Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [10/16-10/22] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance)

Ahmadinejad's Administration.

• Kamal Tehrani, Rooz Online reported that Iran's government seeks agreement with 12th Imam - in hiding since 13th century?
• Iran Press News reported that the Ahamdinejad administration has declared illegal the budgets for the two organizations established by Khatami, the ex-president of Iran.
• Iran Press News reported that two and a half months after Ahmadinejad's installment to presidency, the policies for a new cinema for the Islamic Republic were announced.
• BBC News reported that Iran's authorities have banned imported films promoting secularism, feminism, unethical behaviour, drug abuse, violence or alcoholism.
• Iran Press News reported that one of Ahmadinejad's biggest supporters who wished to remain unnamed said: We're worried sick that he (Ahmadinejad) would not be able to keep his promises.
• Iran va Jahan reported that an international corruption-monitoring organization has reported that businesspeople and analysts both in and outside Iran see the country as profusely corrupt.
• Iran Press News reported that Ahmadinejad's own site reported that a high ranking official of the regime has provided foreign intelligence with approximately 10 years worth of the most classified information.
• Iran Press News reported that Ahmadinejad said: Political pressure on us might increase but ultimately Westerners are forced to accept our stance ... Westerners do not have the heart to take us on ... Putting the centrifuges to work will change all the equations and it will allow us to take over the world and will give us supremacy.

Iran's Nuclear Program.

• BBC News reported that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due to meet Tony Blair on Sunday for talks over Iran.
• Colin Freeman, The Telegraph UK reported on the Iranian regime's effort to use music to build support for its nuclear policy. Sounds like they think they need help.
• Iran Focus reported that a key Majlis (Parliament) committee approved a resolution demanding Iran end its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the Additional Protocol of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
• Voice of America News reported that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British leaders have discussed efforts to convince Iran to abandon its nuclear program.
• Khaleej Times Online reported that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday gave full backing to Washington’s key ally London over its handling of Iran.
• Claire Bigg, Radio Free Europe reported that no country, including the United States, will force Russia to abandon its nuclear commitment to Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
• MOS News reported that Kostantin Kosachyov, chairman of the State Duma International Affairs Committee denied recent reports of a possible Russian/North Korean cooperation and mediation in Iran’s missile technology sector.
• Iran Focus reported that Iran's Supreme Leader hints at a nuclear breakthrough in their technology.
• Iran Press News reported that Ali Larijani, the secretary of the High Council of National Security of Iran, traveled to South Africa for talks on the nuclear issue.
• Iran Press News reported that Iran's Supreme Leader identified the nuclear program as "science" and nuclear weapons as "military might,” continued: We must obtain 'the might.
• Newindpress reported that Iran was stepping up its diplomacy a month ahead of the second crucial vote in Vienna, by inviting New Delhi for a second meeting on the proposed India-Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
• Louis Charbonneau, Reuters reported that the IAEA is unlikely to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council when the U.N. agency's board meets next month.
• Khaleej Times Online reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed that Iran will continue with its controversial nuclear program.
  

Iranian Dissidents.

• Morteza Abdolalian, Iran Watch Canada reported that Ganji was finally permitted to meet with his defense lawyer in prison.
• Iran Press News reported that blogger, Omid Sheikhaan was sentenced to prison but first 2 lashes!
• Iran Press News reported on the hearing for the investigation of charges of "Dereliction" against a student of the Shareef Industrial University completely committed to Democracy.
• Adnkronos International reported that more journalists in Iran are falling victim to Iran's war on the media.
• Noticias.info said Reporters Without Borders today condemned the 18-month prison sentence that was passed on Mohammad Sedigh Kabovand.
• Iran Press News reported that a group of journalists were first verbally abused and then physically intimidated by Ahmadinejad's security detail.
• Iran Press News reported that Seyed Ahmad Seyed Seraajee imprisoned blogger who is currently being detained at the Tabriz prison, will receive 30 lashes.
• The Committee to Protect Bloggers reported that Omid Sheikhan has been sentenced by the Iranian court to one year in prison and 124 lashes.

