Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [8/20/06 - 8/26/06] major news events regarding Iran. (The report is organized by various categories in chronological order, not by importance). Catch up on all the past week's news developments. READ MORE

Iran's Nuclear Program & The UN Security Council.

• Fox News reported that Iran will offer a "multifaceted response" to a Western package of incentives aimed at persuading it to suspend uranium enrichment activities, but insisted it would not cease enriching uranium.
• The Times Online reported that ordinary Iranians are fearful as the prospect of international sanctions looms closer.
• Spiegel Online reported that while the Iranian government appears set to reject the European incentive package on Tuesday. Most Iranians themselves don't know what to think. But many believe that the regime wants the nuclear bomb.
• Dow Jones Online reported that Iran promised a written response to a Western incentives package later on Tuesday.
• IranMania.com reported that Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani will submit a written response to an international offer aimed at resolving a nuclear standoff at 1230 GMT.
• Reuters reported that Iran on Tuesday handed over its reply to an incentives package by world powers aimed at allaying Western fears that Tehran seeks to build atomic bombs.
• My Way News reported that Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Tehran was ready to enter "serious negotiations" over its disputed nuclear program but did not say whether it was willing to suspend uranium enrichment.
• The Christian Science Monitor reported that the question now becomes how quickly the United States in particular can get its international partners to approve the sanctions against Tehran.
• The Washington File reported that John Bolton said the UNSC would study Tehran’s response before moving ahead with sanctions. “but we are also prepared, if it does not meet the terms set by the Perm 5 foreign ministers [China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States], to proceed here in the Security Council, as the ministers have agreed, with economic sanctions.”
• MosNews reported that an Iranian delegation arrived in Moscow for four days of talks as Russia plans to reach a final agreement to launch Iran’s first nuclear reactor at Bushehr.
• Hemscott reported that Iran will soon announce an atomic breakthrough.
• Mehr News reported that the regime’s news agencies have just reported in its Farsi section (but not in English) that within the next few days the regime will announce a major breakthrough in its nuclear activities. The breakthrough is of huge importance.
• MEMRI.org reported that the Iranian news service Al-Borz predicted that on the first anniversary of Iranian President Ahmadinejad's government, in late August 2006, Ahmadinejad is expected to announce what the news service called Iran's "nuclear birth."
• Yahoo News reported that the State Department said: Yesterday the Iranian government conveyed its response to the package of incentives... we will review it. The response, however, falls short of the conditions set by the Security Council.
• FOX News reported that France's foreign minister said that Iran must suspend uranium enrichment if it wants to return to the negotiating table.
• The Jerusalem Post argued that Ahmadinejad and associates have perfected the "Art of Foot-Dragging."
• Canadian Press reported that Russia and China backed Iran's call for negotiations to end the standoff with the UNSC.
• Bronwen Maddox, The Times Online reported that Iran scored one clear success in the long-running wrangle over its nuclear ambitions when Russia made clear that the US and Britain will struggle to get its support for sanctions, even if Tehran continues to offend.
• Reuters reported that an exiled opposition group said Iran has built at least 15 advanced P-2 centrifuges, which could dramatically speed up its production of nuclear fuel needed to create a nuclear bomb, and will have hundreds more ready next year.
• The Wall Street Journal argued that the Ayatollah's answer to the West's nuclear proposal looks like a calculated attempt to conquer the Security Council by dividing its members.
• USA Today reported that while the six world powers studying Iran's response to their offer of nuclear negotiations will likely reject Tehran's terms for talks because they do not even touch on the possibility of freezing uranium enrichment.
• Boston Herald in an editorial asked: When is a “deal” not a deal, not even worth the paper it’s printed on? When the “deal” is Iran’s latest response to U.N. Security Council.
• Reuters reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Iran's response to an international package of incentives meant to persuade it to give up uranium enrichment is not satisfactory. "The decisive sentence is missing (from Iran's response) and this needs to be addressed."
• The Times Online reported that Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, is to make his first trip to Iran since President Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be wiped off the map, in spite of strenuous American objections.
• IndianExpress reported that Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Iran wants guarantees that it won’t face UN sanctions before it is prepared to restart negotiations over its nuclear program.
• Reuters reported that Russia ruled out any discussion for now of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
• The New York Times reported that the formal reaction from the United States and its European allies to Iran’s refusal to suspend uranium enrichment has been decidedly low-key. It is all part of
• The Financial Times reported that whatever else might be said about the Iranian regime, it has played its diplomatic hand adroitly and plays by its own rules.
• Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat warned that Ahmadinejad is convinced that his strategy of "pre-emptive move" has succeeded and that with the US entering a period of confusion as the Bush presidency draws to its close, the Islamic Republic can and must establish itself as the regional superpower.
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that French President Jacques Chirac said Iran's response to an international package of incentives meant to persuade it to return to negotiations over its nuclear program was a "little ambiguous."
• Xinhua reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Iranian people would "use force" to protect the country's disputed nuclear program as he inaugurated a heavy water plant. He aqdded: "There is no talk of nuclear weapons and there is no discussion of nuclear weapons, we are not a threat to anyone." Lies of the day from Ahmadinejad.
• Haaretz reported that a senior Iranian official warned yesterday Iran may develop nuclear weapons and pull out from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if international pressure against its nuclear program continues.
• Yahoo News reported that a heavy-water nuclear reactor has entered another phase of production despite U.N. demands that Tehran shut it dPresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the heavy-water production which now has the ability to produce up to 16 tons of heavy water a year. The reactor is not scheduled for completion until 2009.
• Los Angeles Times reported that the Bush administration officials have indicated that they are prepared to form an independent coalition to freeze Iranian assets and restrict trade.

Iranian opposition leaders furious: Former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khatami, invited to speak in Washington DC.

• The Washington Post reported that the Bush administration has agreed to issue a visa to Mohammad Khatami to give a public address at the Washington National Cathedral next month. Iranian opposition leaders were shocked by the announcement and are asking people to write the White House and the organizers of the event asking them to cancel the invitation.
• Reuters reported that Khatami applied on Tuesday for a U.S. visa to give a speech in Washington next month but the State Department said it had not decided whether to allow him to come.
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the disgraced former president of the Islamic Republic, Mohammad Khatami, wants to speak in Washington, D.C., next month, and the State Department has already indicated it will welcome his visit. This is pure foolishness. Write the White House and let them know your feelings on this.
• The New York Sun in an editorial said that an internal fight is under way at the highest levels of the Bush administration over whether to issue a visa to the former president of Iran, Mohammed Khatami, to visit Washington. But argued that his purpose for the visit is to enlist the usual useful idiots to defend his nation's right to nuclear power.
• Adnkronos International reported that Khatami, the former President of the Islamic Republic, said: "It is Iran's right to possess nuclear technology, this is not up for debate and the world has to trust us when we say our nuclear program is only intended for peaceful purposes."
• Iran va Jahan published a copy of a letter by Congressman Brad Sherman to Condi Rice saying a visit by the so-called reformist president would no doubt be utilized for maximum propaganda benefit by the Iranian government and that Khatami showed no interest in curtailing his country’s support for terrorism He asked her to deny the visa request.
• LittleGreenFootballs reported that three days before the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 Islamic terror attacks, the Council on American Islamic Relations will host a dinner for the former president of the world’s worst terror-sponsoring state, Mohammad Khatami.
  

