Iranian Alert -- March 26, 2004 [EST]-- IRAN LIVE THREAD -- Americans for Regime Change in Iran

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. I began these daily threads June 10th 2003. On that date Iranians once again began taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Today in Iran, most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy.

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.

Iranian Hardliners Demonstrate Over Yassin Death

March 26, 2004
AFP
ABC News

Thousands of Iranians have demonstrated in Tehran to denounce Israel's killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and to voice support for the Palestinian uprising.

They were joined by officials from the radical Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups.

Four days after Israel assassinated Sheikh Yassin, demonstrators gathered at the official rally, waving pictures of the Hamas spiritual leader alongside Palestinian and Iranian flags.

"Death to Israel, death to America," "Palestine will conquer, Israel will sink, Islam will conquer, American will sink," shouted the demonstrators as they torched Israeli and US flags.

"The blood of Sheikh Yassin will only feed the tree of struggle for the freedom of the Palestinian people.

"Israel and America are the enemies of God," shouted an Islamic Jihad member who called himself "Abu Jihad" at the post-Friday prayers gathering.

The protesters included men and women of all ages and soldiers. Children were carried on their fathers' shoulders.

"It is time that the Muslim nations, their people as well as their leaders ... choose sides and not abandon the Palestinian people," he said.

Sheikh Yassin's death and the "blood shed in Afghanistan and Iraq are ballot papers for the re-election of the American administration," he added.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1075005.htm

Former S. African "Freedom Fighter" to receive Prize from mullahs

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Mar 26, 2004

Nelson Mandela, the former S. African "Freedom Fighter", will visit Iran on Sunday in order to meet with the Islamic republic's leaders and to receive a prize in the Sadabad Palace located in North Tehran.

Mandela who changed into a stateman and International political broker is remembered by many Iranians for his last trip to Iran coinciding with the trial of 13 Iranian Jews accused of spying. The former "Freedom Fighter" slammed the foreign pressures against the Islamic regime for the liberation of the innocent jews by stating that "no one has the right to interfere in the affairs of a soveireign country".

Mandela had requested for the foreign pressure at a time that he was himself in the apartheid regime's jails.

Iran of the mullahs is one of the principal investors and bankers in South Africa and is stocking millions of tons of petroleum in this country.

Thousands of Iranians are planning to seize the occasion offered by Mandela's visit in order to demonstrate against his action and the persistent repression in Iran.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_5489.shtml

Governmental Rally For Slained Hamas Leader Gather Few Demonstrators

Reuters - World News
Mar 26, 2004

TEHRAN - Some 5,000 Iranians, fired up by a sermon on Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, streamed through the streets of Tehran on Friday to denounce the Jewish state.

A helicopter attack on Monday killed the wheelchair-bound militant leader, whose organisation is committed to the destruction of Israel.

The crowd, composed of women clad in the all-enveloping black chador and bearded men, bellowed "Death to Israel, Death to America" and waved Palestinian flags and posters of Yassin.

"Israel is a cancerous tumour that should be cut out," declared one banner. State television reported similar scenes across the Islamic Republic.

Protester Majid Azizi, 21, wearing a black and white chequered Palestinian headscarf, said he hoped Israel would be destroyed.

"I am here to pledge my support to Palestinians in their fight against the usurpers," he said.

Israel says Yassin and other militant chiefs masterminded the suicide bombings carried out during a nearly 3-1/2 year Palestinian uprising.

Israeli and U.S. flags were burned under the bronze statue of a Palestinian fighter in central Tehran. Donation boxes were put out among stalls selling nuts and imitation jewellery.

Leading conservative cleric Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani whipped up the crowd with his Friday sermon at Tehran university, telling worshippers: "All independent nations should rise up against this crime".

Although widely accused of funding anti-Israeli militants, particularly in Lebanon, Iran insists its support for them is purely moral.

Hamas has an office in Tehran, a sticking point in relations with the European Union with which Iran hopes to strike a lucrative trade pact.

