25/2/08

Iran shrugs off sanctions threat over atomic plans
International Herald Tribune – France
By Parisa Hafezi Reuters TEHRAN: Iran voiced defiance on Monday as Western powers pushed for new sanctions over its nuclear programme, saying high oil…
www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/02
/25/africa/OUKWD-UK-IRAN-NUCLEAR.php

France and Gulf allies in war games amid Iran tensions
Reuters – USA
France is among world powers trying to exert pressure on Iran to halt atomic work, which they fear is aimed at making bombs. Tehran says its nuclear program …
www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL2545241220080225

Supply Concerns Drive Oil Near $100
The Associated Press –
Oil prices neared $100 a barrel Monday with supply concerns heightened by a Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq and warnings by Iran against…
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i5Ttajg
UpSm7KY5jf-lCJGHBB-tAD8V1D4OG5

Diplomats Discussing Iran Sanctions
The Associated Press –
US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said Monday that the United States also plans to raise what further steps could be taken in response to Iran’s…
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVp6O
csznLJpeFv8SenE_EhxIpmgD8V1EGI00

Iran’s Israel remarks “damaging and uncivilised”-EU
Reuters – USA
BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (Reuters) – The European Union on Monday denounced statements by Iranian leaders against Israel as “unacceptable, damaging and uncivilised” …
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL25392518

Iran Nuclear Watch: IAEA’s ElBaradei’s Agenda Criticized
By Flap
IAEA technical experts have complained anonymously to the press that the latest report on Iran was revamped to suit the director’s political goals. In 2004, Mr. ElBaradei sought to purge mention of Iranian attempts to purchase beryllium …
flapsblog.com/?p=6489

What about Iran?
By Outraged
“Iran is in the eye of the storm,” he says, noting that regional neighbor Pakistan and arch-foe Israel both have nuclear weapons, though neither are signatories like Iran of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. …
www.uppitywis.org/what-about-iran

No breakthrough for Iran nuclear stalemate in sight after IAEA report
Xinhua – China
25 (Xinhua) — A breakthrough in the deadlock over Iran’s controversial nuclear activities remains as elusive as ever, two days after a report by the …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/25/content_7668785.htm

Oil Prices Approach $100 a Barrel
The Associated Press –
Oil prices pushed toward $100 a barrel Monday as the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq and warnings by Iran against further sanctions heightened concerns …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i5Ttajg
UpSm7KY5jf-lCJGHBB-tAD8V1BM200

Iran reformists still weakened in parliamentary election
AFP –
TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran’s embattled reformist forces can only compete in around 50 percent of seats in parliamentary elections despite the reinstatement of …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jQfT39hBYUYT4T40z-3_7iyVqomA

Oil price helps Iran cope with sanctions: minister
Reuters – USA
TEHRAN (Reuters) – High oil prices will help Iran to cope with any new UN sanctions over its nuclear program, Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Davoud …
www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSBLA53825820080225

Iran says construction work caused blast in Tabriz
Reuters India – Mumbai,India
TEHRAN (Reuters) – An Iranian official said on Monday construction work caused a blast in the northwestern city of Tabriz, but no casualties were reported. …
in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-32134320080225

Window on Eurasia: Iran’s Azerbaijanis: Both a ‘Bastion of the …
By Paul Goble(Paul Goble)
Vienna, February 25 – The Azerbaijanis of Iran present two faces to the world: that of an ethnic group well-integrated into the broader Persian community with ties to the most senior Shiia leadership and that of an oppressed minority …
windowoneurasia.blogspot.com/2008/02/
window-on-eurasia-irans-azerbaijanis.html

What is Green Salt? What are these new studies Iran is being asked …
By Marian Houk
I’m going on the possibly wrong assumption that, if the IAEA did not take this evidence seriously, the IAEA would not have asked Iran to give clarifications on the studies that “Member States” and “countries” [in the plural] finally …
un-truth.com/iran/what-is-green-salt-what
-are-these-new-studies-iran-is-being-asked-to-explain

Irish Centre delegation to Iran
By William A. Schabas OC MRIA(William A. Schabas OC MRIA)
The Irish Centre for Human Rights is sending a delegation to Iran later this week. We will be visiting various universities and academic institutions, delivering talks and lectures on a range of human rights issues. …
humanrightsdoctorate.blogspot.com/2008
/02/irish-centre-delegation-to-iran.html

US considers sanctions against Iran’s central bank: report
The US Treasury Department is considering sanctions against Iran’s central bank, which it suspects of helping other Iranian institutions evade earlier US economic sanctions, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
news.smh.com.au/us-considers-sanctions-against
-irans-central-bank-report/20080225-1un7.html

US weighs sanctions on Iran’s Central Bank
SIMPSONSoure: The Wall Street JournalThe Treasury Department is gathering evidence it says shows that the central bank of Iran is helping other Iranian institutions elude US economic sanctions, in what could be a prelude to penalties …
www.ncr-iran.org/index.php?option=com
_content&task=view&id=4854&Itemid=152

