Monday
Aug092010
Iran: Open Thread for News and Analysis (Monday 9 August)
Monday, August 9, 2010 at 11:00 
2000 GMT: Picture of the Day. Human rights lawyer Mohammad Mostafaei, now in Norway, and his wife, recently released from prison. [Photo credit: The Times]
1715 GMT: Back to the Bazaar. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty carries a profile from the Tehran Bazaar, which was on strike last month, with critical remarks about the Government. Typical is the comment from "Hossein": "Nobody takes (Ahmadinejad) seriously. You just wonder what kind of logic he and his supporters are using. It is...baseless and aggressive statements that have triggered more and more sanctions against our economy."
The article claims that a combination of Government policies, Revolutionary Guard takeovers, and cheap imports are forcing more and more small businesses.
1610 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. There are persistent reports that detained journalist Isa Saharkhiz, moved to Rajai Shahr Prison in May, is in a state of “paralysis” and is “unable to move.”
The reports appear to be a heightening of information that Saharkhiz is suffering from paresis --- difficuties in moving parts of the body.
Seven Baha'i leaders have been moved to Rajai Shahr prison after sentence of 20 years each.
Photographer Hamed Saber has been temporarily released from prison on bail after being arrested on 21 June for photos of street protests.
1545 GMT: Drawing a Line? Abbaszadeh Meshkini, the political head of the Ministry of Interior, says the Hojjatieh association has not applied for a permit to become a party and, if it applies, it will not receive one.
Hojjatieh, which places great emphasis on the return of the "hidden" 12th Imam, was banned by Ayatollah Khomeini in the 1980s. There are persistent rumours that President Ahmadinejad and his spiritual mentor, Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, are followers.
1530 GMT: Another Larijani Challenges the President. Back to our lead story today....
Sadegh Zibakalam, a leading analyst inside Iran, says the quarrel between the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, and President Ahmadinejad is not about language but is a sign of emerging deep rifts within the establishment.
Zibakalam asserts that --- as reformists and Greens have been imprisoned, have fled, or have been reduced to inactivity --- the battle is between rational, "Majlis- centred" hardliners like Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani, Deputy Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar, Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Ali Motahari, and Elyas Naderan and radical hardliners in the Ahmadinejad Government.
Zibakalam believes the radicals are imposing themselves at the moment, but in the long run rational hardliners will take over because of the Government's failures over the economy and the crisis in foreign policy.
1420 GMT: The Battles Within --- The President's Man and the Head of the Guardian Council. In what appears to be an attempt to take the heat out of the furour over Ahmadinejad Chief of Staff Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, Avaz Heydarpour, a member of Parliament's National Security Commission, has said Rahim-Mashai's "Iran v. Islam" comments will probably be discussed in the commission but it is not necessary for the aide to appear before the Majlis.
However, Parliamentary rumbling over Ayatollah Jannati, the head of the Guardian Council, continues after the cleric's accusations of US-Saudi funding ($51 billion) of the opposition for regime change.
Moh Ali Karimi, suggesting the former President Mohammad Khatami file a complaint, said allegations without proof should be punished by the judiciary.
Qodratollah Alikhani of the Majlis National Security Commission claimed the accusations against Khatami are "a show and a pretext" to make people forget economic, financial and political problems due to sanctions. He added that "slander against a respected member of the political elite is unbelievable and a sin", weakening the Iranian system.
Reformist Nasrollah Torabi charged, "Whenever they cannot eliminate a person with logic or votes, they use these methods (of slander)," and said the judiciary must act.
1410 GMT: Today's World Politics Lesson (Censored and Uncensored Versions). A classic speech from First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi and equally classic treatment in Iranian media....
Rahimi told an audience that English people are "a bunch of retards run by a Mafia, actually ruled by a youngster, who is even more idiot than his forerunner", and Australians are a bunch of shepherds. The dollar and Euro are najes (religiously impure), and before Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Presidency, "our whole oil industry was English".
