Saudi Arabia gives Israel use of its airspace to attack Iran

The Times Online has revealed that Saudi Arabia "has conducted tests to stand down its air defences to enable Israeli jets to make a bombing raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities."

This story has also made headlines on PressTV.

Anyone who has followed the saber rattling that has been going on between Israel and Iran will have seen this story pop up occasionally in the past few months, and has been covered on this blog.

However that doesn't mean we shouldn't take it seriously and is a development worthy of keeping a close eye on.

Iran to Announce Nuclear Advancement

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization announced today that it will unveil nuclear achievements at its research reactor in Tehran. Last February, the agency had announced that it had started enriching uranium to 20 percent purity to fuel the reactor.

On 16 May, Iran signed an agreement with Turkey and Brazil to swap its low enriched uranium for the 20 percent fuel needed for its research reactor. It was not clear if the expected announcement would confirm that Iran has produced enough fuel on its own to run its reactor.

UPDATE: Iran’s atomic energy chief says Iran will begin construction of a new uranium enrichment plant by March of next year.

Iran: A Year Later

By Nader Uskowi

On 12 June 2009, Iranians went to the poll to choose their president. A significant segment of the population, especially in the country’s major cities, expected former prime minister and now the opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi to become the new head of the government. In a series of events that are still in dispute, the incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner and the country’s supreme leader personally and famously certified his re-election during 19 June 2009 sermon at Tehran’s Friday’s Prayer. Pro-Mousavi protesters came out on the streets in a spontaneous movement we now call Green. At the biggest Green demonstration in Tehran, some three million Iranians demanded a runoff or a new election to no avail. More than 80 people were killed during the government crackdowns on street protesters and thousands were detained, with hundreds still in detention. Many were charged and few were executed. Pro-reform newspapers were shut down and an atmosphere of political oppression and intimidation backed by armed forces of IRGC, the Basij and the police became prevalent in the country. So much so, that this year the opposition leaders cancelled all organized protest activities marking the first anniversary of the Green movement.

On its face, the government came out as the victor, the Green movement was defeated, and the opposition leaders silenced. If I were a pro-government partisan, however, I would not have congratulated myself on the victory. The re-election of Ahmadinejad came with a stiff price for the Islamic Republic. The regime did not need to use heavy-handed tactics to prevent Mousavi from forming the new government; he had already headed the government during the most critical period in the country’s history, the eight-year was with Iraq, between 1980 to 1988, under no less an authority than Khomeini himself. Ayatollah Khamenei, on that 19 June sermon, could have easily ordered for a runoff that would have immediately calmed the streets. Instead a year later, the Islamic Republic is regarded by a significant segment of the population as a police state, the kind of which the Islamic Republic was created to replace. Even if Mousavi were the president, the real power would have rested with Khamenei. Preventing his victory at the cost of loosing political legitimacy among so many citizens was the biggest political mistake of Khamenei’s twenty-year rule.

Iran faces many challenges. Its leaders have consciously decided to meet those challenges through policies of confrontation and not compromise, both within the country and outside its borders. An ideology of extreme right is taking hold in the country. This lowly blogger believe extremism is a sign of weakness and not strength; and this is true not just in Iran. At the end of the day, the extremists have to rule through intimidation and terror, illegitimating their own rule. The leaders need to realize that Iran’s economic, political and foreign policy issues are best addressed through the creation of the broadest possible coalition that would include the opposition. The policies of exclusion and intimidation are not long-run solutions to the country’s problems.

Russia to Freeze Delivery of S-300 Missiles to Iran

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has told France that Moscow will freeze the delivery of S-300 missiles to Iran, the French Office of the President announced today [AFP, 11 June].

EU New Sanctions to Target Iran’s Oil Sector

The European Union is expected to impose its own set of sanctions on Iran beyond the measures approved by UNSC on Wednesday. AFP is reporting that the new EU sanctions would target Iran’s oil and gas industry with “prohibition of new investment, transfer of technologies, equipment and services” [AFP, 11 June].

The EU's "accompanying measures" to the UN sanctions will be discussed by European foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday then by the heads of state and government in Brussels on Thursday.

1,000,000

Moments ago this blog had its 1,000,000^th visitor. Mark Pyruz and Paul Iddon join me in thanking you for your continued interest and support – it means the world!

President Ahmadinejad in China

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Shanghai today to attend Iran's National Day ceremonies at the Shanghai Expo 2010. The visit has been overshadowed by Chinese vote at the UNSC in favor of imposing new sanctions against Iran.

