Iranian Alert -- November 17, 2003 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD

The US media almost entirely ignores news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, “this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year.” But most American’s are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East.

There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. Starting June 10th of this year, Iranians have begun taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy. Many even want the US to over throw their government.

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.

This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.

I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.

If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.

If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

PS I have a daily ping list and a breaking news ping list. If you would like to receive alerts to these stories please let me know which list you would like to join.

EU Welcomes Developments in Iraq, Iran

VOA News
17 Nov 2003, 17:34 UTC

The European Union has welcomed plans to restore self-government in Iraq and what it calls the openness Iran has shown about its nuclear program.
E.U. foreign ministers expressed satisfaction over a plan for a handover of power in Iraq from the U.S.-led coalition to a sovereign Iraqi government by June. Their statement came on the first of two days of talks in Brussels.

Meanwhile, the E.U. foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, praised Iran for what he called being honest so far in its dealings with the international community about its nuclear program. He urged Iran to implement a deal Tehran reached with three E.U. ministers last month to stop enriching uranium and allow unfettered inspections of its nuclear facilities. Mr. Solana expressed hope the International Atomic Energy Agency will not report Tehran to the U.N. Security Council, where it could face sanctions over its nuclear program.

Mr. Solana's comments followed talks with the head of Iran's National Security Council, Hassan Rohani, who stressed Iran's commitment to the agreement.

The E.U. ministers also met Monday with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mr. Shalom told reporters before the meeting that Europe can play a key role in the peace process, but it must have what he called a more balanced attitude on the situation.

The E.U. ministers are to issue a statement Tuesday criticizing Israel for boycotting meetings with the E.U.'s Middle East envoy since he met with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in September.

In the statement, the ministers are likely to also criticize Israeli plans for a security barrier in the West Bank.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is in Rome for talks with Italian leaders on the Middle East situation and Israel's relationship with the European Union. Italy holds the rotating E.U. presidency.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=4AA9F4AC-920F-4EC1-9B9AF96FCC1933DE

IRAQ OCCUPATION TO END SOON: TALABANI

TEHRAN, 17 Nov. (IPS)

Jalal Talabani, the Chairman of Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) said that the American ruler of Iraq (Paul Bremer) has agreed to establish the Iraqi government and "God willing, Iraqi occupation will come to an end in near future".

"The people’s fate will be handed to the Iraqi people themselves with establishment of an independent government", Mr. Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of (Iraqi) Kurdistan added upon his arrival to Tehran.

Pressed by journalist at the airport on the worsening security situation in Iraq, Mr. Talabani minimised the crisis, saying that a terrorist group remnants of the deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hoseyn caused insecurity in Iraq.

"They are involved in sabotage in a small area. "In other areas, southern Iraq, Kurdistan and northern Iraq the situation is calm. Supporters of Saddam and al-Qa’eda are sabotaging only in a small area", Talabani said.

Leading a heading a 17-member delegation from both the IGC and the so-called government, Mr. Talabani told reporters upon his arrival in Tehran that he expects to reach important agreements with Iran on political, economic and security areas.

Mr. Kamal Kharrazi, the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister who welcomed the Iraqi delegation said that Talabani’s visit to Iran is a good opportunity to develop economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

"We, the Iraqi neighbours, cannot remain indifferent toward what is going on in Iraq", Kharrazi said, adding, "We are always ready to cooperate with Iraq. We are ready to do what we can to help expedite establishment of Iraqi independent government".

"Iran favours Iraq becoming free and independent and be ruled by the Iraqi people themselves", Kharrazi said, assuring the Iraqis that Tehran was ready to help in restoring stability and peace in the war-ravaged Iraq.

This is the first time that the American-installed, but powerless IGC is officially visiting neighbouring Iran that Washington has labelled as a "rogue state" and accuses of giving a helping hand to Iraqis opposed to American military presence in Iraq.

"Tehran’s policy is based on non-interference in the internal affairs of the war-torn country and its territorial integrity", Mr. Kharrazi told the visiting Iraqi delegation, adding that Iran hoped for speedy formation of an independent authoritative government in Iraq "in accordance with the will and determination of the Iraqi people".

In the meeting, Kharrazi reiterated earlier Iranian engagement to help Iraq’s reconstruction by exporting natural gas and electricity to Iraq.

"Collaboration between the two counties will strengthen regional peace and security and will lead to broader regional cooperation", Kharrazi noted, adding that joint investments and undertakings in various fields including railway, energy, trade, banking, exchange of tourists and pilgrims are among the potential grounds for cooperation.

For his part, Talabani an old friend of the Islamic Republic, said that Iran’s positive approach to IGC marks the significance of future cooperation and called for close ties and expansion of collaboration between the two states in all fields.