Who's Who in Iran.

• Rooz Online published a conversation with former president Khatami’s foreign policy architect about the U.S.
  

The Unrest Inside of Iran.

• SMCCDI reported that a young man was killed, with a shot to the head, by the local militia. They young man was after angry at the regime's humiliating parade of young dissidents.
• SMCCDI reported that tens of inmates have been wounded and reportedly some killed in a bloody clash at the Adel-Abad ('Just' Place) Prison located in the central City of Shiraz.
• SMCCDI reported that an informant was gunned down in the Iranian Capital.
• SMCCDI reported that another young man was killed by the Islamic regime's security forces in the Greater Tehran area, Friday.
• SMCCDI reported that a riot took place, on Saturday, in the Island of Gheshm located in the Persian Gulf.
• Agence France Presse reported that witnesses claim, Iranian police shot and killed a motorist after he failed to stop when spotted eating during holy month of Ramadan.Winston, The Spirit of Man reported on the IRGC units nightly live fire exercises in the mountains of eastern Tehran.
• Iran Press News reported that Revolutionary Guard commander Ahmadi-Moqadam reported the regime is preparing a new way to deal with social corruption and said: This plan will be soon implemented all over Iran.
• Iran Press News reported that a member of the Islamic Parliament's Assembly, representing the city of Sanandadj said: The Kurds and Sunnis in the Province of Kurdistan have had it... their patience has been tested and will not stand for a non-Kurd, Shiite Governor.
• Iran Focus reported that in some regions of the country, Iran’s para-military police, the State Security Forces (SSF), have been given unlimited powers to raid and search premises.
• TurkishPress reported that Iranian police said they had defused a large bomb planted under a bridge in the restive southwestern city of Ahvaz.
• Shahram Rafizadeh, Rooz Online reported that Iran is preparing to block SMS (Short Message Service) fearing it can be used by the government's critics and opposition groups.
• Middle East Newsline: Iran has disclosed a plan to create a huge Islamic volunteer force to protect the regime. Under the plan, the Basij would have more than 1 million men under arms.
  

Iran's troublemaking.

• Iran Focus reported that senior Iranian government officials will attend a ceremony honoring volunteers for suicide bombing operations.
• Iran Press News reported that with the creation of the squads of women terrorist martyrdom-seekers, a new independent organization has begun encouraging men to do the same.
  

U.S. Policy.

• The Voice of America News reported that White House spokesman Scott McClellan says U.S. policy "is only toughening when it comes to Iran" and "It is now up to Iran to demonstrate that it wants to reverse the course that it is currently on."
• Middle East Newsline reported that the United States has sought Turkish cooperation to use of Turkey as a base for American military operations for reconnaissance and intelligence missions in Iran and Syria.
• Forbes reported that the White House said that Iran must return to negotiations.
• The Associated Press reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice refused to rule out the use military force against neighboring Syria and Iran.
• The LA Times reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today said the Bush administration was considering opening direct contact with Iran.
• The Associated Press, China Daily reported that a senior U.S official said Iran has been "fairly isolated" and must return to negotiations with European countries.

The Iranian Military.

• Con Coughlin, Telegraph reported that the Russians help Iran with missile threat to Europe.
• Yahoo News reported that Russia will put Iran's first ever satellite into space next week.
  

The Economy.

• Shahram Rafizadeh, Rooz Online reported that the Iranian government has offered a new bill to the parliament (Majlis) to increase the price of gasoline which if passed will lead to civil unrest.
• Iran Press News reported that the regime-run site, AFTAB expressed anxiety that economic sanctions against the regime which will mean that the sale of refined gas to Iran will be prohibited and that people are in no shape to put up with anything like this and it will lead to bedlam.
• Iran Press News reported that according to the Deputy of the Food and Drug Ministry of the regime: Most of the food and drug products imported to Iran are counterfeit.
• Iran Press News reported that several campaign supporters of Rafsanjani's presidential campaign, whose campaign financed loans for advertisement, etc. have not been reimbursed, are claiming bankruptcy.
• Iran Daily reported that the governor of the Central Bank of Iran said he is hopeful that the stock market situation will return to normal and that contrary to earlier reports that the country has not severed trade ties with Britain and South Korea.

