The Latest from Iran (7 October): Drama in Parliament?

UPDATED Iran: Rafsanjani Makes A Public Move with "Friendship Principles"
UPDATED Iran: How a Non-Story about a Non-Jew Became Media Non-Sense
Video: 4 Clips from Tehran Azad University Protests (6 October)
The Latest from Iran (6 October): Loud Noises, Quiet Manoeuvres

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2130 GMT: A very depressing end to the day. The Committee on Human Rights Reporters has announced that Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani, a member of the The Association of Monarchists, is
to be executed by hanging for taking part in the demonstrations following the June elections. Zamani, who had no access to independent legal representation, was transferred on Monday from Section 29 of Evin Prison to Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Courts and his sentence was handed down by Judge Salavati.

To our knowledge, this is the first death sentence for a partipicant in post-election protest.

(http://chrr.us/spip.php?article6138)

1800 GMT: Disturbing article in Payvand that 10 of the 21 members of the "press court jury" have been replaced in elections. Out go Fatemeh Karoubi, wife of Etemade Melli party head Mehdi Karoubi, Masih Mohajeri, editor-in-chief of Jomhouri Eslami newspaper, and cleric Mohsen Doagu, all of whom have been critical of the Ahmadinejad administration. The news accompanies the closure of three more newspapers since Sunday.

1715 GMT: Report that 12 members of the Iran Teachers Union who were arrested on Tuesday (the day after World Teachers Day) have been released from detention.

1530 GMT: Let's Keep It Global, OK? Sure looks like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants to talk about matters other than domestic trifles. He appeared on Iran state television after a Cabinet meeting to confirm Tehran's willingness to consider "third-party enrichment" of its uranium, adding:

I think these negotiations were a step forward and I hope we proceed with the same trend so we will have constructive cooperation to resolve all outstanding global issues....In these negotiations we witnessed better behaviour than in the past from some countries and we noticed that the logic of respect and justice is being established gradually. These talks are good basis for continuation of the negotiations.

1319 GMT: Prompted by readers, we're investigating the story that the Obama Administration has cut funding to four Iran-centred human rights organisations. The only article so far, in Boston.com, considers the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. The three other groups are not identified.

1315 GMT: Fereshteh Ghazi ("Iranbaan") has updated on the condition of a number of detainees, including the two of 18 students who were not released after University protests last week.

1105 GMT: And Now A Distraction. Press TV summarises the Supreme Leader's public address in the northern city of Chalous:

The enemy started to throw mud and spread rumors in order to undermine and downplay this big political victory....The enemy caused unrest in a part of the country. We see that it is worried about the 85 percent participation of the Iranian nation in the presidential election....Iran's foes are angry with progress and development of the nation.

And so on and so on....

0915 GMT: OK, So We Did Talk. Aladdin Boroujerdi, the Head of Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, has messed up the Government's "Maybe We Did, Maybe We Didn't" strategy by confirming that Iranian and American delegates did have bilateral discussions at the Geneva meeting on Iran's nuclear programme. Saeed Jalili, the lead Iranian negotiator, had denied that any 1-on-1 conversation took place.

0820 GMT: One source for the claim that Saeed Mortazavi is on the firing line for the Parliamentary report on post-election abuses (see 0740 GMT) is member of Parliament Ali Reza Zakani, who claims that documents will soon be produced for judicial authorities establishing Mortazavi's guilt.

0810 GMT: Ayatollah Dastgheib has written another letter criticising the handling of the post-election crisis, alleging that "military men" are the cause of "vices" in Iran.

0755 GMT: Is This A Confession of Fraud or An Attack on Larijani? In an interview, conservative member of Parliament Javad Karimi Ghadousi claims that Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani wants a National Unity Government so that he can replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as President. Ghadousi criticises Larijani for investigations of post election events, such as the raids on Tehran University dormitories and the abuses at Kahrizak Prison, "in defiance" of the Supreme Leader's statement that these were "side issues".

