Iran Focus:
Iranian FM will not take part in Amman conference
Iran announces June 17 as Election Day
Trial of Iranian diplomat to begin in Egypt Iran Focus
Iranian Foreign Minister will not take part in Amman conference
Tehran – Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman announced today that Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi would not be participating in the much-anticipated January 6th conference in the Jordanian capital. The conference is set to discuss Iraqs security situation and foreign meddling. Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters, Kharrazi would most certainly not take part in the Amman conference. A string of Iraqi and Jordanian officials including Jordans King Abdullah have recently accused Iran of backing the insurgency in Iraq and attempting to create a Shiite sphere from Iran to Syria and Lebanon.
Iran announces June 17 as Election Day
Tehran Iran announced June 17 as the date for presidential elections. The Guardian Council, an unelected legislative watchdog overseen by the clerical states Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei approved the date, which is likely to completely sideline passive reform movements. The current President Mohammad Khatami was unable to bring about significant reforms in his near eight year term.
Trial of Iranian diplomat to begin in Egypt
Cairo Egypt announced that the trial of a former Iranian diplomat accused of attempting to assassinate an Egyptian public figure is set to open on January 29. Mohammed Reza-Doust is suspected of plotting the assassination with the backing of Iranian intelligence.
