Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei: Iran’s Situation “Sensitive”
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said January 6 in Yazd, Iran that the country has been in a sensitive situation since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, but that “this does not mean that the situation is critical and dangerous. …
www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/4494.htm

Bush opens Mideast tour with new warning to Iran
AFP –
JERUSALEM (AFP) — US President George W. Bush issued a new warning to regional archfoe Iran on Wednesday as he began a Middle East tour under the shadow of …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLp6a2jzu9GTFYgFs9HdQurhFwOw

US blacklists Iranian commander, Syrian-based TV station
AFP –
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US Treasury said Wednesday it had blacklisted a top-ranking Iranian Revolutionary Guards officer and a Syrian-based television …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h18FlBXvrpWIPXbB0OaMS56tzH8Q

Bush: Iran still a threat
Jewish Telegraphic Agency – New York,NY,USA
President Bush said Iran remains a threat because of its quest for nuclear weapons know-how. “Iran was a threat, Iran is a threat and Iran will be threat if …
www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/106321.html

Ebadi protests amputation punishment in Iran
AFP –
TEHRAN (AFP) — Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi’s rights group on Wednesday protested against the amputation of hands and feet as a punishment in Iran, …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jnk99vOvK_4EyOCD-V-IbqwGB_NA

Iran’s IRGC officer: US video of Hormuz ship incident fake
Xinhua – China
9 (Xinhua) — Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday that the United States has fabricated a footage claiming to show Iranian …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/09/content_7393930.htm

Bush denounces ‘provocative’ Iran naval challenge
Washington (AFP) Jan 8, 2008 – US President George W. Bush on Tuesday blamed Tehran for a “provocative” weekend face-off between US and Iranian ships as he prepared to take his warning that “Iran is a threat” to the Middle East.
www.spacewar.com/reports/Bush_denounces
_provocative_Iran_naval_challenge_999.html

Arab world shares US worries on Iran
By Naxal Watch(Naxal Watch)
Iran is the one issue where US President George W. Bush and Arab leaders have shared concerns. Ahead of the president’s Mideast trip, Arab nations are eager to contain growing Iranian power, though they’re wary of doing so militarily. …
intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2008/01/arab
-world-shares-us-worries-on-iran.html

Iran Accuses US of Faking Persian Gulf Video
New York Times – United States
By NAZILA FATHI TEHRAN — Iran’s Revolutionary Guard accused the United States on Wednesday of fabricating video showing armed Iranian speedboats confronting …
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/world/middleeast/10iran.html?hp

Bush’s last throw against Iran
Asia Times Online – Kowloon,Hong Kong
The Pentagon warned on Monday that five small Iranian speedboats“threatened” a powerful US fleet comprising one frigate, a destroyer and a cruiser in the …
www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JA10Ak03.html

Behind the US-Iran Gulf Confrontation
TIME – USA
The USS Port Royal, one of three Navy ships that were harassed by five Iranian fast boats. The only good thing about the recent mess in Pakistan is that it …
time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1701316,00.html?imw=Y

Iran, IAEA close new chapter in nuclear talks: report
AFP –
TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog have wrapped up the latest chapter in ongoing talks aimed at resolving ambiguities over the contested …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6hOyzOoe-27VIT0WXMRbYCqXB8Q

Saudi defends Iran links ahead of Bush visit
Reuters – USA
By Andrew Hammond RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it was determined to maintain good relations with Iran despite US President George W. …
www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL0949383020080109

Iran Claims US Faked Video Showing Gulf Standoff
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News Iranian officials are accusing the US military of fabricating video footage that appears to show Iranian military speedboats harassing three …
www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-09-voa31.cfm

France says Iran’s behaviour very dangerous
Reuters – USA
PARIS, Jan 9 (Reuters) – French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Wednesday Iran’s behaviour in the sensitive Strait of Hormuz waterway was very …
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL09867178

Iran says US navy video is ‘clumsy fake’
By AFP(AFP)
TEHRAN (AFP) – Iran on Wednesday accused the United States of “clumsily” fabricating footage claiming to show Iranian speedboats harassing US ships, as tensions rose amid President George W. Bush’s crucial visit to the region.
www.afp.com/english/news/stories/080109132020.n8760qgu.html

