26 March, 2009

Iran accepts US Afghan invitation BBC News – UK Iran has confirmed it will attend a US-backed international conference on the future of Afghanistan next week. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7965529.stm

timesofmalta.com – Iran says Afghan “crisis” needs regional solution In a swift overture towards Tehran by the new administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Clinton said earlier this month Iran would be invited to the conference. The Dutch foreign minister said on Wednesday Iranian delegates would
www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090326/world-news/
iran-says-afghan-crisis-needs-regional-solution

M of A – Another Iran Scare Story Debunked By b A week ago the Neue Züricher Zeitung, a major Swiss newspaper, published a piece (in German) on how Iran allegedly financed a Syrian nuclear reactor program. The Associated Press and many others echo-chambered the report: …
www.moonofalabama.org/2009/03/anothe
r-iran-scare-story-debunked.html

Push Iran on missing Fla. man, Nelson says By Wes Allison “I believe that the U.S. has an obligation to prioritize the case of this missing American in the context of any potential improvement in relations and cooperation between the U.S. and Iran, in Afghanistan as well as in other spheres,”
blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/03/push-iran
-on-missing-fla-man-nelson-says.html

ANALYSIS / In bombing Sudan, Israel sends message to Iran Ha’aretz – Tel Aviv,Israel By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent As the final curtain comes down on the Olmert government, CBS reported a sensational air force bombing of an Iranian
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1074125.html

IAF Sudan strike / ‘Two planes hit convoy’ Ha’aretz – Tel Aviv,Israel Two senior Sudanese politicians confirmed Thursday that unidentified aircraft attacked a convoy of suspected arms smugglers as it drove through Sudan toward Egypt in January, killing almost everyone in the convoy. An American news network said that the attack was carried out by the Israel Air Force.
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1074032.html

Iran says to attend UN meeting on Afghanistan Reuters – USA TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran said on Thursday it would attend a UN conference on the future of Afghanistan which was proposed by Tehran’s old foe the United …
www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE52P1U520090326

Atomic Agency to Choose New Head New York Times – United States Only last week President Obama offered a video-recorded message to Iran urging the leadership in Tehran to talk out its many differences with the United
www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/world/27nuke.html?hp

The Raw Story | US renews call for Iran to release journalist US-born Saberi, who has reported for National Public Radio, the BBC and Fox News, and had been living in Iran for six years, was arrested in late January on charges of buying alcohol, which is prohibited in the Islamic republic.
rawstory.com/news/afp/US_renews_cal
l_for_Iran_to_release__03252009.html

CQ Politics | SpyTalk – Mystery of Ex-FBI Agent Missing in Iran
It “urg[ed] officials of the Government of Iran to fulfill their promises of assistance to the family of Robert Levinson, and calling on the Government of Iran to share the results of its investigation into the disappearance of Robert
blogs.cqpolitics.com/spytalk/2009/03/mystery
-of-exfbi-agent-missing.html

Parents of imprisoned journalist plan Iran trip International Herald Tribune – France AP FARGO, North Dakota: The father of imprisoned journalist Roxana Saberi says he and his wife are making plans to go to Iran to see her in a couple of days
www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/26/america
/NA-US-Iran-Journalist-Detained.php

Obama Offers Iran “A Promise of a New Day” | The LA Progressive By Joseph Palermo A little recognition, a little respect, goes a long way with a people who have had such a tortured history with the United States. www.laprogressive.com/2009/03/25/obama
-offers-iran-a-promise-of-a-new-day/

To Make Up With Iran, U.S. Must Fess Up to 1953 Coup: Frankfurter
By WILLIAM KERN “The demonization of Iran as a member of the ‘Axis of Evil’ was only the latest chapter in a long line of political blunders.
Iran would perhaps have a functioning democracy today if the CIA, under the direct orders of President
themoderatevoice.com/27389/to-make-up-with-iran-us-
must-fess-up-to-1953-coup-frankfurter-rundschau-of-germany/

US urges Iran to give access to jailed journalist | Stuff.co.nz A meeting between Clinton and the Iranian delegation at the Afghanistan conference would be in line with the Obama administration’s policy of reaching out to Iran on a range of issues, from its nuclear programme to Iraq and Afghanistan.
www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/2292911/US-
urges-Iran-to-give-access-to-jailed-journalist

RealClearWorld – U.S.-Iran Engagement: When and How? Chicago, Illinois – On Nowruz, the day when Iranians celebrate the coming of spring and the new Iranian calendar year, US President Barack Obama took the helm of American foreign policy towards Iran and dramatically communicated his
www.realclearworld.com/2009/03/25/us-iran_
engagement_when_and_how_99240.html

US Urges Iran to Allow Access to Jailed Journalist Voice of America – USA By VOA News The United States is urging Iran to grant consular access to jailed Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi. A US State Department spokesman,
www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-25-voa82.cfm

