Iranian Alert -- August 17, 2003 -- LIVE THREAD PING LIST

The Iranian Student Movement Up To The Minute Reports ^ | 8.17.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movment in Iran from being reported.

From jamming satellite broadcasts, to prohibiting news reporters from covering any demonstrations to shutting down all cell phones and even hiring foreign security to control the population, the regime is doing everything in its power to keep the popular movement from expressing its demand for an end of the regime.

These efforts by the regime, while successful in the short term, do not resolve the fundamental reasons why this regime is crumbling from within.

Iran is a country ready for a regime change. 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.

Please continue to join us here, post your news stories and comments to this thread.

Thanks for all the help.

DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

Violent demonstrations in Iran leave several people dead

17-08-2003
Al Bawaba

Several Iranians have been killed during violent protests in the central town of Samirom against planned changes to its local administration, according to Iran's state radio.

"Individuals set fire to tires and smashed the windows of shops, homes, cars and public buildings, leading to the deaths of several people," the radio said Sunday.

Iranian police officials and protestors were also injured in the demonstrations which broke out Saturday, it added.

The demonstrators were protesting against the interior ministry's decision to incorporate the village of Vardasht within Samirom municipality, which lies in the far south of the central province of Isfahan. (Albawaba.com)

http://www.albawaba.com/news/index.php3?sid=256487&lang=e&dir=news

[DoctorZIn]

Industrial development hinges on privatization

Arak, Central prov, Aug 17, IRNA --

Minister of Mines and Industry Eshaq Jahangiri said here Saturday that industrial sector will not progress, "unless the private sector is the focus of national economic policies."

He added that industrial development is unavoidable and economic growth and higher employment hinges on effective industrial strategies.
"The resolution of economic issues, as the main government
concerns, are possible through bolstering of private sector," Jahangiri said.

In the past three years many beneficial laws and regulations pertaining to the private sector and outlined in the Third Five-Year Development Plan (March 2000-March 2005) have been implemented, the minister of industry and mines underlined.

He said the total investment volume in industry and in industrial units have been significant in the last six years and over 5,000 units have gone on stream in the same period.

In 1997 the number of industrial units nationwide were fewer than 8,000 units, Jahangiri said.

In most recent statements on Iran's industrial plans and its effects on the economy, Jahangiri said last week that the government plans to call for creating 200,000 employment opportunities in the country in the current Iranian year (started March21).

Speaking at a nation-wide meeting of industrialists, he added that although prospects for attaining the employment figure are good, a 10 percent growth in the industrial sector was a pre-requisite to achieve this goal.

Jahangiri referring to the 10 percent industrial growth rate over the past two years, expressed optimism about "attaining an even better growth rate this year."

He also said the future bodes ill for "educated unemployed" saying that generating employment should be such that it prevents brain drain and meet the needs of job seekers.

He referred to the 20-year plan for industrial sector adding that it stipulates an eight percent economic growth rate "which is likely to expedite development of the industry sector."

Also, the plan calls for industrial exports to top dlrs 28-30 billion by the year 2020 from dlrs three billion now.

Jahangiri further said Iran's strategic plan is based on
industrial development and all of other socio-economic plans should be consistent with industrial development.

He said the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (2005-2010) is being drawn up by the government and experts committees have been formed for this purpose.
http://www.irna.ir/en/tnews/030817003317.etn03.shtml

[DoctorZIn]

Treaty's `Fuel Cycle' Guarantee is Potential Road to Bomb

August 16, 2003
The Associated Press
Charles J. Hanley

WASHINGTON -- The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has a ``giant loophole'' big enough to slip an atom bomb through, analysts say. Trying to close it would set off a giant political struggle.

The treaty bars 183 nations without nuclear weapons from building them, but allows them to pursue civilian programs, including uranium-enrichment plants to produce fuel. That production, if intensified, can also yield richer fuel for nuclear bombs.

The latest example is Iran, which acknowledged to the International Atomic Energy Agency in February that it was building a centrifuge plant to enrich uranium. The United States contends the plant will fuel a bomb program.

Arms control advocates are growing more alarmed about this ``fuel cycle'' opening.

``There is a giant loophole in the NPT that needs to be closed before other states try to use it,'' George Perkovich of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told a congressional committee in June.

The world already has too many facilities to enrich uranium and to separate plutonium the other bomb fuel and ``no additional states need acquire such capabilities that are inherently proliferation sensitive,'' Perkovich testified.

The treaty is unlikely to be amended by its member states, however, since this political tradeoff between renouncing weapons and having open access to nuclear technology lies at the heart of the 1970 pact.

Any effort to alter the treaty ``will be detested among developing countries,'' said Patricia Lewis, director of the U.N. Institute for Disarmament Research.