This, however, is the headline assertion: Larijani called Mir Hossein Mousavi on the night of the Presidential election to congratulate him on victory, and Deputy Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar wrote a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei that the regime has to accept and prepare for Mousavi as President.

0745 GMT: Back in Action (with a Great Headline). It looks like Mehdi Karroubi's Web presence has returned, with the repackaging of Tagheer on a different URL. It criticises proposed First Vice President Rahimi (see yesterday and 0530 GMT) with one of the best lines in the post-election crisis: "Fake Correspondence of Fake Minister in Fraudulent Government".

0740 GMT: News is coming out of the Iranian Parliament that while parts of the report on post-election abuses are classified, it does criticise --- as rumoured --- former Tehran Prosecutor General (now Iran Deputy Prosecutor General) Saeed Mortazavi and Tehran police chief Ahmad Reza Radan.

0550 GMT: Nothing to See Here. Not a word on Press TV's website about the internal political dynamics. Instead it goes for Iran in the World, with "the [Supreme] Leader...has said Iran's military advances are no a threat to any nation but instead are helping them progress 'without dependence' on the US."

Nothing in Fars News' headlines either; however, the Islamic Republic News Agency does feature a critique of "the archaeology of Hashemi Rafsanjani's National Unity Plan". The analyst, Mohammad Sajjad Nosrati, begins with an invocation of "the discourse of [French philosopher/sociologist] Michel Foucault" (somehow I can't see the same approach being applied to Barack Obama's health care plan in the US) before asserting that the Plan was put forth a few months before the Presidential election.

0530 GMT: After days of fencing and manoeuvring for position, we may see some interesting developments inside and around the Majlis today, as a Parliamentary committee is scheduled to present its report on post-election abuses.

Tensions between the President and conservative/principlist groups have been re-emerging, with hints that condemnation of episodes such as the crimes in Kahrizak Prison may have to name some names, pressing the Ahmadinejad Government to take the reprimand and offer up a scapegoat. That has been accompanied by a renewal of discontent over the President's choice of allies and cronies, with whispers becoming public grumbles about selections such as the First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi. And one should not overlook that the headline, "Supreme Leader Reshuffles Top Positions" at the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps and Basiji headquarters, sits on top of a continuing battle between the President and others to control the Ministry of Intelligence.

Still, the key word in the opening sentence above is "may". The Parliamentary report has already been delayed, and conservative/principlist critics may decide once again to put aside their differences with Ahmadinejad. For what we have yet to see in this crisis is a conservative/principlist decision to set aside their basic opposition to "reformists", allying with them at least temporarily to force changes from Ahmadinejad and the security forces.

And that in turn takes us to the heart of the confusion and tension over the "National Unity Plans", whether that is one Plan, two rival Plans, or even more. With a lot of attention on Hashemi Rafsanjani, the question has not been answered: is there any plan which has finally brought agreement between conservative/principlist groups and reformists to work together in a committee to bring signficant changes?

Comments

[ange paris]

I am trying to explain my thoughts in english and it's not really easy !
I have read the terrific article on foreign journal ( # 8 ) sent by" whereismyvote", among the responses of yesterday, saying the "new right" ( raised from nowhere!!) want to lead the country in distress, blocking further reform and being against the pepole inside and outside (the west )!!
And the response of "Amy" : "people who argues that it's a sell-out for the greens to work with them should be referred to that article before coming back to explain how the greens could go it alone"
I don't know if I have lived in" disney world" but what can I say is, it's impossible that the iranien people put up with this kind of dictatorship; the era has changed and the governement has faced ( unfortunately for them) a well educated people full of common sens.
Yes it's a sell-out for the greens to deal and work with these maniacs !! Even in the head of the country , do you remember when Rafsanjani stood asides and avoided AN ?on Ghods day ; or yesterday, on EA, we had witnessed of how Larijani won, (receiving 24 votes while AN's factions candidates only 7 votes)despite of MPS's proAN willing to unseat him; we could see how much AN is backed in majlis !! not much !!
I am not practising, but I believe in god; and I know one day, as soon as, the" justice" will keep the peace so that the people, who have lost a loved being during the crackdown, or were raped or emprisoned, breath normally and peacefully.
These killers have to pay !!!

