23/1/08

EU-IRAN: extract from the exchange of views with Saeed JALILI …
EU-IRAN: extract from the exchange of views with Saeed JALILI, Secretary general of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran (EPRef-55240)
ec.europa.eu/avservices/download/
audio_download_en.cfm?id=118970&src=6

Showdown with Iran: Government Accountability Office (GAO) deals …
For more details, please click on the link to read the article.
www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context
=viewArticle&code=20080123&articleId=7877

What to Do About Iran?
By SERENDIP(SERENDIP)
Last night, The Spectator and Intelligence Squared hosted a debate on whether it would be better to bomb Iran than let it develop nuclear weapons. The speakers for the motion included the former CIA Middle East specialist Reuel Marc …
fleetingperusal.blogspot.com/2008/
01/what-to-do-about-iran.html

Iran Defends Nuclear Enrichment, Denies Weapons Quest (Update3)
Bloomberg – USA
23 (Bloomberg) — Iran defended its right to enrich uranium, denying that it is pursuing a nuclear weapons program and brushing aside threats by the US and …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20
601100&sid=aDlFv7EFkThc&refer=germany

Tensions at the top in Iran
BBC News – UK
By Sadeq Saba The recent rebuke by Iran’s supreme leader to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may indicate that the clerical establishment is beginning to lose patience …
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7204590.stm

Latest Iran resolution “not tough” :Russia
Reuters – USA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A new draft resolution against Iran agreed by major powers is not tough or punitive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on …
www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL2343217420080123

EU’s Solana to meet Iranian nuclear negotiator Wednesday
AFP –
BRUSSELS (AFP) — Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said Wednesday that he would meet later in the day with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gT3z_T2IRc71zSMU3eJMGIVr9jBQ

Ahmadinejad to make landmark visit to Iraq-ministry
Reuters – USA
Iran and Iraq fought an eight-year war in the 1980s in which hundreds of thousands were killed, but relations have improved since Saddam Hussein was ousted …
www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSCOL340252

US trying to block Indo-Iran gas pipeline project: Foreign Secy
Times of India – India
KOCHI: The United States has been “trying to block” the Indo-Iran gas pipeline via Pakistan, as it did not want Iran to expand its contacts in the region, …
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/US_trying_to_block_Indo-Iran_gas_pipeline_project_Foreign_Secy/articleshow/2725415.cms

FACTBOX: Key issues in UN bid to curb Iran nuclear program
Reuters – USA
(Reuters) – Iran has allowed top UN nuclear monitors to visit an advanced centrifuge research site for the first time in a gesture of transparency about its …
www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSL2281920520080123

Security Council’s Iran Effort Gets Mixed Reception
By BENNY AVNI
UNITED NATIONS — Even as Secretary of State Rice and five other foreign ministers agreed yesterday in Berlin on measures to slightly increase the diplomatic pressure on Iran, a former senior American diplomat, John Bolton, …
www.nysun.com/article/70053

Iran nuclear negotiator to meet with EU
Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said he would meet later in the day with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/23/2145132.htm

Iran warns UN against repeating ‘sanctions mistake”
Ynetnews – Israel
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that the United Nations Security Council cannot “threaten Iran or impose any sanctions on it,” the …
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3497844,00.html

Iran reaffirms nuclear right, insists peaceful aim
Reuters India – Mumbai,India
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Iran reaffirmed its right on Wednesday to pursue a nuclear programme, with top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili pledging Tehran would …
in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-31548920080123

3000 Iran election hopefuls banned
The Press Association –
About 3000 prospective candidates have been disqualified from running in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iran. Most of them are reformists seeking …
ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ivyvBC5DFrD-id-4sYWNxYzhM_qQ

Russia: New UN resolution on Iran foresees no tough sanctions
Xinhua – China
23 (Xinhua) — The new draft UN resolution on Iran’s nuclear program envisages additional measures against that country, but they are not harsh sanctions, …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/23/content_7481240.htm

Iran to use all diplomatic efforts to lift Gaza siege
Tehran Times – Iran
22 (MNA) — Government spokesman said on Tuesday that Iran will use all its diplomatic efforts to lift the Gaza blockade. The Associated Press reported that …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161784