Instead, some say, nuclear supplier nations could agree among themselves to keep the technology out of new hands.

Such exports, usually clandestine, have helped past bomb programs. China sold vital centrifuge magnets to Pakistan as it developed its bombs, for example, and West German engineering firms quietly helped Iraq in the 1980s with centrifuge designs and parts.

In the 1990s, Russia signed an unannounced agreement with Iran for a centrifuge plant, but then backed out of the deal under U.S. pressure. It isn't known what foreign help Iran may have gotten on its new plant.

Stopping the trade ``is something that has to be taken very seriously,'' said arms control scholar Lawrence Scheinman in Washington.

He said suppliers could decide to interpret ``access to technology'' to mean access outside the developing country that is, to fuel production facilities elsewhere. Russia, long keen to sell its nuclear technology, might be convinced of such a plan if guaranteed a big chunk of the uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing business, he said.

http://cbsnewyork.com/international/WMD-NuclearLoophole-ai/resources_news_html

[DoctorZIn]

Treaty's `Fuel Cycle' Guarantee is Potential Road to Bomb

August 16, 2003
The Associated Press
Charles J. Hanley

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/965430/posts?page=23#23

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail me”

[DoctorZIn]

Khatami Warns of U.S. Psychological War Against Iran

August 16, 2003
Iran Weekly Press Digest
Iran WPD

President Mohammad Khatami warned Saturday of the psychological war launched by the United States against Iran, state television network IRIB reported.

“We ask our friends (abroad) to stop the U.S. psychological war against Iran which might lead to dangerous consequences,” Khatami told Iranian ambassadors during a meeting of diplomats in Tehran.

Khatami did not elaborate further but the overthrow doctrine by some of the political wings in Washington has caused grave concern in Iran.

“All we can do right now against this psychological war is just increasing our knowledge and information,” Khatami told the diplomats.

More and more Iranian officials, even within the pro-Khatami reformist wing, believe that the U.S. pressure against Iran on tougher nuclear inspections and constructive cooperation in the Middle East dilemma is just a prologue to weaken and eventually topple the Islamic system.

Tehran accuses the U.S. psychological war has the main aim of winning the Iranian youth - more than sixty per cent of the population - and making them sceptical towards the Islamic system.

The latest move by Washington U.S. is launching several U.S. sponsored satellite television programmes in the Persian language for viewers in Iran, unclear however how many people watch these programmes.

http://www.iranwpd.com/

[DoctorZIn]

Khatami Warns of U.S. Psychological War Against Iran

August 16, 2003
Iran Weekly Press Digest
Iran WPD

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/965430/posts?page=25#25

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[DoctorZIn]

Forced calm established in Mashad province

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Aug 17, 2003

The forced calm was re-established in the City of Gha-en located in the Mashad province.

Special units of the Islamic republic regime which are massively deployed in the Khorassan province intervened, yesterday, in order to smash the peaceful protest gathering of the residents protesting against an administrative decision in spliting the province.

Plastic bullets, Clubs, Chains and Tear gas were used against hundreds of residents who shouted slogans against the Islamic republic regime and its leaders.

Tens of them, especially young or female demonstrators, have been injured or arrested following the brutal repressive action.

Several cities of the Khorassan province have been scenes of deadly repressive actions, for the last 3 years. The repressions of Sabzevar and Mashad residents are remembered by many and have lead to tens of deaths or injured at several occasions.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1781.shtml

[DoctorZIn]

Fresh deadly clashes rock Esfahan province again

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Aug 17, 2003

Fresh clashes rocked, for the 4th consecutive day and despite heavy military presence, the City of Semiram located in Esfahan province resulting in new deaths and injured among the residents and the Islamic regime's forces.

Additional units of heliported special units were not able to extingush the unrest which seemed to be controled on Friday evening and crowd came into the streets shouting slogans against the regime and its leaders.

Tires were set on fire and barricades created in several areas in order to slow the chase of the demonstrators by the regime's men.

Young freedom fighters used again of rocks and incendiary devices against the regime forces as they opened fire on the crowd.

The bloody repression of the unrest had already resulted in the deaths of several protesters and injuries of tens of other shot by the Islamic republic's special forces on Friday.

Several militiamen were killed or injured as well by masked young freedom fighters who had assault rifles.

The peaceful demonstrations turned violent as the regime's plainclothes men killed a young demonstrators on Thursday. This murder and the meaningless justification of the governor, on Friday, created the popular anger and retaliation against the buildings of the local Bassij force, the Governor's residence, the governmental TV-Radio installation and several patrol units which were dammaged by Molotov Cocktails.

