NEWS DESK IRAN (CLICK HEADLINES FOR FULL TEXTS)
ANALYSIS
Syria: It’s not just about freedom
Imperial regimes can crack when they are driven out of their major foreign outposts. The fall of the Berlin Wall did not only signal the liberation of Eastern Europe from Moscow. It prefigured the collapse of the Soviet Union itself just two years later.
A nuclear Iran would put us over a barrel
A nuclear Iran could shift the balance of power in a crucial part of the world against democratic values and American interests, writes Wendy Rosen.
USA lack’s clear policies toward regime change in Iran
By Soran Khedri – ekurd.net – 3.2.2012 – An old say “if you want to kill a snake, do not use your hands, rather use your enemies hand to kill the snake”: that has been Islamic regime’s doctrine since its emergence. Although since its foundation Islamic regime has been in direct and indirect psychological war with USA, however, clerics were able to benefit from USA led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Clerics in Tehran used their enemies hand to kill the snakes in both countries. Despite that USA considers Islamic regime as real threat to the international peace and security, US government is lacking proper and adequate policies toward that threat. I believe at the present USA government whether led by Democrats or Republicans do not want a political change in Iran because growth of weaponry market utterly depends on the existence of a threat.
The Mullahs’ History of Assassination
By: Sara Akrami is Founder and President of the Human Rights Activists Association at York University-Canada. John Thompson is Executive Director of the Mackenzie Institute for the Study of Terrorism, Revolution and Propaganda-Canada.
The deaths of the Iranian defence scientists have allowed the regime in Tehran to weep copious tears and sputter outrage about the inequity of assassination as a political tool. One might think the more natural reaction there might be envy. Assassination has been one of the outreach tools of the ayatollahs and their regime in Iran since the early days of the Revolution. When the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, it had two strategies to eliminate its opponents. At home, it killed its internal opponents – killing 7,900 of them in its first five years alone using techniques many totalitarian regimes have employed, such as, mass executions, tortures, disappearances, and “accidents”.
By International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran: 1.2.2012 – The Iranian Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences of two Kurdish political prisoners, local sources told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Prison authorities from Rajaee Shahr Prison allegedly told Zanyar Moradi and Loghman Moradi that their death sentences were upheld.
HANGMEN ARE HANGMEN – BUT NEVER DIALOGUE PARTNERS
Another execution in Iran
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 – MESOP – Another prisoner was executed yesterday on the early morning. The execution was carried out in the yard of Zanjan city prison, HRA- Human Rights News portal reported.
According to the reports the victim was charged with drug-dealing by Abher Court and sentenced to death on 30 January. It should be noted that Iranian government execute dissidents and political activists and claim they were drug-dealer to justify the abhorrent act of execution. Including this case, at least 44 people have been hanged since the beginning of the New Year 2012.
The Public Discussion of Israel’s Strategy regarding a Nuclear Iran INSS Insight No. 310, January 31, 2012
Stein, Shimon, Feldman, Shai, and Brom, Shlomo / 31.1.2012
Comments by former Mossad head Maj. Gen. (ret.) Meir Dagan decrying an Israeli military action against Iran, and reports that the Prime Minister and Defense Minister have already decided to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, have prompted criticism of senior officials who express their opinion on the subject. The “discourse” that has emerged in the wake of the reports has been described as irresponsible and as harming state security, and few have disagreed with this assessment. Subsequently a counter-campaign ensued, with background briefings, leaks to the media, and interviews about the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran. The latest contribution was from Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who noted that the decision on an attack would not be made in the near future. He added that a major consideration must be how close Iran is to the “immunity zone,” in which it will no longer be possible to act effectively against the Iranian nuclear program.
FOREIGN INTERVENTION IN SYRIA : NOT BY NATO OR THE WEST – BUT BY IRAN
Iranian trucks carrying missile materials intercepted en route to Syria
23 January 2012 / TODAY’S ZAMAN – Four Iranian trucks were stopped two weeks ago in Turkey’s Kilis province on the border with Syria and were found to be carrying raw materials used in the making of ballistic missiles, Turkish daily Taraf has reported.
MORE FRICTIONS: TURKEY vs. IRAN
Exclusive: Turkey works to cut dependence on Iranian oil – By Emma Farge and Jessica Donati – REUTERS – “23.1.2012 – Turkish refiner Tupras plans to cut its dependence on imports of Iranian oil and will meet Saudi Arabian authorities this month, industry sources familiar with the company’s strategy said on Thursday, as Western powers crack down on Iran’s oil sales. Turkey imports more than 30 percent of its daily consumption from Iran and has so far given no indication that it wi
Iranian DipIomat: Tehran Investigating Kurdish Link to Assassinations
23/01/2012 RUDAW EXCLUSIVE – ERBIL – In an exclusive interview with Rudaw, Sayed Azim Husseini, Iranian consul-general in Erbil, aid the Islamic Republic is investigating a report by the French Le Figaro that Israel had trained Iranian Kurdish militants to target Iranian scientists following the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran last week.
TURKEY vs. IRAN = A WORK IN PROGRESS
Turkish-Iranian warming loses credibility as claims of terrorism emerge
22 January 2012 / GÖZDE NUR DONAT, İSTANBUL – While diplomatic talks between Iran and Turkey continue in January, intelligence that an Iranian military unit is preparing to organize attacks in Turkey is leading to controversy in the Turkish media, adding to suspicions over growing tension in Iranian-Turkish relations over a conflict-ridden Middle East.