Turkmenistan not to be trusted, says Iran
Reuters UK – UK
TEHRAN, Jan 23 (Reuters) – Iran may review energy ties with Turkmenistan after the neighbouring country last month cut gas exports to the Islamic Republic, …
uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKDAH32993220080123

Half of reformist candidates barred from Iran polls: coalition
AFP –
TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran’s conservative vetting body the Guardians Council has
disqualified more than half of the reformist candidates for March
parliamentary …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i3
QY4-hzAxr7jNCwmbgW_DnmlBpQ

22/1/08

Agreement on Proposal for New Iran Sanctions
New York Times – United States
They discussed new ways to crack down on Iran for uranium enrichment, which Western governments have said could eventually be used in a restarted weapons …
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/world
/middleeast/23iran.html?ref=middleeast

Sanctioning Iran
By James Kirchick
The New York Times reports on its web-site now and tomorrow in the paper edition that the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany have agreed to extend sanctions on Iran because of its continuation of the uranium …
blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_spine/
archive/2008/01/22/sanctioning-iran.aspx

Major Powers Agree on Contents of Iran UN Resolution
Foreign ministers of the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany said Tuesday they have agreed on the contents of a new sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear program.
www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/
news/iran/2008/iran-080122-voa04.htm

World powers agree on Iran approach
Los Angeles Times – CA,USA
BERLIN — In a bid to ratchet up pressure on Iran to end its uranium enrichment program, six leading world powers agreed Tuesday to introduce a new United …
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-
fg-iran23jan23,0,301518.story?coll=la-home-world

GCC-Iran and Al-Jazeera Watch, continued
By abu aardvark
The GCC-Iran rapprochement appears to proceed apace, despite US efforts to tighten sanctions. Yesterday Mahmoud Ahmedenejad had a well-publicized phone chat with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah about regional developments, and also found …
abuaardvark.typepad.com/abuaard
vark/2008/01/gcc-iran-and-al.html

Security Council votes for more sanctions on Iran
Ha’aretz – Tel Aviv,Israel
The decision’s importance is primarily symbolic, since the planned sanctions will have little impact on Iran’s economy. Nevertheless, they show that the …
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/947245.html

UN renews pressure on Iran
Guardian Unlimited – UK
Iran came under renewed pressure to suspend its uranium enrichment programme last night, when the five permanent members of the UN security council and …
www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2245100,00.html

Bolton: ‘Near zero’ chance Pres. Bush will strike Iran
Ha’aretz – Tel Aviv,Israel
“It’s close to zero percent chance that the Bush administration will authorize military action against Iran before leaving office,” he told the Herzliya …
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/947243.html

Total reviews Iran project over ‘cost issues’
Gulf Daily News – Manama,Bahrain
ABU DHABI: France’s Total said yesterday it was facing “huge cost issues” on a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Iran and was reviewing plans …
www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?
Article=206579&Sn=BUSI&IssueID=30309

Iran wants to sign IPI pipeline deal with new government
Daily Times – Lahore,Pakistan
By Zafar Bhutta ISLAMABAD: Iran has said that it wanted to sign a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) on the $7 billion Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas …
www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=200
8%5C01%5C23%5Cstory_23-1-2008_pg7_10

News from Iran
By Nader Uskowi(Nader Uskowi)
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany agreed in Berlin on a new UN resolution against Iran’s nuclear program. The Iranian government denounced the action and vowed to continue its uranium enrichment …
uskowioniran.blogspot.com/2008/01/news-from-iran.html

New Sanctions on Iran Expected Shortly
Global powers will put forward a draft United Nations Security Council resolution pushing for a new round of sanctions on Iran imminently, according to a French diplomat speaking on the 21st January. …
www.armedforces-int.com/news/2008/01/22/
new-sanctions-on-iran-expected-shortly.asp

22/1/08

Bolton: It Will Be Up To Israel To Stop Iran
By Pat Dollard
Speaking at the eighth Herzliya Conference, in a special session devoted to the Iranian nuclear race, Bolton said “The united states used to have a policy on Iran and recently there was a new push to create a new policy but sadly, …
patdollard.com/2008/01/bolton-it-
will-be-up-to-israel-to-stop-iran/

Doubts cast on success of 5+1 meeting on Iran
Tehran Times – Iran
The UN Security Council has already imposed two sets of sanctions against Iran, in December 2006 and March 2007. Washington has spearheaded a months-long …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161769