Director of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi severely criticized China over its yes vote, saying it was an indication that the West was "holding dominion" over the Beijing government [Press TV, 10 June].

US Names New Iran Sanctions Czar

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today announced the appointment of Robert Einhorn to head a new administration-wide team charged with implementation of the newly approved sanctions against Iran. Clinton made the announcement in Bogota.

"We want to be sure that we don't just pass the sanctions and then leave it to chance as to whether or not they are being implemented," Clinton said [AP, 9 June].

Ambassador Einhorn is currently the State Department’s Special Advisor for Nonproliferation and Arms Control. From 2001 to 2009, he was a senior advisor at Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Einhorn has also served as Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation from 1999 to 2001.

UN Approves New Sanctions Against Iran - Updated

UNSC Approving New Sanctions Against Iran

New York. 9 June 2010. AP Photo

The UN Security Council today imposed its fourth round of sanctions against Iran. Twelve member states, including all permanent members, voted for the resolution. Two countries (Brazil, Turkey) voted against and Lebanon abstained. The new sanctions broaden three earlier sets of sanctions imposed on Iran, the last of which was adopted on 31 March 2008. The highlights of the new UN resolution:

- Calls on countries (but not requiring countries) to block financial transactions with Iranian banks if they have information that provides "reasonable grounds" to believe the banking transactions could contribute to the Iranian nuclear program.

- Authorizes states to conduct high-sea inspections of vessels believed to be ferrying banned items from or to Iran.

- Expands arms embargo against Iran. It prohibits Iran from developing ballistic missiles and from purchasing several categories of heavy weapons, including attack helicopter and missiles.

- Prohibits Iran from investing in uranium mining anywhere in the world.

- Expands a list of individuals and entities subject to travel restrictions and financial sanctions, including asset freeze. Among 40 entities added to the list, 22 are linked to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, 15 are owned by IRGC, and three controlled by Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

UNSC resolution notes Turkey and Brazil’s efforts toward an agreement with Iran on Tehran Research Reactor that could serve as a confidence building measure. It emphasizes the importance of political and diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated solution guaranteeing that Iran's nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes. It also calls on Iran to address the core issues related to its nuclear program.

UPDATE I: Iran’s ambassador to IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, told the meeting that "illegal resolutions" by the council will not stop Iran from exercising its "legitimate right to develop its nuclear program" [AP, 9 June].

UPDATE II: Reacting to new UN sanctions, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said they were like a "used handkerchief that should be dumped in a garbage can…They cannot harm the Iranian nation" [ISNA, 9 June].

Major Powers Reject Tehran Agreement

The major powers of the so-called Vienna Group-- the US, Russia and France, today dismissed the Iranian proposal to swap 1,200kg of its low enriched uranium (LEU) for higher enriched reactor fuel. The Iranian proposal was based on the agreement reached in Tehran between Iran, Brazil and Turkey, the so-called Tehran Agreement. The three major powers said that unlike the original plan drawn up eight months ago, the new swap proposal would leave Iran with enough enriched uranium to make a nuclear weapon. They also raised objections to a series of questions within the Iranian proposal that would in effect stall any negotiations on the key issues involving the Iranian nuclear program.

The IAEA confirmed receipt of the three-nation response and said it would pass it to Tehran.

The UN Security Council is in session now, and it is expected to pass a new sanctions resolution against Iran.

President Ahmadinejad at CICA Conference

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad joins 39 other presidents and senior officials at the third Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA). The crisis in Gaza, the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula are the main topics of discussion. Istanbul. 8 June 2010.

Photo: Jamal Salehi, IRNA

By the Numbers: Iranian Journalists Detained

Reporters Without Borders (RWB), better known by its French name Reporters sans frontiers, a Paris-based global NGO advocating freedom of the press, has released its latest report on Iran detailing the number of journalists detained in the aftermath of last June’s disputed presidential election in the country.

170: Number of journalists and web-journalists detained.

32: Number of female journalists/web-journalists detained.

22: Number of journalists sentenced to prison terms, for total of 135 years in prison.

85: Number of journalists/web-journalists awaiting trial or sentencing.

5,230,000,000 in toman (more than 5 million dollars): Amount of money posted by the journalists/web-journalists who are free on bail awaiting trial.

23: Number of newspapers shut down.

37: Total number of journalists in prison today, second largest number of detained journalists in the world (after China).

100: Number of journalists/web-journalists who have left the country since last June.

RWB’s numbers are alarming, depressing and very unfortunate for Iran.

Iran Military Reportedly Crossing Kurdish Border- Iraqis Protest

The Iraqi government today said it has protested to Iran over shelling and “improper use of force” in Iraqi Kurdistan. Iranian troops have been reportedly shelling the region for at least 12 days in pursuit of Iranian Kurdish rebels of PJAK.

