Top Stories
Political and Diplomatic
* Senior advisor to Ahmadinejad: "what does (Mir-Hussein) Mousavi intend to do? What is his program for annihilating Israel? The Imam's first word was a call for the annihilation of Israel. (1)
* Foreign Minister: no problem in Vali Nasr visiting Tehran. Yet, nothing has been confirmed. (2)
* Foreign Minister: no problem in Vali Nasr visiting Tehran. Yet, nothing has been confirmed. (2)
* Iran's permanent mission to the UN: "Iran strongly rejects the baseless and irrelevant statements of the British foreign secretary against Iran; London was an accomplice to the Zionists' crimes against Palestinians and played a leading role in causing their sufferings". (4)
* Delegation from the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] states visited last week the Bushehr nuclear complex. (5)
* Ahmadinejad discloses some "miraculous" dimensions of his appearance at Durban II: "The infallible Imam is already managing the affairs of the world; I felt The atmosphere changed as if this is the burial ceremony of liberal democracy...". (6)
Domestic Affairs
* Ahmadinejad shares his thoughts wants to change the constitution so that he can be elected to more than two consecutive terms "like our friends do in Latin America" (8)
* Young crowd singing "My Schoolmate" (signature of 1999 student uprisings) welcomed Reformist Presidential candidate, Mir-Hossein, and his wife (9).
* Mousavi Wins Iran's Presidential pre-elections at Tehran University (10)
Economic Affairs
* Iran Central Bank: 316 percent increase in withdrawals from the foreign exchange reserve (12).
* Iran Central Bank's top priority – to bring down inflation (13)
* Meli Bank sues the European Union (14)
* 7 oil refineries are projected to secure Iran's gasoline self-sufficiency. (16)
Security Affairs
* Clashes between Party for Free Life in Kurdistan and Iran security forces led to the killing of 10 rebels and 10 Iranian police (24)
Human rights, religion and social affairs
* Anti-Baha’i Section at Tehran Book Fair (27)
* Intelligence Minister: Importers and distributors of Israeli oranges arrested (29)
* Stepping on American and Israeli flags in Yazd University (32)
Full Report
Political and Diplomatic Affairs
1. Senior advisor to Ahmadinejad: "what does (Mir-Hussein) Mousavi intend to do? What is his program for annihilating Israel? The Imam's first word was a call for the annihilation of Israel.
Mohammad-Ali Ramin, German-born senior advisor to Ahmadinejad ( the one who came up with the idea of "relocation of Israel" "Holocaust is a myth") criticizes all previous governments and attacks Ahmadinejad's rivals: "If the gentlemen claim Ahmadinejad is directing the country into the abyss, what does Mousavi intend to do? What is his program for annihilation of Israel? The Imam's first word was that of annihilation of Israel. On the imminent arrival of the Mahdi : "we invite the world to [embrace] Islam and justice .. this phase serves the purpose of removing obstacles to emergence of the Imam of the Era since we believe in emergence of the just savior and we can't remain neutral in this waiting. Therefore, we must move towards it and if one does not take such a step, one is not awaiting (the coming of the Imam).
2. Foreign Minister: no Problem with Vali Nasr's, senior Obama advisor, visit to Tehran, yet, it has not been confirmed.
Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that there is no problem in a senior Obama administration advisor’s visit to Tehran. "Every Iranian, living in every part of the world, can travel to his country and there is no problem in this regard." Yet, it has not been confirmed by Tehran that Nasr has arrived in Iran.
3. Iran : The non-proliferation regime is facing new challenges at the pillar of the NPT.
The Iranian delegation at the NPT prepcom said that the non-proliferation regime was facing new challenges as the very pillar of the NPT.
In an address to the third session of the Preparatory Committee of the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
the Iranian delegation urged the two major gatherings to intensify their work in order to prevent further non-compliance of the industrial States parties, with undertakings under Article IV. The statement urged the preparatory committee and the NPT 2010 Review Conference to preserve the delicate balance between the rights and obligations arising from the Treaty.
4. Iran's permanent mission to the UN: "Iran strongly rejects the baseless and irrelevant statements of the British foreign secretary against Iran; London was an accomplice to the Zionists' crimes against Palestinians and played a leading role in causing their sufferings".
Iran's permanent mission to the UN responded to the "unfounded statements made by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband who accused Tehran of interfering in domestic affairs of the Palestinian nation. Since non-member, countries were not allowed to address the UN meeting on Palestine, Iran's permanent mission, in a letter to the chairman and members of the UN meeting, which was delivered minutes after Miliband's baseless remarks, strongly protested to the British foreign secretary's remarks. The letter was later registered as a document of the UN Security Council. "Iran strongly rejects the baseless and irrelevant statements of the British foreign secretary against Iran… that London was an accomplice to the Zionists' crimes against Palestinians and played a leading role in causing their sufferings, (and) was not in a position to judge policies and intentions of other countries… Miliband's remarks were aimed at misleading public opinion from Zionist regime's crimes against defenseless people of Palestine".
