Iran Officially Opens Border Crossing With Iraq
VOA News
Iran has officially opened a border crossing with Iraq for the first time since the U.S.-led invasion, allowing pilgrims to visit Muslim Shi'ite holy shrines.
Seventy-six pilgrims crossed the border opening in southern Iran Monday, becoming the first to do so legally since the fall of Saddam Hussein. They are expected to spend about a week in Iraq visiting shrines in Najaf and Karbala.
The officially sanctioned journeys resumed after news that nine religious travelers died during an illegal crossing attempt on Saturday. The Islamic Republic News Agency said they stepped on land mines left over from the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.
Officials said they opened the crossing near the Iranian city of Khorramshahr in an effort to curb illegal crossings. Thousands have attempted the crossing in the past five months, and about 200 have been killed.
Several Imams revered by the Shi'ite branch of Islam are buried in Iraq. Visiting their tombs is considered an essential religious duty.
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=CE381E97-33FF-486A-834ED331550235CE Shahroudi praises firm stance in opposing IAEA resolution
Tehran, Sept 29, IRNA -- Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi
Shahroudi said here Monday that the firm stance taken by Iranian
officials against recent resolution of the International Atomic Energy
Agency`s Board of Governors has left a positive impact on regional and
Muslim states, drawing their applause.
Public Relations Department at the Judiciary quoted Shahroudi as
saying that however, the stances taken by certain officials against
the US threats had been humiliating.
"God`s tradition is that any tribe and nation showing weakness
against the enemy and not defending logic and justice would be
humiliated," said Shahroudi.
He said it has become clear for regional people and states that
the US follows no logic by resorting to aggression, force and
distorting realities.
He added that unity is the salient feature and characteristic of
Iranian nation against bullying and the more US exerts pressure, the
more Iranian people and officials would become united.
Shahroudi criticized international communities and organizations
for their indifference towards illegitimate actions by the Zionists
and said charges of developing nuclear weapons is levelled against
Iran because of its scientific progress, while no such stance is taken
against Israel which possesses a huge arsenal.
He said even some independent European states too take measures as
a result of the US pressure.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Shahroudi pointed to failure of the US
war machine in Afghanistan and Iraq and also to protests inside the US
and UK against the performance of the US President George W. Bush,
saying that undoubtedly, the US will fail if it intends to attack
Iran.
http://www.irna.ir/#2003_09_2919_02_493