Maliki says Iraq no place for PKK, Iranian rebels Reuters – USA In the same interview Maliki also warned the Iranian opposition group, the People’s Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI), that they must leave Iraq, reiterating a
www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUSTRE52O7FL20090325

US Iraq nominee issues Iran warning Aljazeera.net – Qatar Iran remains the “real problem” for Iraq, the US nominee for ambassador to Baghdad has said, pledging to work to ensure Tehran respects Iraqi sovereignty.
english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/
03/2009325213952831830.html

25 March, 2009

Afghan Meeting: Iran Accepts US Invitation
By The Huffington Post News Team Afghan Meeting: Iran Accepts US Invitation – The Huffington Post.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/25/
afghan-meeting-iran-accep_n_179138.html

The Hinterland Gazette: Iran: “Death to bloggers who write stuff
By Cheri Thomas “A new Al Jazeera English video reports that Iran is considering a law that would make “offensive” blogging punishable by death. The video notes an Amnesty International report claiming that 90 percent of all state-sanctioned execution
blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com/2009/03/iran-
death-to-bloggers-who-write-stuff.html

Eberhard Kronhausen and Phyllis Kronhausen: An Inconvenient Truth
By Eberhard Kronhausen and Phyllis Kronhausen An Inconvenient Truth About Iran – The Huffington Post.
www.huffingtonpost.com/eberhard-kronhausen-and-phyllis
-kronhausen/an-inconvenient-truth-abo_b_178950.html

Sam Sedaei: Why Is President Obama Not Defending American Citizens
By Sam Sedaei On the eve of the Persian New Year, President Obama sent best wishes to the people of Iran. He managed to make references to Iran’s nuclear program (to which Iran has complete rights under the Nonproliferation Treaty) and kept silent on
www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-sedaei/why
-is-president-obama-no_b_179142.html

Ali Larijani, Iranian Parliament Speaker, Slams Obama’s Nowruz
By The Huffington Post News Editors Ali Larijani, the speaker of Iran’s Parliament, on Wednesday criticized the United States in harsher terms than any other leading Iranian figure has done since President Obama extended his videotaped olive branch to Iran last week.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/25/ali-
larijani-iranian-parl_n_179126.html

US has Swiss press Iran to visit jailed American International Herald Tribune – France AP WASHINGTON: The United States says Swiss diplomats are pressing Iran to let them visit American journalist Roxana Saberi in the Tehran prison where she
www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/25/america
/NA-US-Iran-Journalist-Detained.php

Nuclear Watchdog Strains to Tap Leader Wall Street Journal – USA Iran has exploited this inherent tension to garner support for its nuclear program, which it says is purely for peaceful purposes.
online.wsj.com/article/SB123800619420
140433.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Iran to attend Hague Afghanistan conference: Dutch
Reuters – USA THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Delegates from Iran will attend an international conference on the future of Afghanistan in The Hague on March 31, the Dutch foreign
www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed1/idUSTRE52O5ON20090325

Russia shares IAEA concerns on Iran’s nuclear program – top MP GlobalSecurity.org is the leading source for reliable WMD news and WMD information, directed by John Pike.
www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news
/iran/2009/iran-090325-rianovosti02.htm

Iran Mulls Death Penalty For Offensive Bloggers (VIDEO) By The Huffington Post News Editors Iran Mulls Death Penalty For Offensive Bloggers (VIDEO) – The Huffington Post.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/25/
iran-mulls-death-penalty_n_178992.html

A Nuclear Iran and Wise Words on the Middle East Dilemma – Michael
Pieces by Mort Zuckerman and Michael Ledeen are worth reading on the Iranian nuclear weapons dilemma.
www.usnews.com/blogs/barone/2009/3/25/a-nuclear
-iran-and-wise-words-on-the-middle-east-dilemma.html

Center for Security Policy Report: Iran has assembled network of
According to the report, the number of significant pro-Iran lobbyists has grown and key players have gained access to Barak Obama’s administration: The Center for Security Policy said veteran Iranian lobbyists, several of them former
www.hyscience.com/archives/2009/03/center_for_secu.php

China Confidential: Iran Waiting to Make First A-Bombs By Confidential Reporter Iran is biding its time on manufacturing a nuclear weapon for diplomatic reasons, he said, adding that Israel could still prevent the Islamic republic from gaining atomic capabilities. “It all boils down to fissionable matter,” he
chinaconfidential.blogspot.com/2009/03/
iran-waiting-to-make-first-bombs.html

JPost: Suffocating the Baha’i | Persecution of Baha’is in Iran
By admin On March 24, The Jerusalem Post published the following Op-Ed about the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran by Sean Gannon, a freelance journalist, writing.
iran.bahai.us/2009/03/25/jpost-suffocating-the-bahai/

C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics: A
By Council on Foreign Relations Watch US Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner outline steps that the US Department of the Treasury plans to take to bring about financial recovery.
feeds.cfr.org/~r/cfr_main/~3/yVUR8TeTCmQ/c_peter_
mccolough_series_on_international_economics.html