Iran behind Hezbollah's war on Israel - The cease fire.

• The New York Times reported that despite a cease-fire agreement, Israel intends to do its best to keep Iran and Syria from rearming Hezbollah and to kill the militia’s leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah.
• Ali Nouri Zadeh, Asharq Alawsat reported that the Iranian government's pledge of 500 million dollars to Hezbollah has angered many Iranians who say they are still awaiting money to help rebuild their homes that were damaged by wars and natural disasters.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that an Italy has been asked by Iran's top nuclear negotiator to negotiate the release of two kidnapped Israeli soldiers whose abduction prompted monthlong fighting in Lebanon.
• Expatica reported that Iran has obtained German guidance gear for its drones used in Lebanon, just hours after the revelation that Britain had supplied night-vision equipment to Iran which ended up in the hands of Hezbollah fighters.
• Amir Taheri, The Wall Street Journal agues why so many in the Middle East believe that Hezbollah didn't win its recent war with Israel.
• Nidra Poller, The Wall Street Journal reported that Jacques Chirac, like Hassan Nasrallah, is always victorious. But France reduced its promise from 3,000 battle-ready soldiers to 200 engineers. The U.S. was fooled by a slick French seduce-and-betray operation.
• Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that Israel's relationship with Turkey, its closest ally in the region, has been put under severe strain by the Israeli army's discovery that one route Iran used to resupply Hezbollah in Lebanon ran through Turkey into Syria.
• Herald Sun reported that Nicole Kidman and 84 other Hollywood heavy weights condemned Hamas, Hezbollah as "terrorist organizations," in a full page ad in the LA Times.
• Dr. Raanan Gissin, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs published a report on the critical importance of Israeli public diplomacy in the war against the Iran-Hezballah Axis of Terror.
• The Daily Star reported that with quiet prevailing in Lebanon, the question now is will Turkey take part in the international force to assist in the ceasefire. But warned that a few years ago, Turkish peacekeepers to Lebanon would have been a great idea, today, it is a dangerous one.
• Ha'aretz reported that the Israel Defense Forces has appointed Israel Air Force Commander Major General Elyezer Shkedy as the IDF's "campaign manager" against Iran.
• The Weekly Standard reported that during the recent war between Hezbollah and Israel, U.N. "peacekeeping" forces openly published daily real-time intelligence on the location, equipment, and force structure of Israeli troops in Lebanon. But did not do the same regarding Hezbollah.
  

Ahmadinejad's promised message to the world coming soon... August 22nd?

• ABC News reported that many are concerned with Iran's promise to respond August 22nd to the UN's nuclear offer. August 22nd marks a holy day on the Islamic calendar that is the day of reckoning for Shiites. Islamic expert Robert Spencer said: "The only thing we can know is that the date was not chosen by accident."
• Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Counterterrorismblog saw a possible connection between North Korea's possible nuclear test and Iran's self imposed nuclear deadline of August 22nd.
• Yahoo News reported that Iran has turned away U.N. inspectors wanting to examine its underground nuclear site in an apparent violation of the Nonproliferation Treaty.
• Adnkronos International reported that just hours before Iran is due to give world powers its response to a package of incentives aimed at persuading the country to give up its nuclear activities, new centrifuges have been installed at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
• CNN News reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday the Islamic Republic had decided to press ahead with its pursuit of nuclear energy.
• Robert Spencer, FrontPageMagazine.com: Iran's Day of Terror?
• Bernard Lewis, The Wall Street Journal: August 22nd.
• Patrick Poole, FrontPageMagazine.com: Ahmadinejad’s Apocalyptic Faith.
• The Washington Post reported that a Romanian oil rig off the coast of Iran came under fire Tuesday from an Iranian military warship and was later occupied by Iranian troops.
• Robert Spencer, FrontPageMagazine.com who wrote extensively about the dangerous implications of Ahmadinejad's choice of August 22nd to respond to the West's nuclear proposal, produced this followup report saying: August 22 has come and gone. But the threat of Iran continues to hang over the world.
  

Iranian dissident's.

• Rooz Online reported that imprisoned Iranian student leader Ahmad Batebi's life is in danger, according to his doctor. A full report of his condition.
• Iran Press News reported that a young Iranian man was imprisoned for his connection to political parties and teenager was shot in Kurdistan.
• Iran Press News published a news update on the status of Haydar-Gholi Soltani, a retired lawyer who was arrested in mid-September 2005 is now being detained in Evin prison.
• Iran Press News provided a report on the status of political prisoners in Azerbaijan where approximately 650 people have been registered on the Tabriz prison computer database in connection with recent protests.
• Helpnazanin.com asked people to sign their petition calling for the release of Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi who was sentenced to death for murder by court in Iran after she stabbed one of three men who attempted to rape her.
• Rooz Online reported that 98 Court summons, temporary detention, disregard for prisoner conditions, closure of newspapers, heavy sentences, forced confessions are only some of the developments in Iran that speak of more human rights violations.
• Iran Press News reported the murder of a young man by regime’s police forces in Piranshahr.
• Iran Press News reported the disappearance of a teacher and human right activist in the town of Kamyaran.
• Rooz Online reported that as the news of Akbar Mohammadi’s death, and the condition of other political prisoners such as Ahmad Batebi, Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoeini, and Ramin Jahanbegloo, among many others, has created a wave of concern. The condition of other political prisoners in the provinces and smaller towns is as bad.
  

Interesting reports inside of Iran.

