Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today called for prosecution of the opposition leaders over the street demonstrations and uprising that followed the presidential election. Ahmadinejad and his supporters have been accused by the opposition of staging a coup to prevent the victory of Mir Hossein Mousavi, Iran’s former wartime premier and the presumed winner of the election.
“Serious confrontation with the leaders and key elements [of protests], against those who organized and provoked and carried out the enemy's plan, are needed," Ahmadinejad said. "They have to be dealt with seriously.”
In a bizarre part of his speech, Ahmadinejad accused the foreign enemies for mistreating the detainees after their arrest by security forces.
"These actions that were carried out in custody were part of the enemy's scenario," Ahmadinejad said. "Security, military and intelligence forces are free from these shameful acts."
The government crackdown on the demonstrations killed at least 69 people. Many detainees have been subjected to torture and there are credible reports that some died in prison from beatings and other abuse.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Israel: Crippling Sanctions against Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today called for "crippling sanctions" against Iran to stop its nuclear work.
"There is not much time" to halt Tehran's nuclear ambitions, Netanyahu said in a news conference in Berlin after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel [AFP, 27 August].
"I think the most important thing that can be put in place is what the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called crippling sanctions. It is possible to put real pressure, real economic pressure, on this regime if the major powers of the world unite."
Merkel told the same news conference that if Iran failed to meet international obligations by next month then "more serious steps" including energy sanctions would have to be considered.
"There is not much time" to halt Tehran's nuclear ambitions, Netanyahu said in a news conference in Berlin after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel [AFP, 27 August].
"I think the most important thing that can be put in place is what the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called crippling sanctions. It is possible to put real pressure, real economic pressure, on this regime if the major powers of the world unite."
Merkel told the same news conference that if Iran failed to meet international obligations by next month then "more serious steps" including energy sanctions would have to be considered.
IAEA to Release Report on Iran
Iranian ambassador to IAEA, Ali Asqar Soltanieh, told reporters that IAEA director will release his latest report on Iran as early as Friday [Fars News Agency].
The Western diplomats do not expect the report to contain any bombshells. The report would precede a meeting of Group 5+1 (the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany) on 2 September to consider a new round of sanctions against Iran if talks on the country’s nuclear program fail.
The Western diplomats do not expect the report to contain any bombshells. The report would precede a meeting of Group 5+1 (the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany) on 2 September to consider a new round of sanctions against Iran if talks on the country’s nuclear program fail.
US Air Force to Speed Purchase of MOP
US Air Force said on Thursday that it was speeding the purchase of 10 to 12 precision-guided 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOP), a.k.a bunker buster bombs.
Suspected Iranian and North Korean underground nuclear sites have been stated as the justification to acquire MOPs, built by Boeing, and to integrate them aboard long-range bombers. The MOP is designed to destroy deeply-buried targets beyond the reach of existing bombs.
Radar-evading B-2 bombers could be capable of the carrying the MOPs by July 2010, an Air Force spokesman told the reporters today [Reuters, 27 August].
Suspected Iranian and North Korean underground nuclear sites have been stated as the justification to acquire MOPs, built by Boeing, and to integrate them aboard long-range bombers. The MOP is designed to destroy deeply-buried targets beyond the reach of existing bombs.
Radar-evading B-2 bombers could be capable of the carrying the MOPs by July 2010, an Air Force spokesman told the reporters today [Reuters, 27 August].
On Mass Trials
“It was George Soros who conspired to say that the earth was round. I made a mistake studying and presenting theories.”
A cartoon by Nikahang Kowsa on Saeed Hajjarian reading his confessions during the mass trial in Tehran [nikahang.blogspot.com, 25 August].
A cartoon by Nikahang Kowsa on Saeed Hajjarian reading his confessions during the mass trial in Tehran [nikahang.blogspot.com, 25 August].
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Talks of New Iran Sanctions
France today followed the US and Britain in warning Iran of “severe” new sanctions if it does not stop its uranium enrichment activities. French president Nicolas Sarkozy emphasized lack of trust on Iranian leadership.
“These are the same leaders, in Iran, who tell us that the nuclear program is peaceful and that the elections were honest. Frankly, who believes them?” Sarkozy said in a speech delivered in Paris today [AFP, 26 August].
Yesterday, Britain warned Iran could face another round of sanctions if it did not halt its uranium enrichment program.
“If there is no further progress immediately then I believe the world will have to look at stepping up sanctions against Iran as a matter of priority," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told reporters in London at a news conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Obama administration has already warned Iran of sanctions against the export of gasoline to the country. Iran imports some 40% of its daily gasoline use. An embargo could severely disrupt its economy.
