1. In an announcement to the Iranian media, the Hamas representative in Tehran said that statements by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh with respect to recognition of the Zionist regime were taken out of context. Hamas, the organization's representative said, would never recognize the existence of the Zionist regime. 2. In a meeting with family members of Lebanese prisoners, Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad said that "world imperialism and the Zionist regime have come to the end of the road." Ahmadi-Nejad also stressed Iran's ongoing support for the Lebanese people. Click here for pictures from the meeting.
3. Russia's deputy foreign minister has announced that deputies of Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and the deputy of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will meet soon. The senior Russian official, who returned recently from the Paris talks, stressed that Russia was opposed to the imposition of new sanctions against Iran despite demands for such from some of the Western states that participated in the Paris meet.
4. In a meeting with the Turkish energy minister, Ahmadi-Nejad said that Iran saw no obstacles in the way of the ongoing development of ties between the two countries. Ahmadi-Nejad called for the quick implementation of all the agreements that have been signed between the sides.
5. Iranian officials have denied reports about the arrest of 10 British spies on the border with Pakistan.
6. Ahmadi-Nejad has harshly slammed elements who, he said, were trying to create a rift between the government and the Majlis. The Iranian president stressed the need for cooperation and harmony between the Majlis and the government.
7. Sources in the office of Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani have denied reports concerning Larijani's participation in "an election meeting" that took place between Tehran Mayor Mohammad Qalibaf and Supreme Expediency Discernment Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei. A number of Iranian newspapers have carried reports on a meeting the three held to discuss ways in which to participate in next year's presidential election.
8. The Conservative faction in the Majlis has voted in favor of the appointment of Mahsouli as Iran's new interior minister. The general vote on Mahsouli's appointment will take place in the Majlis tomorrow (Tuesday).
9. A 12-strong delegation comprising the heads of seven renowned U.S. universities has arrived in Iran and is expected to meet with the heads of leading Iranian universities.
10. Mahdi Jahangiri, deputy to Deputy President Rahim Mashaei, has resigned from his post after being accused of "undermining the Koran." Jahangiri participated recently in a harshly criticized ceremony called "The bearers of the Koran" that took place during the international seminar on capital investments in tourism. Click here to view the clip.
1. The Iranian Internal Security Forces' "Security and Calm" drill in the Tehran Province ended yesterday. Click on the following links for pictures from the exercises: Picture 1, Picture 2, Picture 3.
2. Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Najar has clarified that the Sijjil missile that was tested in the country last week is different to the Shahab-3 missile, stressing that aside from the other features such as the solid fuel and dual engine, the Sijjil has a longer range than the Shahab-3.
3. General Araqi, the commander of the Mohammad Rasoulallah Regiment in Tehran, has outlined the Basij Week program, noting that Basij modern warfare units, naval units and air force units will be participating in the main exhibition of the 3,000 Basij battalions that will take place on December 25.
4. The commander of Iran's Internal Security Forces in Tehran has commented on the Basij patrols that will begin operating during the course of next week. According to the commander, from now on, the Basij forces will assist Iran's security forces only in operations that take place after midnight. The commander stressed that the Basij forces would be operating in full coordination with the Internal Security Headquarters and will receive direct orders from the headquarters.
5. The commander of the Internal Security Forces' anti-drug police has stressed the police's commitment to combating the country's drug problem, noting that thus far, 3,600 Iranian policemen have been killed and another 11,000 have sustained injuries in the war on drugs. The commander added that Iran had invested more than $600 million to combat drug smuggling along its eastern borders.
6. A new program for social order will be implemented in Tehran in the near future, according to an announcement from the commander of Iran's Internal Security Forces in the capital. Details of the program would be conveyed to the public, he said, adding that the Internal Security Forces were determined to turn Tehran into "an island of security."
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1. An editorial appearing in the Donya-e Eqtesad financial newspaper criticizes Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad's statements that the Iranian economy is in exemplary shape. The editorial presents a number of economic indices to support its claims, noting "the budgetary dependence on an oil price of $90 per barrel." The newspaper also notes that "Iran is one of the only countries in the world in which the unemployment rate is above 10 percent and inflation exceeds 20 percent." According to the editorial, "The Iranian industries are gradually losing their ability to compete with imports and are on the verge of bankruptcy."
2. According to a statement from the government comptroller, the government's withdrawals from the country's foreign currency reserves and Stabilization Fund were made with the approval of the Majlis and were not illegal. The comptroller said the Majlis was to blame for allowing the excessive withdrawals.