[Catherine]

Should any audits be discussed in Majlis today - this is interesting background info from last year:
“Report, 35 Billion Missing From Iranian Coffers”
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=135043

[Jashar]

Who wants to be president?
a) Qalibaf
b) Larijani
c) ?
d) ?

[whereismyvote]

c) Mousavi
d) Karoubi

We can safely say that Rezaie has pulled himself out this time, however he seems to want to be the manager of the election commission.... So there will be a quadr-annual pilgrimage to his house...

[florence achard]

Very very interesting comment (#11) yesterday from WIMV; this is exactly what we need to know in order to better understand Iran from outside.

@WIMV,

If you could tell us more about the opposition: what sections of the population? what percentage in your opinion? in towns only? what about the remote provinces? apart from the greens, are there still supporters of PMOI or Pahlavi, or maybe new personalities we don't know in the West?
would the people who follow Mousavi be satisfied with the very limited change he proposes?
Thanks a lot if you bother to answer my many questions, and thanks anyway for the interesting insights into Iranian society.

[ange paris]

whereismyvote,

Thank you for your explaination, I didn't know all that in #11; oh my god !! how do you think the people will be able to kick out this huge "octopus" ?

[whereismyvote]

@ florence
The green wave is just that a wave of people from all socio economic classes. We have rich, poor, educated, uneducated, intellectuals and hard headed ideologues all uniting for we know that the AN / Pasdaran clan are not what we want..... I have said before how this movement was slam banged together in 6 to 8 weeks leading to the elections, and how a whole slew of forces made it flourish... In the beginning we were extremely skeptical of the Mousavi, we were condescending to the adoption of green color and doubtful of his desires.

The theft of the election and the subsequent protests was like a baptism under fire for us. We were reborn, and discovered our power, our strength and our voice. We gelled and became united with others in Iran. Mousavi did not only stand up for the will of the people, but also showed great resolve and leadership in his own subtle and underhanded way. We have come to agree that having limited and achievable goals is best, and we have realized the power of the people in their unity to take to streets and confiscate back the symbols of the revolution that the status quo has stolen from the people. This movement is now awakened and it is now in flux. It is going to change Iran unconditionally and we don't know what or where or when it will stop, but the status quo is finished. We will take back in this order:
1) My vote
2) My Republic
3) My Islam
4) My Freedom
5) My Independence
If you look at the slogans of the demonstrators and the actions of the people, it has been to achieve just this. We want back the stolen vote, in the form of a re election, we want back the republic, and end to the military dictatorship, we want back Islam from the hands of the ruling clergy and finally we want a country with freedoms. Ultimately also we want the independence of Iran back from the claws of America and its meddling in the so called nuclear issue, China and its theft of our oil industry and Russia and its stealing of our national assets. It is going to be all achievable, because the green movement is patient and it is determined. Mr. Mousavi is on the train, but the train has left the station and if he diverges from the final path, he will have to be thrown off.....

Finally my thoughts on the Pahlavi dynasty and what they offer Iran. They are the product of a bygone era. They are a nostalgic point in time frozen. They are the product of my fathers and mothers generation and 85% of the people have nothing but a distant memory mixed with nostalgia for them. To lead you need the support and trust of the people. They are like an old wound. They bring back memories of longing and pain, however that's it.

[Bijan]

Where is my vote, thank you for sharing. A question if I may....in whom does the faith of the people lie to accomplish these goals? And while I understand there is a high level of patience, is it felt our generation (I believe we are both in early 30's if I remember previous posts correctly) will be the ones who transform Iran to the country that meets the criteria you list above?

[Michael (UK)]

I would have thought it's time to move on, if you want to worry about fraudulent elections think Afghanistan, if you want to worry about people being killed think Palestine.
Outside of the western press there's not the slightest evidence that the election in Iran was fixed, the result was totally in line with pre-election polls. Sure there's been a serious and well funded attempt to de-stabilise the Iranian government, there are people around who want to turn Iran into another Iraq and using exactly the same excuses.
Anyway time's up, seems to me Iran wants to keep its oil revenues for the betterment of Iran rather than giving it to western Governments and oil companies..

