Iran News Round Up

[(E) signifies English link]

Politics

• Tabnak slams Ahmadinejad government executives’ extravagant spending on Kish island.
• Mehdi Karrubi refuses to deliver a definitive answer on his candidacy for 2009 presidential elections.
• Iranian president Ahmadinejad meets the people of Rey.
• Government spokesman Elham claims conditions of life for Iranians during the Ahmadinejad presidency is better than it was at the time Imam Ali governed the community of believers.
• Elham also claimed the reason behind all the attacks against the Ahmadinejad government is the simple fact that Ahmadinejad is directing people towards God, and the enemies of God are angry with the Iranian president.
• The Iranian parliament to question education minister Ali-Reza Mohammadi which may or may not lead to a vote of no confidence. A vote of no confidence will in turn force Ahmadinejad to ask for a vote of confidence for his entire cabinet since more than half of his cabinet has been changed since he was sworn in.

Diplomacy

• Speaking to Japanese television, Ahmadinejad says it is not only the West which can impose economic sanctions against Iran. Iran can also impose sanctions against the West.
• (E) English account.
• (E) Iran open to talks with the United States if the U.S. first changes its policies.
• Tabnak News reports spy war at academic institutions between the Islamic Republic and the United States.
• (E) Spokesman slams Sarkozy remarks on danger of Iranian nukes.

Economy

• Tabnak News, close to Mohsen Rezai, former chief of the Revolutionary Guards, discloses information on privatization of the National Communication Organization of the Islamic Republic.

Trade

• Tabnak criticizes natural gas export schemes to Pakistan in the face of domestic need gas needs.

Military and Security

• (E) Iran to introduce indigenous jet fighters in 2009.

Human Rights and Labor

• (E) Death penalty overturned, but Iranian Kurdish journalist Adnan Hassanpour remains under cloud of other charges.

Photo of the Day

• First Friday prayer during Ramadan.