• Iran Press News reported that the Islamic regime’s minister of justice confessed to the ever-increasing crime rate in Iran and said: “The country’s escalating crime rate is quite worrisome.”
• Iran Press News reported that electric company workers of the city of Rasht will take their protest to Tehran.
• Rooz Online reported that Kayhan, the leading newspaper of Iran’s fundamentalists published a story claiming Islamic texts prophesied Nassrollah's battle with Israel that has been exposed as fraudulent.
• Iran Press News reported that Kayhan, the regime newspaper claimed that following the news of the victory of Hezbollah against the Zionist regime that parents are rushing to the registration offices to change their children’s names to Nasrollah.
• Iran Press News reported that after months of speculation and fluctuating news, Sheibani, the managing director of the Central Bank, will finally step down.
• SMCCDI reported a major power outage resulted in sporadic protest actions, against the Islamic regime, as millions of Tehranis were paralyzed in their daily activities.
• Rooz Online reported that from the moment of the fundamentalist take-over of the government, there have been many new Internet sites launched and most of these sites are in support of Ahmadi-Nejad.
  

Human Rights and Freedom of the Press in Iran.

• Reuters reported that Iran's government has urged the judiciary to clamp down on newspapers which spread "lies." (Nothing new here).
• Iran Press News reported on a protest in Kurdistan of the trial of labor activists.
• News Observer reported that the European Union questioned the circumstances surrounding the recent death of an Iranian student activist, Akbar Mohammadi, and called on Tehran to launch an independent investigation into the case. A little too late.
• Pamela Bone, The Australian, a feminist, criticized her movement for the lack of concern for the rights of Muslim women in Iran.
• Iran Press News reported with the implementation of harsh rules for issuing proper permits for translating, promoting and distribution of books, publishers in Iran have begun to go bankrupt; many writers and translators with considerable backgrounds have also abandoned their craft.
• Iran Daily reported that Iran will now require identification cards be issued for Iranian websites and individuals will be responsible for what they publish on their websites.
  

The Iranian Military.

• The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran on Sunday test-fired a surface-to-surface short-range missile a day after its army launched large-scale military exercises throughout the country. The "Saegheh... missile, has a range of between 80 to 250 kilometers."
• The Washington Post reported that Iran test-fired 10 surface-to-surface short-range missiles, including a missile it claimed was not detectable by radar that can use multiple warheads.
• Hindustan Times reported that Iran's massive military exercise will last five week's and Brig Gen Mohammad Hassan Dadras claimed: "no air force is capable of confronting the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
• The Washington Post reported that a Romanian oil rig off the coast of Iran came under fire Tuesday from an Iranian military warship and was later occupied by Iranian troops.
  

The Iranian Economy.

• Iran Focus reported that trade between Iran and Russia has fallen by half in the first quarter of the 2006.
  

Iran and the International community.

• Haaretz reported that Arab League foreign ministers convened for an emergency meeting in Cairo to discuss a plan to create a fund to rebuild Lebanon. Arabs want to counter the flood of money that is believed to be coming from Iran to Hezbollah to finance reconstruction projects.
• The New York Times reported that Venezuela's recent engagement of Iran has become a defining element in its effort to build an alliance to curb American influence in developing countries.
• The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli Minister Rafi Eitan called for the readying of bomb shelters and reinforced rooms countrywide, in advance of a possible conflict with Iran.
• Yahoo News reported that Brig. Gen. Michael Barbero said: the Iranian government is training and equipping much of the Shiite insurgency in Iraq.
• Reuters reported that Iran's oil minister has said the country believes the position of OPEC secretary general is its right.
• Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal took a swipe at Arab countries which are close to Iran.
  

The US Congress on Iran.

• The New York Times reported that some senior Bush administration officials and top Republican lawmakers are voicing anger that American spy agencies have not issued more ominous warnings about the threats that they say Iran presents to the United States.
  

Must Read reports.

• Alan Peters, Anti-Mullah published his response to a common criticism of the Iranian people by Americans which he considers a total disconnect of the American mind from reality in Iran.
• Tariq Alhomayed, Asharq Alawsat argued that what we are witnessing today is not a by-product of the issue of Iran's nuclear activities, but rather something more important which is Iran’s resumption of exporting the "Islamic revolution."
• John R. Thomson, National Review Online wondered when will the United States and its allies to take action against a founding member of the Axis of Evil?
• Iran Press News reported that the brother of Hassan Rowhani, the Islamic regime’s ex-nuclear negotiator is now the Islamic cultural attaché in the United States. But some are alleging his job title is just a "cover."
• Masood Faruvar, The Wall Street Journal examined the question of whether a Sunni-Shia war will soon engulf the new Middle East.
• Michael J. Totten, Reason reported that in Iraqi Kurdistan, the war is already over. There are no insurgents in Kurdistan. Nor are there any kidnappings.
• Ann Leslie, The Daily Mail argued why Ahmadinejad should give us all nightmares.
• A. Yasmine Rassam, Los Angeles Times argued that if the antiwar crowd and Democrats have their way, the United States will be Iran's hostage once again.
• Bloomberg reported that the Iranian military forces handed back control of an oil rig seized yesterday in the Persian Gulf to its Romanian owners. But then...
  
• Dow Jones Newswires reported that lawyers for Romanian oil services company GSP, are on their way to Tehran to negotiate a release of an oil rig that has been taken over by Iranians.
• FrontPageMagazine.com in an interview with Regnar Rasmussen discussed: How the Soviets gave the Mullahs the bomb.
• Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post argued that the conventional wisdom about President Bush is that the cowboy has been retired. Multilateralism is back. Diplomacy is King. American diplomacy on Iran has, up until now, been defensible.
• The Times Online reported on the Secret war being waged in Iraqi Kurdistan’s isolated Kandil mountain range. Since April Iran has been bombing the area, an attempt by the Islamic republic to curry favour with Turkey.
  

The Experts.

• Ali Nouri Zadeh, Asharq Alawsatreported that the Iranian government's pledge of 500 million dollars to Hezbollah has angered many Iranians who say they are still awaiting money to help rebuild their homes that were damaged by wars and natural disasters.
• U.S. House of Represenatives announced the release of a committee report on the strategic and intelligence challenges posed by Iran. The complete unclassified report can be read here.
• Chatham House released a major new report which seeks to shed light on the Iranian nuclear dispute.
• Amir Taheri, New York Post argued that Iran is trying to redefine the Palestinian cause from a political issue into a messianic cause.
• Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat reviewed the book, The Force of Reason by Oriana Fallaci who argues that Europe is facing a great conspiracy to destroy its civilization, enslave its peoples, and use it as a base for the conquest of the world.
• Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the disgraced former president of the Islamic Republic, Mohammad Khatami, wants to speak in Washington, D.C., next month, and the State Department has already indicated it will welcome his visit. This is pure foolishness. Write the White House and let them know your feelings on this.
• Amir Taheri, The Wall Street Journal agues why so many in the Middle East believe that Hezbollah didn't win its recent war with Israel.
• Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat warned that Ahmadinejad is convinced that his strategy of "pre-emptive move" has succeeded and that with the US entering a period of confusion as the Bush presidency draws to its close, the Islamic Republic can and must establish itself as the regional superpower.
  