But on Fars News' English-language website, the remarks are a lot less fun. There, Rahimi described new international and unilateral sanctions as an opportunity for Iran's further progress and said the government will endeavor to better the situation of the Iranians amid boycotts.
1400 GMT: Sanctions Watch. The list of countries backing pressure on Tehran appears to be slowly expanding. Following a US push to get Asian cooperation, South Korea has submitted a sanctions report to the United Nations.
1345 GMT: More Defiance. A senior aide to President Ahmadinejad, Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, has said that Iran will not hold talks and negotiations with the US due to Washington's "disrespect and hostile stances".
1030 GMT: Economy Watch. In an indication of Iran’s difficulties with trade, the head of the central bank has demanded a cut in imports.
0945 GMT: Energy Squeeze. Peyke Iran claims that the Ministry of Energy now owes $5 billion to private companies.
0930 GMT: Clerical Challenge. Ayatollah Dastgheib has taken another swipe at the Government and President, alleging that mostakberin (oppressors) rule the country with one party.
Dastgheib also had sharp words for the Supreme Leader: “A sacrosanct person doesn’t send an army against people to maintain his position but is friendly to them.” Dastgheib added that a bad defence of Islam is the biggest injustice to it.
0845 GMT: The Political Prisoners Challenge. Payvand has re-posted the news that seven prominent reformist politicians, all imprisoned after the June 2009 election, are filing a lawsuit against the Revolutionary Guard for manipulation of the vote.
0830 GMT: Economy Watch. Reformist member of Parliament Mohammad Reza Khabbaz has complained that Iran’s oil income is not making it to people’s tables and now Ahmadinejad is ”even taking away their bread”.
Khabbaz also jabbed that the Government had not yet implemented its subsidy cuts.
0815 GMT: Defiance. Amidst talk of renewed US-Iran discussions, Ali Akbar Velayati, the key foreign policy advisor to the Supreme Leader, declares, “Iran has the iron will to pursue nuclear development.”
0715 GMT: The US and Iran (and a Bigger Battle). We start the day with an analysis from Gary Sick considering American foreign policy and the latest state of play with Tehran.
The bigger battle, however, is the battle within, and there’s a new challenge to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this morning.
Sadegh Larijani, the head of Iran’s judiciary, has said, “We expect our President to use a decent language and say the truth.” Larijani pointedly added that laws apply to everyone and, in a flexing of muscle for his judicial branch, said that judges are not bound to anyone.
But it’s not the independence of the judiciary that Larijani was asserting. He declared, ”Now they even want to bomb the Majlis (Parliament) and insult its chief.” The “chief” of the Parliament is Sadegh Larijani’s brother, Ali.
Sadegh Larijani concluded, “I told Ahmadinejad he doesn’t say the truth, stop the insults.”
tagged Abbaszadeh Meshkini, Ali Akbar Velayati, Ali Karimi, Ali Larijani, Ali Motahari, Avaz Heydarpour, Ayatollah Dastgheib, Ayatollah Jannati, Ayatollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, Elyas Naderan, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, Fars News Agency, Guardian Council, Hamed Saber, Hojjatieh Society, Iran, Iranian economy, Isa Saharkhiz, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mohammad Reza Bahonar, Mohammad Reza Khabbaz, Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, Nasrollah Torabi, Peyke Iran, Political Prisoners, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Revolutionary Guard, Sadegh Larijani, Sadegh Zibakalam, South Korea, United Nations, economy, open thread in Middle East & Iran
Abbaszadeh Meshkini, Ali Akbar Velayati, Ali Karimi, Ali Larijani, Ali Motahari, Avaz Heydarpour, Ayatollah Dastgheib, Ayatollah Jannati, Ayatollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, Elyas Naderan, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, Fars News Agency, Guardian Council, Hamed Saber, Hojjatieh Society, Iran, Iranian economy, Isa Saharkhiz, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mohammad Reza Bahonar, Mohammad Reza Khabbaz, Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi, Nasrollah Torabi, Peyke Iran, Political Prisoners, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Revolutionary Guard, Sadegh Larijani, Sadegh Zibakalam, South Korea, United Nations, economy, open thread in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (59)
I have always said that sooner or later the Iranian Regime will do something REALLY stupid. Could that come about from finally and completely believing their own hubris? http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137976" rel="nofollow">http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137976 re their new submarines.