Several other cities and localities of the Esfahan province, such as, Khomeini Shahr, formerly known as Shahin Shahr, and Dastguerd locality have been scenes of sporadic clashes as well.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1786.shtml

[DoctorZIn]

Fresh deadly clashes rock Esfahan province again

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Aug 17, 2003

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/965430/posts?page=28#28

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail me”

[DoctorZIn]

Oil pool of major Iranian reffinery caught fire

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Aug 17, 2003

One of the main Oil pools of the major Iranian reffinery caught, yesterday, fire of an unknown origin. Thisncident happened in the famous Abadan reffinery located in the Khoozestan province.

The fire was extingushed follwoing the intervention of most fire fighter units of the city.

Several other Iranian installations and commercial entities, such as part of Esfahan bazaar, have been subject of arsons in the last 2 months.

In addition, Abadan has been the scene of violent clashes and riots in the last three years which have resulted in tens of deaths and hundreds of injured.

A riot for drinking water was smashed, 3 years ago, resulting in the killing of tens of residents.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1777.shtml

[DoctorZIn]

Oil pool of major Iranian reffinery caught fire

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Aug 17, 2003

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/965430/posts?page=30#30

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[nuconvert]

"More and more Iranian officials, believe that the U.S. pressure against Iran on tougher nuclear inspections and constructive cooperation in the Middle East dilemma is just a prologue to weaken and eventually topple the Islamic system."

"Islamic system?" - No - Murdering mullahs and rabid, radical Regime? YES

[nuconvert]

Dr:

Michael Ledeen was just on FOX with Tony Snow. They discussed Iran and Ledeen's last article that you posted here a few days ago. At the end, Tony Snow's final comment was, "I maintain it's the biggest geopolitical story on earth."
3 cheers for Tony!

(I missed the beginning, but these usually get repeated later)

[AdmSmith]

The latest move by Washington U.S. is launching several U.S. sponsored satellite television programmes in the Persian language for viewers in Iran

Totalitarian regimes always think that what is done in the West always is according to a master plan. They can not understand that all of us are free to establish a TV station.

[nuconvert]

True. "Conspiracies" and "Master plans" always sound
a lot more threatening and ominous.

[DoctorZIn]

I watched Michael Ledeen as well.
As always, he chastised the state department for calling Iran a democracy.

Iran is a democracy the same way Stalin's Soviet system was a democracy. In both cases, the regimes pick whom the people can vote on.

Michael pointed out, what we have been saying here, that the Iraqi shia mullahs want a separation of mosque and state. A growing number of leading mullahs inside of Iran are also urging a separation of mosque and state. Thus the regime is feeling increasing pressure and their plans for shia uprisings in Iraq are not materializing.

[AdmSmith]

If possible I think that this thread should focus more on the Iranian economy. It is in dire straits and I anticipate that we will see a big disaster the coming years if nothing is done. Several bn dollars are required annually in investments and they will not be given by Santa.

Iran, as well as Saudi, Russia and Libya, requires a high oil price to keep going. They are interested in preventing the Iraqi oil to flow. But I anticipate that the oil price in the spring will be much lower than today and this will put a lot of pressure on the above.

[DoctorZIn]

I am trying to keep up with the economic news about Iran.

I do not want to overwhelm people with news, but the volume is increasing and includes growing protests and demonstrations. As Michael Ledeen said earlier today, it is a popular democratic revolution not Iran's economy that will bring down the regime.

So please feel free to post economic news, if the news is significant.

[DoctorZIn]

Several killed and dozens injured in new Iran unrest

World News
Aug 17, 2003

TEHRAN - Six people were killed and dozens injured on Saturday in central Iran during unrest caused by a local administrative dispute, the Kayhan newspaper reported on Sunday.

Protesters were incensed that a proposed new administrative zone would mean leaving a community with which they had strong cultural and commercial ties, a regional official told state television.

Television showed gutted houses, burned-out cars and streets littered with stones and broken glass in the town of Samirom in the province of Isfahan.

Kayhan reported four protesters and two riot police died in clashes. Government and local officials declined to comment on the unrest to Reuters.

Demonstrators had gathered outside the governor's office to protest about joining the new administrative zone.

The crowd then burned tyres and set cars and houses ablaze. Some government buildings were also attacked. State television said a number of rioters were arrested.

State radio quoted an official as saying order had returned to the streets. He added that the Interior Ministry would review the proposed new administrative zones that sparked the unrest.

Administrative border changes have led to violent protests in other areas of Iran in recent years. Peaceful demonstrations were also taking place on Sunday in the northeastern Khorasan province over a similar zoning dispute.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_1785.shtml

[DoctorZIn]

Several killed and dozens injured in new Iran unrest

World News
Aug 17, 2003

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/965430/posts?page=39#39

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