3. Figures from Iran's Central Bank note that the amount of cash money in the economy has fallen over the past year from 35 percent to 18.1 percent of the total sum of money in the economy, dropping to a total of 164 trillion toman. The Central Bank says that the drop is an indication of the success of the policy to reduce the amount of money in the economy.
4. Iran has extended until Wednesday the deadline for participating in the tender for the country's third cellular provider. According to Iranian officials, the extension comes in the wake of the large number of requests that have been received from elements interested in vying for the tender.
5. Iran's oil minister has commented on the gas-export deal with UAE-based company Crescent, stressing that in light of the extensive talks that have been held with the company, it is unlikely that all the problems and obstacles have been resolved. The contract, he said, would not be implemented if Iran's interests were not guaranteed.
6. Iran's labor and welfare minister has announced that imports to Iran this year will total $60 billion, with some 80 percent comprising raw materials for production. The minister also commented on the need to find ways to diversify Iran's exports, stressing that success on the international markets required Iran to adapt its standards to fall in line with those of the markets in Europe.
7. Turkey's energy minister has met with the Iranian oil minister in Tehran, with the two agreeing to finalize and sign the new contract for the exporting of gas from Iran to Turkey by the end of the year. In addition, Turkey announced it would be investing some $12 billion in the development of the southern Pars gas fields.
8. The deputy governor of Iran's Central Bank was not party to the government meeting that took place in the Mazandaran Province. Pundits believe that the deputy governor's exclusion from the meeting is an indication of the ongoing dispute between senior Central Bank officials and the government's economic taskforce. The deputy governor's exclusion, they say, was designed to prevent a dispute regarding the announcement of the true inflation rate in the economy. Opposition websites are claiming that inflation in Iran has exceeded 30 percent, with the Central Bank, for its part, reporting a rate of 24.3 percent.
1. Commenting on next year's presidential election during an address to student organizations, opposition religious leader Ayatollah Montazeri said: "If the Reformists fail to unite, they will fail in the elections. Therefore, they must be coordinated and call on the public to participate in the election." Montazeri stressed that he did not support anyone in particular, but noted that Abdollah Nuri was a worthy candidate. Regrettably, he added, Nuri would not win approval from the Council of Guardians of the Constitution. According to Montazeri, the president must be able to work independently and not be the puppet of the regime's senior elements (an allusion to Supreme Leader Khamenei).
2. For the second time in the past week, an Iranian court has ordered the chopping off of the fingers of a habitual thief. The man was apprehended recently while trying to steal a number of pairs of shoes.
3. An Iranian software company has announced the launch of a program "to identify Satan and the demons" with the purpose of combating the dissemination of superstitions and satanic cult material. The software is designed for ages 16 and upwards and includes extensive information inspired by the Koran and religious teachings.
4. Zeynab Bayazidi, a women's right activist in the Kordestan Province, has been sentenced to four years in jail in exile. She was banished yesterday to the Zanjan Prison far from her place of residence. Bayazidi was convicted of maintaining ties with a Kurdish political party.
5. Iran's Revolutionary Court has handed down its ruling against three Kurdish activists who were arrested a year ago on charges of maintaining ties with PEJAK (the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan). One of the men has been sentenced to death and another will serve 15 years in jail in exile. Meanwhile, another Kurdish minority political activist has been sentenced to death for being a member of PEJAK.
6. Helen Sepahi, a member of Iran's national karate squad, was not allowed to participate in an international karate competition in Japan because she appeared for her fight wearing a head cover. She was subsequently asked by the referee to leave the arena. Click here for pictures from the event.
7. Human rights activists are reporting on a new wave of arrests among the Baha'i community in Iran. According to the reports, three Baha'i activists were arrested in recent days in the city of Yasouj. A fourth activists, who had been released earlier on bail, was also arrested and sentenced to two years in jail in exile. Seven of the Baha'i sect's leaders remain in detention.
8. The following clip was filmed by a number of youths traveling in a car in the city of Qom. The clip, which shows a religious figure riding a motorcycle, was posted on the Internet under the title: "A miracle in Qom – a religious figure traveling without a driver."
9. Iranian rap singer Tatalo has been arrested on his return from a performance in Europe. Tatalo was arrested for using profane and immoral words in his songs. The Conservative-affiliated Tabnak website notes that the widening rap culture and increase in the number of songs containing profane language severely harms the Iranian culture and society.
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