Afghanistan
UN: Rate of Afghan refugees returning home ‘doubles’
UN: Rate of Afghan refugees returning home ‘doubles’
CIA making secret payments to members of Karzai administration
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.
Police say Ottawa suspects planned bomb attacks
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.
Iran clamps down on reporting on protest leaders
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.
Iran claimed it produced and fielded an unmanned “stealth” bomber. The new UAV, called the Karrar, is said to have a range of 600 miles and can carry two 250-pound bombs. Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Iran would hold talks with any nation but the US.
Russia helps Iran load fuel into its first nuclear plant
Iran has begun to load fuel into the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Iran and Russia created a joint company to operate the Bushehr plant. The chief of Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency said Iran has a right to nuclear power.
Abu Dura, the notorious Mahdi Army commander, is said to have returned to Iraq after receiving training from Iran’s Qods Force. Abu Dura is known for torturing and executing Sunnis in Baghdad, often with the aid of a power drill.
Six Taliban fighters and three civilians were killed during the raid in Farah. The Taliban commander targeted is linked to senior al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, and moves foreign fighters from Iran into Afghanistan.
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.
US is said to assure Israel a nuclear Iran isn™t imminent
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.
The chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said his country “will begin constructing another enrichment plant by early 2011” and that 10 new enrichment sites have been identified. President Ahmadinejad said Iran must gain “full independence” in the nuclear field. Venezuela is prepared to export 20,000 barrels of refined gasoline a day to […]
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani denounced the US and NATO “aggression in Afghanistan” and said Iran does not have a joint approach with the US to deal with the war. A top parliamentary official said Iran is pursuing plans to build its own nuclear plants and welcomes Western assistance.
Russia will deliver nuclear fuel to the Bushehr plant on Aug. 21. An Islamic Revolutionary Guards commander said Iran has no use for nuclear weapons. Iraq will allow a pipeline from Iran to Syria be built on its territory.
Iran and Turkey are providing weapons to Hezbollah. Opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi said UN sanctions have strengthened Iran’s government. The central bank is reducing reserves of the dollar and the euro.
Brazil agreed to abide by UN sanctions on Iran. Toyota stopped shipments to Iran. The foreign minister said US claims of Iranian interference in Iraq are “baseless.”
Cinders of Lebanon
A former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said graves are being dug for US servicemen in anticipation of an American attack on Iran. Iran plans on opening the Bushehr nuclear plant in September. The IRGC Navy said it will launch 12 fast-attack missile and torpedo boats.
The chief of Iran’s judiciary criticized President Ahmadinejad for statements made concerning the restriction of the press. A senior Sunni cleric escaped an assassination attempt carried out by Jundallah. Iran™s Islamic Azad University opened a center in Kabul.
The Obama administration believes that Iran is feeling the effects of sanctions. A majority of Arabs would support a nuclear-armed Iran, according to a poll. Iran launched four locally-built submarines.
Iranian facing stoning speaks: ‘It’s because I’m a woman’
The State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism for 2009 highlights, once again, Iran’s ongoing sponsorship of the Taliban and Iraqi militants.