16/1/08

Bush seeks higher oil output, support on Iran profile during Saudi …
Xinhua – China
During his two-day stay here, President Bush discussed with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz a series of issues, among them Iran, oil prices and Middle …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/17/content_7433550.htm

Q & A: Keeping Score on US-Iran Confrontation
New York Times – United States
By Mike Nizza For all the heads still spinning in the aftermath of a recent incident between the United States Navy and a group of Iranian speedboats in the …
thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/q-a-
keeping-score-on-us-iran-confrontation/?hp

US Says Iran Sanctions Having Some Impact
Voice of America – USA
By David Gollust The Bush administration insisted Wednesday that international sanctions against Iran are having some impact despite a new government report …
voanews.com/english/2008-01-16-voa59.cfm

ANALYSIS-US to stay course on Iran policy
Reuters UK – UK
By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Tehran and Washington opened 2008 with a torrent of rhetoric but US officials and Iran experts say there is …
uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1663774420080116

US Diplomat in China Ahead of Iran Talks
The Associated Press –
The forum comes just days before talks in Berlin on issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear program involving top diplomats from China, the US, Russia, Britain, …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jO9lSnd6
KNDDB5SPTsE1LVRBLtOgD8U771S02

Effectiveness of Iran sanctions in doubt: US Congress report
AFP –
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US administration on Wednesday faced calls for a broad review of sanctions it has imposed on Iran over the last two decades,…
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hqaZnfrqwbig7DOJgwifAXCIG7GA

Congress Should Investigate Release of Pentagon Iran Video
By Robert Naiman
whatever happened, it appears to not have been at all unprecedented in terms of naval encounters between the US and Iran, and the immediate US reaction following the incident suggests it was not initially perceived as being out of the …
www.justforeignpolicy.org/blog/?p=318

Iran’s Hormuz Actions Help Israel Make its Case
For years, Israelis have worried that the international community would give up trying to contain Iran’s militant regime and leave Israel to confront it alone. Israelis have maintained that despite Iran’s specific taunts and threats …
www.worldpoliticsreview.com/Article.aspx?id=1510

West Pursues Iran Sanctions
U.S. News & World Report – Washington,DC,USA
The US-led drive to pressure Iran suffered a political setback with the publication of a National Intelligence Estimate last fall that concluded that Iran …
www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2008/01/16/west-pursues-iran-sanctions.html

US diplomat casts doubt on new Iran nuclear deadline
AFP –
LJUBLJANA (AFP) — A US diplomat expressed doubts here Wednesday that Iran would clear up remaining questions on its nuclear programme before a mid-February …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hgePpO8eVy4NlvbZWyGfEc8LOWqQ

US to Pursue New Iran Sanctions
The Associated Press –
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration won’t back down on pursuing new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program despite questions about their …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5imG-Gmyrfld190llCL7AdcThgngAD8U76R2G0

France takes on strategic role in key Gulf oil route
AFP –
PARIS (AFP) — France’s first permanent military base since the end of the colonial era gives it a strategic role in the Strait of Hormuz bordering Iran, …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNRb4x5cgXA2Nt_S_iOZuf3Z3VpA

Relationship Between Cuba and Iran Poses Threat to US Interests …
By Fla. GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Since the summer of 2001, when Castro joined Iran’s Ayatollah to proclaim that ‘together, Iran and Cuba would bring America to its knees,’ we have witnessed increased collaboration between these two state-sponsors of terrorism. …
blog.thehill.com/2008/01/16/relationship-between-cuba-and
-iran-poses-threat-to-us-interests-rep-ileana-ros-lehtinen/

NIAC Guide: Presidential Candidate Postions on US-Iran Relations
By Irancove
As the presidential elections draw near, Iranian Americans are faced with the challenge of gleaning candidate positions on Iran amidst a blur of sound bytes and vague rhetoric. Iran remains a key issue in both Republican and Democratic …
irancoverage.com/2008/01/16/niac-guide-presi
dential-candidate-postions-on-us-iran-relations/

If Iran Is A Theocracy,…
By David Lindsay(David Lindsay)
Iran’s religious leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has stated that the Islamic Republic has repeatedly said that Iran opposes the production and use of nuclear weapons in principle from an Islamic point of view. …
davidaslindsay.blogspot.com/2008/01/if-iran-is-theocracy.html

Cartoon In “Iran Daily” On Bush Receiving UAE Dagger
Source: Iran Daily, Iran, January 16, … January 16, 2008, 12:17 pm.
www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/4638.htm