Protest leaders called an end to the Tehran rally by reading a message vowing that Palestinians would soon be avenged on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. They said the same message was read out across the nation.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_5488.shtml

History of the Iranian Student Alliance in America (UC Berkeley)
By Pouya Alimagham
Tired of the apathy and the low level of consciousness regarding the Iranian identity, culture, community, and history amongst Iranian students at UC Berkeley, a group of inspired Iranian students sought to do something different to address these important matters. We built the Iranian Student Alliance in America in the fall of 2002.

Inexperienced, but motivated, we tested the waters for the 2002-2003 academic year. We sought to promote a better sense of identity and community and advocate a better understanding of Iran's history and culture. What’s more, we felt that Iranians lacked a presence on the historic campus of UC Berkeley with 32,000 students, and we worked to remedy this by being visible and organized. ISAA organized poetry nights, movie nights, brought attention to the INS detainees by demonstrating in their support, launched a semester journal titled: “Goftogoo: A Dialogue on Iran and Iranians,” and a lecture series titled: “Iran and Iranians after September 11th.”

We as a group gained much experience after our first academic year in operation. Thus, over the summer of 2003, we took our experience and revamped the entire organization. The following fall, ISAA exploded onto the scene as one of most organized and active student groups at UC Berkeley. ISAA planned 24 events for the fall semester including, three poetry nights, four movie nights, an open forum, a music night, ten lectures and documentary screenings regarding Iranian history ranging from the Iran-Iraq War to the Iranian Revolution, an Iranian-American night, a book signing by the author of “All the Shah’s Men,” Stephen Kinzer, and a lecture series pertaining to the CIA coup of 1953 in Iran, which drew an audience of 450 people. What’s more, our publication, “Goftogoo: A Dialogue on Iran and Iranians,” was published for its second semester and T-shirts and sweaters were made promoting the Iranian identity (over 300 sold as of now). At the end of the fall semester, ISAA was ranked the most popular and one of the most active student groups at UC Berkeley. This accomplishment was made in ISAA’s third semester in existence. Given that there is an estimated 500 Iranians at UC Berkeley, ISAA and Iranians had a much larger presence. We were visible and organized.

Over the winter break, the tragic earthquake at Bam struck. Although ISAA members were on vacation, we constantly sent emails updating its viewers on the tragedy, relief efforts, and informing them of how they could help, all the while planning our own fundraiser for when the semester began. Thus, on the first week of the semester, ISAA screened Tahmineh Milani’s new film: “The Fifth Reaction” to an audience of 375 people. Afterwards, Tahmineh's sister Maryam Milani who worked on the film gave a brief lecture on the women in Iran. The proceeds went to Bam as ISAA tried to do its part.

In addition, ISAA organized over thirty events for the semester including three poetry nights, three movie nights, a backgammon tournament, a book signing by the author of “Funny in Farsi,” Firoozeh Dumas, a language night, two open forums, two music nights, two Iranian dance workshops, nine documentary screenings and lectures regarding issues ranging from the Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, to drug addiction and minorities in Iran. What’s more, ISAA coordinated a Multi-campus Iranian Awareness Week with more than twelve Iranian groups at various campuses ranging from MIT to UCLA participating. (article about the endeavor in our school paper)

To maintain a presence, we have set up a table to promote our group in front of Sproul Hall at UC Berkeley every week thus far of this academic school year. Additionally, we have hung a huge banner from one of the most visible buildings on our campus (MLK) bringing attention to our student group and proudly displaying an outline of Iran’s geographic shape and national colors.

As of now, ISAA is ranked the most active and most popular student group at UC Berkeley! (source: http://live.berkeley.edu/rankings.cgi) All in all, ISAA has organized over 50 quality events for the 2003-2004 academic year (fall and spring). Our third edition of our magazine is due to come out in a week.