Ironically, the calls for new and severe sanctions against Iran come at a time that IAEA reports no increase in the number of centrifuges in Natanz, the country’s uranium enrichment plant.
“There has been no increase in the number of centrifuges enriching uranium since the end of May," Reuters quoted a senior Viennese diplomat familiar with the issue. The diplomat said the reason for the slowdown was mainly technical, adding that some of the centrifuges had been taken down for repair and maintenance [Reuters, 25 August].
“These are the same leaders, in Iran, who tell us that the nuclear program is peaceful and that the elections were honest. Frankly, who believes them?” Sarkozy said in a speech delivered in Paris today [AFP, 26 August].
Yesterday, Britain warned Iran could face another round of sanctions if it did not halt its uranium enrichment program.
“If there is no further progress immediately then I believe the world will have to look at stepping up sanctions against Iran as a matter of priority," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told reporters in London at a news conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Obama administration has already warned Iran of sanctions against the export of gasoline to the country. Iran imports some 40% of its daily gasoline use. An embargo could severely disrupt its economy.
Ironically, the calls for new and severe sanctions against Iran come at a time that IAEA reports no increase in the number of centrifuges in Natanz, the country’s uranium enrichment plant.
“There has been no increase in the number of centrifuges enriching uranium since the end of May," Reuters quoted a senior Viennese diplomat familiar with the issue. The diplomat said the reason for the slowdown was mainly technical, adding that some of the centrifuges had been taken down for repair and maintenance [Reuters, 25 August].
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Prosecutors Call for Death Penalty for Leading Reformists
Iranian prosecutors called for the death penalty for leading reformists during their mass trial today in Tehran. Today's show resembled the Stalin-era trials of the leading Communist Party ideologues and operatives and the people’s courts of China’s Cultural Revolution, with confessions read aloud by or for leading Communist Party leaders.
In Tehran, leading figures and luminaries of the Islamic revolution, such as Saeed Hajjarian and six former government ministers, were confessing to their crimes of wanting to reform the system and suppporting a candidate who was himself Iran's prime minister during the eight-year war with Iraq.
Today’s mass trial and the prosecutors’ call for death penalty against some of the early supporters of the Islamic revolution must be one of the darkest days in the history of the Islamic Republic.
In Tehran, leading figures and luminaries of the Islamic revolution, such as Saeed Hajjarian and six former government ministers, were confessing to their crimes of wanting to reform the system and suppporting a candidate who was himself Iran's prime minister during the eight-year war with Iraq.
Today’s mass trial and the prosecutors’ call for death penalty against some of the early supporters of the Islamic revolution must be one of the darkest days in the history of the Islamic Republic.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Iranian Arms Seized in Yemen
The Yemeni army has seized Iranian-made weapons used by Huthis Shia rebels, AFP quoted a Yemeni official on Sunday.
"The troops have discovered six storehouses for weapons that belong to the Huthi rebels and contain some Iranian-made weapons, including machine guns, short-range rockets and ammunition," the official said.
The weapons were found near the rugged mountainous city of Saada, where the army launched an offensive against the rebels two weeks ago.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh pledged last week to crush the Shiite rebellion after the fighting that began in the Saada province on the border with Saudi Arabia spread to the Amran province to the south. The rebels, led by Abdul-Malek Al-Huthi, have been engaged in fighting with government forces on and off since 2004.
"The troops have discovered six storehouses for weapons that belong to the Huthi rebels and contain some Iranian-made weapons, including machine guns, short-range rockets and ammunition," the official said.
The weapons were found near the rugged mountainous city of Saada, where the army launched an offensive against the rebels two weeks ago.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh pledged last week to crush the Shiite rebellion after the fighting that began in the Saada province on the border with Saudi Arabia spread to the Amran province to the south. The rebels, led by Abdul-Malek Al-Huthi, have been engaged in fighting with government forces on and off since 2004.
Iran: Largest Oil Find in Five Years
Iranian oil minister Qolam Hossein Nozari today told reporters in Tehran that over 8.8 billion barrels of crude oil has been discovered in four new layers at the Sousangerd oilfield, the largest find in five years [IRNA, 24 August]."Drilling all layers of this field was successfully finished in the depth of 5,026 metres and as expected the amount of in-place oil reserve is about 8.83 billions of barrel," Nozari said.
Vahidi: Wanted
The Interpol search result on Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, Iran's Defense Minister-designate.
Charged with "Crimes against life and health, hooliganism/vandalism/damage."
Arrest warrant issued by Argentina
(Click on the image to enlarge)
Sunday, August 23, 2009
News footage of the Iranian made "Saegheh" fighter jet
The Saegheh is an impressive aircraft designed and made solely by Iran, it is used mainly in the air to ground attack role!