Key issues in UN bid to curb Iran nuclear program
Reuters – USA
(Reuters) – World powers were to meet in Berlin on Tuesday to show resolve against Iran’s atomic program, but suggested a deal on provisions for broader UN …
www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2281920520080122

FM: Iran’s dialogue with Bulgaria on its nuke program helpful to …
Xinhua – China
22 (Xinhua) — Iran’s dialogue on its nuclear program with Bulgaria, which
Iran considers as an important European Union Member State, would
contribute to …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/23/content_7475198.htm

Iran exported nearly $4.3b worth of petrochemicals in 10 months
Tehran Times – Iran
TEHRAN (PIN) – Iran exported 7.026 million tons of petrochemical products, valued at 4.269 billion dollars, in the first 10 months of its calendar year …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161789

Iran, Tajikistan team up to honor Rudaki
Tehran Times – Iran
TEHRAN — Iran and Tajikistan will jointly celebrate the 1150th birth anniversary of the Persian poet Abu Abdullah Jafar ibn Mohammad Rudaki (858-941) …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161845

World Powers agree on third UN resolution on Iran over nukes
By gcarter
WASHINGTON (CNN) — World powers meeting in Berlin have agreed to the elements of a new resolution on Iran, sanctioning the country for failing to curb its nuclear program, the German foreign minister said Tuesday. …
cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/22/world-powers-agree
-on-third-un-resolution-on-iran-over-nukes/

6 Powers Agree on Draft Iran Sanctions
The Associated Press –
BERLIN (AP) — The UN Security Council’s permanent members and Germany agreed Tuesday on the contents of a new draft resolution on sanctions against Iran …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iRqjZV1
Meppj40hTs8IBOv4DdsQwD8UB2VG01

Ayatollah pulls rank in Iran
Sydney Morning Herald – Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
TEHRAN: The authority of the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, suffered a serious blow on Monday after the country’s most powerful figure,…
www.smh.com.au/news/world/ayatollah-pulls-
rank-in-iran/2008/01/22/1200764263756.html

Powers agree on content of Iran resolution – Germany
Reuters India – Mumbai,India
BERLIN (Reuters) – World powers on Tuesday agreed on the contents of a new draft UN Security Council resolution to impose additional sanctions on Iran over …
in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-31535620080122

Egypt, Iran presidents talk directly for first time
Reuters South Africa – Johannesburg,South Africa
CAIRO, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have discussed regional issues by telephone, …
africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL22819526.html

Bolton: Close to zero chance Bush will strike Iran
Ha’aretz – Tel Aviv,Israel
Bolton addressed the Herzliya Conference of the Institute for Policy and Strategy, as part of a panel discussion on Iran’s nuclear program. …
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/947169.html

Iran: Nightmares Of Evin Haunt Freed Filmmaker
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty – Prague,Czech Republic
When the French-Iranian filmmaker asked her guards about it, they were clear: The cries were not from hardened criminals but female activists, artists, …
www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2008/01/713
D0F8B-DBD1-415E-BFAC-03BE96DBF543.html

Bush Admits He Plans to Attack Iran
By infolution
Former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said on Monday that Israel may have to take military action to prevent its archfoe Iran from acquiring an atomic bomb. Bolton also said that further UN sanctions against the Islamic …
noworldsystem.com/2008/01/22/bush
-admits-he-plans-to-attack-iran/

Israel’s Nuclear Missile Threat against Iran
By VINEYARDSAKER:(VINEYARDSAKER:)
“What troubles me is that perhaps the Americans will attack Iran. (…) That would thrust us [Israel] into a war and the home front [in opposition to Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, and Syria] is not ready [yet].” …
vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2008/01/isra
els-nuclear-missile-threat-against.html

Iran Update
By Kevin Drum
IRAN UPDATE….Ramin Mostaghim and Borzou Daragahi of the LA Times report on the latest travails of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:Iran watchers sought to make sense Monday of a spat between the conservative speaker of parliament …
www.washingtonmonthly.com/archive
s/individual/2008_01/012943.php

