The Corner

Iran News Round Up

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

Diplomacy

  • According to Sobh-e Sadeq, one of the Iranian businessmen meeting with U.S. presidential candidate Barak Obama clams Obama has said he wants to establish relations with Iran.
  • Iranian-American academic Houshang Amirahmadi, who says he has mediated between the U.S. and Iran, says Ahmadinejad has a complex personality instigating crises, but at the same time wants peace.
    • According to Entekhab, prospect of improvement of Iran-U.S. relations worries the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
    • Basij Chief Hojjat al-Eslam Ta’eb says establishment of a U.S. interest section in Tehran is not a threat to the Revolution.
    • Diplomasi-ye Irani analyses Iran-U.S. relations and the Ahmadinejad government’s signals.
    • Ahmadinejad says U.S. Undersecretary Burns’ driver in Geneva told the Iranian negotiator Jalili: “We are with you!”
      • The Iranian president also claimed that most U.S. soldiers in Iraq sympathize with Iran.
      • Adds: “As Muslims we are not the opposite of the religion of Christ. We are not opposed to the religion of the Jews. I told the heads of American churches that if Lord Jesus resurrects, I’ll follow all his orders. This made them wonder…There is only one religion and they all said the same thing. Islam is the completion of Judaism and Christianity…
      • God is witness to the fact that I have written a letter to Bush, and prior to writing of the letter I performed the religious ablution. At the time I wanted to sign the letter I said ‘Great God, let guidance be in this letter and if he was stubborn make him dishonorable in the eyes of others.’ This is our duty.”
    • In an interview with NBC, the Iranian president welcomes U.S. participation in Geneva nuclear negotiations. (E) here.
      • Ahmadinejad tells NBC U.S. statesmen should “abandon threats and ultimatums” when dealing with the Islamic Republic. Ahmadinejad adds that the Iranian nation would not consider the incentive package a great incentive since “the doors of the world are not closed to us.”
    • Larijani discusses U.S. strategy in the Middle East and Central Asia and stresses the necessity of devising an Iranian strategy to counter it.
  • Nicaraguan president on his way to Iran.
  • Foreign minister Mottaki says the Islamic Republic wants a seat in U.N. Security Council.
  • Energy minister of Sri Lanka thanks Iran for providing $65 million for electricity to remote Sri Lankan villages. 

Military and Security

Human Rights and Labor

  • Video footage from the Iranian television explaining the background for hanging of 29 criminals.
  • Law Enforcement Forces establish new special operations units to deal with “hooligans.”

Trade

Politics

Economy

Religion, Culture, and Society

Media

Photo of the Day

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Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, senior lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Civil-Military Relations, and a senior editor of the Middle East Quarterly.
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