News from Iran 1/11/2006

Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006

Adnkronos International reported Ahmadinejad is seeking to forge a common front against the US between Cuba's Fidel Castro, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and the recently elected Evo Morales of Bolivia.

Islamic Republic News Agency reported the Supreme Leader's representative for Haj affairs has urged Iranian pilgrims to spread the real Islam to the world.

Monday, Jan. 9, 2006

Iran ready to remove UN seals at nuclear sites
Parisa Hafezi, Reuters:

Iran said it was ready to remove U.N. seals at some atomic research and development sites on Monday, a move that would raise the stakes in Tehran's dispute with the West over its nuclear program. READ MORE

Antony Barnett, The Observer reported that British officials have allowed the export to Iran of a cargo of radioactive material that experts believe could be used in a nuclear weapons program.

CNN News reported that Iran's interior minister accused the US on Saturday of orchestrating the kidnapping of nine Iranian border guards. (Yeah, right. lol)

Mehran Riazaty reported that Ahmadinejad said: “We don’t shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world... We must prepare ourselves to rule the world.”

And finally, Chester, The Adventures of Chester reported that after reading one of our recent posts, he had quite a conversation developing with his readers about the situation with Iran.

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006
Three Major News Reports on Iran

Osama dead … in Iran?
Michael Ledeen, National Review Online reported that Osama Bin Laden died three weeks ago in Iran.

The Air Crash in Iran. A roundup.

Nasser Karimi, The Associated Press reported that a small military jet crashed in northwestern Iran on Monday, killing the commander of the ground forces of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.

Dan Darling, WindsOfChange.net argued that as a result of the crash there is going to be a lot more short-term power consolidated into the hands of IRGC's commander-in-chief Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi and his deputy General Mohammed Baqir Zolqadr.

DEBKAfile reported that its Tehran sources note the high importance of the dead commander who was appointed only three months ago.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, Foundation for Democracy in Iran reported news of potential sabotage behind the air crash.

Iran resumes nuclear program. A round up.

CNN News reported that as expected, Iran said it would resume its nuclear research program Monday.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Monsters and Critics reported that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: 'Those countries which now threaten us with sanctions should know that such threats will have no impact and not intimidate us."

Arnaud de Borchgrave, The Washington Times reviewed Iran's leaders statements on their nuclear intentions and finds them all in agreement, including the so-called moderate leaders.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

Zalmay Khalilzad (the U.S. ambassador to Iraq), The Wall Street Journal wrote about the challenge before us in Iraq.

The Washington Times reported that young Iraqis are receiving training in Iran for political indoctrination and militia training.
Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review Online thinks that Congressman Eric Cantor becoming the House majority-whip slot would be a nightmare for Ahmadinejad.

Rezapahlavi.org published excerpts of a live primetime televised interview with Fox News' in which Reza Pahlavi called for regime change in Iran.

Iran Focus reported that the government of radical Islamist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to segregate Iran’s pedestrian walkways on gender basis.

And finally, The Middle East Media Research Institute published video excerpts from a rally of Iranian pilgrims in Mecca where the speaker addresses the crowd in front of a backdrop showing the World Trade Center and an American flag in flames.