ThreatsWatch.Org – RapidRecon: Iran, Russia and China: The New Troika
By Steve Schippert
Over the weekend, FrontPage Magazine asked for an interview regarding the cooperative and protective relationship that both Russia and China have undertaken with regard to Iran. Both Russia and China are pursuing their own goals and …
threatswatch.org/rapidrecon/2008/01
/iran-russia-and-china-the-new/

Iran News Round Up
Trained economist and parliamentarian Mohammad Khoshchehreh says the economic policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran government are contrary to the directions recommended in the 20 year Outlook Plan of the government. …
corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDYwZTUwN
TE0YjExNzQ4YmFhYjZiZTU1ZjQwZjBmMzA=

Iran receives 5th shipment of Russian fuel for nuclear power plant …
TEHRAN, Iran _ Iran received the fifth shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia on Tuesday for a power plant being constructed in the southern port Bushehr, Iranian radio reported.The 10-tonne consignment of enriched uranium arrived at the …
www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=13805

China Seems Opposed to New Iran Sanctions
By Confidential Reporter(Confidential Reporter)
China has hinted it would not support a new round of sanctions against Iran despite Tehran’s continued defiance of United Nations resolutions on its nuclear program. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and …
chinaconfidential.blogspot.com/2008/01/
china-seems-opposed-to-new-iran.html

Guardian Unlimited – UK
Photographer: Susan Walsh/AP The world’s leading powers were struggling to present a united front on further UN sanctions against Iran, the US secretary of …
www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2244896,00.html

Iran receives fifth consignment of nuclear fuel from Russia
Xinhua – China
22 (Xinhua) — Iran received the fifth shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia on Tuesday for it’s first nuclear powerplant being built at the Gulf port city …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/22/content_7473609.htm

FACTBOX: Outlook in standoff over Iran’s nuclear program
Reuters – USA
(Reuters) – World powers played down prospects for a deal on new sanctions against Iran ahead of a meeting on Tuesday aimed at raising pressure on Tehran to …
www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2269988620080122

That tricky torture file
Toronto Star – Ontario, Canada
But the howls of outrage from Washington and Jerusalem at finding themselves on the foreign affairs watchlist next to “axis of evil” Iran sent Bernier …
www.thestar.com/comment/article/296056

Total says “huge cost issues” on Iran LNG project
Guardian Unlimited – UK
By Simon Webb ABU DHABI, Jan 22 (Reuters) – France’s Total said on Tuesday it was facing “huge cost issues” on a major liquefied natural gas project in Iran …
www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7244948

Iran Warns Holland Against Screening Anti Quran Film
By monicachenoa
Iran Warns Holland Against Screening Anti Quran Film qna 12 Gen tehran, January 21 (qna) – Islamic Republic Of Iran Warned The Netherlands Government Against Screening An Abusive Anti-quran Film. head Of The National Security And …
religion.propeller.com/story/2008/01/22/iran
-warns-holland-against-screening-anti-quran-film

6 Foreign Ministers to Discuss Iran Nuclear Standoff, France Hopes …
FOXNews – USA
BERLIN — Foreign ministers from six key powers meet Tuesday to coordinate their positions on Iran’s nuclear program, with France saying it expects quick …
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,324512,00.html

Satellite will spy on Iran: Israeli media
Hindu – Chennai,India
“Israel launched early on Monday a sophisticated new spy satellite, designated Tecsar, which could boost intelligence gathering capabilities regarding Iran …
www.hindu.com/2008/01/22/stories/2008012259891200.htm

Iran Leader Backs Parliament in a Dispute With Ahmadinejad
New York Times – United States
By NAZILA FATHI TEHRAN — Iran’s supreme religious leader, in what appeared to be his first public dispute with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,…
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/world/
middleeast/22iran.html?ref=world

Bush and the Arabs – are not really friends:
Tehran Times – Iran
In it, he touched on familiar themes, such as Iran’s rulers and his belief that only democracy can free people from oppression and insecurity.…www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161707

Iran did NOT violate the NPT
By C S
I just wanted to post a follow-up my previous 2 posts about the (il)legalities of the referral of Iran’s nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council, and the oft-repeated and inadequately-examined claim that UNSC Resolution…. which …
www.iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2008/01/iran-did-not-vi.html

