Bakhtiari Protests in Iran

There have been a number of protests by Bakhtiaris recently in Isfahan and Ahvaz, among other cities, who say they have been insulted by a broadcast aired by IRIB, the state broadcasting system. They are demanding the removal of the director of IRIB. The Bakhtiari is one of the prominent tribes in Iran.

A loyal reader of this blog has shared with us the photo, seen above, and links to YouTube videos on the subject.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yi_eQ0DHd9Y&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dyi_eQ0DHd9Y

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0yQTspPRwt4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D0yQTspPRwt4

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xeHRPkNBTc8

Iran Marines feature presentation on IRIB TV 1

Video feauture presentation on Iran Marines aired on IRIB television channel 1. Provides video of Marines in action, as well as training and interviews.

NEZAJA-related feature presentation on IRIB TV 1 (Persian)

NEZAJA (Iran Army ground forces) related feature presentation broadcast on Iran television station IRIB TV 1. Highlights include a number of tactical weapon developments in action, including M-60 MBT with updated fire-control system, Zulfiqar-3 installed with tank commander periscope, M113 APC affixed with remote weapon station type armament, an automatized mortar system and Neinava-based mine layer truck. Also includes various Artesh-related footage.

Claimed rebel chemical weapon attack, reported by Iranian journalist inside Syria - Video

Amended: 8/29/13 Above IRIB reporter inside Syria apparently embedded with Syrian Army reports on claimed Syrian rebel chemical weapon attack.

Below: video provided by Syrian rebels claiming to portray Syrian Army troops (in RG appearing gear) firing a chemical weapon munition. It is obviously not an Iranian Fajr-5. Over at Roque Adventurer blog, observer notes similarity to an Iranian Falaq-2 launcher

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying Simulcast

Iran versus South Korea

Click HERE for IRIB3 broadcast, June 18th at 8:00 AM EDT

Photo: FIFA.com

United States New Iran Sanctions Go Into Effect Today

Iran Sets Up Oil-for-Goods Barter Committee

U.S. Treasury Department today announced the start of tightened Iran sanctions, compelling Iranian crude oil customers such as China, Japan and India to keep the payments for their oil purchases in escrow accounts that Iran can only use for locally sourced good and services, effectively forcing Iran to use barter arrangement to sell its oil. The penalty for importers if they do not abide by the new sanctions will be expulsion from the U.S. banking system.

David Cohen, the Treasury undersecretary who oversees the Iran sanctions effort, said the actions were meant to “intensify the economic pressure against the Iranian regime.” (The New York Times, 6 February)

Iranian Ministry of Commerce today announced the formation of an oil-for-goods barter committee to cope with the new restrictions. (Mehr News Agency, 6 February) 

Meanwhile, in a separate move today, the U.S. blacklisted Iran’s state broadcasting authority, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Iran’s Cyber Basij, the country’s internet-policing agency, and Communications Regulatory Authority, Iran’s enforcer of Internet filtering and blocking of Web sites, for stifling of domestic dissent and access to information. Also blacklisted, was Iran Electronics Industries, a producer of electronic systems and products, which the Treasury said was responsible for goods and services related to jamming, monitoring and eavesdropping.

File photo: Iran’s Kharq Oil Export Terminal (Getty Images)

HispanTV

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Thursday launched the HispanTV, the country’s first Spanish-language channel that will broadcast news, entertainment, and educational programs mainly intended for the viewers in Latin America.

HispanTV programs are available for 16 hours a day which are expected to be increased to 24 hours in the near future.

The channel broadcasts on Hispasat 1C, frequency: 12092 MHz, vertical polarization, symbol rate: 27500, FEC ¾; and Hispasat 1C, frequency: 12172 MHz, horizontal position, symbol rate: 27500, FEC ¾.

It can also be received on NSS 806, frequency: 3803 MHz, horizontal position, symbol rate: 27500, FEC 3/4; Intelsat 9, frequency: 3840 MHz, vertical position, symbol rate: 27690, FEC 7/8 and HotBird, Frequency: 12380 MHz, vertical position, Symbol rate: 27500, FEC ¾.

Uskowi on Iran congratulates our colleagues at HispanTV for the launch of the channel.

Iran to Launch Spanish-language Hispan TV

IRIB, Iran’s state-owned broadcasting service will launch the Spanish language Hispan TV on Wednesday.

“This new Spanish network will have a major role in reflecting the ideological legitimacy of our system to the (Spanish-speaking) world,” said IRIB chief, Ezzatollah Zarghami [IRIB, 19 December].

The channel will be broadcast from the IRIB studios in Tehran. Hispan TV will be IRIB’s third foreign language channel after the Arabic language Al-Alam television network and the English language Press TV. Hispan TV programs will be broadcast through satellite and can be received by HD receivers.

Iranian Reporter Among Detainees in Italy

Hamid Masouminejad, the Rome correspondent for Iran’s state-owned national TV network was confirmed to be one of the two Iranians arrested in Italy on arms trafficking charges.

IRIB foreign news director Hassan Abedini said the network would hire a lawyer to defend Mr. Masouminejad.

Italian police said Wednesday that five Italians and two Iranians were detained in the case. They are accused to ship weapons to Iran through third countries despite a UN embargo on such shipments.

Brown’s Britain and Iran

Before Gordon Brown came to power, Iranian leaders were expressing hopes that he would revise British policy towards Iran by distancing himself from the US policies on Iran. The wishful thinking that is becoming a part of policy making process in today’s Iran was all but shattered after Brown visited Bush at Camp David yesterday. Radio Iran in a commentary this morning said as much: “Despite earlier speculations that there would be a gradual distancing between Britain and America, Brown wants to portray the notion that London’s policies are close to those of Washington.” (live.irib.ir / 31 July 07)

Mr. Brown himself told Washington Post, the newspaper of Washington’s elite, that under his premiership Britain will remain the nation of Winston Churchill, ever ready to defend liberty and security alongside America. The new British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, in one of his first policy statements, refused to rule out the military option on Iran (even though Jack Straw had done so during Blair era).

The historically close transatlantic relation between the two allies is not the only factor determining the British policy. The memories of the 15 detained British sailors in Tehran are still fresh in everybody’s mind. And the recent reports on Iranian involvement in anti-British operations in Basra have solidified the British view of Iran as an enemy state.

It looks that London’s relationship with Washington is as strong today, and could become stronger as the crisis in the region intensifies.

Iran Launches English-Language TV News

Iran’s new English-language TV news channel, Press TV, went on air today. This is the newest entry in the increasingly crowded field of English-language international news channels.

Press TV’s website has been running for a few months at http://www.presstv.com/. The new channel has a staff of over 400 and 26 international correspondents in different countries. The 24-hour schedule includes news every 30 minutes and three daily and live 55-minute programs.

The impact of Press TV in the US will be very limited. The Qatar-based Al-Jazeera English launched its own Washington broadcasting center but US cable operators refused to carry it and its US audience has since been limited to a relatively few expatriates who own satellite dishes and choose to watch their homeland news in English.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which owns and operates Press TV, also runs a 24-hour Arabic-language news channel, Al-Alam (The World). Al-Alam’s news and programming center is based in Beirut and many of its staff are Lebanese. Al-Alam competes with Pan-Arab satellite news channels Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya.