Iran News Round Up

(Compiled with the assistance of Ali Alfoneh)

Politics:

• Political commissar of Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei describes the characteristics of a good parliamentarian to members of Basij Militia and the Revolutionary Guards.
• Hard line Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi: “[The Iranian loyal opposition group] Freedom Movement is un-Islamic… [They] want to develop Iran into a state in America.”

Diplomacy:

• Rafsanjani: “U.S. threats against Iran…not serious.”
• Attack on Iran would lead to unimaginable consequences.
• U.S. is on wrong side of the Qur’an.
• Bahraini Crown Prince: “Iran is building a nuclear bomb.”
• Ahmadinejad: Creating media discord is U.S. strategy.
• Russia and China oppose new sanctions.

Economy and Trade:

• Bank Mellat rejects U.S. sanctions’ accusations.
• Supreme Leader’s advisor: Sanctions are futile.
• Iranian car manufacturer to export 50 percent of its products.

Religion and Culture:

• No place for Sufism in Iran.
• Iranian studies conference in Beijing.

Human Rights and Labor:

• Dutch human rights activist sentenced to death in Iran.
• Ibrahim Madadi, vice president of Vahed union, receives two-year sentence.
• Condoleezza Rice continues to ignore labor crackdown; refuses to have State Department issue any statement of sympathy or solidarity.

Picture of the Day:

• Exhibition of Iranian handicrafts.