Mass Murder in Iran
This report from the Oslo chapter of Amnesty International gives a summary of what is going on in Iran. You will not hear about it from the MSM or from the pretend leaders of this administration, who talk about the nobility of the cause …
corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZWY0YTg0N
WFmM2RkZTRlOTg3MmZlNGIwYTExNmU2YWQ=

China, Iran Near Gas Deal
Wall Street Journal – USA
By DAVID WINNING BEIJING — China National Offshore Oil Corp. is set to sign an agreement with Iran within weeks for 10 million metric tons of liquefied …
online.wsj.com/article/SB120096184014104969.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Russia delivers 5th N-fuel batch to Iran
PRESS TV – Tehran,Iran
A fifth Russian shipment of nuclear fuel destined for Bushehr Power Plant in southern Iran has arrived in the Islamic Republic. The Nuclear Power Production …
www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=39750&sectionid=351020104

Economist Iran coverage – more BULLSHIT as usual
By C S
I’ve been having a rather interesting “chat” with Peter David, some hack at over at the Economist, about the quality of their Iran coverage. David is acting all upset that I’ve dared to call the Economist a “mouthpiece” – which they …
www.iranaffairs.com/iran_affairs/2008/01/economist-iran.html

Powers seek elusive deal on tougher Iran sanctions
Reuters – USA
By Noah Barkin BERLIN (Reuters) – The world’s major powers will try Tuesday to overcome differences over imposing more sanctions on Iran and to keep up…
www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL2138443120080122

Iranian rift prompts supreme leader to issue a rare opinion
Kansas City Star – MO,USA
By RAMIN MOSTAGHIM and BORZOU DARAGAHI TEHRAN, Iran | Iran watchers sought to make sense Monday of a spat between the conservative speaker of parliament and …
www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/454431.html

Germany criticizes Austrian trade ties with Iran
Ha’aretz – Tel Aviv,Israel
By Benjamin Weinthal Top German officials, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have recently criticized Austria’s commercial ties with Iran and its …
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/946853.html

Dialogue with Iran in 2009?
By Bob Garner
For the last 15 years, Israel has been trying to convince the US and Europe that Iran is a global threat to world peace. What brought this on? Iran’s oil and Israel’s weaponry cemented a covertly friendly Iran-Israel entente throughout …
wavesandparticles.wordpress.com/2008
/01/21/dialogue-with-iran-in-2009/

World Powers Meet on Iran
By Debbie
On January 22, 2008, the Foreign Ministers of China, France, Britain, Russia and Germany as well as US Secretary of State will meet in Berlin to discuss strategies concerning the threat of Iran. High ranking diplomats from the six …
righttruth.typepad.com/right_truth/2008/01/world-powers-me.html

Bolton: Israel may have to take action on Iran
By Infidelesto
Bolton also said that further UN sanctions against the Islamic republic will be ineffective in stopping Iran’s controversial nuclear programme which Israel and the US believe is aimed at developing a bomb — a claim denied by Tehran. …
infidelsarecool.com/2008/01/21/bolton
-israel-may-have-to-take-action-on-iran/

World powers to submit new Iran sanctions resolution: diplomat
AFP –
PARIS (AFP) — World powers will submit a draft UN Security Council resolution seeking new sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme “in the coming days”, …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gJtd6
NwpImOosYVcDW414fpmLLoQ

West finding excuses to act on N-programme, says Iran
Daily Times – Lahore,Pakistan
TEHRAN: Western countries are just looking for excuses to act against Iran’s atomic programme but their efforts will be in vain as the Tehran will continue …
www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=200
8%5C01%5C22%5Cstory_22-1-2008_pg4_19

US Military Bombs Suspected Militant Stronghold South of Baghdad
Voice of America – USA
On Sunday, US officials reported a dramatic fall in the number of attacks from specialized roadside bombs believed to have been manufactured in Iran.…
voanews.com/english/2008-01-21-voa20.cfm

Israel may have to take military action against Iran: Bolton
AFP –
Bolton also said that further UN sanctions against the Islamic republic will be ineffective in stopping Iran’s controversial nuclear programme
which Israel …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gOZ
LSqmQDN-ZEM0MaLy1mhuH3N1g

Iran attracts $11b in foreign investment in 10 months
Tehran Times – Iran
TEHRAN – Foreign investment is on the rise in Iran as a result of incentives and new laws for the protection of investments, the director of the Foreign …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=161673