I understand that submarines are VERY complex pieces of machinery ( I was a submariner myself once) - and many countries have to start from scratch when building up an industry ( be it military of other) . Invariably the early vintage equipment is way behind the eight ball - and later vintage equipment improves. But could the Iranians really think that their work in producing military equipment so far places them in good stead to do something adventurous?? I hope for there sakes that they do not. The Americans , with all their past training in ant-submarine warfare would make very short work of these submarines being displayed.
Barry
"Iran's judiciary criticizes Ahmadinejad". Following in the footsteps of Mehr News yesterday, Press TV - quoting ILNA - now also reports on the harsh criticism of Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani on Ahmadinejads words at Journalist Day, last Saturday. "He [Larijani] stressed that the judiciary may expect a journalist to create false stories, but does not expect the country's president to make untrue remarks."
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137999§ionid=351020101" rel="nofollow">http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=137999&sec...
"Iranian lawyer's wife released from Tehran prison". Not sure if we reported this on EA before... "The wife of a prominent human rights lawyer who fled Iran said she was released on bail Saturday night after spending nearly two weeks in solitary confinement in Tehran's notorious Evin prison. - She said she had been detained on charges of "concealing a suspect." Her husband, Mohammad Mostafaei, went into hiding July 24 at about the same time Halimi and her brother were detained. - Mostafaei has been granted asylum in Norway, his wife said. "
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/08/08/iran.stoning.lawyer/index.html?section=cnn_latest#fbid=X-9bZXLJlyS&wom=false" rel="nofollow">http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/08/08/i...
Principlists Admit
Khamenei Has Lost Legitimacy
The response from ayatollah Khamenei’s office to a question about the criteria of allegiance to the supreme leader also opened the door for a group of ideologue Principlists - who support ayatollah Khamenei and the institution of the supreme leader - to begin new debates about the supreme leader’s rule. The principlists entered the debate from different angles, however.
http://www.roozonline.com/english/news/newsitem/article/2010/august/08//khamenei-has-lost-legitimacy.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.roozonline.com/english/news/newsitem...
Cutting off a Thief’s Hands
In this opinion article by Rooz Online, Mehrangis Kar compares the conditions that must be met for a thief's hand to be cut off and those conditions "met" by official thieves of the Iranian regime who rob the Iranian people of their lives and natural resources.
http://www.roozonline.com/english/opinion/opinion-article/article/2010/august/08//cutting-off-a-thiefs-hands.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.roozonline.com/english/opinion/opini...
Mahan Abedin has written a guest editorial for Informed Comment:
The Illusion of a ‘limited war’ against Iran
http://www.juancole.com/2010/08/abedin-the-illusion-of-a-%25E2%2580%2598limited-war%25E2%2580%2599-against-iran.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.juancole.com/2010/08/abedin-the-illu...
More on this story with quotes from Fereshteh Halimi:
Iranian lawyer's wife released from Tehran prison
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/08/08/iran.stoning.lawyer/?hpt=T2#fbid=NUwbUMqjy2k&wom=true" rel="nofollow">http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/08/08/i...
7 Baha'is sentenced to total of 140 years in prison
Seven Baha'i leaders in Iran have each received 20-year prison sentences, according to reports received by the Baha'i International Community based on a report by the Iranian-based group called the Committee of Human Rights Defenders.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/08/7-bahais-sentenced-to-20-years-in-iran-group-says/" rel="nofollow">http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/08/7-baha...
U.S. and EU fail to isolate Iran
China, Russia, India and Turkey move into the lucrative void left by U.S. and EU sanctions that aim to halt Iran's nuclear program.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-sanctions-20100809%2C0%2C6722759.story" rel="nofollow">http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/l...
