Iranian Alert -- October 8, 2003 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD PING LIST

The Iranian Student Movement Up To The Minute Reports ^ | 10.8.2003 | 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]

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[DoctorZIn]

Going Nuclear

October 08, 2003
The Times
The Times Online

Iran must halt the development of nuclear weapons

The defiant statement by Kamal Kharrazi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, that Tehran has no intention of halting its uranium enrichment programme has caused alarm in Western capitals. He could hardly have given a clearer signal that Iran is determined to build a nuclear bomb. He made it chillingly obvious that Iran will pay little heed to the demands of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or the warnings of the West. And he reinforced fears that on the race for the bomb, there is no debate in Iran: the so-called pragmatists are as fervently nationalist as the clerical hardliners. Within 18 months one of the world's most unpredictable and ideologically driven countries could well be a nuclear power.

There have been warnings aplenty to Tehran not to go down this route. The Bush Administration has spoken openly and often of its concern over nuclear proliferation, and urged Russia to halt its nuclear co-operation with Iran, even to the point of jeopardising otherwise good relations with President Putin. Several European leaders disagreed with Washington over the virtue of trade and political relations with Iran, and were privately critical of the inclusion of Iran in the "axis of evil". But all are commendably robust in supporting Mr Bush over Iran's nuclear ambitions. In August the British, French and German foreign ministers sent a strong letter to Tehran, warning Iran that unless it took concerns on proliferation seriously, it could expect a sharp downturn in the European Union's policy of "constructive engagement". Nor would there be any EU appetite to continue negotiations on a new trade and co-operation agreement, in which Iran has set much store.

The warnings have had little effect. Iran has equivocated on the IAEA's request that it sign an additional protocol allowing surprise inspections. It has offered improbable and insulting explanations for the discovery of traces of weapons-grade uranium at two nuclear sites. And it has tried to link demands for inspection and verification to US military ambitions, launching a propaganda campaign to whip up public anger at any attempt to curb what it disingenuously insists is a peaceful nuclear programme.

How should the world react? A nuclear Iran is genuinely alarming - not simply because it would further undermine the Non-Proliferation Treaty but also because of Iran's militant and unstable record. The acquisition of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan has already led to tense confrontation; in the turbulent Middle East, an Iranian bomb would not only be seen by Israel as an existential threat; it would embolden all radical and Islamist forces in their determination to confront America and to disrupt the Middle East peace process. A pre-emptive Israeli strike, with momentous consequences, could not be ruled out. The first point Europe and America should emphasise is that Iran must comply with the IAEA deadline of October 31 to halt its enriched uranium programme. Failure to do so would take the issue straight to the Security Council, where a reprimand and possible sanctions might follow - an outcome Iran maintains it is keen to avoid. The EU should also break off its political dialogue, halt trade talks and isolate Iran until it complies. Russia's partners should insist on an end to Moscow's nuclear co-operation. Even if confined to civilian use, it has already proved damaging, and surely the prospect of Chechen extremists with access to Iranian nuclear knowhow gives Moscow pause for thought. Iran is now debating how to respond if it is to avoid censure. For the sake of the country, and of the region, its plans to develop nuclear weapons must be curtailed immediately.

http://iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2003&m=10&d=08&a=1

[F14 Pilot]

Murder trial sparks Iran row

BBC News

By Jim Muir
BBC Tehran correspondent

A public row over a court case has broken out between two of Iran's most powerful bodies - the hardline judiciary and the largely reformist intelligence ministry.

The ministry has accused the judiciary of overlooking crucial evidence in Tuesday's court case in which one of the ministry's officials is charged with of causing the death in custody of an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist.

Both sides have accused one another of staging a cover-up to divert responsibility for the death of the journalist, Zahra Kazemi.

She died in early July after receiving a blow to the head following her arrest for taking photographs outside a Tehran prison.

Power struggle

The lengthy indictment read out in court on Tuesday morning included the accusation that the intelligence ministry took various actions to try to cover up the alleged role of one of its interrogators, Reza Ahmadi.

He alone is in the dock, accused of the semi-intentional killing of Zahra Kazemi by dealing her a single, ultimately fatal blow.

Now the intelligence ministry has hit back.

It issued a statement saying the indictment ignored what it called the important fact.

The ministry said that Kazemi had written a statement on her second day in captivity complaining that she had been beaten and thrown to the ground on the first day, when she was in the custody of judiciary officials.

The statement said the intelligence ministry would hold a news conference soon to lay the facts before the public.

The court indictment did mention statements from witnesses saying Kazemi had been hit shortly after her arrest but it said those statements had been withdrawn.

After hearing the indictment and a plea of not guilty from the defendant, the court adjourned to allow the defence time to prepare.

