Free Republic

Top News Story Bush ramps up the rhetoric on Iran. John Pohoretz, The New York Post reported that President Bush just delivered what may be the most important speech of his presidency. The time has come, the president all but said yesterday, to take the gloves off with Iran.The Wall Street Journal reported that in a major speech President Bush quoted extensively from recent threats by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad such as his call for "a world without the United States and Zionism."   Ahmadinejad threatens Bush and the American people. Khaleej Times Online reported on a veiled threat...

Top News Story The opposition to Khatami's visit to the US heats up. Kathryn Jean Lopez, The Corner reported that Governor Mitt Romney today ordered all Massachusetts state government agencies to decline support, if asked, for former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami’s September 10 visit to the Boston area saying: “State taxpayers should not be providing special treatment to an individual who supports violent jihad and the destruction of Israel.”A Press briefing will take place in Washington D.C. September 7th on the visit of former President Khatami. Led by torture victims of the Islamic Regime, former political prisoners and opposition...

Top News Story Three must read letters on Khatami's visit to the US. Iran Press News published two must-read letters about Khatami's visit about Khatami's visit to the U.S.SOSIran also published a letter on Khatami's visit to the US called: Khatami - Master of deception.   No unity on Iran among the Europeans. Expatica reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has underlined there can be "no military option" for dealing with Iran's nuclear program.Die Welt reported that Britain, France and Germany each received a secret letter in response to the demand that Iran cease producing nuclear fuel. 'Some of...

Top News Story 2nd most powerful Ayatollah in Iran: The Islamic Republic is the only legitimate nation on earth. Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat reported that Ali-Akbar Meshkini, the second most powerful Ayatollah in Iran, Meshkini said "Among all the governments in the world, the only legitimate government endorsed by the Almighty is the Islamic Republic of Iran." There cannot be give-and-take between "an extension of God" and an "illegitimate and oppressive regimes." A must read.Ardeshir Dolat reported that Seyed Yahya Safavi, the head of the Revolutionary Guards Corps said “The Islamic world will soon become a major world superpower.”...

Top News Story Xinhua TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian cleric Mohammad Ali Abtahi has an impeccable résumé. He was a top adviser to the former president, and his father is a grand ayatollah, the highest religious honor a Shiite Muslim can attain. While Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's doctrine is still supported by some, including Mohsen Gharavian, above, a midlevel cleric and editor of the magazine Ma'rafaat, clerics such as the Grand Ayatollah Ali Saanei, below, who was Iran's general prosecutor in the first years after the revolution, now oppose the government. Yet despite his establishment credentials, he has a political vision...

Top News Story Most mainstream media bury the real news in the IAEA Report... United Press International reported that the IAEA told the U.N. Security Council its inspectors have found new traces of enriched uranium in Iran. The discovery marked the third instance that highly enriched uranium was found at an Iranian facility.   Now that Iran ignored the UN deadline: Europe blinks, Russia ... The Times Online reported that Iran's defiance of the United Nations' deadline was supposed to be the climax of this long-running stand-off. Instead, Europeans blinked. What happened...The Times Online reported that Iran’s defiance of...

Top News Story UNSC deadline for Iran passes with no immediate action. Reuters reported that the UN said Iran failed to meet its nuclear deadline.Vital Perspectives published a copy of the IAEA report being distributed to diplomats at the UN today on Iran's nuclear program.   Bush: There must be consequences for Iran's defiance. Reuters reported that President George W. Bush said "It is time for Iran to make a choice... We've made our choice. We will continue to work closely with our allies to find a diplomatic solution, but there must be consequences for Iran's defiance and we...

Top News Story What to expect when UNSC deadline for Iran comes Thursday. The Washington Times reported that the UN nuclear watchdog agency will hand over a report that says Iran has resumed enriching a small amount of uranium to the U.N. Security Council.The Christian Science Monitor reported that we should expect Thursday's deadline for Iran to stop enriching uranium to pass with more of a whimper than a bang. As the United States experiences what one observer calls "confrontation fatigue," and as international unity against a nuclear-armed Iran threatens to splinter under pressure, quick action against Iran is...

Top News Story Ahmadinejad challenged Bush to an uncensored debate. Reuters reported that Ahmadinejad challenged President Bush to a televised debate, saying: "The debate should be go uncensored in order for the American people to be able to listen to what we say and they should not restrict the American people from hearing the truth."Dow Jones Newswires reported that the White House dismissed the idea of a televised debate between President George W. Bush and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as a diversion. A White House spokesman added: "Iran may want to look first to allowing free expression and open...

Top News Story The Islamic Republic's new tactic to impose Islamic rules on its population. Time Magazine reported that for the past few months, Iranians have been subjected to stronger enforcement of Islamic codes using a new tactic. Is this a revival of the dogmatic strictures of the country's revolutionary past? A must read.   Iranian women prepare to challenge the Islamic Republic. Radio Free Europe reported that activists in Iran have started a petition drive calling for changes to laws that discriminate against women. Organizers hope to attract the signature of 1 million Iranians -- a challenge that...

