Free Republic

Top News Story Iran's Supreme Leader Dead or Dying Michael Ledeen, Faster Please reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, is dead. Includes numerous updates. Iranian.ws reported that Iran's Supreme Mullah Leader, Ali Khamenei is seriously ill and will have to be replaced in the coming months as he is no longer capable of holding office. Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) website: the world is now in its “last days.” Joel C. Rosenberg, The National Review Online reported that leaders of the Islamic Republic believe that the Islamic messiah known as the “Twelfth Imam” or the “Mahdi” may come to...

Top News Story Iran's Secret Plan for Mayhem Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that Iran is supporting both Sunni and Shiite terrorists in the Iraqi civil war, according to secret Iranian documents captured by Americans in Iraq. Michael Ledeen, Faster Please! reported that the documents we found accompanying the high-level Iranian terrorist leader we briefly arrested in Hakim’s compound in Baghdad some days ago have made their way to the President. Iran Warns West of 'Historic Slap' Over Nuclear Drive Asharq Alawsat reported that Ahmadinejad has kept up his defiance over Iran's nuclear program, saying Tehran would...

Top News Story Ahmadinejad: Iran will win the next world war. Patrick Clawson, World Jewish Digest reminded us that Ahmadinejad told Kofi Annan that though Britain and the United States had won the last world war, Iran would win the next. Ahmadinejad to West: 'You are nobody' The Jerusalem Post reported that Ahmadinejad scorned the UN Security Council's imposing sanctions on Iran, telling a crowd Tuesday that Iran had humiliated the United States in the past and would do so again. Iran: 3,000 centrifuges 'operational by March' YNet News reported that an Iranian official said some 3000 centrifuges currently...

Top News Story 2007: War Clouds Thicken on the Horizon Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat argued that in 2007 the storm-bearing clouds that have been gathering since the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are unlikely to dissipate. Iran lays down a challenge to Arab leaders Financial Times reported that Iran’s foreign minister suggested Gulf stability was best achieved by removing American forces, well entrenched across the region, and setting up, with Tehran, a regional security alliance. Grudging Acceptance: Iran is waging war against us Michael Ledeen, ToThePointNews cited news reported that both Washington and London are grudgingly coming to accept...

Top News Story 'NATO Interested in Iran's Nukes' The Jerusalem Post reported that NATO has begun taking a major interest in intelligence information about Iran's nuclear program. Gulf states to counter Iran with largest exercise ever World Tribune reported that the U.S. is advising the Gulf states in preparation for their largest ever military exercise to answer Iran's growing strategic clout in the region. Iran: Mahdi will defeat archenemy in Jerusalem YNet News reported Iranian state media said the Shiite messiah will kill its archenemy in Jerusalem and that this could come during spring equinox. Here are a few...

Top News Story Islamic Republic's latest contribution to Middle East peace : “Pay-Per-Slay” of Israeli's Andy Soltis, The New York Post reported that Hezbollah and its Iranian backers are rewarding Palestinian terrorists with thousands of dollars for each homemade rocket that hits southern Israel.   Iran’s Supreme Leader calls for Muslim unity against the US Iranian Student News Agency reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei urged the region's Muslims to unite against outside influences, particularly the United States.   Iran defense industry unharmed by sanctions: minister The Washington Post reported that Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad...

Top News Story The Islamic Republic is increasingly vulnerable Victor Davis Hanson, Real Clear Politics argued that the world of publicity-hungry Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not expanding, but shrinking. Despite his supposedly populist credentials, his support at home and abroad will only further weaken as long as the United States continues its steady, calm and quiet pressure on him. Asharq Alawsat argued that what the Islamic Republic is doing in its confrontations with the West has been done before by many, from the Soviets, Qadaffi, Saddam, to name a few. He adds that the current Iranian policies will...

Top News Story Iranian officers take command of Palestinian forces? Middle East Newsline reported that several hundred Hamas operatives have recently left the Gaza Strip for Iran for several weeks of military training by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.Debka Files claim that Iranian officers have taken command of the Palestinian Gaza missile front.   Iran parliament votes to reduce IAEA cooperation DNA India reported that Iran's parliament on Wednesday approved a bill that obliges the government to "revise its cooperation" with the UN nuclear watchdog after Tehran was slapped with Security Council sanctions.   Iran Is Buying More Influence...

Top News Story Iran to declare enrichment using 3000 centrifuges' The Jerusalem Post reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reportedly told members of the Iranian parliament on Tuesday that Iran would soon announce that it had managed to enrich uranium using 3,000 centrifuges.   Iran to celebrate becoming a nuclear country Iranian Student News Agency reported that Iran's foreign minister announced that Iran would celebrate becoming a nuclear country in the near future.   Egypt Slams Iranian President for Saying His Country is a Nuclear Power Cantonrep.com reported that Egypt rebuked Iran's president on Monday for claiming his...

Top News Story U.S. Is Holding Iranians Seized in Raids in Iraq The New York Times reported that the American military is holding at least four Iranians in Iraq, including men the Bush administration called senior military officials, who were seized in a pair of raids late last week aimed at people suspected of conducting attacks on Iraqi security forces.Michael Ledeen, Faster Please! examined the NY Times report that US forces have arrested some Iranians in Iraq, including “senior military officials” and found some killer quotes.   Iran: West will regret OK'ing nuclear sanctions Indystar.com reported that Ahmadinejad predicted...