Majlis to Start Deliberations of Proposed Cabinet
Majlis, the Iranian parliament, will start its deliberation of Ahmadinejad’s proposed cabinet on Sunday. The government is required to obtain votes of confidence for individual ministers. Approval of at least 11 of the 21 proposed ministers is necessary to form the cabinet.
Top photos by ISNA show yesterday’s session of Majlis and the bottom photo by IRIB shows the 21 proposed ministers.
IRGC Military Operation in Northwest Iran
IRGC is undertaking a major military operation against the Kurdish militant group PJAK in northwest Iran.
UPDATE (6 pm Iran time): IRGC Brig. Gen. Pakpour told reporters in Tehran that during the extensive operation, some 26 members of PJAK, Komouleh and Democratic Party of Kurdistan have been killed. As of yet, no reports from the independent or Kurdish sources were available.
UPDATE (6 pm Iran time): IRGC Brig. Gen. Pakpour told reporters in Tehran that during the extensive operation, some 26 members of PJAK, Komouleh and Democratic Party of Kurdistan have been killed. As of yet, no reports from the independent or Kurdish sources were available.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Karrubi to Launch Satellite TV
Ayatollah Mehdi Karrubi will soon launch his own satellite TV channel. The station, to be called Saba, will be based in Dubai.
Karrubi planned to open the channel four years ago after loosing his first presidential bid. Reports at the time indicated that Karrubi was prevented to launch the channel by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Karrubi's relations with Khamenei has gone sour in the aftermath of the recent election fiasco and the nationwide popular uprising that followed. Karrubi has become one of the leading figures of the opposition.
Karrubi planned to open the channel four years ago after loosing his first presidential bid. Reports at the time indicated that Karrubi was prevented to launch the channel by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Karrubi's relations with Khamenei has gone sour in the aftermath of the recent election fiasco and the nationwide popular uprising that followed. Karrubi has become one of the leading figures of the opposition.
Mashaie Convicted
Esfandyar Rahim Mashaie, Ahmadinejad’s chief of staff and his controversial choice to become his first vice president, was convicted in a Tehran court on charges of “financial misconduct,” Jomhouri Eslami reported on Thursday [Farsi text on Jahat-e Etella page].
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, had ordered Ahmadinejad to withdraw Mashaie’s nomination for vice presidency. Mashaie’s conviction will be a severe blow to Ahmadinejad. Jomhouri Eslami reports that the court has sentenced Mashaei to 2-month suspension from his government post.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, had ordered Ahmadinejad to withdraw Mashaie’s nomination for vice presidency. Mashaie’s conviction will be a severe blow to Ahmadinejad. Jomhouri Eslami reports that the court has sentenced Mashaei to 2-month suspension from his government post.
US Calls Iranian Defense Minister Choice ‘Disturbing’
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi,Defense Minister-designate
AFP Photo
The United States today expressed concern over Ahmadinejad’s choice of Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as Iran’s new defense minister. Vahidi is sought by Interpol in connection with a deadly 1994 bomb attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires.
State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters in Washington that the US is troubled by the choice.
"Clearly if this report is true, and if this man is confirmed as a cabinet minister and he is wanted by Interpol for his involvement in a terrorist act, of course this would be disturbing," Kelly said.
The US has joined Argentina, Israel and others including Jewish groups in voicing its concern about the nomination of Vahidi, a former commander of IRGC’s elite Quds Force, notorious for its operations outside Iran’s borders.
Uskowi on Iran broke the news of Vahidi’s selection to become the minister of defense on Wednesday.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Iranian Oil: Transformation from the Old Guards to the Revolutionary Guards
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been campaigning for the past four years on breaking up the country’s oil mafia. Yesterday he named former IRGC senior officer Masoud Mir Kazemin to head the ministry of oil. Ahmadinejad’s idea of breaking up the oil mafia seems to be merely a change of guards: from the old guards to the revolutionary guards!
IRGC already controls big chunks of Iran’s commerce and they practically control the country’s construction industry. Now with the oil added to their growing portfolio of commodities and services, they can go after the old guards and control the country’s biggest industry, oil and gas.
Mir-Kazemi served as minister of commerce during Ahmadinejad’s first term. Prior to that, he headed IRGC’s Center for Strategic Studies and its Shahed University.
Iran is OPEC’s second-largest oil producer, pumping 3.79 million barrels a day.
IRGC already controls big chunks of Iran’s commerce and they practically control the country’s construction industry. Now with the oil added to their growing portfolio of commodities and services, they can go after the old guards and control the country’s biggest industry, oil and gas.
