasting the positions of Dr. Jerome Corsi and Pat Buchanan.
• The Washington Post reported that U.S. officials have begun a new round of briefings with U.S. allies designed to convince them that Iran's real intention is to use its energy program as a cover for bomb building.
• Reuters reported that French FM Says EU still wants Iran Nuclear Talks.
• BBC News reported that the United States has criticised an independent investigation which found no evidence that Iran was working on a secret nuclear weapons program.
• Science Daily reported that Iran snubbed the EU3's precondition to halt its nuclear programs prior to a resumption of talks.
• Reuters reported that Iran's top nuclear negotiator is to meet the head of the U.N. atomic watchdog on Friday.
• Tom Valasek, The Wall Street Journal thinks the one bright spot in the EU3 negotiations with Iran is: Europe and the U.S. rediscovered some of their old unity.
• Radio Free Europe reported that Iran said it sees no justification in continuing nuclear negotiations exclusively with Britain, France, and Germany.
• Nasser Karimi, The Miami Herald published Europe's response to Iran's proposal of expanding the number of nations involved with their negotiations.
• Rooz Online reported that Ali Larijani, the new head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said: The US strategy today is to hold a stick high and force weaker states to commit suicide.
• The Christian Science Monitor reported that we are at a pivotal moment for 'axis of evil.'
• IranMania:A prominent Iranian dissident claimed Tehran had mastered the design of nuclear capable cruise missiles.
• Reuters reported that within a month Iran hopes to present a new plan to resolve its nuclear stand-off with the West to European Union powers.
• Expatica reported that Iran's newly-appointed chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said an agreement was possible with the European Union over the country's controversial nuclear program.
• The Billings Gazette reported that Tehran's top nuclear envoy said Iran will not negotiate away its right to enrich uranium and shrugged off threats of possible U.N. action.
• Gregory Scoblete, Tech Central Station argues that neither carrots nor sticks are going to end Iran's quest for nuclear weapons.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that Russia believes the format in which the EU3 has been negotiating with Iran "has proved its usefulness."
• Islamic Republic News Agency reported that an Iranian daily here Saturday questioned the role of Britain, Germany and France in Iran's nuclear issue saying: The negotiations ought to be between Iran and the IAEA governing board that represents all its member states.
  

Akbar Ganji's has suspended his hunger strike.

• Rooz Online reported that after UN Secretary General Kofi Annan sent a letter to Iranian leaders over the case of Akbar Ganji, the prisoner has ended his hunger strike and that his file will be closed soon.
• Adnkronos International reported that Iranian journalist and writer, Akbar Ganji, has suspended the hunger strike, his wife, Massoumeh Shafii confirmed the news after seeing him.
• Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that Akbar Ganji has broken his hunger strike following pleas from his family.
• Farideh Nicknazar, Iran Scan reported that Akbar Ganji, terminated his hunger strike after 71 days. We still don't know the details.
  

Other Iranian dissidents.

• Iranian blogger, WishMeLuck, Zaneirani reported that Iranian dissident Manouchehr Mohammadi (still on hunger strike) has been taken to an unknown location.
• Pekeiran reported that Iranian dissident Manucher Mohamadi also broke his hunger strike.
• Amnesty International called for urgent action in the case of Iranian dissident Hojjatoleslam Ezimi Qedim, out of fear for safety/fear of torture or ill-treatment.

Still more on the elections.

• Iranian blogger, Kamal Tehrani, Rooz Online reported that one month after the presidential elections, statistics have been released that not only confirm the widespread irregularities in the voting, but even corroborate the suspicions that the outcome of the elections would have been different if the rigging were prevented.

The unrest against the regime spreads in Iran.

• Assyrian International News Agency reported that Iran's State Security Forces have stepped up arrests of Kurds who took part in large-scale anti-government demonstrations.
• SMCCDI reported the death of the Governor of the northwestern City of Bookan in what has been declared as a 'car accident'.
• SMCCDI reported that Islamic regime forces have organized an unprecedented man hunt in the strategic southern City-Port of Bandar-Abbas.
• SMCCDI reported that a brutal militiaman was seriously wounded after brutalizing two young individuals. Local residents helped the group to escape.
• SMCCDI reported that several militiamen and armed individuals have died in a clash which happened near the northwestern City of Mian-do-Ab.

Ahmadinejad.

• SMCCDI reported that Iranian opposition groups are preparing a kind of 'welcoming' ceremony, September 14th and 15th, for the Islamic republic's appointed president on US soil when he arrives in September for the opening ceremonies of the UN .
• The New York Times reported that Iran's new conservative president faced his first challenge today in Parliament when skeptical lawmakers put him on the defensive about his recommendations for 21 cabinet ministers.
• Iran Focus reported that the row in Iran's Majlis (parliament) on Sunday was stage-managed by the dominant ultra-Islamist faction.
• Rooz Online reported that Ahmadinejad’s cabinet nominees were officially presented to the Majlis and opponents of the nominees called Ahmadinejad’s 6-page plan for Iran, just a collection of beautiful words.
• Rooz Online reported on the parliamentary games being played in confirming Ahmadinejad's cabinet.
• Rooz Online reported that ultra-conservative, Mohammad Hossein Saffar Harandi, will take the helm of Iran’s press, culture and arts affairs.
• Al Jazeera reported that Iran's conservative-controlled parliament has rejected new President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's nominee for the oil ministry, Ali Saidloo, as well as three other proposed cabinet members.
• Reuters reported that the United States remains concerned about Iran's nuclear program saying that questions about Iran's nuclear ambitions worry: not just the United States has, but the rest of the world.
• The Associated Press reported that Iran will soon offer new proposals for negotiations with Europe.
• SMCCDI reported Iran's new Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, is a notorious Islamist terrorist, known for his involvement in the murder of several dissidents in Turkey.
• Reuters reported that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad convened his depleted team of ministers for their first meeting on Thursday after suffering the ignominy of seeing parliament rejects four of his cabinet picks.
• Kamal Nazer Yasin, Eurasianet reported that Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad’s cabinet selections indicate that Iran’s leadership is preparing for domestic challenges and a possible confrontation with the West.
• Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the Iran's Majlis deputies Wednesday gave votes of confidence to 17 ministers proposed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. See list.
• Iran Focus reported that two former United States hostages held captive in Iran for 444 days in Tehran in 1979 told a Persian-language satellite channel that they have no doubts that Iran’s new hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was one of the supervisors of their interrogators. Another former hostage, Kevin Hermening, recounted how Ahmadinejad tried to force him to open the embassy’s safe after the takeover.

The Power Struggle inside of Iran.

• Khaleej Times reported that former Iran’s vice-president Mohammad-Reza Aref has rejected cooperation with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, choosing to return to the university as an instructor.
• Rooz Online reported on former president Mohammad Khatami’s warnings about the advances of groups with dogmatic and regressive views and there are reports that pressure groups are organizing and planning to respond to his ideas.
• Iran Focus reported the cryptic maneuvering of reformist leaders attending en masse the wedding of the grandson of the elderly ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri.

Iran's Troublemaking.

• San Francisco Chronicle reported the United States says it faces another enemy in Iraq: Iran.
• The Christian Science Monitor reported on Iran's influence on the Afghan Hazaras as they prepare for the next elections in Afghanistan.
• Iran Focus reported that the commander of Iran’s “Lovers of Martyrdom Garrison”, a general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) – vowed that his suicide volunteers will destroy United States’ interests all over the world in retaliation to any attempt by the U.S. to hit Iran’s nuclear installations.
• SMCCDI reported an Iranian dissident Kurd was murdered in the Swedish City of Lindsborg. The victim's name is Kaveh Zare-i aged 25. The spread of this news has increased the fear among many Iranian opponents.
• Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that Iraqi Security may be compromised and Iran is of particular concern.
• Haaretz reported the latest rockets fired from Lebanon are Iranian-made Fajr 3 models, marking the first time shells imported from Iran were used against Israel.
• Nooredin Abedian, Jewish Journal reported on Iran's New Export - Suicide Bombers.