Lt. Saleh Ahmed, a spokesman for Kurish security forces, Peshmerga, said Iranian troops with artillery and tanks crossed the Iraqi borer into the country’s Kurdish region last Thursday and began building an outpost and a road leading back to Iranian side of the border [AP, 7 June].

Deputy Iraqi Foreign Minister Labeed Abawi told The Associated Press he summoned the Iranian ambassador to complain about shelling in the Kurdish region.

The Iranian authorities and the country’s media have been silent on the situation.

Iran TV: Iranian Scientist Says Abducted by US - Updated

The Iranian state-owned TV has broadcast a video reportedly showing the missing Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri claiming that he had been abducted by US agents while on a trip to Mecca in June 2009 and later transferred to the US against his will.

Amiri was believed to have defected to the US. The state TV report said the video was obtained by Iranian intelligence but did not say how. The authenticity of the video has not yet been confirmed by independent sources. The US authorities have not made any comments on Amiri’s disappearance last year or on the newly released video.

In the video, the man identified as Amiri claimed Saudi intelligence cooperated with the CIA in his abduction on 3 June 2009, and took him to an unknown location and injected him with a tranquilizer.

"When I became conscious, I found myself in a plane on the way to the US," Amiri said. "Since I was abducted and brought to the US, I was heavily tortured and pressured by US intelligence," he added.

Before he disappeared, Amiri worked at Tehran’s Malek Ashtar University, an institution closely connected to IRGC.

UPDATE- In a new video released on YouTube, Shahram Amiri says that he is in the US freely and pursuing post-graduate studies. The Iranian state TV had broadcast a video in which Amiri was reportedly claiming that he had been kidnapped by the US intelligence. No independent confirmation of the authenticity of either of the two videos were available.

Ahmadinejad’s Provocative Statement on Obama’s Presidency

By Nader Uskowi

The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that US President Barack Obama must change his policy toward Iran; otherwise his presidency will be “ended.” Ahmadinejad made the statement during a TV interview with Turkey’s ITV. Iran’s official new agency, IRNA, carried the story.

“The US president should accept realities and change his policy toward Iran. Otherwise that would mean the end of his presidency,” Ahmadinejad said [IRNA, 6 June].

Ahmadinejad must know well that the first four-year term of Obama’s presidency can only end through general election, but he still elects to make such provocative statement. His irresponsible proclamations is costing Iran dearly, loosing allies and collecting enemies, and risking to bring more hardship to the Iranian people.

Stand by Me!

Iranian superstar Andy with Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora: Stand by Me! A year later.

Source: YouTube

Tehran Hints at Gaza Intervention

Hojatoleslam Ali Shirazi

Press TV File Photo

Ayatlollah Khamenei’s Representative at IRGC (Iran’s Soviet-style political commissar) told Mehr News Agency today that the IRGC naval forces are ready to provide military escort to international aid cargo ships trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Hojatoleslam Ali Shirazi added that IRGCN will start the escort operations as soon as the supreme leader gives the order.

"IRGC naval forces are fully prepared to escort the peace and freedom convoys to Gaza with all their powers and capabilities," Shirazi said.

"If the Supreme Leader issues an order for this then the Revolutionary Guard naval forces will do their best to secure the ships," Shirazi added. "It is Iran's duty to defend the innocent people of Gaza." [Mehr News Agency, 6 June].

It was not clear if Shirazi’s remarks had been cleared in advance with the office of the supreme leader. If so, the remarks can signal a serious deterioration in Iran's already tense relations with Israel and can lead to a major military conflict. It is also possible that the political commissar’s remarks were just the latest of boastful menacing talks coming out of Tehran.

Toman Hits Historic Low Against Dollar

Dollar Traded on a Tehran Street

Tehran. 6 June 2010. Mehr Photo

Iranian toman has hit an all-time low of 1,055 tomans per dollar in Tehran’s FX market. Since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (20 March 2010), the toman has started a sharp decline against dollar, starting with 950 tomans per dollar, and now hitting the historical low of 1,055. [Each toman is 10 rials, which remains the nominal official currency of Iran].

Prevention of Khomeini’s Speech Orchestrated by Ahmadinejad- Tehran Deputy

Yesterday, during a government-sponsored memorial service marking the twenty-first death anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini, the invited crowd prevented Khomeini’s grandson, Seyed Hassan Khomeini, to make a scheduled speech honoring his grandfather’s contribution to the Islamic Revolution. The controversial action by the crowd, believed to be orchestrated by the office of the Iranian president, has brought sharp criticism within the high-ranking echelons of the Islamic Republic.

