Compass: Concern is growing among Irans evangelical community for the safety of a pastor arrested four weeks ago
by the Iranian security police. Iranian authorities have refused to give any reason for the arrest and prolonged detention of Hamid Pourmand, 47, a lay pastor in the Assemblies of God Church. No one has been allowed contact with Pourmand since September 9, when he was arrested along with 85 other evangelical church leaders.
IRAN : CONCERN MOUNTS FOR JAILED IRANIAN CHRISTIAN
ElBaradei Urges Iran to Suspend Enrichment Activities
Reuters: The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, said Thursday he hoped Iran would fully suspend
its uranium enrichment-related activities and that his agency was working with it to do so. Iran said Wednesday it had processed several tons of raw “yellowcake” uranium to
prepare it for enrichment — a process that can be used to
make atomic weapons — in defiance of the U.N. watchdog.
Iran to launch first homemade satellite
United Press International: An Iranian military official said Thursday his country would launch its first homemade satellite into space during the next Persian year, which starts in March.
Deputy Defense Minister for Space Affairs Nasser Maliki was quoted by the Iranian News Agency as saying the satellite would orbit the earth at low altitudes varying between 100 and 400 kilometers (about 60 to 250 miles).
Saddam’s arms ambiguity was Iran deterrent, report says
International Herald Tribune: Saddam Hussein hid behind ambiguities and evasions about whether Iraq possessed unconventional weapons – when in fact it had none – partly as
a deterrent to Iran, according to a report by the chief American arms inspector in Iraq.
Iran: ‘Improved’ missile tested
CNN: A missile Iran claimed to have tested earlier this week with the range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) is an
improved version of its previously tested Shahab-3 missile,
the deputy head of Iran’s Aerospace Organization said, according to Iranian media.
“Shahab-3 now has a range of 2,000 kilometers and all its components are produced in Iran,” said Nasser Maleki.
Iran’s hardliners tighten their squeeze
Asia Times: As a Persian proverb says, “Never two without three.” After receiving two hard and insulting slaps in one
week by the conservative-controlled majlis, or parliament, beleaguered Iranian President Mohammad Khatami suffered
a personal blow when one of his closest allies and oldest friends decided to leave the cabinet.
Russia will continue its nuclear energy cooperation with Iran
AP: A senior Russian official says his country is going to continue its nuclear energy cooperation with Iran in spite of concern that Tehran could be trying to develop atomic weapons.
Interfax news agency reports that the deputy foreign minister says Russia will comply with commitments it made in Iran.
Iran Urged to Suspend Uranium Enrichment
Associated Press: U.N. nuclear agency chief Mohammed ElBaradei on Thursday renewed his calls to Iran to fully suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities, after
Tehran admitted it has converted a few tons of uranium into gas.
Iran appoints new air force chief
Associated Press: IRAN appointed a US-trained fighter pilot as its new air force chief, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported today.
General Karim Ghavami replaced General Reza Pardis. IRNA gave no reason for the switch, made by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran will keep nuclear technology “at any cost”: former president
AFP: Iran will hang on to its sensitive nuclear technology “at
any cost” despite pressure from the United States and the Europeans, powerful former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said Thursday.
“The United States and Europe absolutely do not want us to possess nuclear technology but we are determined … ”