Germany Wants New Resolution on Iran, Foreign Ministry Says
Bloomberg – USA
16 (Bloomberg) — Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government wants a new United Nations resolution on Iran and has invited the foreign ministers from the…
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20
601100&sid=a23P_JWDL8Z8&refer=germany

US Government Audit Says Iran Sanctions Need More Scrutiny
Voice of America – USA
By VOA News A report from the investigative arm of the US Congress says a new tracking system is needed to see if economic sanctions against Iran are…
www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-16-voa36.cfm

Political windfall from N-technology
New Zealand Herald – New Zealand
By offering sweeteners to the Arab world, he gains petrodollars in exchange and also strengthens the isolation of Iran, suspected of wanting to build a…
www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm
?c_id=49&objectid=10487246

Iran: Islam as an Excuse for Misogyny Continues Unabatted
By admin
But it is the first time police have launched a winter crackdown on what is called “lax dressing” or noncompliance with Iran’s strict Islamic dress code. The crackdown has been gaining in intensity under President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, …
www.feministpeacenetwork.org/2008/01/16/iran-
islam-as-an-excuse-for-misogyny-continues-unabatted/

Bush, The American Idiot!
By Lord Kavi (Iran)
In the case of Iran, he focused on uranium enrichments and nuclear power without any clues! Iran became the great sponsor of terrorism and should’ve been baned from everything! Maybe Bush feeled Satan of Bible and Iran the same; …
www.mideastyouth.com/2008/01/16/bush-the-american-idiot/

More on the Iran ‘Incident’
By fredtopeka
In an earlier post, I had said I trusted the Revolutionary Guard of Iran less than the Pentagon when it came to the incident in the Straits of Hormuz. It now turns out that the incident was typical and only played up (with the requisite …
fredtopeka.wordpress.com/2008/01
/16/more-on-the-iran-incident/

Bush wraps up Middle East visit on peace, Iran, oil
Guardian Unlimited – UK
Bush has been telling regional allies that Iran is a threat, Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts need support, and high oil prices are in no one’s interest. …
www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7230051

Iran says unclear when gas to Turkey to resume
Guardian Unlimited – UK
TEHRAN, Jan 16 (Reuters) – An Iranian official said on Wednesday he did not know when his country would be able to resume gas exports to Turkey, …
www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7230020

How the Pentagon planted a false story
Asia Times Online – Kowloon,Hong Kong
A Pentagon consultant who asked not to be identified told IPS he had spoken with officers who had experienced similar encounters with small Iranian boats …
www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JA17Ak03.html

Iran Hopes for Solution in Nuke Dispute
The Associated Press –
He also said new US intelligence assessment showing Iran was not actively seeking a nuclear weapon contributed to this confidence. Iran has long claimed it …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHz
-Bz3Pa0Ivga_oNIvTbrBoIN7QD8U6VBH01

UPDATE 1-Biggest Bahrain bank freezes Iran business-sources
Reuters – USA
By Mohammed Abbas MANAMA, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Bahrain’s largest lender by market value, Ahli United Bank, has suspended business with Iran, complying with US …
www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancial
ServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSL165737720080116

Iran News Round Up
Spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran government: ‘The minority [the reformists] should return to the bosom of Islam and turn away from Zionism. The Imam [Rouhollah Khomeini] has said that if the Zionist government puts its head in …
corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZmUxMWQ3M
GU3MDM5YWNmMWNiZTM5MmEyZWM1MTBhNTg=

Iraq Sent Iran Request To Amend Border Agreement
Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Majid Al-Sheikh has revealed that the Iraqi government had sent Iran a request to discuss an amendment to the 1975 Algiers Agreement, which sets the border between the two countries. …
www.thememriblog.org/iran/blog_personal/en/4628.htm

Back to Pre-NIE Days!
By Nader Uskowi(Nader Uskowi)
During his visit to Gulf Arab states, President Bush urged their leaders to join him in confronting Iran, “before it’s too late.” He described Iran as “the world’s leading state sponsor of terror.” A leading state sponsor of terror with …
uskowioniran.blogspot.com/2008/01/back-to-pre-nie-days.html

Iran Declares Rhetoric Red Alert as Olmert Issues Threats
By Jerusalem Joe(Jerusalem Joe)
The President said that Iranian spokesmen in Iran and throughout the world are prepared to react instantly to any threats from Israel, “Our people are armed with harsh words and they will not hesitate to use them if necessary,” warned …
israelisatirelab.blogspot.com/2008/01/iran-declares-rhetoric-red-alert-as.html

Bush says Iran, Syria must end Lebanon interference
Reuters – USA
By Tabassum Zakaria and Matt Spetalnick SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Jan 16 (Reuters) – US President George W. Bush said on Wednesday that Syria and Iran must …
www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUSN16594551