Mir-Kazemi served as minister of commerce during Ahmadinejad’s first term. Prior to that, he headed IRGC’s Center for Strategic Studies and its Shahed University.
Iran is OPEC’s second-largest oil producer, pumping 3.79 million barrels a day.
Iran & The West: Nuclear Confrontation
Third of the three part series Iran & The West which debuted on BBC last February detailing the history of Iran's relation with the west (primarily the United States) which is 30 years old this year!
This episode entitled Nuclear Confrontation details Iranian and Western relations after 9/11 and the subsequent US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the controversy over Iran's nuclear program.
This episode entitled Nuclear Confrontation details Iranian and Western relations after 9/11 and the subsequent US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the controversy over Iran's nuclear program.
Iran & The West: The Pariah State
Second of the three part series Iran & The West which debuted on BBC last February detailing the history of Iran's relation with the west (primarily the United States) which is 30 years old this year!
This episode entitled The Pariah State details the history of Iran's relationship with the west from the end of the war with Iraq up until the start of the 21st century.
This episode entitled The Pariah State details the history of Iran's relationship with the west from the end of the war with Iraq up until the start of the 21st century.
Iran & The West: The Man Who Changed the World
First of the three part series Iran & The West which debuted on BBC last February detailing the history of Iran's relation with the west (primarily the United States) which is 30 years old this year!
This episode entitled The Man Who Changed the World is mainly about Ayatollah Khomeini and the revolution in 1979 that toppled the Shah.
This episode entitled The Man Who Changed the World is mainly about Ayatollah Khomeini and the revolution in 1979 that toppled the Shah.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Ahmadinejad Names New Cabinet
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has named the new cabinet for his second tem. The ministers individually, and the government as a whole, need to obtain votes of confidence from Iran’s parliament, the Majlis. The vote of confidence requires a simple majority, but at least in case of few proposed ministers the outcome is unclear.
Among the ministers named:
Haidar Moslehi, intelligence minister. Mr. Moslehi is a cleric who has served as the representative of the supreme leader at IRGC, Basij and IRGC’s Qaemol Anbia base. Moslehi is a compromise candidate over the names recently put out by the conservatives opposed to Ahmadinejad.
Mostafa Mohammad Najar, interior minister. IRGC Brig. Gen. Najar is currently Iran’s defense minister. Naming a uniformed IRGC general to a post controlling the country’s elections process with additional jurisdiction over the political parties and organizations and large gatherings is indeed very troubling.
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, defense minister. Gen. Vahidi is a former commander of IRGC's Quds Force, an elite unit of IRGC operating outside Iran, especially in Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan. Vahidi had previously served as the IRGC director of intelligence.
Manouchehr Mottaki, foreign minister. Mr. Mottaki holds on his current portfolio amid calls for his replacement by some of Ahmadinejad’s supporters. His retention was perhaps the most surprising nomination.
Masoud Masoud Mirkazemi, oil minister. Dr. Mirkazemi is currently the minister of commerce.
There are also three women nominees: Dr. Sousan Keshavarz, education minister; Dr. Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, health minister and Fateme Ajorlou, welfare and social security minister. This is the largest number of women ever named to the cabinet.
Ten of the 21 ministers have been retained from Ahmadinejad's first cabinet.
Among the ministers named:
Haidar Moslehi, intelligence minister. Mr. Moslehi is a cleric who has served as the representative of the supreme leader at IRGC, Basij and IRGC’s Qaemol Anbia base. Moslehi is a compromise candidate over the names recently put out by the conservatives opposed to Ahmadinejad.
Mostafa Mohammad Najar, interior minister. IRGC Brig. Gen. Najar is currently Iran’s defense minister. Naming a uniformed IRGC general to a post controlling the country’s elections process with additional jurisdiction over the political parties and organizations and large gatherings is indeed very troubling.
Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, defense minister. Gen. Vahidi is a former commander of IRGC's Quds Force, an elite unit of IRGC operating outside Iran, especially in Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan. Vahidi had previously served as the IRGC director of intelligence.
Manouchehr Mottaki, foreign minister. Mr. Mottaki holds on his current portfolio amid calls for his replacement by some of Ahmadinejad’s supporters. His retention was perhaps the most surprising nomination.
Masoud Masoud Mirkazemi, oil minister. Dr. Mirkazemi is currently the minister of commerce.
There are also three women nominees: Dr. Sousan Keshavarz, education minister; Dr. Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, health minister and Fateme Ajorlou, welfare and social security minister. This is the largest number of women ever named to the cabinet.
Ten of the 21 ministers have been retained from Ahmadinejad's first cabinet.
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