Iran News Round Up

[Thanks to Ali Alfoneh; (E) signifies English link]

Terrorism

Khatami congratulates Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on his success forcing Israel to free imprisoned Hezbollah members.

Hojjat al-Eslam Rasoul Ja’farian discusses he early history of Mansouroun Islamist terrorist organization. More here and here.

Military and Security

Chief of Revolutionary Guards Air Force Commander Salami: “Just by showing a fraction of our missile capabilities we managed to force the enemy from a position of threat to a position of weakness.”
Asharq al-Awsat claims members of the Revolutionary Guards participated as observers at Venezuelan army’s war game.
Basij chief Hojjat al-Eslam Ta’eb says his organization is ready to counter any cultural threat to the Islamic Republic.

Diplomacy

Jalili, secretary of Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, says his negotiations with Javier Solana in Geneva did not include any perspective deal on suspension of uranium enrichment.

Kayhan editor Shariatmadari, who speaks unofficially for the Supreme Leader, says U.S. presence in Geneva negotiations is a trap.
The Islamic Republic rejects the two weeks Solana gave for Iran to chose whether to accept the incentive package or not.

Dr. Rice says she has no patience for Iranian negotiator Jalili’s so called Iranian negotiation style.

Agah-Sazi News’ Mehdi Tajik says the Westerners are used to “fast food culture” and can’t be expected to accept patience demanded by the Islamic Republic’s representatives in nuclear negotiations in Geneva.

Alef News Agency publishes the Islamic Republic’s “Non-paper” describing Iran’s proposals.

Larijani: “Savagery of the United States has reduced the dignity of international organizations.” (E) In English.
The Justice-Seeking Student Movement arranges a seminar on “Relations with Satan”
Turkey eager to mediate between the U.S. and Iran.
Agah-Sazi analyzes the Iranian press analysis of the first round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva.

Meeting several “Iraqi cultural figures,” Rafsanjani says the Iraqi people have passed a phase of authoritarianism and now experience a phase of foreign occupation. Rafsanjani continued that Iranian presence in Iraq would benefit both countries.
“34 bullets for the Pharaoh,” part two of the Iranian movie “Execution of the Pharaoh” about Anwar Sadat’s assassination will soon be released.

Ghashghavi, former ambassador to Sweden, appointed spokesman of the Foreign Ministry.
As a reaction to Rome Municipality’s consideration on changing the street name on which the Islamic Republic’s embassy is located into “July 1999 Street” to commemorate the student uprising in Iran, Tehran Municipality is considering to change the name of “Italy Street” in Tehran to “Edouardo Agnieli Street,” who the Iranians claim was killed by “Zionist agents.”

Economy

Tehran metro begins to build its third line.
Ahmadinejad tells assembly of economists that Iran can be a first rate economic power.

Donya-ye Eqtesad treats statement with skepticism.
Commenting the economic reform schemes of the Iranian president, Donya-ye Eqtesad warns against “single dimensional understanding of economics.”

First vice president Davoudi says he would do as the president orders when asked if he is appointed as economy and finance minister.
Minister of Energy says his household experiences two hours of electricity shortages per day.

Energy minister publishes a report on damage to the steel industry because of energy shortage.
Warns of more shortages in the coming months.

Politics

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Hossein Saffar Harandi calls criticism of Ahmadinejad and the government “nonsense” and asks Iranians to “throw it away.”

Harandi says rumors about Ahmadinejad’s millenarian beliefs are “attempts at badmouth the president.”
Harandi says there are many good people in the Hojjatiyeh secret society.

Supreme Leader Khamenei intervenes to support Semsami’s tenure as acting economy and finance minister.
Speaking to Khatami supporters’ rally in Khorasan, Behzad Nabavi says the reform movement needs power to realize its aspirations.

The Expediency Council denies rumors that Ayatollah Rafsanjani and former president Mohammad Khatami attended the same dinner party.
Ghasem Ravanbakhsh, former student of Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi, threatens to sue Mohammad Khatami should Khatami run for presidency.

Mardomsalamari party nominates Mir-Hossein Mousavi as its presidential candidate.
Mehdi Karrubi is now the official presidential candidate of the National Trust party.

The so-called National/Religious faction says Abdollah Nouri is their presidential candidate.
Kayhan demands Ahmadinejad punish his advisor Mashayi for claiming the people of Israel are friends of Iran.

Former commander in chief of the Revolutionary Guards wonders how come Vice President Masheyi can both deny Holocaust and consider himself a friend of the people of Israel at the same time.

Religion, Culture, and Society

Reyshahri, head of the Hajj organization of the Islamic Republic, reports ill treatment of Iranian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s Olympic team prohibited from having tattoos, and barred from interviews with foreign journalists.
3.5 million children don’t have access to education in Iran, says Child Care Organization in Iran.
Hojjat al-Eslam Seyyed Mohammd Gha’em-Maghami, expert in millenarianism and eschatology says he has detected no “deviation in millenarian beliefs of President Ahmadinejad.”
Director General of Affairs of Aliens and Foreign Citizens says more than 2 million Afghans are illegal aliens in Iran and around 5,000 Afghans cross the border to Iran on daily basis.

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