[Scott Lucas]

Michael,

EA has stories today on Afghanistan and Palestine --- we don't believe in dividing up political and moral issues by saying, "One week for Tehran; one week for Kabul; one week for Gaza".

I leave it to others to reply to your assertions about the absolutely clear fairness of the Presidential election and the foreign attempts at a "velvet revolution".

S.

[ange paris]

whereismyvote

you didn't answer my question ; how will we be able to crush this hudge " octopus" led by mojtaba, the khamnei's son ?? thank you for answering

[whereismyvote]

@ Ange Paris and @Bijan

I am one individual with one voice, talking for myself... I have no one else behind me, other than the conviction and resolve of my fellow countrymen. I am no messiah and have no deep answers.

In specific Iranians are a nation of sacrifices and tragedy lovers. So in response to the question of in whom does the faith of green movement lie? In the people and their unity. When you go for protests and see the unity of the people, it gives you faith and it gives you conviction and it gives you strength. We have faith in each other and god off-course....
In response to the question of which generation feels it will lead this change, this is where the Iranian love of tragedy and self sacrifice comes to play. This movement has united old and new, grandpa and grand kid. The grand kid in desiring and wanting a better world and the grandpa in being willing to sacrifice for his children to obtain a better word. The movement transcends generation gaps. It is true that in 15 years the movement will be in complete control of the current young, but that is a reality irrelevant of movement, that is the force of demographics. What is relevant today is that young, old, middle age have been united. We need not talk of the young folks hair style and manners or there lack of any more cause we can talk of the unifying force of the two standing against AN.
Last the octopus or better world would be fungus, will be defeated as I explained to you earlier. The green wave is like the wave of an ocean washing ashore. We shall wave after wave strike the shore line of the AN / Pasdaran alliance, and under wash their base and support. Wash away until they collapse. In this process with each event (Beheshti Martydom day, Friday Prey, Quods day, 13th of Aban and all the way to 22 of Bahman) we shall take to the streets and wash ashore the shoreline of the regime. Each wave shall take back one of the symbols of the revolution.

@ Micheal (UK)
There were no polls conducted prior to the election, except one conducted by a clandestine CIA from outside Iran with 4 weeks to go before the election. The irregularities were numerous to list here, but I will separately list them for you if you wish. Is it time to move on 3 months after the crime was committed? Move on to where? To accepting the coupe government as legitimate? The western media has its own interests and we are thankful for Scott and the EA team to provide us with this forum, but why do you feel the crimes of Israel in Palestine or the fraud of Afghanistan negates the events of Iran and its time to move on? Do we live in such a pop culture, that we only care for an event so long as its instantaneous? I suggest you justify your rational. Is it that you are a reincarnation of our old commentator that was very pro AN, I forgot his name........

[florence achard]

Mickaël's former incarnation was Samuel, if I remember well; next we will probably have Daniel or Michel...

@WIMV,

Thanks for all your answers.
One thing that I wonder about, however, is the nuclear issue and why you call it a "so-called" issue; I may be naive in politics but it seems to me that AN's threats are really worrying and who knows what he might do? You and EA seem to take it for granted that they are only empty threats; how can you be so sure?

[Bijan]

Whereismyvote -

Let me speak for myself in saying I do not hold you in a messianic stature and as all knowing. If my question implied this I apologize. Let me put it simply by saying I repect your opinion and insight based on reading your past posts and am grateful you continue to participate in the discussions on this site.

I have opinions of my own to my question and am humble enough to ask others opinions and not to hold my own as "true". So again I thank you and all others who share their views and opinions.

Michael -

If you read whereismyvote's response above you will see that this is not a topic Iranians are ready to move on not should any of us be. Yes the issues you discussed are important and yes they deserve attention, lots of it, but no, we should notice on from this and in doing so take away from the sacrafices made by those who see this cause as not a story of the past but as a future to work and even die to achieve.

