Free Republic

Top News Story Senior Iranian official in Washington DC lobbying for US/Iran talks! The Financial Times reported that a senior Iranian official, Mohammad Nahavandian, has flown to Washington to “lobby” high level US/Iran talks, but the Bush administration is resisting.   The real reason why Iran wants US/Iran talks. Iran Press News reported that the Iranian press is discussing the real reason for the Islamic regime is attempting to hold discussions with the U.S. regarding Iraq.   More bad news regarding Iran's nuclear program. Telegraph reported American intelligence believes that the nose cone of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile has...

Top News Story Iran's Earthquake victims arrested. Iran Press News reported that the Iranian regime has been arresting earthquake victims who complained the lack of relief, calling them “agitators and hoodlums”. One example: no more than 2000 tents have been sent to provide shelter 250,000 people. No private citizen is permitted to deliver any assistance.   Unpaid workers in Iran committing suicide. Iran Press News reported that in recent months, the number of suicides among unpaid workers in Iran has skyrocketed; some of the workers have even committed suicide with their families.   Iran's "world's fastest torpedo" easy to...

Top News Story Iran's military war game tests. Bill Gertz, The Washington Times referring to Iran's tests of an older Scud missile variant last week reported that the Pentagon said Iran often exaggerates its military developments.MosNews reported that the chairman of the Russian State Duma said that the latest demonstration of military force by Iran "is not quite appropriate now."India Defence reported that Iran successfully tested a "super-modern flying boat" which Iran claimed: "no radar at sea or in the air can locate it. It can lift out of the water... and can launch missiles with precise targeting while...

Top News Story Iran Military war games: "We have very important news... in the next few days." Reuters reported that Iran test fired a new torpedo in the Strait of Hormuz that they claim are "capable of destroying enemy warships and submarines at any depth and moving at any speed." They added: "We are going to have very important news that will make our nation proud in the next few days."The Financial Times reported that Iran’s announcement that it had tested a new torpedo in the Persian Gulf is driving up oil prices.ABC News reported that Richard Clarke said:...

Top News Story Is the regime changing tactics as it shows off its "big sticks?" Today's stick: its underwater missile. Reuters reported that a senior Iranian naval commander Iran has test-fired a sonar-evading underwater missile that can outpace any enemy warship.Ilan Berman, American Foreign Policy Council reported that Iran is assembling a new class of hybrid intermediate ballistic missiles that bring nearly every city in Western Europe within striking distance.   Iranian regime lowers rhetoric (a little) but no changes. Reuters reported that Iran blasted the U.N. Security Council for trying to pressure it into halting its uranium enrichment...

Top News Story Intel: Iran would strike US targets in response to military strikes. The Washington Post reported that U.S. intelligence and terrorism experts say they believe Iran would respond to U.S. military strikes with attacks against U.S. targets worldwide. Britain secret talks about strike against Iran? Denied. Telegraph reported plans by Britain to hold a high-level meeting which will take place in the Ministry of Defense at which senior defense chiefs and government officials to consider the consequences of an attack on Iran.BBC News later reported that the Ministry of Defense said: "No such meeting between defense, foreign...

Top News Story Iran tests new stealth missile. Times Online reported that Iran today test-fired a new missile with the ability to avoid radar and hit several targets simultaneously.Islamic Republic News Agency during a joint Iranian maritime war-game in the Persian Gulf, reported that: "One unit of Shahab 2 missile is to be launched to resemble peace and friendship among littoral states of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman."Dow Jones Newswires reported that the U.S. State Department said Iran's successful test of a nuclear-capable missile demonstrates Iran's "very active and aggressive military program" that is worrisome to the...

Top News Story Iran defies the UN Security Council. Breitbart reported that Iran defiantly rejected a U.N. call to re-impose a freeze on uranium enrichment.Bloomberg reported that the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council will use a meeting in Berlin to discuss action to take after the council told Iran to stop enriching uranium.The New York Times reported that members of the UN Security Council are rejecting calls for sanctions on Iran.Xinhua reported that Russia called on Iran to carefully study the statement released by the UN Security Council on its nuclear issue and cooperate.The Washington...

Top News Story UN Security Council gives Iran 30 days to stop. The Times Online reported that the UN Security Council has given Tehran a month to halt its uranium enrichment program.   Rice: We have tools to use against Iran. The Washington Post reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the US Senate that Iran was a menace for reasons other than its alleged drive to build a nuclear bomb and that the U.S. and its allies have "a number of tools" if Tehran does not change its ways. She said: "I think there's no doubt that...

Top News Story A weaker UN Security Council draft statement on Iran being considered. The New York Times reported that European and American diplomats circulated a new and weaker draft statement to the Security Council but requires the director of the nuclear agency to report back on Iran's compliance with the Security Council statement in 30 days.   The Western confusion that led to the weakened draft. U.S. Department of State reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice traveled to Germany, France and the United Kingdom to consult with trans-Atlantic partners on the Iranian nuclear program.Reuters reported that Germany...