ISAA does not have a political agenda and is headquartered at UC Berkeley. We have a chapter in Georgetown University. Imagine how great it would be if what we are doing at UC Berkeley was being done all over. We invite all Iranian high school students, college and university students, and graduate students to consider creating their own chapter and being a part of something big. Please take this time to visit our website http://isaa.berkeley.edu If this is something that may interest you, please contact me and I will send you a start-up kit via the internet to make its launch a bit easier. They say Iranians are divided, I say we prove them wrong!

http://www.payvand.com/news/04/mar/1176.html

Zebari stresses ties with neighbors

Thursday, March 25, 2004 - ©2004 IranMania.com

Tehran, March 23 (IranMania) -- According to Iran's state News Agency (IRNA) Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says his country is for cooperation with its neighbors, including Iran to guarantee security on its borders.

Zebari told a press conference here that Iraq is an important country and its instability and insecurity would make the neighboring states not tranquil.

The Iraqi minister said that his country is not at all concerned over security of its borders with Iran and is for close cooperation and sharing information and experience with the neighbors to guarantee security in the border regions.

Calling as "positive" Iran`s role in Iraq and its relations with Iraqi Governing Council, Zebari said that Iran had been the first country to send an official delegation to Iraq to hold talks with the country`s Council.

He said that IGC`s diplomacy is based on mutual respect and non-intervention in others` internal affairs.

He went on to say that his countrymen will never forget the eight-year war (1980-88) imposed by the regime of Saddam on Iran, which left many human losses and financial damage.

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=23594&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

Moscow may help Iran build 2nd reactor

Thursday, March 25, 2004 - ©2004 IranMania.com

Tehran, March 24 (IranMania) -- According to Iran's State News Agency(IRNA) Russia may take part in the construction of a second reactor at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, sources at the Russian Atomic Energy Ministry said.

According to the official, the general contractor involved in the Bushehr nuclear power plant project - Atomstroiexport, has already handed over to Iran preliminary feasibility studies concerning the construction of a second reactor at Bushehr.
The chief of the Federal Agency for Atomic Power, Alexander Rumyantsev said on Monday Russia`s plans regarding the Iranian nuclear power program remained unchanged, despite the ongoing reorganization of the Atomic Energy Ministry.

"Technical cooperation with Iran in nuclear power plant construction in Bushehr will go on," he said. "I see no causes that
might restrict our cooperation."

A supplementary protocol on the repatriation of spent nuclear fuel from Bushehr to Russia "will be signed soon." Rumyantsev said signing of the protocol had been delayed against a background of "certain financial aspects."

"Iran has asked for several months to study the technology of handling spent nuclear waste," Rumyantsev said, adding that "Iran had repeatedly confirmed the readiness to sign the protocol."

In the meantime Iran`s Ambassador to Russia, Gholam-Reza Shafei has told Tass in an interview that the Russian-Iranian protocol on he return of spent nuclear fuel from Bushehr nuclear power plant will be signed in Tehran or in Moscow in the near future. Cooperation between Iran and Russia, he said, is "absolutely transparent and is being carried in full compliance with international legislation and the applicable rules."

"In view of Iran`s signing of the supplementary protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency and our commitment to the liabilities under the Nuclear Arms Non-Proliferation Treaty and the good political relationship with Russia we hope that Russian-Iranian cooperation in the field of nuclear power will go on developing," the Iranian ambassador said.

"Cooperation in building the first unit of Bushehr nuclear power plant is continuing. The reasons why construction work has fallen behind schedule will be discussed when a senior Russian official visits Iran shortly."

Ambassador Shafei noted that Russia and Iran had agreed to sign a protocol on the return of spent fuel to Russia. "Alongside this protocol a supplement must be signed to the comprehensive contract on the construction of the nuclear power plant`s first unit."

The two sides are in the phase of active coordination of these documents, to be signed in Tehran or Moscow soon. "

A second Bushehr reactor is a future project and more fundamental negotiations on it will follow," the Iranian ambassador said.

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=23608&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

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