Germany urges new Iran sanctions
Reuters – USA
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany believes a new UN resolution imposing sanctions against Iran is needed and has invited other major powers to a meeting next…
www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSL1681563620080116

Iran says it will join Iraq security conference
AFP –
TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran said on Wednesday it would take part in a conference of Middle East and Western powers to be held in Kuwait in April to debate security …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h
92ys5g9DuVoV4VB9t3y9oZDFU9Q

New US audit questions efficacy of Iran sanctions
A United States audit report has raised doubts about the economic impact of US sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/16/2140135.htm

Iran says new gas export deals to go ahead as of 2011
Tehran Times – Iran
TEHRAN (PIN) – Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari here Tuesday said all new memoranda and contracts on gas export Iran had signed would take effect as of …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161357

Biggest Bahrain bank freezes Iran business-sources
Reuters – USA
KW: Quote, Profile, Research), the kingdom’s largest lender by market value, has suspended business with Iran, two sources familiar with the matter said. …
www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialSe
rvicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSL1681161220080116

Lebanon hangs in the balance
Baltimore Sun – United States
There, a stalemate between the pro-Western government of Fouad Siniora and the Hezbollah-led, Iran- and Syria-backed opposition threatens to throw the…
www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/
oped/bal-op.lebanon16jan16,0,6001991.story

The Truth About Iran
New York Times – United States
Re “Bush Urges Unity Against Iran as It Agrees to Cooperate With Nuclear Agency” (news article, Jan. 14): President Bush continues to beat a dead horse in …
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/opinion/l16iran.html?ref=opinion

New US audit questions efficacy of Iran sanctions
Reuters – USA
By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) – The economic impact of US sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program is unclear and Iran has signed about …
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN15568637

Iran: Amnesty International Demands End to Stoning
New York Times – United States
By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Amnesty International called on the Iranian authorities to abolish executions by stoning, which it described as“grotesque and …
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/world/middleeast
/16briefs-AMNESTYDEMAN_BRF.html?ref=world

Bush to discuss Palestinian issue, Iran with Egyptian president
Xinhua – China
16 (Xinhua) — US President George W. Bush flies into this Egyptian resort Wednesday for a brief visit to discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Iran and …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/16/content_7431132.htm

Bush wraps up Middle East visit on peace, Iran, oil
Reuters UK – UK
By Tabassum Zakaria RIYADH (Reuters) – President George W. Bush ends a Middle East trip on Wednesday in which he told regional allies that Iran is a threat, …
uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKN1553829520080116

Posturing for war can still lead to the next Gulf war
Malaysia Star – Malaysia
They talked via shipboard radio in what Iran called a routine inspection and US officials called threats. At once, US officials and media said in unison …
thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2008
/1/16/columnists/midweek/20021408&sec=Midweek

Bush heads to Egypt on last stop of Mideast trip
AFP –
Faisal, speaking through an interpreter, also said Saudi Arabia had“nothing bad” against its powerful neighbour Iran. “Iran is a neighbouring country, …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g
dq4Wb9_38rgYA8v-PuapwbQmV6g

WRAPUP 1-Bush wraps up Middle East visit on peace, Iran, oil
Reuters UK – UK
By Tabassum Zakaria RIYADH, Jan 16 (Reuters) – President George W. Bush ends a Middle East trip on Wednesday in which he told regional allies that Iran is a …
uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1553829520080115

Security Council Members to Meet on Iran
The Associated Press –
VIENNA, Austria (AP) — Foreign ministers of the US and five other key nations plan to meet next week to discuss possible new sanctions against Iran for …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHz-Bz3Pa
0Ivga_oNIvTbrBoIN7QD8U6JGIG1

We’ll Go by Market Demand: Naimi
Arab News – Jeddah,Saudi Arabia
OPEC has repeatedly said it is pumping enough crude and blames speculation, a weak dollar and geopolitical tensions — such as fears of war with Iran— for …
www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=105729&d=
16&m=1&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

Israel Reports Iranian-Made Rocket Hit
The Associated Press –
JERUSALEM (AP) — A rocket fired at Israel by Palestinians earlier this month was made in Iran, an Israeli lawmaker and security officials said Tuesday. …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iiIXaOPM
1PY_auk7mX5CnX5O7BmgD8U6H9Q00

Bush takes distance from key Iran findings
AFP –
The US president said he told his host he still viewed Iran as “a threat” despite last month’s US National Intelligence Estimate, which concluded that …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6Pipi-FQW3c2eqvNXfi9csfK97A