UPI: Most people say predicting the future is a difficult thing to do. However, when it comes to predicting the political future of a country, especially an authoritative, dictatorial country, the task becomes rather simple.
Predicting Iran’s political future
Iran’s presidential candidates clash over nuclear approach
Reuters: A former Iranian nuclear negotiator running for president used his first television appearance of the campaign to reject accusations he had been too soft in talks with world powers.
Iranian candidate: Current nuke talks ‘fruitless’
AP: A former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard hoping to become the country’s next president said Tuesday that nuclear talks with world powers are “fruitless” because of the tightening Western sanctions against Tehran.
Iran’s approaching vote brings receding Web access
AP: From a computer keyboard in London, an Iranian emigre plays the role of counselor, social media guru and all-around adviser for Internet users back home seeking ways around the cyber-blocks set up by authorities in Tehran.
Report: Iran’s parliament approves reduced budget
AP: Iran’s state TV reports the parliament has approved a budget that reflects the effects of tough Western sanctions over the country’s suspect nuclear program.
Iran offers Syria $4 bn credit line
AFP: Iran has opened two lines of credit totalling $4 billion to Damascus and expects to open up a third to counter the effects of an international embargo, Syria’s central bank said on Monday.
Neighbors in Lebanese city fight Syrian proxy war
AP: In a rundown district of Lebanon’s second largest city, residents have adapted to waging war with their neighbors.
Hezbollah takes Syria risk at Iran’s behest: experts
AFP: Lebanon’s Hezbollah has hurled itself into the war in Syria at the behest of its mentor Iran at the risk of damaging its reputation in the Arab world, experts say.
Iran fields ‘massive’ number of missile launchers
AP: An Iranian semi-official news agency reports the country has fielded a “massive” number of new long-range missile launchers.
Bomb attacks on army and pilgrims kill 10 in Iraq
AFP: A roadside bomb attack on an Iraqi army convoy and a car bomb targeting Iranian pilgrims killed 10 people and wounded 19 on Saturday, security officers and doctors said.