Nuclear intelligence fake, Iranian official says
Globe and Mail – Canada
ap Vienna — A senior Iranian official blamed the United States yesterday for Tehran’s refusal to respond to accusations it tried to make nuclear weapons, …
www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080
225.WORLDREPORT25-3/TPStory/TPInternational/Africa/

Kazakhstan ready to transfer copies of Persian manuscripts to Iran
Tehran Times – Iran
TEHRAN — Iran National Library and Archives (INLA) Director Ali-Akbar Ash’ari recently held talks with Issakhov Orynbassar director of the National Library …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=163959

Samadi donates treasured awards to Film Museum of Iran
Tehran Times – Iran
“I have now changed my outlook and realize that the little treasure of my house can be part of the big wealth of the Film Museum of Iran. …
www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=163960

Iran says had little time to respond to nuclear weapons allegations
AFP –
VIENNA (AFP) — Even as Iran warned of reprisals over any new UN sanctions, Tehran complained it had not been given sufficient time to respond to new …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jkfvvyrLm2164E4SFqOdFz-i1zyw

In Japan, Israeli PM calls for action on Iran
AFP –
TOKYO, (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called Monday for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear drive as he started a rare visit to Japan, …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDua2A4cI_4p9W-qDvilU_GFmCGg

Iran: The Experts’ View
Goal.com – Switzerland
Iran is a giant of Asian football. The three-time continental champions have been through some tough times of late. Poor performances in international …
www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=598634

US Weighs Sanctions On Iran’s Central Bank
Wall Street Journal – USA
By GLENN R. SIMPSON The Treasury Department is gathering evidence it says shows that the central bank of Iran is helping other Iranian institutions elude US …
online.wsj.com/article/SB120391276365
489981.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Iran’s great missile leap
Washington Times – Washington,DC,USA
By James T. Hackett Leave it to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the erratic president of Iran, to antagonize his few international supporters. …
washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID
=/20080225/COMMENTARY/545295496

US generals ‘will quit’ if Bush orders Iran attack – Tim
SOME of America’s most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources. Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears …
digg.com/world_news/US_generals_will_
quit_if_Bush_orders_Iran_attack_Tim

Olmert calls for new UN sanctions against Iran
TOKYO – Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called on Monday for new UN sanctions to be imposed on Iran, after the UN nuclear watchdog said Tehran had failed to provide satisfactory answers to reports showing work linked to atomic bombs.
www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/
middleeast/2008/February/middleeast_February291.
xml&section=middleeast&col=

Iran Stepping Up Its Uranium Work
New York Times – United States
By AP TEHRAN (AP) — Iran said Sunday that it had started using new centrifuges that can enrich uranium at more than twice the speed of the machines that now …
www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/world/
middleeast/25iran.html?ref=world

Oil rises above $99 on Iran warnings
Reuters UK – UK
By Fayen Wong SYDNEY (Reuters) – Oil rose nearly a dollar and hovered above $99 a barrel on Monday, bolstered by Iran’s warning that more UN sanctions would …
uk.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUKMOL50570220080225

Iran officers take training at IML
Times of India – India
The 10 to 15 Iranian officers will be trained in Indian military laws and judicial system. Sources added that the team came to Kamptee about a week back and …
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nagpur/Iran_officers
_take_training_at_IML/articleshow/2810756.cms

The IAEA Report: Ad Out For Iran
Via Laura Rozen at MoJo, who has an excellent post on the subject, comes this .pdf file of the IAEA’s Iran report. Laura has some analysis from Jacqueline Shire of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), …
www.headlinejunky.com/permalink/2008
_02_24_the_iaea_report_ad_out_for_iran.php

Iran Confirms New Nuclear Centrifuges
The Associated Press –
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran said Sunday that it has started using new centrifuges that can churn out enriched uranium at more than double the rate of the …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iRqjZV1
Meppj40hTs8IBOv4DdsQwD8V0URNO0

the middle east: In charge in Iran —Mehdi Khalaji
Daily Times – Lahore,Pakistan
To resolve outstanding issues with Iran, the West should be dealing with the only person powerful enough to make deals and deliver concessions. …
www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page
=2008%5C02%5C25%5Cstory_25-2-2008_pg3_4

‘Bilateral US talks not on Iran agenda’
PRESS TV – Tehran,Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has stressed that no bilateral negotiation with Washington is on Tehran’s agenda. The US policies toward Iran …
www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=44559&sectionid=351020101

24/2/08

FACTBOX: Sanctions against Iran
Reuters – USA
(Reuters) – Iran said on Sunday Western countries would be the ones to suffer if they passed a new UN sanctions resolution on the Islamic Republic. …
www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL2462483720080224