The dispute between Iran's two bodies is closely bound up with the intensifying power struggle between two of Iran's most powerful bodies.

Canada's anger

Zahra Kazemi's case has already become something of a cause celebre in Iran, sparking a presidential inquiry.

The case also caused Canada to withdraw its ambassador at the way it was being handled, including the burial of Mrs Kazemi's body in Iran against the wishes of her son, who is in Canada.

The ambassador has now returned and was allowed to attend the trial.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3170984.stm

[F14 Pilot]

2003/10/08

President champions high turnout

Andimeshk, Khuzestan prov., Oct 8 - President Mohammad Khatami said here Tuesday that as the servant to people "I will do my utmost to hold a free and fair parliamentary elections in the country."

Addressing the masses of people in Andimeshk, he called on people to widely turn out in the seventh parliamentary elections slated for February 20.

"We should assure people that their votes will be respected", he said.

He urged all officials to help organize a glorious parliamentary elections at "this very sensitive historical juncture".

People should feel free in their candidacies and the whole society should believe that the grounds for holding a healthy parliamentary elections has been created, he said.

"Public trust should be promoted," he said adding that anyone with any tastes should be able to choose the most qualified candidate in the elections.

Mass presence of people in the next parliamentary elections would help the majority to attain their aspirations, Khatami said.

There is no doubt that the mass turnout of people in the upcoming parliamentary elections will help people put forward their demands, he said.

Extensive presence of people in the next parliamentary elections will foil domestic and foreign plots, Khatami said.

On self-sufficiency, he said, "We do not need to produce weapons of mass destruction, what we need is to attain economic development, self-sufficiency and scientific progress."

On religious democracy, he said democratic elections guarantee democracy in the society and "We are to continue with the experience".

He appreciated the sacrifices and efforts of the people in the province during the eight-year imposed war and urged the government to pay due attention to address the problems of the people.

We should make a developed country, he underlined.

On 6.4 percent economic growth in Iran last year, he said even the foreigners confess to Iran's development and "We should speed up the move forward to economic prosperity."

President Khatami concluded his one day tour to Khuzestan and left Dezful for Tehran Tuesday afternoon.

http://www.iribnews.com/Full_en.asp?news_id=189816&n=14

(( What a lie ))!

[F14 Pilot]

Crisis heightens Iran's divisions

October 7th. 2003

By Safa Haeri
Asia Times

PARIS - Iran's ayatollahs have never had such a crisis with the international community in their 25 years of rule, says Sadeq Saba, a senior analyst on Iranian affairs, commenting on the spat between the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Tehran over the Islamic republic's nuclear programs.

The crisis erupted when the 35-member board of governors of the United Nations nuclear watchdog on September 12 approved, without voting, though, a resolution presented by Australia, Canada and Japan that urged Iran to sign "immediately and unconditionally" additional protocols to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and stop "at once" all its uranium enriching activities, although a deadline of October 31 was set.

At the very center of the row sits Iran's declared - and undeclared - nuclear projects, which the United States and Israel, now joined by the European Union, insist have a military finality: to destroy Israel.

For its part, Tehran, supported by Russia, the country that is engaged in the construction of Iran's first nuclear-powered electricity plant, reiterates that all its atomic projects, under construction and in the future, are strictly for peaceful purposes and civilian use. Russia is assisting with the construction of a light-water nuclear reactor near the city of Bushehr. Moscow has apparently agreed to provide fuel for the reactor, with the condition that Iran sign an agreement to return the spent fuel.

The Iranians go even further in declaring that Islam, the religion on which the present Iranian political system is based, prohibits the possession of atomic weapons. But they do not explain that if this is true, how come Pakistan has been able to become the first Islam-based nation to build a bomb. Neither, obviously, can they back up this claim from the centuries-old Koran.

Analysts and observers say that while officials in the government of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, who assure that Iran's nuclear projects are not for military use, are sincere, they have no more information than ordinary people of the exact magnitude of the regime's military setup, which is entirely in the hands of selected officers, most of them unknown, or little known, to the general public.

"Having in mind the bombing of Iraq's nuclear center by Israel [in 1981], Iran's military strategists have scattered the country's sensitive and strategic installations, mostly the atomic ones, all over the country, hidden deep in mountainous regions," one former Iranian military expert explained.

The protocols that the IAEA would like to see Iran sign would allow international atomic inspectors and experts unrestricted access to all Iranian nuclear sites, at will, without any conditions. (However, Pierre Goldschmidt, the Belgian deputy to IAEA head Mohammad El-Bradeh'i said last week that his boss' recent warning over Iran's nuclear programs, and chiefly its uranium enriching activities, were the central issue, not signing the protocols.)