[Scott Lucas]

Florence,

Can't speak for WIMV, but I have seen no evidence that Iran is near nuclear weapons capability. My impression is that Ahmadinejad gets more advantage from nuclear issue as political instrument, boosting his own profile, than as actual military threat.

S.

[Scott Lucas]

Dear All,

This came in via a discussion list and I thought I'd throw it over to you:

"In the course of many years the Iranian judicial authorities have arrested and released hundreds if not thousands of political prisoners on bail. More than often the amount of the bail exceeded $100,000. Most prisoners or their families had to hand over the complete deeds of their homes in order to get out of prison. Many are awaiting trial years after their release.

"What happens to that money in the meantime? Which institution is managing or administering that enormous amount of money?"

S.

[whereismyvote]

@ everyone
I appreciate the time and attention you pay to my comments. I am humbled to hear others are reading and reflecting on it. It gives me strength and encouragement to continue in dark days..... If at times I insult someone or at others hurt someone I apologist upfront.. It is in ignorance that my act was committed and not in intend.
As a an Iranian, if I can change the opinion of one foreigner and make them understand our plight and dilemma in Iran, I am happy. Many diaspora have told us what they can do? They can engage others that are not Iranian in a forum similar to this and inform and educate them of what is happening. The truth shall free us from the octopus. In the truth shall lie the path to our salvation and freedom. (Samuel should like this lat line;) )

@ Scott
I too believe Iran is far from a nuclear threat and that both the West (EU, Israel and USA), East (China and Russia) and Iran use it to achieve their own goals and objectives. In its history, Iran's nuclear file has been nothing but a political tool used by all these players at different times to achieve other Geo political goals. It is why we Iranians feel strongly that in this issue and on this case the hands of everyone is bloody. AN, the West and the East.

[whereismyvote]

The deed to the property is put up and it can not there after be sold or exchanged at market price, until the case goes before the court, or the deed is somehow released. It moves from a free deed to be exchanged and re registered to the e goolnameh market (Promissory market). This in effect has a reduction effect on its price, due to the larger risk associated with the property. It is common practice in Iran for over 50 to 70 years...... You can buy property, car anything in this second fashion.

You have something very similar in your bond markets, if I remember my finance correctly.

[Bijan]

Scott -

I think several of us have an idea of where that money goes but not willing to say it!!

Whereismyvote -

Khakhesh mikonam. Again, I thank you as well.

On the Iranian nuclear question some insight to not only AN but also the common act of "muscle flexing" in Iranian politics must be considered. AN has and continues to use the nuclear issue as an tool to invoke nationalistic sentiment from the public. Again, a deeper knowledge of Iranian history will show this is not just about AN and his efforts but is engrained into the Iranian culture (e.g. Mossadeq, etc). Not to take away from the fact there is some potential threat, but Scott and whereismyvote are correct, in my humble opinion, that the political goals must also be considered and considered strongly.

[Yseut]

Scott That's exactely what i was asking myself last time i saw the
average bail amounts required for prisoners (from 50 000 to500 000 $),
only in the few months of elections aftermath the sums cashed by ?
judiciary? IRCG? police? are huge !
Who manages (controls) that, do you think ? Any hints or data anywhere ?

@Michael UK You're kindly suggested to READ the past 3 months articles
and forums attached in EA, all about the late June elections in IRI and
subsequent events in the country, all very well documented, thanx to
Scott and many readers...Take your time ;- )

[Megan]

@ Michael

Iranians in Iran are in far better position to judge whether there was election fraud or not. They can decide when they need to move on.

@ whereismyvote
I kind of hope people go for following order:
1) My vote
2) My Freedom
3) My Republic
4) My constitution
5) My Independence
6) My Religion

Iran has long and well recorded history of tolerance for other religions and for minority groups. I hope the democratic movement revives that.

I also do not believe Nuke would have been such an issue if Iran was a democratic country and the government was accountable to people. Nuke in the hands of these ruthless and lawless loonies puts everyone including Iranians at great risk. Look at their atrocities with baton and bullet.

