Iran Early Bird

1. U.S. Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell: "Let me close by just mentioning Iran. Iran is currently pursuing fissile material. We suspect – although we cannot prove – that Iran secretly desires a nuclear weapon, certainly a nuclear device. If Iran achieves such capability, then the stability of the Cold War that was witnessed between the United States and the Soviet Union or NATO and the Soviet Union would be unlikely to be achieved in the Gulf. And that’s going to – at least in this observer’s view – going to set off an arms race in the Gulf that would be very destabilizing and could have global impact. We are going to be dependent on oil for the foreseeable future. A major portion of it still flows out of the Middle East. And with Iran armed with a nuclear weapon, it would be incredibly destabilizing." Commenting on the security agreement between the United States and Iraq, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said that Iran would express its position on the matter only after it became a certainty. Qashqavi added that the Iranian government and Foreign Ministry were closely following developments in the United States and were waiting to see if there would indeed be a change in Washington's policies as U.S. president-elect Barack Obama declared.



3. According to the Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi position on the Iranian nuclear program is a positive one; in light of the propaganda surrounding the matter, he added, the Saudis and other countries in the region have some concerns regarding the matter.



4. Addressing the Majlis ahead of the vote to approve the appointment of Mahsouli as Iran's new interior minister, Iranian President Ahmadi-Nejad voiced support for Mahsouli's ability to do the job and called on the Iranian lawmakers to approve the appointment so as to create a positive mood between the Majlis and the government. Mahsouli's appointment was subsequently approved by a very small majority (the smallest a minister has won since the revolution) and has taken up the position of interior minister.



5. Quoting "reliable sources," Iranian websites are carrying reports on the arrest of Hosseyn Derakhshan, an Iranian blogger sometimes known as "the father of Iranian blogs." Note, Derakhshan lived abroad for a number of years and also held a widely publicized visit to Israel. The websites are now reporting that on his return to Iran, he was arrested and has admitted during initial questioning to spying for Israel. Derakhshan has recently amended his Reformist standpoint and has expressed firm support for Ahmadi-Nejad – perhaps to prepare the ground for his return to Iran.







1. Speaking during a visit to air force and air defense units in Esfahan, Iranian Chief of Staff General Salehi said that the world's superpowers must realize that Iran is well aware of all the secrets of the imperialist countries. Iran's anger and power, he said, would eradicate anyone who tries to attack the country.



2. According to General Safavi, the Iranian supreme leader's advisor on the armed forces, Israel's failure against Hezbollah has made it realize that any threat, even the slightest, against Iran will leave "a bad and dangerous taste" in its mouth.



3. Speaking during a meeting with the deputy commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, Ayatollah Amini, the Friday prayer leader in Qom and board member of the city's religious seminar, said that "the principal role of the Basij Forces is to combat the cultural war that the enemies of Islam are waging against Iran."



4. Following the approval of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, the Aslavie naval base has been expanded and upgraded to a naval command, Sarallah. The move comes as part of the Iranian Navy's preparations to assume more authority over the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. The Aslavie region lies along the shores of the Persian Gulf and is of special significance due to the mines in the area.





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1. Iran's economics minister has denied reports that Tehran has converted a portion of its foreign currency reserves into gold.



2. Iran and Turkey last night signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of gas. Under the agreement, Turkey will invest capital in three stages of the southern Pars project and 50 percent of the gas that is produced in these stages will be sold to Turkey. The agreement also provides for the transportation of 35 billion cubic meters of gas from Iran to Europe via Turkey.



3. Under an agreement announced by Iran's energy minister, Iran and Turkey will invest together in the construction of thermal power stations with the capacity of 6,000 megawatts. The power stations will be built in both countries and will be fueled by gas and diesel.



4. Qatar's energy minister has responded to Western concerns regarding the establishment of a "gas OPEC" involving Qatar, Iran and Russia, noting that his country has no intention of setting up such an organization.



5. Expediency Discernment Council Chairman Hashemi Rafsanjani has once against criticized what he defined as "the nurturing of poverty" and "a charity and donation economy." Rafsanjani said that the country's leaders were responsible for developing a society of independent citizens who have the means and know-how to work and provide for themselves.



6. Ahmadi-Nejad's advisor on free-trade zone affairs has announced the operation of an axis route for the passage of goods and ships between Chabahar in Iran and Kabul, Afghanistan. According to the advisor, talks are currently underway with Tajikistan for the establishment of a similar axis route.



7. A fire broke out last night at the Tehran Oil Refinery. According to an announcement from the company's director, the fire was the result of human error and not a technical fault. The individual who caused the fire was killed in the blaze.



8. The prices of red meat during the second half of last month rose by more than 26 percent.







1. The advisor to Iran's general prosecutor has said that social disasters caused by the widespread use of the Internet are far greater than the negative implications of viewing satellite television channels. The advisor noted that at present, and in the framework of the fight against the cultural assault that is being launched by Iran's enemies from the outside, more than five million Internet sites are blocked to Iranian surfers.



2. The Tehran Municipality stations in every mosque an individual who is responsible for public health and the safety of the mosque. These officials also serve as liaisons on health issues between the mosques and the municipality. In addition, every mosque in the city will be fitted with devices to purify and perfume the air so as to improve conditions for the worshippers.



3. Majlis members have voted unanimously in favor of extending for another year until final approval the pilot Islamic Punishment Law that was instituted some 17 years ago.



4. The Majlis' women and youth faction has commended the Iranian athlete who was disqualified from a karate competition in Japan after insisting on appearing for her fight wearing a head cover.



5. The head of the Bureau for the Prevention of Drug Addiction has announced that over the past year, five automatic syringe dispensers have been set up in Iran's southern regions. According to estimations, some 6 percent of the dispensers' users are women and the rest are men. The average age of the users lies in the 25-35-year-old range.



6. Iranian security forces have arrested Firouz Yousefi, an Azeri minority political activist, in one of Tehran's northern suburbs. Twenty political activists from the same area have been arrested in the past two months.