Reminding that Iran is one of the first countries that immediately recognised the Iraqi Governing Council, Talabani said "IGC is attempting towards further integration of Iraqis, consolidation of national unity and protection of Iraq’s territorial integrity, "hence our today visit aimed primarily to develop relations with Iran in all fields".

"Given that Iraq’s stability is important and indispensable, IGC closely follows the policy of establishing and safeguarding stability in Iraq by cooperating with neighbouring states", he added.

Under Saddam Hoseyn, Iran fought an eight years deadly war with Iraq, costing the two nations millions of dead and wounded as well as thousands of towns and villages destroyed.

Talabani voiced Iraq’s interest in Iran’s participation in the country’s reconstruction process and underlined that the interests of both countries as well as regional peace and stability depend on expansion of cooperation and deepening friendly ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Kharrazi and Talabani agreed to hold dialogues at the ministerial and deputy ministerial level as well as representatives of the private sector to discuss cooperation and exploitation of the potentials of both sides.

After a meeting with the lamed Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Talebani said United States should not oppose proposed energy swaps with Iran intended to help rebuild his war-torn state

When asked about U.S. opposition to cutting a deal with Iran, Talabani said there were "no impediments to co-operation.

"What we want to do with our Iranian brothers is to the benefit of...Iraq's reconstruction. If they are our friends, they should not oppose it," he told reporters.

A swaps deal appeals to the Iraqis who are finding access to markets difficult because of infrastructure and sabotage problems on export lines.

The British news agency Reuters quoted Iranian oil industry sources as having said that Tehran was willing to take delivery of 350,000 barrels per day of Iraq's Basra Light crude into its Abadan refinery in southwestern Iran.

The equivalent amount of Iranian Light crude could then be sold on behalf of Baghdad via Iran's Kharg Island terminal in the Gulf

Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Uloum, a Shi’ite Muslim, was not among the original delegation that arrived today in Tehran, Mr. Kharrazi said he would join it later in the day.

ENDS IRAN IRAQ 171103

http://www.iran-press-service.com/articles_2003/Nov-2003/iraq_iran_171103.htm

Tense situation in Iranian Universities

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Nov 17, 2003

A tense situation is existing in most Iranian Universities, such as Tehran, Mashad, Esfahan, Oroomiah (former Rezai-e) and Hamadan due to the constent harassements made by the regime's security apparatus and so-called "Bassij Students".

The already existing repressive conditions have increased with the Islamic month of Ramadan and the desperate try of the regime to force the students for the observance of religious rituals. Students are questionned and even threaten to be ban if they "eat food" outside the "religious time frame" starting at the beginning of the night, caught listening music or discussion with opposite sex.

Sporadic strikes, refusal to eat food during the religious hours and open crtics of the regime and the religion, despite the heavy presence of the regime's men, are taking place on daily basis.

The regime's men and the universities managements are becoming very nerveous as especially rumors of wider strikes are being heard in many sectors of the Iranian economy and services and as the official "student Day" is approaching.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_3613.shtml

Synagogue Suicide Bomber Trained in Iran - Report

The Scotsman
Nov 17th, 2003

Two Turks, including one who travelled several times to Iran for bomb training, have been identified as the suicide bombers who killed 24 people in attacks on two Istanbul synagogues, a Turkish TV reported tonight.

Istanbul police would not immediately comment on the report.

Just minutes earlier, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said DNA tests on the suspected drivers of the pick-up trucks that had been packed with explosives, which could establish identities or at least nationalities, were expected to be ready tomorrow.

With the retrieval of a body today in one of the synagogues, the death toll in the two attacks on Saturday rose to 24, including the two bombers, authorities said.

“DNA tests are continuing. The final report has not reached us yet. I think it will be finalised tomorrow,” the prime minister said, adding: “Things will be clearer with test results.”

Earlier reports said police had been questioning a Turk believed to be the brother of one of the drivers. The man questioned was brought to Istanbul from south-eastern Turkey for questioning because one of the pick-ups had been purchased using documentation belonging to him.

NTV said DNA testing on the suspected suicide driver’s remains and on the brother indicated they were related, helping to identify the driver as a Turk.

NTV said the driver had travelled six times to Iran for bomb training. He was suspected, along with the other suicide driver, of having links with the al-Qaida terrorist network, NTV said.

Earlier the same TV station had reported that police found pieces of a Turkish passport and a Pakistani passport that were believed to belong to the attackers.

NTV did not explain why it said both drivers were Turks even though one of them purportedly had a Pakistani passport.

Two Arabic-language newspapers received separate statements on Sunday claiming Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network was responsible for the synagogue attacks.

http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2187912

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.