During a trip to Iran earlier this year, IAEA inspectors found traces of weapons-grade uranium and signs of other questionable nuclear activity, leading the agency give Iran until the end of October to come clean about its nuclear projects, or the issue would be sent to the UN Security Council for a final decision, which could include sanctions against Tehran.

Iran's response to the traces was that they came in on contaminated equipment bought abroad, stopping short of divulging the sources of the purchase. In his comment, analyst Saba noted that the IAEA resolution had placed Iran in a very difficult situation: either bow to the "humiliating" demands or face possible international sanctions.

And clearly, the cleric-led Iranian regime itself does not yet know exactly which way it will jump. According to some Iranian political pundits, one reason for this dramatic inability to decide is because the regime's dual-head establishment is equally divided. Hardline personalities and spokesmen close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the orthodox leader of the Iranian theocracy, have equated the signing of the protocols to surrendering of Islamic pride and Iranian sovereignty by opening up all doors to foreign inspectors and spies.
Tehran informed sources tell Asia Times Online that some top advisers to Khamenei, like Hoseyn Shari'atmadari, an intelligence officer appointed as editor of the hardline evening daily Keyhan, Mohammad Javad Larijani, and Dr Ali Akbar Velayati, the former foreign affairs minister, are among those pressing the leader to take Iran out of the NPT and follow the path taken by communist North Korea in dealing with the IAEA.

They are supported by hawkish ayatollahs such as Ahmad Jannati, secretary of the powerful Guardians Council, Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, believed to be Khamenei' s mentor, and Mohammad Kashani, one of the main preachers of traditional Friday prayers.

Facing them are "official" reformers such as Mohsen Armin, a deputy chairman of the National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee of the majlis (parliament)and an outspoken critic of the conservatives, Mohammad Salamati, secretary of the Mojahedeen of the Islamic Revolution Organization that supports the effectively powerless President Khatami, and Behzad Nabavi, a deputy speaker of parliament. They are backed, conditionally though, by the dissident Grand Ayatollah Hoseynali Montazri, Iran's highest religious authority who is also the ruling establishment's most ferocious critic, including of both Khamenei and Hojjatoleslam Khatami.

But other sources think that the man who will eventually decide which way to take is the former president, Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, nicknamed kouseh, or shark, because of his beardless face.

Not only is Rafsanjani known for his personal influence over Khamenei, one of his oldest and closest friends from the time of their religious studies with the Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and founder of the Islamic republic, but also because as the chairman of the powerful Expediency Council, he is the regime's virtual number two man after the leader.

An unelected body dominated by the conservatives, the 32-member council serves as an advisory group to the leader, and besides discerning the best interests of the state, it also arbitrates between the majlis and the Guardians' Council, another unelected institution that not only checks the full conformity of laws approved by lawmakers with Islamic canons, but also vets all candidates to all elections.

On his return from the UN General Assembly recently, Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Kharrazi informed reporters that accepting the protocols was not against Iran's constitution, adding that the Expediency Council would decide on the issue.

The reformists' main argument is that not only the conservatives' stubborn policy has plunged Iran into international isolation, as seen by the dramatic rapprochement of the European Union's stand with that of the US, a far cry of the "golden days" when Tehran was the darling of the Europeans and most of the region's countries except Israel, but in case Iran does not respond to the demands formulated by the IAEA, the whole regime is in danger of the same fate as Saddam Hussein - total collapse.

It is exactly to prevent this scenario that the hardliners want to master nuclear technology as soon as possible, believing that once an atomic power, American threats and bullying against Iran will change, as is the case with North Korea.

It is therefore not without logic that recently Tehran displayed a new version of its Shahab-3 ballistic missiles, which are believed to have a range of 1,700 kilometers, thus capable of "hitting the heart of the enemy", meaning Israel.

But analysts also blame government officials' contradictory and often unconvincing statements, including those of President Khatami, on Iran's aims with nuclear projects for the hard line attitude taken by the West.

"When Khatami states publicly that Iran wants nuclear technology for strengthening its defense, when officials declare that some of Iran's sites would be off limit to inspectors, when Kamal Kharrazi, the Foreign Affairs Minister, says enriching uranium is for nuclear electricity plants, while it falls on the Russians to supply this material for the Bushehr station, when Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's ambassador at the IAEA, confirms that Iran has been enriching uranium for many years, etc, it all tends to one conclusion: that Iran has something to hide," one Iranian scholar told Asia Times Online on condition of anonymity.

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EJ07Ak01.html

[PureSolace]

Make Iran Free! Free For All Who Live there, and Free For All Who Wish to Go There!