Six Questions for Ian Bremmer, Author of Fat Tail—By Scott Horton
By Scott Horton In the case of Iran, everyone is aware of those spinning centrifuges. Iran says that uranium enrichment is meant for a civilian nuclear program that can generate electricity; many outsiders believe is intended as fuel for a nuclear
www.harpers.org/archive/2009/03/hbc-90004621

US urges Iran to give access to jailed journalist Reuters – USA WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday urged Tehran to grant consular access to an Iranian-American journalist jailed in Iran,
www.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUSN2543036320090325

Leading Iranian Official Ridicules Obama’s Overture New York Times – United States By ROD NORDLAND BAGHDAD — Ali Larijani, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, on Wednesday criticized the United States in harsher terms than any other leading
www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/world/middleeast/26iraq.html?ref=world

Iran to attend Hague Afghanistan conference-Dutch Reuters – USA THE HAGUE, March 25 (Reuters) – Delegates from Iran will attend an international conference on the future of Afghanistan in The Hague on March 31,
www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSAAT007704

Nuclear watchdog agency to elect new head The Associated Press ElBaradei’s successor will influence how the world meets the nuclear challenges posed by Iran, Syria or of extremists thought to be seeking the bomb.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gT4
jiIJoRZ5Y62Em0AanW8YKplLQD97566RG0

Death Penalty Fans Have Friend In Iran RantRave | Published Opinion. – Lynnwood,WA,USA (2) Ironically, the Iranian parliament most recently has advocated that the penalty be expanded to cover people who blog on topics the nation considers not
www.rantrave.com/Rant/Death-Penalty
-Fans-Have-Friend-In-Iran.aspx

Iran pledges to open trade ties with Mauritania AFP NOUAKCHOTT (AFP) — Iran has promised to boost trade with Mauritania, a government source said Wednesday, after the west African country’s military junta cut
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALe
qM5ihL5LkWhnq9snRxnwJY9yuQtS4fQ

Iraq ambassador pick Hill says Iran ‘real problem’ AFP “The real problem in the region for Iraq remains its ancient neighbor, Iran,” Hill told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a hearing on his embattled
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/AL
eqM5iF_4E—_lhPeQw8-lMLvXjXfcWCg

Iran able to build nuclear bomb in year: Israel
AFP JERUSALEM (AFP) — Iran will have the capacity to build a nuclear bomb within a year but is not rushing into production, the head of Israel’s military
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/
ALeqM5iU3Wfn-LiJ130m9_nIAfqp4jYwBw

Israeli intelligence chief warns of Iranian nuke development
Xinhua – China JERUSALEM, March 25 (Xinhua) — Israeli Military Intelligence chief Amos Yadlin warned Wednesday that Iran has mastered uranium enrichment technologies and
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/25/content_11072984.htm

Yadlin: Iran’s decision to pursue low-grade enrichment strategic
MI chief says Teheran chooses tactic that will allow it to progress without raising world’s ire; also says Hamas preparing for 2nd round of fighting.
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=J
Post/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1237727537143

YID With LID: The Only REAL Way To Pressure Iran
By Yid With Lid Iran is the Number two oil producer in the world, its economy is totally dependent on what used to be called “Texas tea.” 85% of its revenues come from crude oil. The operative word is crude. What Iran doesn’t have is the infrastructure
yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2009/03/only-
real-way-to-pressure-iran.html

obama reaches out to iran “ MEANINGFUL DISTRACTION
By The Zeitgeist Kid Happy New Year Iran! Having grown up and spent time with Persians, I can tell you that this is a great moment for Iranian-Americans, Iranians, and Americans. Addressing the people and leaders of Iran is an impressive step on Bam’s part.
meaningfuldistraction.com/2009/03/24/obama-video-appeal-iran/

Morocco Breaks Diplomatic Ties With Iran “ Dianej’s Weblog
By dianej Morocco broke diplomatic ties with Iran and said Iran was trying to spread Shiite Islam in the North African country. Morocco’s Human Rights Association spoke out against Morocco’s stand because it goes against the country’s strong move
dianej.wordpress.com/2009/03/25/
morocco-breaks-diplomatic-ties-with-iran/

Khatami asked about Iran’s treatment of Baha’is during visit to

By admin The former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami addressed an audience in Canberra, Australia on March 24. As he turned to the audience for questions, he was.
iran.bahai.us/2009/03/24/khatami-asked-about-irans-
treatment-of-baha%E2%80%99is-during-visit-to-australia/

The weak stance against Iran’s nuclear developments is starting a

By shaynexus
online.wsj.com/article/SB1237765722030
09141.html#mod=djemEditorialPage

The Weekly Standard
By Michael Goldfarb Obama seems to have conceded here that Iran is working towards a nuclear weapon, just as it continues to fund terrorism. It’s an odd locution from a president whose administration continues to stand by the conclusion of a 2007 NIE that
www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/
03/is_obama_accepting_the_unaccep_1.asp