US & Iran: Strikes, Sanctions and Scapegoats
by GARY SICK
For the pundits, there are only two questions about U.S.-Iran relations that are of any importance: (1) Will Israel and/or the United States attack Iran? and (2) will the new sanctions have enough bite to persuade Iran to change its nuclear policy? Despite all the printers ink spilled on these two issues, the answers are an easy no and no.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2010/08/america-and-iran-strikes-sanctions-and-scapegoats.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranb...
Prisoners Watch
Student Ali Aajami, injured during last years dorms raid, sentenced to 4 years prison by SL's judge Salavati: http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20257" rel="nofollow">http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20257
Putschist Watch
According to Mehr News Agency some ambassadors will be promoted as special deputies to AN with additional authorizations, mainly in neighbouring countries, Africa and South America: http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20255" rel="nofollow">http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20255
Hi Arshama,
What is the "Putschist" significance of this move? Is AN going to get some special help carrying out a putsch from his adored model and BFF Chavez, for example?
FYI,
I posted some stories that actually regard Iran under the most recent Gaza thread:
http://enduringamerica.com/2010/08/09/gaza-latest-mariam-to-sail-to-gaza-israel-sends-ships-to-turkey-and-more-flotillas-on-the-way/" rel="nofollow">http://enduringamerica.com/2010/08/09/gaza-late...
Professor Shahla Talebi: The Islamic Republic and the Rape of Men
(originally published in Persian by Radio Zamaneh, July 1, 2010)
Translated excerpts of a speech given by Shahla Talebi, an Anthropology professor at Columbia University (New York City). The topic was “sexual tensions between the nation of Iran and its government.” Talebi was imprisoned both during the Shah monarchy and the Islamic Republic regime. Her husband was a victim of the 1988 prison mass executions.
http://persian2english.com/?p=13409" rel="nofollow">http://persian2english.com/?p=13409
Mr AN has offered a magnificent house to Professor Richard Frye in Ispahan; The latter would like to die in this city in Iran; look at the house !
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20245" rel="nofollow">http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20245
.... and look at the house of iranian farmers in Birjand :
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20244" rel="nofollow">http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=20244
Iran says it won't give up nuke program despite US
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100809/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria_iran_1" rel="nofollow">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100809/ap_on_re_mi...
Sanctions nothing to fear: Iranian central banker :
Iran would benefit if it cut consumption of foreign luxury goods and bought more local products. It means that they are fighting to not give us their products and we fight them back by not wanting their products. It is much more interesting than sitting and getting upset."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100808/ts_nm/us_iran_economy_cenbank_1" rel="nofollow">http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100808/ts_nm/us_ir...
Gas companies say Iranian contracts stand and exporting natural gas from Iran remains in force, an Emirati gas company announced.:
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/08/09/Gas-companies-say-Iranian-contracts-stand/UPI-59861281357563/" rel="nofollow">http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2...
An other " Iran ready for fuel swap talks: Salehi" 52 minutes ago !!
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=138018§ionid=351020104" rel="nofollow">http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=138018&sec...
They change their mind all time !!
Iran official, Mr Velayati has said in damascus : Americans 'dreaming' if they think Iran will give up nuke program :
http://www.brandonsun.com/world/breaking-news/iran-official-americans-dreaming-if-they-think-iran-will-give-up-nuke-program-100261754.html?viewAllComments=y" rel="nofollow">http://www.brandonsun.com/world/breaking-news/i...
If anyone wants to invest in Iran, my country offers more incentives to foreign investors; :-)
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63P0R320100426" rel="nofollow">http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63P0R3201...
President donates house in Isfahan to U.S. Iranologist; the full texte :
http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=1130978" rel="nofollow">http://www.mehrnews.com/en/NewsDetail.aspx?News...
I hope he will pay a heavy taxes in USA because of this house which belongs to Iran and iranians !