Tag Archives: Iran

Two IAEA nuclear inspectors were barred from entering Iran. US Secretary of Defense Gates said Iran is moving toward a military dictatorship.

US Defense Secretary Gates said the UN Security Council sanctions have a chance of halting Iran’s nuclear program and said the US is not prepared to switch to a policy of containment. Iran executed Jundallah leader Abdulmalik Rigi by hanging him at Evin prison.

A member of parliament said Iran would reduce cooperation with the IAEA. According to a poll, most of the world supports military strikes to deny Iran a military nuclear program. Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi claimed Iran’s ballistic misiles are for defensive purposes only.

Secretary Gates testified that Iran could fire “hundreds” of missiles against Europe in an attack. Russian President Medvedev criticized additional US and EU sanctions on Iran. Tehran argued that new sanctions against Iran prove the world powers maintain a double standard.

The European Union followed the US’ lead to press for tighter sanctions on Iranian corporations. Iraq said it will not allow Kurdish terrorist groups to perpetrate attacks against Iran. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said Turkey is not Iran’s ally.

President Ahmadinejad said Iran is willing to talk about its nuclear program if certain preconditions are met. Tehran sent several more aid ships to Gaza. Tehran continued to shell Kurdish militants in the border lands between Iran and Iraq.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has dismissed new UN sanctions. President Ahmadinejad said that Western powers were “naive” to impose new sanctions on Iran. Iranian police escorted opposition leader Karroubi away from pro-regime rioters.

Sporadic clashes in Tehran between police and protesters took place on June 12. Iran has no intention of reducing ties with Russia and China after the UN imposed new sanctions, a top official said. Russia must “abide by agreements” made to ship the S-300 anti aircraft missile defense system, an official said.

Russia has halted the sale of the S-300 air defense missile system. Iran claimed it will break ground on a new nuclear facility in March 2011. Iran threatened reciprocal sanctions against Russia and China.

Iran threatened to reduce cooperation with the IAEA. The US moved to support Iranian political dissidents with web and communication technologies. Iranian opposition leaders canceled a protest to commemorate the June 12, 2009, presidential election.

President Ahmadinejad dismissed newly passed sanctions against Iran as “annoying flies.” Russia froze a contract to deliver S-300 anti-aircraft system to Iran. Tehran threatened to “revise” ties with the IAEA.