REUTERS: A leading hardline cleric in Shi’ite Muslim Iran warned on Friday of possible vote-rigging in next month’s Iraqi elections in the latest of a series of barbed exchanges
between the two neighbours. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, speaking after U.S. President George W. Bush this week told Iran and Syria not to meddle in the forthcoming Iraqi vote, proposed that Iraqi clerics should supervise the Jan. 30 vote
to ensure it is fair.
Iran cleric warns of possible fraud in Iraq poll
Iranian nuclear ambitions worry Gulf Arab states
Financial Times: In public, Arab governments have little to say about international concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme. Even Arab members of the International Atomic Energy Agency board try to keep out of discussions on Iran, rarely expressing an opinion. When pressed to react, Arab officials bring up Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal and ask why no one is interested in disarming the Jewish state.
Tehran plans to purchase Moscow jets
Gulf Daily News: Russian and Iranian officials yesterday discussed trade and economic co-operation, including a possible purchase of Russian passenger jets by Iran. The contract for the delivery of five Russian Tu-204-100 aircraft to Iran could be signed next year, Russia’s Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said after talks with Iranian Economy Minister Safdar Hosseini.
Russia vows to complete Iran nuclear plant by 2006
AFP: Russia said Friday that it would complete Iran’s first nuclear power plant in early 2006 at the latest following talks here with the Islamic state’s economics and finance minister.
How Iran Is Winning Iraq
Washington Post: If you had asked an intelligence analyst two years ago to describe the worst possible political outcome following an American invasion of Iraq, he might well have answered that it would be a regime dominated by conservative Shiite Muslim clerics with links to neighboring Iran. But just such a regime now seems likely to emerge after Iraq’s Jan. 30 elections.
Help people of Iran win democracy
Atlanta Journal Constitution: On Nov. 15, Iran signed an agreement with France, Britain and Germany to suspend its uranium enrichment program. In return, Europe would provide Iran with a deuterium reactor, help Iran join the World Trade Organization, close Iran’s nuclear investigation by the International Atomic Energy Association and, above all, treat Iran’s main opposition as a terrorist organization and …
Iran: Woman to Be Buried Up to Chest and Stoned to Death In The Next Five Days
Amnesty International: An Iranian woman charged with adultery faces death by stoning in the next five days after her death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court last month. Her unnamed co-defendant is at risk of imminent execution by hanging. Amnesty International members are now writing urgent appeals to the Iranian authorities, calling for the execution to be stopped.
EU leaders eye deeper ties with Iran after nuclear deal
AFP: EU leaders are ready to intensify their political and economic ties with Iran if Tehran allays concerns over terrorism and human rights, they said in a draft text Friday at a summit in Brussels. Hailing a deal last month when Iran agreed to suspend uranium enrichment, a key part of the nuclear fuel cycle, the leaders confirmed their aim to sign a trade and cooperation agreement.
U.S. wants Japan to take Iran as seriously as it does N Korea
Kyodo News: The United States wants Japan to take Iran’s suspected nuclear arms program as seriously as North Korea’s nuclear activities, a senior U.S. administration official said Thursday. “As North Korea is testing the boundary of international norm against developing nuclear weapons and deliberate capability, so is Iran,” said Lincoln Bloomfield, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs.
Iran criticises EU for hosting exile leader speech
Reuters: Iran on Thursday accused the European Parliament
of “supporting terrorism” by hosting a speech by the leader of an exiled opposition group dedicated to overthrowing the Islamic state’s clerical leadership.