Top News Story 'Piece of paper' cannot stop Iran's nuclear program: Ahmadinejad RXPGNews reported that Ahmadinejad said Sunday that 'a piece of paper' - could not stop Iran's atomic programs.   Iranian MPs introduce give themselves 48 hours to vote on suspension of IAEA inspections Iranian Student News Agency reported that Iranian MPs introduced a double-urgency motion to Majlis on Sunday calling for suspension of the UN nuclear watchdog's inspection of Iranian nuclear sites following the approval of an anti-Iran resolution by the United Nations Security Council.   Iran to defy sanctions by expanding enrichment ABC.net.au reported that Iran...

Top News Story UN Security Council Passes Iran Sanctions CBS News reported that the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution on Saturday imposing sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.The Washington Post, in an editorial, argued that Russia has turned a U.N. sanctions resolution on Tehran's nuclear program into a demonstration of Western weakness.   Iran calls U.N. resolution 'invalid' and 'illegal,' vows to continue enriching uranium USA Today reported that the Iranian regime described as "invalid" and "illegal" the U.N. Security Council resolution passed Saturday.   Iran's Spies in the West Sunday Herald reported that...

Top News Story Western leaders come out of denial over Iranian regime role in Afghanistan and Iraq. Michael Ledeen, Faster Please! reported that both Washington and London are grudgingly coming to accept the fact that Iran is waging war against us in Afghanistan and Iraq.Michael Ledeen, Faster Please! explored the sudden change in tone regarding Iran from London and Washington. All of a sudden, we started hearing very tough talk about Iran (and Syria) from the two leaders. How come? Had something happened?   Iran Pres.: No one heeds the dictates of superpowers IranMania reported that Ahmadinejad said that...

Top News Story UN poised to pass Iran sanctions despite threat The Guardian reported that the United Nations Security Council is finally expected to pass a resolution to impose international sanctions on Iran. Iran has threatened immediate retaliation. The Jerusalem Post reported that Condoleezza Rice said he United States supports a draft UN sanctions resolution against Iran even though it omits a mandatory travel ban against several Iranians involved in the country's nuclear and missile programs.   Iran "Votes"... or does it? Michael Ledeen, The National Review Online reminded us that the first step toward understanding the Iranian “elections”...

Top News Story Bush and Blair up the rhetoric on Iran.   Blair calls for alliance to tackle 'extremism' in Iran The Times Online reported that Tony Blair called on moderate Muslim states across the Middle East to unite to tackle the "forces of extremism" in Iran.   Bush forcefully rejects direct talks with Syria, Iran The Mercury News reported that President Bush on Wednesday voiced his strongest opposition yet to talking directly to Iran and Syria.   Snow: Iran Deserves Democracy Playfuls.com reported that Presidential spokesman Tony Snow said the United States wants to send a message to...

Top News Story Iran is manufacturing four civil wars in the Middle East Middle East Online reported that the Iranian regime is manufacturing four civil wars in the Middle East and some experts believe that the cost of maintaining Mahdi Army is more than 100 million dollars a month.   Israeli intelligence warns Hamas gunmen being trained in Iran Haaretz reported that Israeli military officials said dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Hamas militants recently left the Gaza Strip to receive advanced military training in Iran.   Islamic republic sends another $275 million in aid to the Mahdi army Iran Press...

Top News Story Iran Will Face Sanctions Vote Within Days, U.S. Says Bloomberg reported that the United Nations Security Council will vote within days on whether to impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt its nuclear program, the U.S. government said.   Iran to Announce it is an Established Nuclear State Fars News Agency reported that Islamic Republic Spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said that Iran will be announced as an established nuclear state during the coming Ten Day Dawn ( 1-11 February) ceremonies.   Ahmadinejad’s Followers Ordered to Falsify Election Results DebkaFile claimed that Ahmadinejad's followers backed by...

Top News Story The Facts About the Sham Elections of the Islamic Republic The Iranian Solidarity Congress, in a press release, argued that while the Islamic Republic has been reporting high voter turnout in last Friday's elections, independent sources inside Iran say that the regime’s claim about high turnout is not true. The Independent Student Organization has stated that less than 5 million persons voted. Iran Focus reported that voting stations in Iran were deserted on Friday which marked polling day for both the Assembly of Experts and the local city councils in Iran, according to eye-witness accounts and...

Top News Story Ahmadinejad's allies struggle in Iran elections Reuters reported Ahmadinejad's allies failed to dominate elections for a powerful Iranian clerical body and local councils, early results showed.   Iran offers to transfer nuclear technology to its neighbors The International Herald Tribune reported that Ahmadinejad said Saturday his country was ready to transfer nuclear technology to neighboring countries, after Arab states on the Persian Gulf announced plans to consider a joint nuclear program.   How Iran’s Leader Keeps the West Off Balance The New York Times reported that last week's widely publicized demonstration in Tehran against Ahmadinejad was...

Top News Story Iran warns of painful revenge if sanctions imposed The Washington Post reported that Iran will exact painful revenge on countries opposed to its nuclear program if the U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions on Tehran, the country's chief nuclear negotiator said.Reuters reported that Iran is not a threat to Middle East stability but it is a threat to the United States and its European ally Britain, a hardline cleric said on Friday.   "Deal emerging" on Iran sanctions Reuters reported that Britain's U.N. ambassador said agreement was emerging on a U.N. resolution imposing sanctions on Iran for...