Iran News Round Up

(Thanks to Ali Alfoneh for his assistance in compiling)

Diplomacy

• Rafsanjani: “Regional circumstances unprecedented…Iran under threat…suffering from malicious propaganda.”
• “The enemy is contemplating dangerous thoughts.”
• Ahmadinejad: “Iran’s enemies are isolated.”
• “The Europeans should distance themselves from the United States.”
• Iranian Parliament Chairman Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel talking to a parliamentary delegation from Indonesia: “Indonesia is expected to support the interests of the Islamic world.”
• “Iran likely to accept U.S. demand for continued talks on Iraq.”
• Obama’s willing to talk directly with Iran headlines Iranian press.

Nuclear Diplomacy

• U.S. and IAEA are moving in opposite directions.
• China critical of new Iran sanctions.
• Hilary Clinton, Chris Dodd’s letter bolsters Iranian confidence.

Society and Culture

• Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution of the Islamic Republic of Iran convenes under the auspices of Ahmadinejad.
• Supreme Leader seeks to strengthen paramilitary Basij at universities.

Politics

• Tehran mayor Qalibaf: “Extremism and unbalanced management leads to secularization of society.”
• Sa’id Hajjarian, chief advisor to Khatami: “Parliamentary elections a prelude to change of government in Iran.”

Economy

• Ahmadinejad ridicules U.S. sanctions attempt.
• Iran disputes U.S. figures of Iranian oil production.

Photo of the Day:

• Ahmadinejad opens a new petrochemical plant.