Iran, Italy’s Edison sign $107 mln oil deal
Reuters – USA
Iran is the world’s fourth-largest crude producer but analysts say it needs major foreign investment and expertise to substantially expand oil output.…
www.reuters.com/article/rbssEn
ergyNews/idUSDAH93898020080109

Israel tells Bush of Iran ‘threat’
The Age – Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Israeli President Shimon Peres wasted no time in raising the subject, using his welcoming address at the steps of the aircraft to warn that “Iran should not …
www.theage.com.au/news/world/israel-tells-bu
sh-of-iran-threat/2008/01/09/1199554740413.html

Iran: Hormuz ship incident US “psychological, propaganda campaign”
Xinhua – China
9 (Xinhua) — Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel has called US accusations in the recent confrontation between US and Iranian ships in the …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/09/content_7393424.htm

Iran Daily Opinion Service 9 January
By Michael Veiluva
International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei will pay a rare visit to Iran this week to push it into speeding up steps to defuse an international standoff over its nuclear program (Reuters .8.1.08). …
disarmamentactivist.org/2008/01/08/
iran-daily-opinion-service-9-january/

Conflict in Iran: Symbiosis between Bush and Ahmadinejad
With the international pressure off Ahmadinejad, he starts taking heat in Iran for the shortcomings of his leadership. Without fear, his belligerent and isolationist politics lose their appeal. In order to defend his world view, …
clipmarks.com/clipmark/A1716B56
-1C0E-4825-AADF-0AC86F425263/

US evidence on standoff with Iran
NDTV.com – New Delhi,India
The US has come up with evidence to prove the standoff between US navy vessels and Iranian speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz. Video and audio recordings of …
www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id
=NEWEN20080038111&ch=1/9/2008%2012:15:00%20PM

Govt to buy more Iran gas if India quits IPI project
Pakistan Dawn – Karachi,Pakistan
The ECC decided to make a formal request to the Iranian side to allocate an additional volume of 1.05 BCFD (billion cubic feet of gas per day), to Pakistan, …
www.dawn.com/2008/01/09/top7.htm

Iran News Round Up
An ‘informed’ source claims shortage of natural gas in Iran is not due to excessive consumption or Turkmenistan’s descision to halt exports to Iran, but rather Iranian authorities’ failure to utilize for internal consumption gas from …
corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MmJiOTBl
OGQwZmRlMzE2ZjI0ZDdhZGYxODBkNzhkOTc=

IAEA, Iran tackle last major issue in nuclear probe: diplomat
Vienna (AFP) Jan 8, 2008 – Iran and the UN atomic watchdog have started talks on the last major issue regarding possible military use in the long-running probe into Tehran’s disputed nuclear activities, diplomats here said Tuesday.
www.spacewar.com/reports/IAEA_Iran_tackle
_last_major_issue_in_nuclear_probe_diplomat_999.html

Bush Castigates Iran, Calling Naval Confrontation ‘Provocative Act’
New York Times – United States
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and THOM SHANKER WASHINGTON — President Bush chastised Iran on Tuesday for committing a “provocative act” by confronting United …
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/washington/09prexy.html?ref=us

Iran Gulf Confrontation Message to Bush on Eve of Mideast Trip
FOX News – USA
In April 2006, former Supreme Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, described the Strait of Hormuz as“the …
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,321170,00.html

US Warns Iran Against ‘Provocative Actions’ Following Incident in …
The United States issued a stern warning to Iran Monday following an incident near the Strait of Hormuz in which Iranian speedboats veered dangerously close to three US Navy ships and intercepted radio signals said US “ships would …
www.israelforum.com/board/showthread.php?threadid=13478

Video of Iran ‘attack’ on three US warships released by Pentagon
Times Online – UK
The Pentagon released dramatic footage last night showing how American warships were seconds away from opening fire on Iranian gunboats that swarmed around …
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/
world/middle_east/article3157055.ece

Bush Calls Iran’s Confrontation With US Navy Vessels a Provocative Act
Voice of America – USA
By Scott Stearns President Bush says Iran should not confront US naval vessels in the Persian Gulf. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, …
voanews.com/english/2008-01-08-voa69.cfm

US Comes Close To Firing On Iran Ships
Sky News – United Kingdom
Iranian Revolutionary Guard boats have threatened three US Navy ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz in what is being called a “serious provocation”. …
news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1299660,00.html