Iran Focus: London, Apr. 15 – Iran executed at least 317 people in 2007, a prominent international human rights organisation said on Tuesday. Iran had the second-highest number of executions per capital, Amnesty International said in its yearly statistics, Death Sentences and Executions in 2007.
Iran executes hundreds in 2007 – Amnesty
Iran raises nuclear stakes before big powers meet
Reuters: Iran says it plans proposals to help end a row over its nuclear ambitions but at the same time it is raising the stakes before world powers meet by expanding work the West fears could produce bombs.
Bush and Iran, again
Wall Street Journal – REVIEW & OUTLOOK: The Bush Administration is once again pointing to Iran as the source of trouble in Iraq, and rightly so judging by all the evidence. Note to the White House: The Iranians aren't likely to stop unless the U.S. starts doing something about it.
State OK with private, unofficial talks
Washington Times: The State Department said yesterday that it encourages contacts between Americans — including former U.S. officials — and Iranians, but denied reports that it had opened back-channel talks with the Islamic republic.
Dissident cleric calls Iran vote unfair
AP: Iran's most senior dissident cleric has charged that recent parliamentary elections were not free or fair because thousands of reformists were barred from running.
Iran would ‘eliminate Israel’ if attacked: army general
AFP: Iran would "eliminate Israel from the global arena" if it was attacked by the Jewish state, the deputy commander of the army Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned on Tuesday, the Mehr news agency reported.
Sadr calls for reinstatement of forces
UPI: Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr Tuesday called on the Iraqi government to reinstate the 1,300 Iraqi security forces fired for desertion during recent fighting.
Pray for rain, Iran energy minister told
AFP: A top provincial cleric has urged Iran's energy minister to publicly pray for rain as the country suffers from a serious drought, the student ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday.
No back-channel talks on Iran: US
AFP: The United States on Monday denied a British press report of back-channel talks between Washington and Iran on Tehran's controversial nuclear program.
Iran, Gazprom to continue talks
UPI: Iran and Gazprom are expected to resume energy talks next month. An energy delegation from Russia's Gazprom will meet with its Iranian counterparts next month in Tehran, said Deputy Iranian Oil Minister Hossein Noqrehkar Shirazi.