Human Rights/Freedom of the press inside of Iran.

• Iranian.ws reported that the European Union severely criticised Iran's human rights record.
• Reporters Without Borders accused the Iranian government of seeking to increase its control of the Internet, with more sites banned and an overhaul of filtering system planned.
• Folkpartiet reported on member's of the Swedish Parliament support of political prisoners in Islamic Republic prisons.
• ICFTU Online reported that the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions reported on repression and violence in Iran.
• Iran Press News reported that out of fear of being arrested many Iranians have begun to remove their own satellite dishes.
• Iranian.ws provided a detailed explanation for Iran's internet surfers on how to find their way to restricted or censored Iranian sites.

Protests inside of Iran.

• Iran Press News reported on the protest and conflict at Najafabad University. A first hand account.
• Iran Press News reported that students from the Abbasspour University for Water and Power Industry protested against the regime's guards in their university.
• Iran Press News reported that an angry mob, protesting the violent and oppressive actions of the disciplinary forces of the regime, attacked governmental bureaus in the Province of Qeshm.
• SMCCDI reported that drivers of many Iranian Collective Buses refused to validate passenger's tickets, today, in order to protest against their poor conditions.
• SMCCDI reported that dozens of Iranian women gathered at the "Enghelab" square in order to protest peacefully against the social and poor economic conditions in Iran.
• SMCCDI reported that hundreds of students of Beheshti University of Tehran protested, yesterday night, against the repressive measures and poor conditions.
• Iran Press News added that the Beheshti University students then set their dorm on fire. ISNA published photos.
• Iran Focus reported that students from a female dormitory of Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran started another protest.
• Iran Press News reported that prisoners of Adelabad prison in Shiraz protested their horrible conditions and brutal treatment.
• Iran Press News reported that a group of teachers this time from the provinces of Fars and Kermanshah, gathered today in protest in front of the main gates of the Islamic Parliament's Assembly.
• Iran Press News reported that orderlies from medical centers and hospitals around the township of Baabol (Mazandaraan/Capsian Province) gathered to protest 6 months non-receipt of their wages and their benefits.
• Iran Press News reported that the Workers of Kurdistan have reported on the 3 week long strike by the Kurdish Textile workers and that the workers show up to work but they simply refuse to work.
• Iran Press News reported on a clandestine strike and work stoppage under way in the Ministry of Oil.

Iran and the International community.

• The Conservative Voice reports on the troubling alliance of Venezuela’s Marxist president, Hugo Chavez with Iran, North Korea and others.
• BBC News reported that British officials in Iran have denied claims of UK involvement in two bomb attacks which killed at least four people in Ahwaz, Iran.
• The Telegraph UK reported that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw spoke about Iran's hand in bomb attacks on British troops in Iraq, saying: We look to the Iranians to desist.
• Iran Press News reported that Iranian TV used the funerals of the victims of the recent Ahvaz bombing to stir anti-Britain sentiments.
• Iran Press News reported that 15 Iranians have been arrested in the mountains of Turkey and charged with transport of smuggled petrol into Turkey.
• The Washington Times reported that the Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Sharaa "erred twice" in his eulogy of Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan calling the suicide an "assassination."
• Winston, The Spirit of Man discussed the lack of coverage in the Iranian media of the Syrian Minister's death.
• The Financial Times reported that Syria's fractious opposition groups joined forces to release the "Damascus declaration" which calls for ending all forms of political repression.
• CBC reported that more than 20 suspects have been detained for bombings in southwestern Iran and Iran's president accused Britain of being behind the bombings.
• Reuters reported that Iran appears to have imposed a ban on South Korean imports in retaliation for Seoul backing a U.N. nuclear agency resolution against it.
• Dan Plesch, The Guardian asked: Are we Going to War with Iran?
• Agence France-Presse reported that Iran sent its own indictment against Saddam Hussein to Iraq's government.
• Reuters reported that Iran's leading hardline newspapers called for the cutting of diplomatic ties with Britain.
• Anton La Guardia, The Telegraph UK reported that Iran decideds to punishes Britain with a ban on imports.
• Iran Press Service reported that MKO dissidents are demanding that the MKO Leader also be put on trial in Iraq.
• Iran Press News reported that the German Newspaper Die Welt criticized the irresponsible comments of the Islamic Republic of Iran's authorities regarding the suspicious explosions in Ahvaaz, adding that: Ahmadinejad is either simple, arrogant or both.
• IranMania reported that the MEK remained on the EU's list of terrorist organizations.
• USA Today reported that the Iranian Leader claimed the U.S. wants to establish a world-wide empire.
• Radio Free Europe reported that Iran said it will not engage in direct contact with the United States to discuss Iraq.
• The Washington Post reported that a report by the United Nations that compellingly links the Syrian government to the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri provides the Security Council has a rare opportunity to enforce consequences for a state-sponsored act of political murder.