Photos, cartoons and videos.

• Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Disproportionate Response II.
• Ardeshir Dolat produced a Cox & Forkum Cartoon Slide Show.
• Cox & Forkum published another cartoon: Carrot and Stick.
• A photo of Khamtami's Friends.
  

The Quote of the Week.

Xinhua reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Iranian people would "use force" to protect the country's disputed nuclear program as he inaugurated a heavy water plant. He aqdded:

"There is no talk of nuclear weapons and there is no discussion of nuclear weapons, we are not a threat to anyone."

Tags: iran, news, nuclear, lebanon, isreal, iraq,

Sunday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 8.27.2006:

Senior Iranian official warns Iran may develop nuclear weapons.

• Haaretz reported that a senior Iranian official warned yesterday Iran may develop nuclear weapons and pull out from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if international pressure against its nuclear program continues.

Ahmadinejad says its not a threat to anyone, while it shells Iraqi Kurdistan.

• Xinhua reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Iranian people would "use force" to protect the country's disputed nuclear program as he inaugurated a heavy water plant. He added: "There is no talk of nuclear weapons and there is no discussion of nuclear weapons, we are not a threat to anyone." Lies of the day from Ahmadinejad.
  
• The Times Online reported on the Secret war being waged in Iraqi Kurdistan’s isolated Kandil mountain range. Since April Iran has been bombing the area, an attempt by the Islamic republic to curry favor with Turkey.

Iran launches its heavy water production plant.

• Yahoo News reported that a heavy-water nuclear reactor has entered another phase of production despite U.N. demands that Tehran shut it down; President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the heavy-water production which now has the ability to produce up to 16 tons of heavy water a year. The reactor is not scheduled for completion until 2009.

The Bush Administration prepares to form an independent coalition on Iran.

• Los Angeles Times reported that the Bush administration officials have indicated that they are prepared to form an independent coalition to freeze Iranian assets and restrict trade.

More on Khatami's visit to the US - Write the White House now!

• Iran va Jahan published a copy of a letter by Congressman Brad Sherman to Condi Rice saying a visit by the so-called reformist president would no doubt be utilized for maximum propaganda benefit by the Iranian government and that Khatami showed no interest in curtailing his country’s support for terrorism He asked her to deny the visa request.
• LittleGreenFootballs reported that three days before the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 Islamic terror attacks, the Council on American Islamic Relations will host a dinner for the former president of the world’s worst terror-sponsoring state, Mohammad Khatami.

Power outage in Tehran sparks protests against the regime.

• SMCCDI reported a major power outage resulted in sporadic protest actions, against the Islamic regime, as millions of Tehranis were paralyzed in their daily activities.

UN forces in Lebanon aided Hezbollah.

• The Weekly Standard reported that during the recent war between Hezbollah and Israel, U.N. "peacekeeping" forces openly published daily real-time intelligence on the location, equipment, and force structure of Israeli troops in Lebanon. But did not do the same regarding Hezbollah.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

• Reuters reported that Iran's oil minister has said the country believes the position of OPEC secretary general is its right.
• Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal took a swipe at Arab countries which are close to Iran.
• Rooz Online reported that from the moment of the fundamentalist take-over of the government, there have been many new Internet sites launched and most of these sites are in support of Ahmadi-Nejad.
• Iran Focus reported that trade between Iran and Russia has fallen by half in the first quarter of the 2006.
• A photo of Khatami's Friends.

Tags: iran, news, nuclear, lebanon, isreal, iraq,

Iranian Official: Iran may develop nuclear weapons

Yossi Melman and Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz:

Iran may develop nuclear weapons and pull out from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if international pressure against its nuclear program continues, a senior Iranian official warned yesterday.

The statements made by Iranian Parliament Vice Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar mark the first time a senior Iranian official specifically mentioned the development of nuclear weapons as part of the country's nuclear program, which to date Tehran had insisted was for peaceful purposes. READ MORE

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that his country poses no threat to Israel, and that no one can deprive Iran of its right to nuclear technology.

Ahmadinejad's defiant stance comes days ahead of a United Nations deadline for Iran to halt uranium enrichment work.

"No one can deprive a nation of its rights based on its capabilities," he said in a speech to inaugurate a new phase of a heavy-water reactor project southwest of Tehran.

"Iran is not a threat to anybody, not even to the Zionist regime," he said, using the Islamic Republic's term for arch-enemy Israel, which it does not recognize.

The Iranian president affirmed Iran's right to develop nuclear technology even if sanctions are imposed.

"They may impose some restrictions on us under pressure. But will they be able to prevent the thoughts of a nation? Will they be able to prevent the progress and technology of a nation? They have to accept the reality of a powerful, peace-loving and developed Iran. This is in the interest of all governments and all nations whether they like it or not," he said

Ahmadinejad inaugurated the project and toured the site at Khondab, near Arak, 120 miles (190 km) southwest of the capital Tehran. The plant's plutonium by-product could be used to make atomic warheads.

Likud MK Silvan Shalom called on the world to stand up against the Iranian threat.

"This is a crucial time for the international community. Will it once again cave in to the Iranians or will it put an end to the dangerous plans of Iran?" he said. "It would be best for the world to express its determination today at the very last moment before it is exposed to an existential threat. Israel must prepare so that it can prevent the dangerous developments if the world continues to waffle."

Labor MK Ephraim Sneh warned in a statement that Iran's heavy water production marks "another leap in Iran's advance toward a nuclear bomb."

Sneh, a former deputy defense minister, said Iran's progress shows that international efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons are insufficient. "Israel has to draw the conclusions and to prepare itself militarily," said Sneh.

Iranian Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh, who also heads the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said the plant's production is 16 tons of heavy water with a purity of 15 percent per year, and 80 tons of heavy water with a purity of nearly 100 percent. He said the facility will be used to treat AIDS and cancer and for other medicinal and agricultural purposes.

Mohammed Saeedi, the deputy head of Iran's atomic organization, called the plant "one of the biggest nuclear projects" in the country, state-run television reported.

"Inaugurating the heavy water production plant in Arak is a big step towards using Iran's right, which means reaching peaceful nuclear technology," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi was quoted by state television as saying.

Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to master technology to produce nuclear weapons. Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, insists its aim is only for electricity.

