AFP: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was defiant Wednesday in the face of mounting criticism of his vitriolic attacks on his political rivals, unleashing a new tirade in his last campaign appearance.
Unrepentant Ahmadinejad in new tirade against rivals
Mousavi camp waging velvet revolution: Iran Guards
Reuters: A senior Revolutionary Guard accused President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's pro-reform opponents on Wednesday of waging a "velvet revolution" in Iran, at the climax of a bitter presidential election campaign.
Karimi keeps Iran’s World Cup dream alive
AFP: Midfield star Ali Karimi scored the only goal as Iran defeated the United Arab Emirates 1-0 on Wednesday to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Iran cleric regrets silence at Ahmadinejad slur
AFP: Powerful Iranian cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani voiced regret at the supreme leader's silence over controversial remarks against his son by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iran’s Potemkin election
Wall Street Journal: After suffering three decades of international isolation and unremitting Islamic revolution, millions of pro-democracy voters in Iran were supposed to have the opportunity in this Friday's presidential election to express their disenchantment with religious dictatorship. It is not to be. The guardians of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's revolution will remain deeply entrenched.
Taliban chief, 16 militants killed: US military
AFP: The US-led coalition said Wednesday it used a precision air strike to kill a Taliban commander with reported links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and up to 16 militants with him in western Afghanistan.
US increasingly concerned about Iranian threat: Gates
AFP: The United States is increasingly concerned about recent advances in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday.
Man behind Iran policy faces big task
Washington Post: Diplomatic troubleshooter Dennis Ross is a legendary talker, a specialist in developing peace processes — long ones. For 12 years, in the first Bush presidency and both terms of the Clinton presidency, he was at the center of the seemingly endless effort to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As Iran gets ready to vote, the economy dominates
New York Times: In the West, Iran’s coming presidential election is viewed largely through the lens of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s crackdown on social freedoms and his combative approach to Israel, the United States, and Iran’s nuclear program.
Past Iran president warns top leader before vote
AP: A powerful former Iranian president urged the country's top leader Tuesday to take "serious action" against hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for accusing current and former top government officials of corruption in a televised election debate.
