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Iranian Reactions to Tunisia’s “Jasmine Revolution”

This week, Iran’s media extensively covered the dramatic happenings in Tunisia and President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali’s escape from the country… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: VS Zet Nederlandse Regering en Bedrijfsleven onder Grote Druk om Geen Zaken te Doen met Iran

Uit de Amerikaanse diplomatieke ambtsberichten die de NOS via Wikeleaks heeft gekregen blijkt dat de Amerikanen de Nederlandse regering regelmatig onder druk zetten om… Lees verder

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WikiLeaks: VS Zet Nederlandse Banken onder Grote Druk om Geen Zaken te Doen met Iran

De VS zet Nederland en het Nederlandse bedrijfsleven onder grote druk om geen zaken te doen met Iran. Zo dringen de Amerikanen aan op maatregelen tegen Credit Europe bank… Lees verder

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Iran Bans Women from Watching Live Broadcasts of Soccer Matches

The Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) reported that Iranian authorities have ordered a ban on women from watching live broadcasts of soccer matches at public movie… Continue reading

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Iran’s Crackdown on “Soft War”

Hamid-Reza Fouladgar, member of the Majles Article 10 Commission on Political Parties, announced last week that, in accordance with recent changes in the Parties Law, political… Continue reading

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Concerns in Iran over South Sudan Referendum

This week, Iran’s conservative press expressed dissatisfaction with and concern over the referendum held in Sudan, in which the African residents of southern Sudan will decide if they… Continue reading

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Supreme Leader’s Website Presents: Thoughts and Lessons from 2009 Riots

Last week, Iran marked the anniversary of the violent clashes that had broken out in late December 2009 between security forces and the reformist opposition, after which the protest movement was effectively suppressed… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Retaliation Planned after Iran Jammed BBC Broadcasts

Embassy London Iran Watcher (poloff) met February 3 (2010) with Jaime Turner, Deputy Head of Multi-lateral Affairs at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Iran Group to discuss… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: U.S. pressured UN climate chief to bar Iranian from job

The US used backstage diplomatic manoeuvres to help block the appointment of a scientist from Iran to a key position on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change… Continue reading

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Tensions Between India and Iran Escalate

This week, Iran’s media have extensively covered the escalating tensions between Iran and India following last week’s announcement by the Indian Central Bank that Iran will not be able to sell oil to India unless… Continue reading

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President Ahmadinejad Reorganizes Office, Removes 14 Advisors

This week, President Ahmadinejad dismissed 14 of his advisors. The surprise move came only three weeks after he sacked foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki. The president thanked… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Iran Feared Soccer Defeat Could Spark Election Unrest

President Ahmadinajad invested so much political capital in the fortunes of the national side the regime was said to have sent spies to keep tabs on key players. There was also concern that a loss… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: U.S. Concerns over Transfer of Weapons to Middle East Regimes and Islamist Groups

The US is fighting a constant battle to stem the flow of arms from eastern Europe to terrorist groups and unstable regimes in the Middle East, US embassy cables leaked tonight revealed… Continue reading

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Mossad: ‘Hezbollah Can Fire 400-600 Rockets a Day in Next War’

Hezbollah would likely shoot between 400 and 600 missiles a day into Israel during a future war, a senior Mossad official told a congressional delegation to Israel in 2009, according to a US diplomatic cable published on Sunday… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Israel Preparing for ‘Large Scale War’

Israel’s army chief told a US Congress delegation in late 2009 he was preparing for a large war in the Middle East, probably against Hamas or Hezbollah, leaked US diplomatic cables showed on Sunday… Continue reading

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Intelligence Minister Reveals Iran Deciphered Encrypted E-mail Correspondence of Regime Opponents

Iran’s Intelligence Minister Hojjat-ol-Eslam Heydar Moslehi announced last weekend that, during the riots that had broken out after the presidential election in June 2009, the Intelligence Ministry had intercepted encrypted… Continue reading

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Ahmadinejad’s Office Chief Provokes Outrage Once Again

Ahmadinejad’s office chief Esfandiar Rahim Masha’i provoked another outrage this week after making two controversial remarks recently. Speaking at an artists’ convention held in the city of Arak in… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Ahmadinejad Ordered Capture of British Servicemen ‘For Domestic Reasons’

In conversations with foreign ministry officials in Brunei, US diplomats hear what their counterparts believe was behind the capture of 15 British servicemen and women by Iran earlier in the month. The Brunei officials say they think… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Iraqi PM Claims U.S. Oil Company in Contact with Iran

The US energy firm Chevron negotiated with Tehran about developing an Iraq-Iran cross-border oilfield in spite of tight US sanctions, according to the Iraqi prime minister in… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: Don’t Tell Us What To Do, India Warns U.S.

In a meeting shortly after controversial stopover visit of Iranian president – who told Indian prime minister that the “world is changing in Iran’s favour” – Delhi’s top diplomat was uncomplimentary about the visitor to… Continue reading

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WikiLeaks: U.S. Concern over Suspicious Indian Shipment to Iran

U.S. officials convey concern over a missing consignment of potentially nuclear-grade graphite that an Indian company intended to ship to Iran… Continue reading

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Uproar Over Foreign Minister Mottaki’s Sacking Continues

A group of 16 Majles members submitted a written address to President Ahmadinejad this week criticizing the manner in which Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had been fired last week. In the address, the Majles members demanded… Continue reading

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Geneva Talks Revive Debate Over Recent Years’ Performance of Iran’s Nuclear Negotiators

A commentary article which spoke in favor of the Iranian negotiating team in the nuclear talks held earlier this month in Geneva provoked strong reactions from those close to Iran’s former chief negotiator… Continue reading

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Iran’s New Foreign Minister: Ties with Saudi Arabia Top Priority

What is the highest priority for Iranian foreign policy–I mean the official and public foreign policy, not spreading revolution and terrorism–today? According to the new foreign minister it’s developing strong relations with… Continue reading

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Iran Arrests Reformist Journalists

Seven reformist journalists were arrested in Iran over the past week. Earlier this week, internal security forces raided the residence of Reyhaneh Tabataba’i, a journalist working for the reformist daily Sharq, and… Continue reading