19 March, 2009

Global Voices Online “ Iran:”anti religion network destroyed”
By Hamid Tehrani
According to [fa] several Iran based sites and blogs, Iranian Revolutionary Guards claims that it has destroyed anti religion active networks on the internet. Revolutionary Guards says these networks got supported by foreign countries. …
globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/18/ira
nanti-religion-network-destroyed/

US plans soon to ease ban on contacts with Iran
Reuters UK – UK
By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) – The Obama administration, in a sign of thawing ties with Iran, is likely soon to relax restrictions on …
uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1834903520090318

Iran Increases Activity In Latin America: U.S.
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Iran Increases Activity In Latin America: US – The Huffington Post.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/18/
iran-increases-activity-i_n_176406.html

Global Voices Online “ Iran: Omid Reza Mir Sayafi, jailed blogger died
By Hamid Tehrani
Omid Reza Mir Sayafi, who had been sentenced to 30 months prison for insulting Islamic Republic Leaders last month, died in prsion today.Human Rights Activists in Iran site says[fa] the reason for his death has not been announced but he …
globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/18/iran-
omid-reza-mir-sayafi-jailed-blogger-died/

Clinton not planning Iran meeting at conference
Reuters – USA
By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON, March 18 (Reuters) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has no immediate plans to meet separately with Iran’s delegation at a …
www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSN18432943

Reports: Russia Confirms Iran Missile Contract – Democratic …
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian news agencies cited a top defense official Wednesday as confirming that a contract to sell powerful air-defense missiles to Iran was signed two years ago, but saying no such weapons have yet been delivered. …
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/
duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3788574

18 March, 2009

Iran’s presidential candidate vows to follow Khatami’s reformist path
Xinhua – China
TEHRAN, March 18 (Xinhua) — The Iranian presidential hopeful Mir-Hossein Mousavi has vowed to follow the reformist path of former President Mohammad…
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/18/content_11032752.htm

Report: IDF chief gave US fresh intel on Iran nukes program
Ha’aretz – Tel Aviv,Israel
Ashkenazi on Monday said that while Israel was interested in exhausting diplomatic options against Iran’s nuclear program, the army must nevertheless …
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1071977.html

Iran’s reformist challenger to Ahmadinejad
The Associated Press
The emerging top challenger to hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran’s June elections rose up through the ranks as a solid believer in the…
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5
i95UIiNfWYLsT20JBH9N4YUFx3AwD9709EB00

Iran Rejects UK Pressure to End Uranium Enrichment Program
Bloomberg – USA
By Ladane Nasseri March 18 (Bloomberg) — Iran rejected renewed UK pressure to scrap its uranium enrichment program and said Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s …
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206
01102&sid=a.epkbXslwIY&refer=uk

UNGA president: US demonizing Iran | Iran news | Jerusalem Post
Asked on Ahmadinejad saying he wants to wipe Israel off the map, d’Escoto says &quotwords don’t kill.”
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=
JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1237114856797

The Weekly Standard
By Bill Roggio
At the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Michael Knights notes that Iran’s proxy war against the United States in Iraq continues. He then said this will complicate U.S. efforts to come to a negotiated solution with Iran over …
www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/
2009/03/negotiations_and_irans_proxy_w_1.asp

UN Official Attacks Western Policies on Iran and Sudan
New York Times – United States
He said that he had been struck by the “great respect” shown to Iran by its neighbors and that its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had been unfairly …
www.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/world/18nations.html

Russia Signaling Interest in Deal on Iran, Analysts Say
Washington Post – United States
By Philip P. Pan and Karen DeYoung As President Obama seeks to recast relations with Russia and persuade it to help contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions, …
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2009/03/17/AR2009031703033.html

UN official says US “demonizes” Iranian leader
Reuters – USA
By Patrick Worsnip UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The UN General Assembly president accused the United States on Tuesday of “demonizing” Iranian President …
www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE52G7NU20090317

17 March, 2009

The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan (March 17, 2009) – Working …
By Andrew Sullivan
…one of the many tragedies of the Iraq war was that, at the moment (in April 2003) when U.S. leverage over Iran was highest, the Bush administration did not attempt to use it to change Iran’s behavior. Chris Dierkes piles on: …
andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily
_dish/2009/03/working-with-ir.html

The Weekly Standard
By Thomas Joscelyn
Today, Navy Admiral James Stavridis, head of U.S. Southern Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Iran is increasing its activity in Latin America. According to Reuters, Stavridis said: “We have seen…an increase in a …
www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWS
FP/2009/03/iran_in_latin_america.asp

Study cautions against relying on Arab kingdom
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — US policymakers should not assume Saudi Arabia will“act in lockstep” with the United States in countering Iran’s influence in the Arab …
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/A
LeqM5iGq9FLAV6j1yedpYvTgLbqwJiXCwD9701J5O0

US policy towards Iran shaping up
BBC News – UK
A senior Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that he expected the letter to be sent to Mr Khamenei before the Iranian …
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7949233.stm

IRAN: IS TEHRAN USING RUSSIA AS INSURANCE AGAINST TOUGHER SANCTIONS?
EurasiaNet – New York,NY,USA
Russia has entered into an energy swap arrangement with Iran that can strengthen Moscow’s position in the Caspian Basin. Meanwhile, Tehran stands to reap …
www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav031709b.shtml

US says Iran increasing activity in Latin America
Reuters – USA
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iran is increasing its activity in Latin America and the Caribbean, including actions aimed at supporting the Lebanese militant group …
www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE52G5VK2009031

‘Israel would attack Iran with missiles’ | Iran news | Jerusalem Post
US think tank: If Israel chooses to attack Iran, it would use ballistic missiles, not risk losing IAF pilots.
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=
JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1237114853776

Khatami Withdrawal Shakes Up Iran Presidential Race
Voice of America – USA
By Gary Thomas Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s sudden withdrawal from the country’s upcoming presidential race just five weeks after he had …
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-17-voa30.cfm