The West's main concern is Iran's program for enriching uranium, a process that can be used to make fuel for nuclear power stations or material for bombs.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution on July 31 giving Iran 30 days to halt enrichment or face possible sanctions. The resolution also cited a call by the IAEA for Iran to reconsider construction of its heavy water reactor project.

Iran's deputy parliament speaker, Mohammad Reza Bahonar, warned the West in comments published by Iran's Sharq newspaper on Saturday that putting pressure on the country could prompt public calls for Iran to pursue a weapons program.

"Be afraid of the day that the Iranian nation comes into the streets and stages demonstrations to ask the government to produce nuclear weapons to combat the threats," he said.

Iranian officials consistently say Iran has no plans to build atomic weapons. Iran's highest authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a religious decree, saying making, stockpiling or using nuclear weapons was against Islamic beliefs, the official IRNA news agency reported in August 2005.

Six world powers have offered Iran incentives to halt enrichment. But Iran has so far only hinted it might be ready to consider halting the work as a result of talks, not as a precondition. The reply seemed designed to divide opinion among the powers.

The United States has warned of swift action on sanctions. Britain, Germany and France have been less conclusive in public. Russia and China, both trade partners of Iran, have been unwilling and could veto sanctions in the Security Council.

Ahmadinejad: Iran Would Maintain Nuke Program with Force

Xinhua:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Iranian people would "use force" to protect the country's disputed nuclear program as he inaugurated a heavy water plant.

"One can not reave any country from its rights, the Iranian people would defend their rights to nuclear technology with force," the president said when inaugurating a heavy water plant in the town of Khondab, which is near the central city of Arak, some 230km southwest of Tehran.

"Iranian people will not accept injustice, they (Western countries) may create some problems, however, they could never prevent scientific progress," he said, adding "I am in charge of pursuing the nation's demand to seek nuclear energy."

"We don't care if they want it or not, they should understand that the Iranian people have made their decisions to get progress," he said.

Meanwhile, he reiterated that Iran did not want to acquire nuclear weapons.

"There is no talk of nuclear weapons and there is no discussion of nuclear weapons, we are not a threat to anyone", he stressed. READ MORE

Ahmadinejad said that Iran was not a threat to Israel, saying, "the message from Iranian people is peace, calm and co-existence with all nations based on justice, we are not a threat to anyone, even the Zionist regime."

"They have to accept that Iran is a strong country, which is developed and a supporter of peace," he said.

Earlier, senior Iranian officials declared that the production of the heavy water plant had entered another phase, adding that the facility now has the ability to produce up to 16 tons of heavy water a year consequently.

Heavy water produced by the plant has been used as a cooling fluid for a nuclear reactor nearby.

The West has accused Iran of trying to produce nuclear weapons under a civilian cover, a charge denied by Tehran.

Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, says it needs to enrich uranium as a peaceful, alternative energy source and has the right to do so under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Saudi Minister Takes Swipe at Arabs Allied to Iran

Reuters:

Saudi Arabia took a swipe at Arab countries which are close to Iran on Saturday when Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal accused some states of compromising their Arab identity through ties with non-Arab countries.

The U.S.-allied kingdom, which fears the rising influence of Shi'ite power Iran, has previously accused Iran of interfering in Iraq, whose Shi'ite-led government is close to Tehran. READ MORE

It also took a controversial public stance against Iranian-backed Hizbollah during its recent battle with Israel in Lebanon, blaming the Shi'ite group for provoking the Jewish state by its kidnapping of Israeli soldiers to bargain the release of Arab prisoners.

Syria, which still has land under Israeli occupation, is closely allied to Iran as well as being the most prominent Arab supporter of Hizbollah.

"We face the threat of losing our identity. Clearly some countries establish relations with other parties at the expense of relations between member nations," the Saudi minister, a key member of the royal family, said at a news conference.

"We have a fault in the Arab way of doing things," he added.

Popular support for Iran and Hizbollah is strong around the Arab world, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reflected much popular opinion when he declared Hizbollah the victor in a war in which more than 1,100 people, mostly Lebanese civilians, died.

"To define victory and defeat always requires caution. We welcome the endurance of the Lebanese people in the face of Israel's response that did not match the incident that took place," the veteran Saudi foreign minister said.

"Winning against yourself is always more difficult than winning against the enemy, and what Lebanon needs now is to win against itself," he said.

Saudi Arabia, a major donor to Lebanese reconstruction after its civil war ended in 1990, regards Hizbollah as operating a virtual state within a state and backs the Lebanese government's efforts to extend its control over the whole country.

Rep. Sherman's Letter to Sec. Rice Asking Denial of Khatami's Visa

Brad Sherman, Iran va Jahan:

The Hon. Condoleezza Rice
Secretary
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

VIA FACSIMILE

RE: Visa Application of Former Iranian President.

Dear Secretary Rice:

It has come to my attention that the State Department has received an application for a visa from former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to visit the United States.

While I understand he has been invited to speak at the National Cathedral at the behest of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, a visit by the so-called reformist president would no doubt be utilized for maximum propaganda benefit by the Iranian government in the current standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.

Moreover, Khatami was the president of a country labeled the number one state sponsor of terrorism by the State Department every year during his presidency. We can certainly discuss to no end the degree to which Khatami “the reformist” may have wanted to change his country’s policies. But Khatami showed no interest in curtailing his country’s support for terrorism during his tenure as president, and certainly has not shown any now. He was and is a strong proponent of Iranian government material support for such terrorist organizations as Hezbollah, HAMAS and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. READ MORE

Terrorist activity, including providing material support for terrorist organizations, is grounds for denying a visa. I suggest that Mr. Khatami should not be granted a visa as he was in effect one of the world’s top financiers of terrorist organizations while president of Iran.

I would also suggest that, should you decide to process Mr. Khatami’s application, he and any members of his delegation should be fingerprinted and photographed, given a rigorous interview, and their names sent through the myriad terrorist and security databases by consular, DHS, law enforcement and intelligence community officials. In short, Khatami and his delegations should be forced to undergo every security precaution that is taken with every Iranian national, many of them relatives of my constituents, who seeks to come to the United States. Moreover, these procedures should not be expedited for Khatami and his delegation.

In conclusion, Madam Secretary, I respectfully request that you 1) deny Khatami’s application for a visa; 2) should you decide to further process the applications of Khatami and his delegation, ensure that they are subjected to all security procedures to which Iranians are normally subjected; and 3) ensure that these procedures not be expedited for the benefit of Khatami and his delegation.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,


BRAD SHERMAN
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on International Terrorism
and Nonproliferation

What did you do in the war, UNIFIL? You broadcast Israeli troop movements.