Insight into the Iranian people.

• Nicole Sadighi, Javanan Magazine reported on the play “Beneath the Veil” which provides a provocative and spine chilling portrayal of the true lives of women in the 21st century who have been forced to cover their faces in public along with those who freely choose to wear the veil.
• Iran Press News reported that in Iran one of the most important factors for the death of newborn babies is the mothers' illiteracy.
• Iran Press News reported that 53,000 Iranian students have no school buildings to attend school in; but are forced into tents and shipping containers as makeshift classroom space.
  

Can You Believe This?

• Iran Press News reported that the commander of the new suicide team in Esfahan, Revolutionary Guard Jafari, a disciple of Messbaah-Yazdi, stated that: anyone in any position or 'robe' who dares to speak against this illustrious Islamic figure (Messbaah-Yazdi) has acted against Islam and we are duty-bound to avenge the insult.
• Iran Press News reported a new phenomenon in parts of Iran: baby-selling rings.
• Alan Peters reported that Iran's Supreme Leaders aircraft is grounded in France.
  

Must Read reports.

• Glenn Reynolds, MSNBC reported that Iraq is becoming a quagmire for the terrorists.
• Tim Russert, MSNBC released a transcript of his in-depth conversation Louis Freeh on Clinton, the Khobar Towers attack and Iran. Well worth reading.
• Winston, The Spirit of Man asked will Iran disintegrate after the fall of the regime?
• Thomas Joscelyn, The Weekly Standard reported on Mullah Chávez.
• Jamie Glazov, FrontPageMagazine.com published an interview with Ryan Mauro discussing the secrets of terror.
• The Telegraph UK discussed bringing democracy to Syria and Iran.
• New York Review of Books provided excerpts of the Soldiers of the Hidden Imam, by Timothy Garton Ash. A Must Read.

The Experts.

• Steven Greenhut, The Orange County Register reported that recent news accounts continue to make the thesis of Ilan Berman's new book all the more compelling.
• Amir Taheri, The NY Post argued that with the latest vote in Iraq we should now prepare for the real fight.
• Michael Ledeen, National Review Online published one of his famous interviews with the deceased "James Jesus Angleton" on the Zawahiri-Zarqawi letter.
• Victor Davis Hanson, The National Review examinied the unjustified negativity on the war in Iraq.
• Amir Taheri, Benador Associates takes a close look at the Anti-Americanism involved in the Nobel Peace Prizes.
• Amir Taheri, Arab News examined the challenges facing Musharraf.

And finally, The Quote of the Week.

Iran Press News published comments by Iran's Supreme Leader, Khamenei on Iran's nuclear program:

"We will stand firm till our last breathe and we will give our last drop of blood though we are certain that it will not take that. We must impel a showdown with the false foundations of all these satanic forces.

We must obtain 'the might.' If the Islamic Iran can talk 'science' on the first-world level, it will all be doable from there, as 'science' will bring us wealth and power."