AP: First, Iran backed down before the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Then it set last-minute conditions, called the retreat only temporary and claimed victory over Washington. Outsiders may get dizzy over such zigzags, but it is clear to Iranians what is going on a juggling act by moderates who want to work with the international community, but still must answer to defiant hard-liners back home.
Iran splits messages on nukes
Press reveals Iran’s nuclear fears
BBC: The IAEA decision to accept Iran’s suspension of uranium enrichment and not take the matter to the United Nations Security Council wins both hostile and welcome reactions in Iranian newspapers. Most editorials display more caution than Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rowhani, who boasted that Iran had humiliated the US by agreeing to a temporary nuclear freeze.
Murdered Canadian photographer’s lawyer barred from leaving Iran
AFP: A member of the team of Iranian lawyers representing
the family of murdered photographer Zahra Kazemi has been
barred from leaving the country, local media reported Wednesday.
Europes Ritual Dance
National Review Online: The European “solution” to the threat of Iranian atomic bombs bids fair to join the “peace process” as the most boffo running gag in the history of show biz. Every few months, the elegantly dressed diplomatic wizards from London, Paris, and Berlin race across a continent or two to meet with Iranians dressed in turbans and gowns, and after some hours of alleged hard work, they emerge with a new agreement, just like their more numerous counterparts engaged in the peace negotiations.
Bush says Iran freeze ‘not the final step’
AFP: US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that Iran’s agreement to freeze all uranium enrichment activities was “certainly not the final step” in easing US fears that Tehran seeks a nuclear weapon. “The Iranians agreed to suspend — but not terminate — their nuclear weapons program. Our position is that they ought to terminate their nuclear weapons program,” said the president.
Canada warns will push IAEA to report violations of Iran nuclear deal
AFP: Canada, the 2004-5 chair of UN atomic energy agency’s Board of Governors, warned Monday it would press the body to inform the Security Council of any violation of a deal to freeze Iran’s uranium program. The Canadian position, laid out in a statement by Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew, mirrored the US stance on the agreement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Women facing imminent stoning, death by hanging in Iran
Iran Focus: Tehran, Nov. 30 – The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld a stoning sentence for a woman accused of adultery. Hajieh Esmailvand has been serving prison time in the town of Jolfa (Northwestern Iran) since Jan. 2000 for having an affair
with a 17-year-old boy.
Women facing imminent stoning, death by hanging in Iran
Iran Focus: Tehran, Nov. 30 – The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld a stoning sentence for a woman accused of adultery. Hajieh Esmailvand has been serving prison time in the town of Jolfa (Northwestern Iran) since Jan. 2000 for having an affair
with a 17-year-old boy.
Nuclear Freeze Talks Must Not Last Too Long – Iran
Reuters: Iran is prepared to keep uranium enrichment activities frozen as long as nuclear negotiations continue with the EU, but those talks should not last too long, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said Tuesday. “The length of the suspension will only be for the length of the negotiations with the Europeans and the length of negotiations must be rational and not too long,” Rohani told a news conference.
Election delay urged
Washington Times: Three Iraqi activists called on the United States to delay the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq, but not for the reason advocated by some of their colleagues who worry religious minorities will not participate. They fear a religious party will win the election and impose a theocratic government like Iran’s.