Lori Lowenthal Marcus, The Weekly Standard:

DURING THE RECENT month-long war between Hezbollah and Israel, U.N. "peacekeeping" forces made a startling contribution: They openly published daily real-time intelligence, of obvious usefulness to Hezbollah, on the location, equipment, and force structure of Israeli troops in Lebanon.

UNIFIL--the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, a nearly 2,000-man blue-helmet contingent that has been present on the Lebanon-Israel border since 1978--is officially neutral. Yet, throughout the recent war, it posted on its website for all to see precise information about the movements of Israeli Defense Forces soldiers and the nature of their weaponry and materiel, even specifying the placement of IDF safety structures within hours of their construction. New information was sometimes only 30 minutes old when it was posted, and never more than 24 hours old.

Meanwhile, UNIFIL posted not a single item of specific intelligence regarding Hezbollah forces. Statements on the order of Hezbollah "fired rockets in large numbers from various locations" and Hezbollah's rockets "were fired in significantly larger numbers from various locations" are as precise as its coverage of the other side ever got. READ MORE

This war was fought on cable television and the Internet, and a lot of official information was available in real time. But the specific military intelligence UNIFIL posted could not be had from any non-U.N. source. The Israeli press--always eager to push the envelope--did not publish the details of troop movements and logistics. Neither the European press nor the rest of the world media, though hardly bastions of concern for the safety of Israeli troops, provided the IDF intelligence details that UNIFIL did. A search of Israeli government websites failed to turn up the details published to the world each day by the U.N.

Inquiries made of various Israeli military and government representatives and analysts yielded near unanimous agreement that at least some of UNIFIL's postings, in the words of one retired senior military analyst, "could have exposed Israeli soldiers to grave danger." These analysts, including a current high ranking military official, noted that the same intelligence would not have been provided by the U.N. about Israel's enemies.

Sure enough, a review of every single UNIFIL web posting during the war shows that, while UNIFIL was daily revealing the towns where Israeli soldiers were located, the positions from which they were firing, and when and how they had entered Lebanese territory, it never described Hezbollah movements or locations with any specificity whatsoever.

Compare the vague "various locations" language with this UNIFIL posting from July 25:

Yesterday and during last night, the IDF moved significant reinforcements, including a number of tanks, armored personnel carriers, bulldozers and infantry, to the area of Marun Al Ras inside Lebanese territory. The IDF advanced from that area north toward Bint Jubayl, and south towards Yarun.

Or with the posting on July 24, in which UNIFIL revealed that the IDF stationed between Marun Al Ras and Bint Jubayl were "significantly reinforced during the night and this morning with a number of tanks and armored personnel carriers."

This partiality is inconsistent not only with UNIFIL's mission but also with its own stated policies. In a telling incident just a few years back, UNIFIL vigorously insisted on its "neutral ity"--at Israel's expense.

On October 7, 2000, three IDF soldiers were kidnapped by Hezbollah just yards from a UNIFIL shelter and dragged across the border into Lebanon, where they disappeared. The U.N. was thought to have videotaped the incident or its immediate aftermath. Rather than help Israel rescue its kidnapped soldiers by providing this evidence, however, the U.N. obstructed the Israeli investigation.

For months the Israeli government pleaded with the U.N. to turn over any videotape that might shed light on the location and condition of its missing men. And for nine months the U.N. stonewalled, insisting first that no such tape existed, then that just one tape existed, and eventually conceding that there were two more tapes. During those nine months, clips from the videotapes were shown on Syrian and Lebanese television.

Explaining their eventual about-face, U.N. officials said the decision had been made by the on-site commanders that it was not their responsibility to provide the material to Israel; indeed, that to do so would violate the peacekeeping mandate, which required "full impartiality and objectivity." The U.N. report on the incident was adamant that its force had "to ensure that military and other sensitive information remains in their domain and is not passed to parties to a conflict."

Stymied in its efforts to recover the men while they were still alive, Israel ultimately agreed to an exchange in January 2004: It released 429 Arab prisoners and detainees, among them convicted terrorists, and the bodies of 60 Lebanese decedents and members of Hezbollah, in exchange for the bodies of the three soldiers. Blame for the deaths of those three Israelis can be laid, at least in part, at the feet of the U.N., which went to the wall defending its inviolable pledge never to share military intelligence about one party with another.

UNIFIL has just done what it then vowed it could never do. Once again, it has acted to shield one side in the conflict and to harm the other. Why is this permitted? For that matter, how did the U.N. obtain such detailed and timely military intelligence in the first place, before broadcasting it for Israel's enemies to see?

Lori Lowenthal Marcus is president of the Zionist Organization of America, Greater Philadelphia District.

U.S. May Curb Iran

Maggie Farley, Los Angeles Times:

With increasing signs that several fellow Security Council members may stall a United States push to penalize Iran for its nuclear enrichment program, Bush administration officials have indicated that they are prepared to form an independent coalition to freeze Iranian assets and restrict trade.

The strategy, analysts say, reflects not only long-standing U.S. frustration with the Security Council's inaction on Iran, but also the current weakness of Washington's position because of its controversial role in a series of conflicts in the Middle East, most recently in Lebanon.

Despite assurances from Russia and China in July that they would support initial sanctions against Iran if it failed to suspend aspects of its nuclear program, Russia seemed to backtrack this week after Tehran agreed to continue talks, but refused to halt enrichment. A Security Council resolution gives the Islamic Republic until Aug. 31 to stop uranium enrichment, which could provide fuel to produce electricity or possibly atomic weapons, or face penalties.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei B. Ivanov said Friday that as long as Iran was willing to negotiate, it was "premature" to punish the country and perhaps permanently isolate it.

"I do not know cases in international practice or the whole of the previous experience when sanctions reached their goals or were efficient," Ivanov said.

"Apart from this, I do not think that the issue is so urgent that the U.N. Security Council or the group of six countries" — the U.S., China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany — "should consider the introduction of sanctions. In any case Russia continues to advocate a political and diplomatic solution to the problem."

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Iran's response was "not satisfactory" but France wanted to avoid a new conflict that could lead to "a clash of civilizations."

"But the worst thing would be to escalate into a confrontation with Iran on the one hand — and the Muslim world with Iran — and the West," he said on French radio. "That would be the clash of civilizations that France today is practically alone in trying to avoid."

U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton said in an interview late this week that the United States planned to introduce a resolution imposing penalties such as a travel ban and asset freeze for key Iranian leaders soon after the Aug. 31 deadline, and seemed optimistic that China and Russia would agree to it once they saw the text. "Everybody's been on board," he said.