Top News Story Iranian military on alert. Rooz Online reported that military, intelligence; security and police forces in Iran have been put on alert during the Persian New Year holidays and that all leaves have been suspended.   Iranian regime: Military strikes on Iran won't stop them. Reuters reported that a senior Iranian official said military strikes against Iran's nuclear sites would not destroy the Islamic republic's uranium enrichment activities, which could be easily moved and restarted.   Iranian regime's "reformists" unite against Ahmadinejad. Rooz Online has learned that a number of reformist groups in Iran have sent a...

Top News Story Ahmadinejad accuses Khatami of treason. Rooz Online reported that Iranian President Ahmadinejad accused former president Khatami of treason. “Do the frequent travels of these people to Europe with public funds, and their provision of information to them not constitute spying?”   A must read interview with Ahmadinejad's strategic guru. Rooz Online published an interview with Hassan Abbassi, Ahmadinejad's chief strategic guru, who said: "We are able to endanger both, US security and its economic interests anywhere in the world."   US/Russia talks on Iran stalled. The New York Times reported that the Bush administration and Russia...

Top News Story Iran moving faster towards nuclear enrichment. The Los Angeles Times reported that Iran is moving faster than expected and is just days from making the first steps toward enriching uranium.Yahoo News reported that U.N. inspectors should know by next week how far Iran has advanced on the path to nuclear enrichment.Khaleej Times reported that Ahmadinejad said Iran to go nuclear this year.   US/Iran on Iraq. Strategy Page claimed that the U.S. told Iran that the Iraqi Shia militias being supported by Iran are going be taken apart soon, and Iran is well advised to back...

Top News Story Khaleej Times Online TEHERAN - Iran would fully go nuclear with the current Persian year, which started simultaneously with spring on March 20, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday. Our enemies try to prevent our scientific progress through wide- spread propaganda but inshallah (God willing) this (new) year will be the year when the Islamic Republic of Iran will fully avail itself of peaceful nuclear technology, Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the news agency ISNA. In a meeting with visiting Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Shara, Ahmadinejad said Irans use of peaceful nuclear energy will...

Top News Story IAEA: Iran's nuclear program more advanced than previously thought. Vital Perspective reported that the IAEA now has evidence that Iran's nuclear program is more advanced than previously thought.The Guardian reported that inspectors of the IAEA revealed that the Iranians are in the process of achieving a "technological leap" by making operational a cascade of 164 centrifuges to enrich uranium for power plants or warheads.   China and Russia united on Iran. Reuters reported that China said that Beijing and Moscow are in accord on Iran's nuclear standoff with the West.   Why the Russians are helping...

Top News Story Congress reduces pro-democracy funds for Iran. House Appropriations Committee in a press release announced that the committee did not fund the $75 million requested by the Administration for the promotion of democracy in Iran because it was poorly justified. Instead, $56 million was provided through proven, existing programs that will have an immediate, positive impact on the fostering of democratic ideals in Iran.   Ahmadinejad strengthens ties to Al Qaeda. Adnkronos International reported that an Iranian source close to the reformists confirmed that "With the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad relations with al-Qaeda have been resumed and...

Top News Story UN Security Council meeting on Iran postponed. ABC News reported that the U.N. Security Council postponed a meeting Tuesday on Iran's suspect nuclear program. The lack of any significant movement after 10 days could lead the Western nations to abandon the presidential statement, in favor of a resolution. This would force Russia and China to approve, abstain or veto action against Iran.The Wall Street Journal reported that with Russia opposed to any punishment for Iran, Britain has privately suggested that Tehran be offered a new package of incentives. The letter warned, "We are not going to...

Top News Story Daylight savings confuses Iran's hardliners. Adnkronos International reported that daylight saving has been abolished by president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the grounds that when the legal hour changes many faithful have difficulty in knowing when to pray. The Iranian New Year: messages and reports. DoctorZin's Norooz greeting. Photo.Reza Pahlavi's Message On the Occasion of Persian New Year 2006 (Nowrooz 1385).Brooding Persian published a sober Norooz greeting. Photo.Iran va Jahan examined Norooz and its symbolism.SMCCDI reported the start of the Iranian New Year.   Senior Foreign Ministers meet on Iran. Reuters reported that senior foreign affairs officials from...

Top News Story UN Security Council Meet on Iran. The Washington Post reported that Monday top U.N. members will try to break the stalemate on Iran.   BBC signs deal with Iran. Iranian.ws reported that the Iranian regime has signed a huge ad campaign with the BBC.   US students rally in support of Iranian students. The Boston Globe reported that approximately 100 students gathered in Harvard University's Leverett House last night for a concert and rally to denounce repression of students in Iran. More events are scheduled at other campuses.Rooz Online reported that a new wave of attacks...

Top News Story Middle East Newsline Tehran - Iran's largest reformist party called on Sunday for dialogue with the United States and a freeze on sensitive nuclear work to head off an escalating crisis with the international community. The party is the Participation Front, headed by Mohammad Reza Khatami, the brother of Iran's former reformist president Mohammad Khatami They said: "In order to break the international consensus, we are proposing a return to previous policies and the voluntary suspension of all nuclear fuel-cycle work to resolve this crisis and re-establish confidence." The United Nations security council is considering what...