Top News Story Iran tests a submarine launched missile. MyWayNews reported that Iran test fired a new submarine-to-surface missile during war games in the Persian Gulf on Sunday. A brief video clip showed the long-range missile, called Thaqeb, or Saturn, exiting the water and hitting a target on the water's surface within less than a mile.   Iran's Foreign Minister admits the Islamic Republic is against democracy and human rights. De Velt Blog reported that they are sure Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki didn't mean it to say it so plainly when he said: 'that the US aggrandizes such...

Top News Story Senior Iranian official warns Iran may develop nuclear weapons. Haaretz reported that a senior Iranian official warned yesterday Iran may develop nuclear weapons and pull out from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if international pressure against its nuclear program continues. \ Ahmadinejad says its not a threat to anyone, while it shells Iraqi Kurdistan. Xinhua reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Iranian people would "use force" to protect the country's disputed nuclear program as he inaugurated a heavy water plant. He added: "There is no talk of nuclear weapons and there is...

Top News Story Xinhua PRAGUE, August 25, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- There have been different views on Iran's role in the war between Hizballah and Israel. Some observers suggested that Iran had given Hizballah orders to attack and kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to divert the world's attention from Iran's controversial nuclear program. Others said the conflict was the result of a miscalculation by Hizballah -- which likely didn't expect such a fierce reaction from Israel. Many blamed Iran for the conflict because of reports that they were helping Hizballah financially and supplying it with weapons and missiles. Iran says...

Top News Story Iran has produced 15 P-2 centrifuges? Reuters reported that an exiled opposition group said Iran has built at least 15 advanced P-2 centrifuges, which could dramatically speed up its production of nuclear fuel needed to create a nuclear bomb, and will have hundreds more ready next year.   Why Americans should furious that the US is letting Khatami speak in the US. Kenneth R. Timmerman, FrontPageMagazine.com reported that the disgraced former president of the Islamic Republic, Mohammad Khatami, wants to speak in Washington, D.C., next month, and the State Department has already indicated it will welcome...

Top News Story Iran to make a major announcement on its nuclear program, soon. Hemscott reported that Iran will soon announce an atomic breakthrough.Mehr News reported that the regime’s news agencies have just reported in its Farsi section (but not in English) that within the next few days the regime will announce a major breakthrough in its nuclear activities. The breakthrough is of huge importance.MEMRI.org reported that the Iranian news service Al-Borz predicted that on the first anniversary of Iranian President Ahmadinejad's government, in late August 2006, Ahmadinejad is expected to announce what the news service called Iran's "nuclear...

Top News Story Iranian opposition leaders furious: Former Iranian president Khatami invited to speak in Washington DC. The Washington Post reported that the Bush administration has agreed to issue a visa to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to give a public address at the Washington National Cathedral next month. Iranian opposition leaders were shocked by the announcement and are asking people to write the White House and the organizers of the event asking them to cancel the invitation.Reuters reported that former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami applied on Tuesday for a U.S. visa to give a speech in Washington next...

Top News Story What is Iran planning for Tuesday, August 22nd? ABC News reported that many are concerned with Iran's promise to respond August 22nd to the UN's nuclear offer. August 22nd marks a holy day on the Islamic calendar that is the day of reckoning for Shiites. Islamic expert Robert Spencer said: "The only thing we can know is that the date was not chosen by accident." Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Counterterrorismblog saw a possible connection between North Korea's possible nuclear test and Iran's self imposed nuclear deadline of August 22nd.Yahoo News reported that Iran has turned away U.N. inspectors...

Top News Story Iran to offer a "multifaceted response" to the West, but will not stop enrichment. Fox News reported that Iran will offer a "multifaceted response" to a Western package of incentives aimed at persuading it to suspend uranium enrichment activities, but insisted it would not cease enriching uranium.   Iran's five week military exercise The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran on Sunday test-fired a surface-to-surface short-range missile a day after its army launched large-scale military exercises throughout the country. The "Saegheh… missile, has a range of between 80 to 250 kilometers."The Washington Post reported that Iran test-fired...

Top News Story Iran's military exercises: Trouble brewing in the next few days? World Tribune reported that Iran launched a new round of military exercises in an effort to test its new combat doctrine using weapons systems which were apparently tested in the recent war in Lebanon.Threats Watch reviewed the latest developments in Iran as it relates to Ahmadinejad's promise of a response on the nuclear crisis August 22nd.Ardeshir Dolat reported that according to a secret report to Khamenei, American and Israeli planes flew over Tehran in the past few nights. Disinformation?   Iran and Turkey attack Kurdish rebels...

Top News Story Xinhua WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States blocked an Iranian cargo plane's flight to Syria last month as it was carrying missiles and launchers to resupply Hezbollah, the USA Today daily newspaper reported on Friday. The U.S. blocked the plane after intelligence analysts concluded it was carrying sophisticated missiles and launchers to resupply Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Eight days after Hezbollah's war with Israel began, U.S. diplomats persuaded Turkey and Iraq to deny the plane permission to cross their territory to Damascus, a transfer point for arms to Hezbollah, the officials were quoted as...