But in case Russia and China do not accept it, the U.S. is working a parallel diplomatic track outside the U.N., Bolton said.

Under U.S. terrorism laws, Washington could ramp up its own sanctions, including financial constraints on Tehran and interception of missile and nuclear materials en route to Iran, Bolton said, and the U.S. is encouraging other countries to follow suit. "You don't need Security Council authority to impose sanctions, just as we have," he said. READ MORE

The U.S. has had broad restrictions on almost all trade with Iran since 1987. Exceptions include the import of dried fruits and nuts, caviar and carpets. In addition, U.S. companies can obtain licenses to do limited trade in agriculture and medicine. The United States also initiated the Proliferation Security Initiative, involving a coalition of countries that have agreed to intercept shipments of materials to Iran that could be used for weapons of mass destruction.

"We will continue to enhance PSI to cut off flows of materials and technology that are useful to Iran's ballistic missile program and nuclear programs," Bolton said. "We will be constraining financial transactions under existing terrorism laws."

He said Washington was focusing on European and Japanese banks to restrict business with Iran, because most of Tehran's transactions are done in U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds and yen. "There aren't a lot of opportunities to sell in other currencies," he said.

Bolton and U.S. Treasury officials refused to provide details on which countries might be interested, citing the "sensitivity" of the talks.

But Treasury spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said they had already seen results, including Union Bank of Switzerland cutting off relationships with Iran.

"We're seeing more financial institutions around the world looking at the actions and messages emanating out of Iran — from their nuclear ambitions to state sponsorship of Hezbollah — and asking themselves, 'do we really want to be Iran's banker?' " she said in an e-mail.

Though U.S. officials said pursuing parallel paths is "common sense" and highlights what they consider to be the inefficiency of the Security Council, some analysts said the move would underline Washington's inability to win over the council and the lack of options against a newly emboldened Iran.

"When you start doing things that would be better with the Security Council's endorsement, does it show weakness or strength?" said George Perkovich, the director of the nonproliferation program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Iran could argue that 'the U.S. couldn't even get the Security Council backing, and so we are winning.' "

Perkovich said even traditional U.S. allies were fatigued by dealing with so many conflicts and didn't want to add Iran to a list that includes Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon.

"There is a general reluctance to follow the U.S. lead," he said. "Our negotiating power is diminished, which is regrettable."

Russia and China have specifically objected to the use of a U.N. charter measure known as Chapter 7 that would open the door to military action or sanctions. But Bolton said that a resolution on North Korea passed unanimously in July might create a new template for dealing with those concerns.

That resolution instituted a ban on supplying technology and goods related to North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, and got around China's and Russia's doubts about Chapter 7 with other legally binding language that would prevent an Iraq-style invasion.

"There are some aspects of the North Korea resolution that will be useful," Bolton said. "A lot of this is just going to have be played out."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Times staff writer David Holley in Moscow contributed to this report.

Major power outage leads to protest actions

SMCCDI (Information Service):

A major power outage resulted in sporadic protest actions, against the Islamic regime, as millions of Tehranis were paralyzed in their daily activities. The power outage has been, officially, attributed to a 'technical failure' following the 'mechanical explosion of a major power post near the southern part of the Capital".

Many Tehranis, especially among exasperated underground users, were seen seizing the occasion in order to speak against the Islamic regime by mocking the Islamist leadership's claims of 'reaching top technologies'. Some of these spontaneous gatherings resulted in sporadic protest actions and hostile slogans.

There's no news about the real origin of the massive power failure but many believe that it was due to an act of sabotage.

Iran has right to OPEC sec-gen post - oil minister

Reuters:

Iran's oil minister has said the country believes the position of OPEC secretary general is its right, but does not seek confrontation to get the position, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.

There has been a row between Iran and Kuwait over which country's candidate should be appointed secretary-general, the administrative head who represents the organisation and helps coordinate policy talks among members.

OPEC's president, Nigerian Edmund Daokoru, discussed the issue when he toured a number of Middle Eastern OPEC countries last month.

"We see the OPEC secretary-generalship as our right and we intend to obtain our right, but we do not want a confrontation," Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh, Iran's oil minister, was quoted by IRNA as saying. READ MORE

"Regarding the issue, solutions have been reserved to be used in the next OPEC meeting (through which) we hope to reach our goals," Hamaneh said.

Iran is the second biggest producer in the cartel after Saudi Arabia, but has been denied the position of OPEC secretary general since the Islamic Revolution took over the country in 1979.

OPEC has been unable to reach agreement on the secretary-general post since December 2003, when the term of Venezuela's Alvaro Silva ended.

Acting secretaries-general have served since then, with Nigeria's Mohammed Barkindo now in the post.

The selection process often exposes political divisions between core Gulf members.

War of Internet Sites over the Distribution of Spoils

Esfandiar Saffari, Rooz Online:

From the moment of the fundamentalist take-over of the government, there have been many new Internet sites launched, each criticizing one another or using propaganda against each other.

In the last year, and since the fundamentalists took over, similar restrictions or
suppression of the press, threats and closing of sites have become commonplace in the Internet arena as well. With this policy now in force, sites which are in any way seen as critical of the regime’s policies are forced to shut down or face all kinds of red tape, or other sites favorable to the policies of the current government are launched on a greater scale.

Among the many dozens recently launched are sites such as Aref, Farda, Khorshid, Asseman, Raja, Didar, Nowsazi, Khedmat, Sharif and Alborz news, all of which have been active since July 2005. Most of these sites refuse to acknowledge their financial support, or state the names of their editors or the persons in charge. Posting news items, and various reports, without even using a pseudonym under any of the articles posted, these sites criticize each other and sometimes even some of the policies of the various government entities such as the judiciary and the Majilis (the Parliament).

Although most of these sites are clearly financed by the state, some are getting funds from unknown sources, and don’t hesitate to try and eliminate each other by attributing corruption, nepotism, getting huge profitable advertisements and/or exposing names of government officials to their competitors. Saedi Aboutaleb, a member of the Itanian Parliament, who is himself one of the conservative party Abadgaran, in a word of advice to his colleagues in the government, said: “The government, by creating some of these sites, which are not even functioning within the boundaries of the law, should think twice that by doing so, it is in fact turning them into an oppositional force.”

Most of these sites are in support of Ahmadi-Nejad and critical of many political figures, and political parties, even moderates and/or traditionalists within the government. READ MORE

However, when it comes to the ultra right wing, each of these sites supports one or another government official. Even if the government spokesman has sent a public letter to Tehran’s prosecutor to take serious action against the press in general and the sites in particular, it is interesting to note that some of the opinions of Mr. Elham have been posted on many of these mentioned sites.