U.S. Policy on Iran.

• Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that President Bush vowed a "total victory" over terror.

The Iranian Military.

• SMCCDI reported the Islamic regime is tightening its control over its military forces.
• Iranmania reported that the cabinet nominee for the Defense Ministry said: Iran's main military objectives are the development of its air defense as well as its ballistic missiles.
• Iranian.ws reported that Iran is preparing to spend billions more on missile warfare.
• DEBKAfile reported that Iran’s new defense minister, Mostafa Mohammad-Najar, brigadier general in the Revolutionary Guards, has packed a lurid, blood-spattered biography into his 49 years. A profile.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that Iran appointed a new chief for the air force component of the country's elite Revolutionary Guards Thursday. Gen. Alireza Zahedi.
• Kuwait News Agency reported that the Air force will knock enemies down if Iran is attacked, warned Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi.

The Iranian Economy.

• Toni Straka, Speaking Freely, Asia Times asked: Could the proposed Iranian oil bourse (IOB) become the catalyst for a significant blow to the influential position the US dollar enjoys?
• Alan Peters thinks this would be a disaster for the US economy.
• Andrew Ellson, Times UK reported that this week the price of a barrel of oil surged towards $70 a barrel, near the inflation-adjusted price last seen in 1980, shortly after the Iranian revolution. One country is causing particular concern: Iran.

Human Rights/Freedom of the press inside of Iran.

• Iran Focus reported on a new sex-segregated park is under development in the city of Mashad. The new park will be used exclusively by women.
• SMCCDI reported that the Islamic republic regime is to apply more discriminatory measures against Iranian women in days ahead.
• Rooz Online looks at the change in Iran regarding the Chador, the mandatory women's covering.
• SMCCDI reported that four more young Iranians were executed.
• The Associated Press reported that the Iranian government has tightened its control over the Internet.
• The Guardian reported on the hundreds of Iranian rock acts springing up despite official disapproval. These bans have never been able to experience playing a live gig.
• Rooz Online reported that Ali Afshari, a leading member of Iran's largest student organization, will not have an open court hearing since there are currently no laws defining political rights.
• SMCCDI reported on the mass arrest of Iranian women have increased for the non-observance of Islamist veil.
• Amnesty International is calling on the Iranian authorities to prevent the execution of two teenagers in Iran.
• The Committee to Protect Bloggers has a petition calling on Iran to free Iranian blogger, Mojtaba Saminejad!

Iran and the International community.

• BBC News reported a Christian Iranian family has lost their appeal for asylum in the UK.
• Middle East Newsline reported Britain donated armored vests to Iran's security forces.
• The Scotsman reported that Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said his country would not support any military action against Iran.

Sean Penn's Five Part Series on Iran.

• Day One, Discovering a culture in conflict.
• Day Two, A meeting with the son of a former president of Iran, Mehdi Rafsanjani.
• Day Three, A meeting with the grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini, Hassan Khomeini.
• Day Four, A demonstration in Tehran.
• Day Five, The trip home.
• One more, a conversation with an Iranian student not afraid to mock the mullahs.

Must Read reports.

• Patrick Devenny, FrontPageMagazine.com argues that the new Iranian government is its most radical.
• Yahoo News reported that an unmanned single-engined plane has crashed in a mountainous area of western Iran and the wreckage has been recovered by the Iranian armed forces.
• General Paul Vallely, Executive Intelligence Review reported that he knew that Osama bin Laden was in Iran, and that Iran already has nuclear weapons. A Must Read!

Photos and cartoons of the week.

• Rooz Online published another cartoon: From Stone Age to Reactionary Age.
• Photos prove that Iran's hardline students are learning to spell.
• Rooz Online Cartoon of Ahmadinejad.
  

And finally, The Quote of the Week.

Iran Focus: In an under-reported new story, quoted former hostage, Kevin Hermening, recounted how:

"Ahmadinejad tried to force him to open the embassy’s safe after the takeover."

A Personal Note: As a result of the tremendous outpouring of support from my fellow bloggers and readers, I have been able to order a new laptop. Thank you very much!