Iran: No justification for UN sanctions
Ahmadinejad [Iran’s Pres.] said the International Atomic Energy Agency report vindicated Iran and warned that Tehran would take unspecified “decisive reciprocal measures” against any country that imposed additional sanctions against …
digg.com/world_news/Iran_No_justification_for_UN_sanctions

Iran warns will hit back at UN sanctions
Iran on Sunday warned it would hit back with an appropriate response to new UN Security Council sanctions over its contested nuclear programme, as Western powers stepped up efforts to punish Tehran.
www.mixx.com/stories/117534/iran
-warns-will-hit-back-at-un-sanctions

Iranian official warns new UN resolution against Iran would be …
Xinhua – China
24 (Xinhua) — A senior Iranian official Sunday warned the western countries that issuing a new sanction against Iran would be a wrong action which would …
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/25/content_7662217.htm

Israel renews calls for Iran sanctions after IAEA report
Times of India – India
JERUSALEM: Senior Israeli ministers on Sunday renewed calls for tougher international sanctions on Iran after a new UN report could not confirm Tehran’s …
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Israel_renews_calls
_for_Iran_sanctions_after_IAEA_report/articleshow/2810362.cms

Iran Blames US for Lack of Nuke Response
The Associated Press –
VIENNA, Austria (AP) — A senior Iranian official blames the US for his country’s refusal to respond to accusations it tried to make nuclear weapons. …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHz-B
z3Pa0Ivga_oNIvTbrBoIN7QD8V0KMVO0

Mottaki: no more ambiguities between Iran and IAEA
ISNA – Iran
The IAEA has informed Iran officially that there are no more issues according to the modality to discuss with Iran, he noted. Meanwhile he noted Iran and …
www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1092940&Lang=E

Iran Blames US for Lack of Nuke Response
The Associated Press –
VIENNA, Austria (AP — A senior Iranian official blamed the US Sunday for Tehran’s refusal to respond to accusations it tried to make nuclear weapons, …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHz-Bz3
Pa0Ivga_oNIvTbrBoIN7QD8V0M1600

Iran reinforces Iraq border after Turkish attack
Reuters – USA
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran said on Sunday it had reinforced its border security after Turkey launched an offensive in north Iraq against Kurdish rebels, …
www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUSBLA43213320080224

Iran’s nuclear program came under increased international scrutiny …
Jewish Telegraphic Agency – New York,NY,USA
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report issued Friday that Iran had cooperated with some of its queries but had failed to provide …
www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/107158.html

Bilateral talks with US not on agenda of Iran: Mottaki
Islamic Republic News Agency – Tehran,Iran
Conducting bilateral talks with US officials is not on agenda of Iran, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Sunday. Addressing a group of students in …
www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0802242025153153.htm

Iran reinforces Iraq border after attack
Iran has reinforced its borders after Turkish forces launched an offensive into northern Iraq targeting Kurdish rebels, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
news.smh.com.au/iran-reinforces-iraq
-border-after-attack/20080224-1ueu.html

Ahmadinejad Calls IAEA Nuclear Report `Great Victory’ for Iran
Bloomberg – USA
24 (Bloomberg) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejected allegations over his country’s nuclear program and referred to a United Nations nuclear …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=
20601116&sid=aeh4YQmKZuv4&refer=africa

Iran Confirms President’s Trip to Iraq
The Associated Press –
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The Iranian government announced March 2 as the date for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Iraq, confirming the landmark trip for …
ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j5leYnv
OpPqrVCiXxC65pROPNYBAD8V0KG1G0

Iran says US to blame for Tehran’s lack of response on alleged …
International Herald Tribune – France
AP VIENNA, Austria: A senior Iranian official blamed the US Sunday for Tehran’s refusal to respond to accusations it tried to make nuclear weapons, …
www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/
24/europe/EU-GEN-Nuclear-Iran.php

Israel PM to discuss Iran on rare Japan visit
AFP –
Olmert will also press his hosts to stop buying Iranian-produced petrol in order to keep economic and diplomatic pressure on Tehran, a government officials …
afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h65x-tzlUz7eT-fA4OGH5tARoUUw

Iran warns of ‘deserving’ response to UN resolution
Africasia – London,UK
A new UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions against Iran over its nuclear drive will receive a “deserving” response from Tehran, …
www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?
area=mideast&item=080224070812.794bzyr9.php

Iran reinforces Iraq border after Turkish attack
Reuters – USA
TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran has reinforced its borders after Turkish forces launched an offensive into northern Iraq targeting Kurdish rebels, the Iranian …
www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSBLA43213320080224

Some background to new sanctions push – Nick Burns on Iran
By Marian Houk
The question was about Iran. Let me just say, first of all, I agree with everything that Secretary Rice said here in London last week. I know you’re surprised to hear me say that. (Laughter) She’s my boss, so I agree with her. …
un-truth.com/iran/some-background-
to-new-sanctions-push-nick-burns-on-iran