It seems as if the contradictions within the ranks of the right-wingers have been channeled to the Internet sites for the purpose of creating an unhealthy atmosphere and a climate of distrust within the media. In the last few weeks, these sites have been at each other’s throats accusing one another of “chain sites”, a term applied to the reformist or semi-independent press which they now attribute to each other.

Radical Islamic Group Will Hold Dinner to Honor Khatami

LittleGreenFootballs:

On September 8, three days before the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 Islamic terror attacks, the Council on American Islamic Relations will host a dinner for the former president of the world’s worst terror-sponsoring state, Mohammad Khatami, at the Marriott Hotel in Arlington Virginia.

CAIR TO HOST DINNER FOR FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAN

Khatami to speak on ‘The Dialogue of Civilizations: Five Years After 9/11’

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/24/06) - On Friday, September 8, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will host a dinner for former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Va. The theme of his address at the CAIR dinner will be “The Dialogue of Civilizations: Five Years After 9/11.” Khatami will be in Washington, D.C., to take part in an event at the National Cathedral.

SEE: Former President of Iran Invited to Speak in D.C. (Washington Post)

WHAT: CAIR Hosts Dinner for Former President of Iran

WHEN: Friday, September 8, 2006, 7-9 p.m. (A private reception with President Khatami, including a photo opportunity, will precede the dinner at 6 p.m.)

WHERE: Marriott Crystal Gateway, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Va.

COST: Dinner only: $250 per person; private reception and dinner: $500 per person

CONTACT: RSVP by Tuesday, September 5, 2006, by calling 202-742-6409 or 202-488-8787, ext. 6052, or e-mailing: irahman@cair.com

When elected as president of Iran in 1997, Khatami sought increased freedom of the press, political reform and improved inter-cultural relations. He called for a dialogue of civilizations, a proposal taken up by the United Nations.

Ken Timmerman has more on the former president of the Islamic Republic and his trip to the US. Write the White House and ask them to deny his request for a visa.

The Kurds are Being Driven Out Again - This Time by Iran

Ned Parker, The Times Online:

A Secret war is being waged in Iraqi Kurdistan’s isolated Kandil mountain range. Since April Iran has been bombing the area in an attempt to expel Kurdish separatists, who have turned the rugged terrain into their own mini-state.

An estimated 400 families have fled the mountains to escape the Iranian attacks. No let-up appears in sight as fighters from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) refuse to abandon their enclave.

Murat Karayilan, the PKK’s bristly, grey-haired number two commander believes the campaign is an attempt by the Islamic republic to curry favour with Turkey, the PKK’s sworn enemy.

“The Turkish and Iranian forces have made an alliance to attack us,” Mr Karayilan told The Times inside his group’s enclave. “Iran is attacking us to make friends with Turkey and to send a message to the United States.” READ MORE

In turn, Mr Karayilan claims the PKK’s sister group, the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJK), a grouping of Iranian Kurdish separatists, has carried out reprisals in Iran. Since May the PJK has killed 94 Iranian soldiers, the PKK claims.

“You may ask why does Iran attack us. It is because of the larger issues of the Middle East,” said Mr Karayilan.

This week the Royal Institute of Strategic Affairs, a UK think-tank, gave warning that Iran had become the most influential country in the Middle East, three years after the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The Iranian campaign in Kandil has coincided with renewed Turkish artillery strikes against PKK camps along the Iraq-Turkey border. The attacks are seen as a way to pressure Iraqi Kurdistan and are also revealing of Turkey and Iran’s skittish nature when it comes to their own restive Kurdish populations.

Mr Karayilan believes that Turkey is using the PKK as a pretext to intimidate Iraq’s Kurdish regional government about the future of the oil-rich Iraqi city of Kirkuk, which the Kurds want to annex despite Turkey’s adamant opposition. Kirkuk boasts large Arab and Turkmen populations.

The PKK fought Turkish security forces for much of the 1980s and 1990s. Their guerilla war in Turkey cost more than 30,000 lives, but the PKK declared a ceasefire in 1999 after the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, its leader.

They returned to armed struggle in 2004 in anger over Ankara’s failure to engage them.

Flanked by his Kalashnikov-toting women and men, Mr Karayilan is confident no one will be able to force his men out of the Kandil mountain range on the triangle border of Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

Mr Karayilan and his troops, clad in their olive soldier uniforms, cruise the serpentine mountain roads in Nissan Patrols. PKK soldiers man checkpoints and sentry posts from hilltop to hilltop. Their green flags adorn mountainsides. At the entrance to their enclave, concrete blocks mark the road and a giant poster of Ocalan stares down from a slope.

Iraq’s Kurdish regional government professes helplessness about the situation with the PKK and Iran.

“Kandil is a very difficult terrain. Because of the geographical terrain in Kandil, no one in the Kurdish Government, the Iraqi government . . . has been able to control this place,” said Othman Haji Mahmoud, interior minister for Sulaimaniyah.

“We hope the PKK leaves Kandil. We remind the Iranian Government to stop its shelling.”

Meanwhile, the refugee population continues to grow. Along stream beds south of the Kandil mountains, villagers have staked up tents.

On August 18 Rasul Hama Ahmed fled his village of Karosh when Iranian shells rained down from the sky. Everyone ran to hide in caves, ditches and behind trees. One shepherd was killed in their village three hours by foot from the Iranian border. Twenty-five homes were destroyed. “The shells fell like stones from the sky,” he said and hoisted up his leg to show a knick from shrapnel.

It was the second time his village had been struck since April and Ahmed said he was not taking any more chances. He estimated that 4,000 people had been uprooted since the start of the Iranian offensive.

Ahmed complained the women and children were getting sick from the stream’s water. He said the village had still not decided whether to return home.

Looking at his ramshackle makeshift camp of four tents, Ahmed added: “I want freedom, not to be a prisoner of bombing and fighting.”

REBELLIOUS KURDS

- The PKK founded by Abdullah Ocalan in 1974

- Began fight for a separate homeland in Kurdish areas straddling Turkey’s borders with Iran, Iraq and Syria in 1984

- The EU and US class the PKK as a terrorist group. Its armed struggle included bombings, kidnappings and assassinations which cost more than 30,000 lives

- In 1999 Ocalan was captured by Turkey. He urged the PKK to continue the struggle politically and it announced a ceasefire

- Ceasefire ended 2004 and the PKK is accused of bombings in tourist areas in Turkey

- Turkey claims that it earns $40 million annually from drug trafficking

Why is the US media not talking about this?