@ All

I am not sure if Khamenei or AN are in charge anymore. I think IRGC is running the entire show. Please take a look at this interview with Khamenei’s nephew, Mahmud Tehrani: http://www.rferl.org/content/Khameneis_Nephew_President_Revolutionary_Guard_Running_the_Show_In_Iran/1819768.html

[Samuel]

@ Michael (UK)

Your comment is of course 100% correct. As has been mentioned EA to its great credit does address issues such as Palestine and Afghanistan but you must keep in mind that the large majority of those who post comments are fanatically anti Government of Iran.

It is often amusing but they see the Supreme Leader and the President of Iran as a combination of Satan, Hitler, Jack the Ripper, Dracula and, for good measure, the Marquis de sade. There is no evil in Iran, in the region or the world that they won't, given the chance, blame on the two Iranian leaders. Read for a while and you'll be amazed to find that the SL and AN are personally ordering every rape that occurs in Iranian prisons for political reasons. Spread a rumor that AN ordered the killing of Princess Di and these folks will eat it up like a hungry poodle.

Yes according to many here these two leaders are bloodsucking tyrants raping, pillaging and murdering their way across the Iranian landscape. Why sometimes they roast babies for breakfast, washed down with heavily sweetened tea. You'll also find out that no evil acts anywhere in the world now or in the past match the acts of this evil pair of Iranian leaders so don't even think about bringing up Palestine or other such silly events. The Israelis are like Ghandi compared to the devils that rule Iran.

You'll also read constant rumors about how sick the Supreme Leader is and how he'll be gone by next week, next month, next spring, next summer or by the time of the next world cup. These folks remind me of the Cuban Exiles in the States who have been talking about Castro's demise being next Wednesday for about 50 years. Here's something they have in common: those Cuban exiles never tire or writing about how evil Castro is, the worst since Lucifer they'll tell you.

As I said sit back and prepare to be entertained.

[Samuel]

Michael (UK)

One more thing as evil as the SL and AN are they may not even be around much longer because a far darker force is taking over Iran even as we write. That force is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, aka the Guards, aka Pasdaran, aka Sepah a force that puts the Nazis to shame. If the SL and AN are Satan's manservants then the Guards are Satan's personal bodyguard and Chief Executioner.

In addition to being murderers and sadists they operate as a sort of Mafia. These guards take a cut everytime someone, anywhere in Iran, buys a pair of shoes, drinks tea, or hires a prostitute. Again don't mention any other evildoers in the world because these characters in Iran are the personification of evil.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Iran brought to you by the fanatical, naive, ahistorical opponents of the Iranian Govt.

[Mike Dunn]

@Michael / Michael UK There's nothing nefarious going on here- our spam filter is set to hold comments with a large number of links for approval before they're posted. Posting comments with a list of links at the bottom meant your posts got queued for moderation.

[Bijan]

@Michael -

While you do have valid arguments and I respect your opinion, I have to take issue with your comment regarding the lack of people in this discussion who are from Iran. My family is from Iran, I grew up in the States, but that does not take away from the interest I have in the events unfolding in Iran. For many, there are concerns about going to Iran to visit family, etc and thus we watch the news to see what the future holds. I know of many people who have been beaten on the streets and even one who was killed. Personally I am glad to see people participating in this discussions that have no direct interest at all but rather do so simply because they chose to be educated about the world and appreciate their efforts.

@Samual -

"Fanatically anti government of Iran" may be replaced with "fanatically pro people of Iran". You raise good points about the level of blame placed on the SL and AN and yes you are correct in your statement that they are not involved in every decision. Furthermore your comments about the Pasdaran seem to have validity as well as is evidenced by commentary from many sources. However, let me draw an anology here, just as in the States all the wrongs of the country are blamed on the President, so is the case in Iran that the blame goes squarely on the shoulders on AN and the SL. Fair?...I'll leave that to debate.

@Megan -

Could not agree more about your point that the story would be different if Iran was a democracy. Such are the ways of US foreign policy.