Iran News Round Up

(Thanks to Ali Alfoneh for his assistance in compiling)

Nuclear Diplomacy

Ahmadinejad: “From our point of view, the nuclear issue is solved… Those who make a lot of noise about it just want to extract concessions from our nation.”
Iran declares itself to have a clean bill from the IAEA, confusing talks over modality with talks to resolve issues.
U.S. efforts to block Iran’s nuclear program are futile.
Bahraini Crown Prince denounces quotes attributed to him on Iran’s nuclear program.

Economy and Trade

Iranian authorities discuss measures to neutralize sanctions.
Iran to build a $5 billion natural gas pipe line to Turkey.
Former Director of Iranian Planning and Budget Organization: “Part of the banking system of the country is used for money laundering and smuggling business.”
Adds: Smuggling is becoming “institutionalized” in Iran.

Diplomacy

State-organized anti-American rallies across the country to celebrate anniversary of embassy take-over, hostage seizure.
Former spokesman for hostage-takers, later Khatami’s vice-president, now described by U.S. journalists and academics as a reformist, says she has no regrets for the embassy take-over; “It was the right decision.”
Iranian Minister of Islamic Guidance and Culture: “We should never forget the brave people who took over the Den of Espionage.”
“National Day Against Global Arrogance.”
Rafsanjani: “We hope reason finds its way to the heads of the US leadership… We will negotiate with them, but only on equal terms.”
Vice Home Office Minister, Ala Reza-Afshar: “The United States has opened offices in Dubai which function as dens of espionage against Iran.”
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki presents Iran’s plan for stabilization of Iraq.
Shi’ite religious activists make entire native tribes in Venezuela and Columbia convert to Shi’a Islam.
Defense Minister visits Armenia, perhaps Iran’s closest ally after Syria.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon meets Iranian Foreign Minsiter.

Politics

Member of Tehran City Council, Ma’soumeh Ebtkar: “Let us not suppress the student movement in fear of reform demands.”
Presidential top advisor Samareh Hashemi attacking Rafsanjani’s warning that Iran is going through an state of emergency: “If Mr. Rafsanjani thereby alludes to exceptional success of the country in the field of foreign and security policies…, he is right.”
Safdar Hosseini, staff member of the reformist alliance in Iran: “The national media is our main rival,” alluding to the monopoly of the hard liners over the state-run media.

Society and Culture

Education Minister denies report saying there are 30,000 drug addicts among Iranian school children: “Our school system does not harbor drug addiction.”
Former Iranian nuclear negotiator Mousavian accused of having received privileged access to cheap housing.

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