Dr. Ali Mottahari, Tehran’s deputy in Majlis, the Iranian parliament, today was the latest dignitary to express shock and dismay at government organizers.

“On a day that promoting the national unity should have been the main agenda of the ceremony, they followed a policy of divisiveness; this was not in the best interest of the nation,” said Mottahari [Tabnak, 6 June].

“The tragic event (preventing Hassan Khomeini from speaking) was pre-planned and the esteemed President (Ahmadinejad) personally had orchestrated it,” said Mottahari.

“The president’s own speech (during the ceremony) also was not geared toward promoting the national unity, and was as divisive,” Mottahari added.

Ahmadinejad Calls Nuclear Agreement “Manifesto” for Rights of Nations- Warns Russia

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

during interview with LBC. Tehran. 5 June 2010. LBC

By Nader Uskowi

The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defending the recent tri-partite nuclear declaration between Iran, Brazil and Turkey, said that Tehran Agreement is a global manifesto for the equal rights of all nations.

“Tehran Agreement showed that Iran, Brazil and Turkey could recognize the international conditions and responsibilities and put their emphasize on justice. The Agreement does not belong to these three countries, but is a manifesto of the just demands of the countries in the world, those who are seeking equal rights for all nations,” Ahmadinejad told Lebanon’s LBC TV network [LBC, 5 June].

He then warned Russian leaders again against cooperating with the West over Iran’s nuclear program.

“The warning (to the Russian leaders) was intended so they watch their behavior… We do not expect them to side with those countries who are openly plotting against Iran, and this is a logical expectation,” Ahmadinejad said.

Meanwhile in Germany, the visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called upon Iran to end its “irresponsible behavior” and heed the world community over the nuclear issue.

"The situation is this: an agreement on sanctions exists," he said in Germany after talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. "We hope that the voice of the international community is heard by Iranian leadership.

"Expressions of irresponsible behavior cannot be continued. What is said internationally needs to be listened to. Only this way can the most complex tasks be solved," Mevedev added [AFP, 5 June].

The five permanent Security Council members -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France – and Germany have agreed on a new draft resolution that includes fresh sanctions against Iran over the country’s nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad, by elevating the Tehran tri-partite agreement to the level of a global rights manifesto, is seemingly positioning himself for Iran’s coming defeat at UNSC. He could then claim the Security Council vote was not against Iran’s nuclear program, but against Iran’s leadership to forge a new global alliance for the rights of nations. Facing severe economic conditions at home, Ahmadinejad needs to justify the forth UN setback during his six years of presidency as a moral struggle for national rights, a continuation of behavior dubbed as “irresponsible” by Mevedev.

Iran Leaders Praise Khomeini, Attack Opposition

The Large Crowd at Khomeini Mausoleum

Commemorating 21st Death Anniversary of Khomeini

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Accompanied by Seyed Hassan Khomeini, the Grandson of the Founder of the Islamic Republic, at the Commemoration Ceremony

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad used the occasion of the 21^st death anniversary of the Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to lash out at the opposition and its leader Hossein Mousavi, who was Khomeini’s long-time prime minster.

Speaking to a huge crowd gathered at Khomeini Mausoleum in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei said those who led “the fiascos during the Ashura and Quds days, are not Imam (Khomeini)’s true followers,” [Fars News Agency, 4 June]. Mousavi led hundred of thousands of marchers during those days protesting the results of the disputed presidential elections, even though Khamenei had already declared Ahmadinejad the victor. The protests became known as the Green Movement, which marks its first anniversary on 12 June.

President Ahmadinejad speaking in the same forum said his opponents are “thrown away” by the people.

"Whoever deviates from the path of Imam (Khomeini), despite whatever power he holds, he will be thrown away by the strong hand of the people," Ahmadinejad said [Fars News Agency].

Later in the program, the crowd prevented Seyed Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder and the host of the commemoration ceremonies, to make his scheduled speech with repeated shouts of “Death to Mousavi.” Hassan Khomeini is believed to be a Green supporter.

The harsh and uncompromising tone of the leaders of the Islamic Republic towards the opposition and its leader at such venue were surprising and unexpected. It was ironic that Khomeini’s prime minister until Khomeini's death and his grandson who was the host of the ceremonies to be attacked so harshly during a gathering commemorating Khomeini’s death and “Imam’s Path.” But that is the nature of politics in today’s Iran.

Top Photo: Fars News Agency

Bottom Photo: Mehr News Agency