Author Archives: Austin Knuppe

Japan approved tighter economic sanctions against Iran. General Hasan Firouzabadi said Tehran could strike Israel’s nuclear reactor if attacked. A pro-government militia attacked the home of Mahdi Karroubi.

Former British Prime Minister Blair called for the West to use force if Iran “continues to develop nuclear weapons.” The Iranian media called for France’s first lady to die.

Ali Akbar Salehi announced that Tehran will produce medical reactor fuel by next year. Iran’s foreign minister said a partial withdrawal of US troops from Iraq is “unacceptable.” Fidel Castro announced a plan to stop an Israel-Iran nuclear war.

An Iranian official said Tehran will strike Israel’s Dimona reactor if attacked. The Iranian state media called Mrs. Sarkozy “first prostitute.” Tehran unveiled 4,000 new telecom projects.

The media was banned from reporting on the opposition parties. France urged the UN to threaten more sanctions. A foiled al Qaeda plot in Canada revealed links to persons in Iran.

Tehran proposed a consortium with Russia to produce nuclear fuel. President Ahmadinejad will discuss military aid to Lebanon, during a trip to Beirut. The military tested its new “Conqueror” missile.

Tehran will begin the search for new uranium deposits inside the country. Israeli President Peres warned the IAEA over Iran’s nuclear activities. Iran’s defense minister said that his country is ready to equip Lebanon’s army with weapons. Tehran will open a joint oil field with Oman in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran reported that the Bushehr nuclear reactor is online and running safely. Government officials said the startup of the Bushehr plant symbolizes resistance to the West and its failure to contain Iran. Police detained Iranian judiciary officials in Tehran for malpractice.

Tehran started mass production of two lines of assault boats. The Nabucco pipeline consortium delayed plans to include Iran in the gas pipeline. Turkey removed Iran from its “red book” threat list.

Russia said that Iran’s new Bushehr nuclear reactor poses no threat. Tehran test fired a new precision ground-to-ground missile. Iran’s gasoline imports dropped by 90 percent in August due to international sanctions.

The Revolutionary Guards Corps announced that if attacked it will respond by targeting its enemies’ interests around the world. Germany charged two people with shipping rocket supplies to Iran. A member of the Iranian parliament said Iran will not back down from its nuclear program in the face of a US attack.

Russia defended Iran’s debut of the Bushehr nuclear reactor. US officials visited Lebanon to address Iran sanctions. Tehran will unveil new weapons systems at a government event.

Former UN ambassador John Bolton said Israel has eight days to strike Iran’s Bushehr reactor. Authorities in Tehran announced a suspension of a stoning sentence during Ramadan. Tehran invited Bangladesh to join in building the IPI pipeline project.

Tehran blamed the US and the UK for Jundallah’s double suicide attack on a mosque in Zaderan. The CIA said that an Iranian scientist was an asset for many years.

The CIA paid the Iranian scientist who defected to the US $5 million for information. Tehran said that the scientist had no intimate knowledge of Iran’s nuclear program. Russia’s energy minister announced a plan for cooperation with Iran’s energy sector.

Russian President Medvedev warned that Iran is close to building a nuclear bomb. Tehran claimed to have produced an additional 20 kg of 20 percent enriched uranium. Israeli President Netanyahu called Iran “the ultimate terrorist threat.”

Ayatollah Khatami warned the West over new UN Security Council sanctions on Iran. President Ahmadinejad hailed a meeting of the D8 in Abuja. Tehran has “yet to confirm” the stay of the stoning sentence for Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani.

Russia’s foreign minister said Iran’s nuclear program should not be the only agenda item for the Iran Six talks. Opposition leader Mousavi criticized President Ahmadinejad’s response to new UN sanctions. Tehran promoted “Islamic haircuts.”

The UAE’s ambassador to the United States said that the benefits of bombing Iran’s nuclear program outweigh the short-term costs. The EU added Iran Air to the operating restriction list. Tehran backed off of a commercial tax increase after protests.

President Ahmadinejad threatened any state that would search Iranian vessels under the new UN sanctions regime. The Indian foreign secretary said that unilateral sanctions against Iran will harm India. Tehran cracked down on Western-style haircuts.

US officials said that Tehran sold Syria an advanced radar system to stymie an Israeli surprise air attack. The top IAEA inspector will resign after 30 years of monitoring fissile material. Tehran issued death sentences for those indicted in a prison torture scandal.

Tehran prepared to execute Kurds accused of collaborating with the PJAK. Iran lifted a restriction on foreign investment in Iranian banks. Iran’s foreign minister said the US, England, and France deserved to lose World Cup.

Officials said that new gasoline sanctions pose no risk to Iran. The Russian foreign minister said the CIA’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear capabilities of Iran is not new. The US Joint Chiefs of Staff said Iran will continue to pursue nuclear weapons despite new sanctions.

CIA chief Leon Panetta said UN sanctions won’t stop Iranian nuclear ambitions. President Ahmedinejad said there are three conditions for talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian trade with Dubai has been hit due to UN sanctions.

The US Congress approved new sanctions on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and the energy sector. Tehran canceled a planned flotilla trip to the Gaza Strip.

Tehran took steps to prepare for fuel sanctions from the West. Brazil told Iran that it must address Western concerns over the proposed fuel-swap deal. UAE trade authorities shut down 40 local companies for doing business with Tehran.

Tehran scientists announced that they produced another 17 kg of uranium to 20 percent enrichment. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said negotiations for a fuel swap with Iran are still on the table. Pakistan’s parliament stressed the importance of the pipeline deal with Iran.