[chicagolady]

"The Iranians go even further in declaring that Islam, the religion on which the present Iranian political system is based, prohibits the possession of atomic weapons"

They are not against the Islamic Religion as long as they are only used to destroy "Satan"...Which is the United States and Israel.

[AdmSmith]

When can we post: Iranian Alert - IRAN LIVE THREAD PING LIST - THE DAY AFTER!

[F14 Pilot]

Nice quotations.

There are some interesting webpages for you:
http://www.tehran24.com

http://www.dejkam.com/iran/tehran/

And a historical website on Persia: http://www.oznet.net/cyrus/cyframe.htm

[F14 Pilot]

I offer you to recorrect your views, That is not fair to judge them when you dont know any thing about how they are.
Please join this thread and read DrZin's Articles to get better and true views of Iran.

Thanks!

[chicagolady]

I study under someone who knows the Muslim Religion well.

It is totally acceptable to lie or "misguide" people when it defends Allah.

You can never tell if someone is telling the truth because their aim is always to defend the Koran, Jihad and Allah.

Jihad is real. We are the aim of their Jihad.

I do know how they are , I have done some study and hang around Arab folks who were once Muslims and are now Christians.
They say America better wake up and smell the coffee.

[F14 Pilot]

I am sorry, I didnt talk about Arabs... This thread belongs to Iran and the events in Iran.
This thread talks about Iran and its people.
Do you know the first religion of Persians?

[AdmSmith]

Welcome to the thread. Actually, the reason that the authorities in Iran are against any demonstration regarding US policy is that the inhabitants would demonstrate for an US intevention in Iran, not against it.

[F14 Pilot]

People of Iran love the USA, That is obvious.

[nuconvert]

"...when officials declare that some of Iran's sites would be off limit to inspectors, when Kamal Kharrazi, the Foreign Affairs Minister, says enriching uranium is for nuclear electricity plants, ... when Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's ambassador at the IAEA, confirms that Iran has been enriching uranium for many years, etc, it all tends to one conclusion: that Iran has something to hide,"

Precisely.

[F14 Pilot]

Iran doubts Israel attack but says defences ready

MSNBC

TEHRAN, Oct. 8 — Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday it was unlikely that Israel would launch an attack on the Islamic Republic, but said his country was ready to defend itself.

He was responding to remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who said on Tuesday -- following an Israeli air raid on Sunday in Syria -- that Israel would hit its enemies anywhere.
Israel has repeatedly accused Iran of arming, training and funding Palestinian militant groups. Tehran says it only gives moral support to the groups.
Khatami, a moderate, said Israel had its hands full without opening a new front.
''They (the Israelis) are so involved with problems inside their country that I do not think they want to create another problem outside it. We are also fully prepared to defend our country,'' Khatami told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting.
Khatami also expressed solidarity with Syria, which like Iran faces heavy pressure from Washington and allegations of sponsoring ''terrorism.''
Israel launched its deepest attack into Syria for 30 years on Sunday, a day after a female suicide bomber from the Islamic Jihad group killed 19 people in a restaurant in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
Israel said the target of the raid was a training camp for Palestinian militants, but Damascus called it a civilian site.

http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters10-08-051145.asp?reg=MIDEAST

[F14 Pilot]

Rafsanjani: Iran resists all threats

2003/10/08
IRIB

Tehran, Oct 8 - Chairman of the Expediency Council (EC) Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani here on Wednesday said the Islamic Republic of Iran resists all pressures and threats.

Addressing the 18th meeting of Friday Prayers leaders from all over the country, he stressed on the importance of holding Friday Prayers in all parts of the Islamic Iran.

The former president called on Friday Prayers leaders to inform people of all the country's affairs in order to prepare the ground for their presence in all aspects of the society.

On the people's presence in all elections held ever since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Rafsanjani said the Islamic Republic system will only exist through active presence of people in all affairs, particularly during such a global and regional sensitive status.

Underlining the need for maintaining unity and solidarity among the Iranian people by the authorities, he pointed out that the global arrogance has made great efforts to overthrow the Islamic system in Iran and will continue its attempt in the future.

The global arrogance is very much concerned over expansion of Islam-seeking wave in the world, he said, adding that the Islamic Revolution has turned to a pattern for all Muslim states.

http://www.iribnews.com/Full_en.asp?news_id=189863&n=34

[philosofy123]

There are many Moslem fanatic States, and one Jewish State! Can someone explain why there is no Christian, Budist, or Hindu States. I know the Vatican is a Christian State, but it is only a couple of city blocks, and has no army. India does not call itself the Hinhu State, China or Japan do not call themselves the Budist States. Nations should never have partiality to one religion over the others. This, by definition would create systematic discrimination against its own citizens.