5. Delegation from the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] states visited last week the Bushehr nuclear complex; Iranians assured its members about the status of the reactor and that the GCC nations will not be hurt as a result of nuclear leaks into the waters of the Gulf
The head of the Anti-Radiation Department in Kuwait, Samir al-Asfur, said that delegation from the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] states visited last week the Iranian Bushehr reactor, in the company of members from the Global Marine Organization for Protection of the Gulf Waters, to be briefed on the latest developments on the reactor and the Iranian team that works in it. An explanation was given about the mechanism of the reactor's operations and the monitoring networks that surround the reactor and the waters of the Arab Gulf. He said that the Iranians tried during the delegation's visit to assure its members about the status of the reactor and that the GCC nations would not be hurt as a result of nuclear leaks into the waters of the Gulf. He pointed out that the Russian side runs the Iranian reactor while the Iranian role is limited to operations, the security of the reactor, and monitoring radiation. Al-Asfur said he expected the Iranian nuclear reactor to be fully ready for operations in the first quarter of 2010. He believed it was unlikely that a joint Gulf nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes would be built in the next 25 years. He said some Gulf States might do this individually in the coming years, especially since such an endeavor requires unusual efforts in qualifications, training, management of radioactive waste, and experts. Al-Asfur said Iran has two nuclear reactors, not one as many believe.
6. Ahmadinejad discloses some "miraculous" dimensions of his appearance at Durban II: "The infallible Imam is already managing the affairs of the world; I felt The atmosphere was changed as if this is the burial ceremony of liberal democracy...".
"It would be wrong to believe that the mission of the Imam of the Era only begins after his reemergence. The infallible Imam is already managing the affairs of the world... ...It was on my mind that since they in Europe have insulted our prophet I should absolutely mention the name of the prophet, then I prayed a certain prayer...suddenly I saw someone throwing a plastic object at me to instigate fear in us and make us leave the summit. For a moment, all the events of Columbia University passed through my mind, which made me laugh. In my heart of hearts I said, God wants them to be humiliated today…! Interestingly, in the pictures transmitted by Western media the camera is only filming the Iranian delegation so unity of support for Iran is not shown...The atmosphere was changed as if this is the burial ceremony of liberal democracy..."
7. Calls to stop Haj pilgrimage due to Saudi demands.
Following the demand of the Saudis to take fingerprints from female Iranians who want to do the pilgrimage, the advisor for women's affairs in the Islamic Advocacy Organization issued a request to senior religious clerics and sources of emulation in Iran to stop the pilgrimages for the time being, and called on the Haj Pilgrimage Organization to break its silence in the face of this provocative step taken by the Saudis.
Domestic Affairs
8. Ahmadinejad shares his thoughts wants to change the constitution so that he can be elected to more than two consecutive terms "like our friends do in Latin America"
At a session of the Ahmadinejad supporters and election HQ featuring the President shared his thoughts about changing the Constitution so that Iranian Presidents can be elected to more than two consecutive terms "like our friends do in Latin America."
9. Young crowd singing "My Schoolmate" (signature of 1999 student uprisings) welcomed Reformist Presidential candidate, Mir-Hossein, and his wife.
"My Schoolmate" (Watch on YouTube) which has become the signature of 1999 student uprisings, welcomed Mir-Hossein and his wife as they appeared at San'at Square of Shahrak-e Gharb in Tehran to speak at the Tehran branch of the Azad University. Mousavi's wife Zahra Rahnavard expressed hope that "one day - God willing - the political prisons will be closed.” On May 4, Iranian newspaper "E'temad" published an article "From Michelle Obama to Zahra Rahnavard". The sight of Zahra Rahnavard next to her husband (Mirhoseyn Musavi), who is one of the strongest contenders for being the president of Iran during the next four years, is a new and an unprecedented event… This practice can become universal very soon and Ahmadinezhad might also introduce his wife and children to the Iranian society, and may not wait for the strange and odd stories about his relatives to be published…"
10. Mousavi comes in first at Tehran University symbolic pre-election vote.
Mir Hossein Musavi, gained the majority of votes in a symbolic election that was held earlier this week at Tehran University. Musavi obtained 72 percent of the vote, while Ahmadinejad obtained only 17.6 percent of the votes. Meanwhile, Mehdi Karrubi received only 6.9 percent of the vote. Of the voters, 3.1 percent cast unmarked ballots. 5,167 students from the university's various faculties took part. The results are not surprising; Ahmadinejad is not particularly popular in Iran's universities. Over the past four years, the authorities have ramped up pressure on universities and student activists critical of the government and calling for more rights.
11. The minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance issues warning to websites and news agencies.
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Safar Harandi announced that the government welcomes the involvement and participation of news sites in the upcoming elections, and added that the majority of these sites act according to the law. However, he also stated that he deems it necessary to issue a serious warning against the activities of a number of sites in the past few days. He said that damaging national and religious beliefs and principles is far worse than damaging the image of institutions and organizations. He stressed that sites and news agencies that will continue their damaging actions in these fields will be reported to the Press Supervision Committee.
Economic Affairs
12. Iran Central Bank: 316 percent increase in withdrawals from the foreign exchange reserve.
The latest statistics from the Central Bank show 316 percent increase in withdrawals from the foreign exchange reserve compared to a year ago. In total numbers, the report specifies that during the past ten months $34.6 billion was withdrawn from the foreign exchange reserve. According to this report the foreign exchange reserve has been down to negative $14.9 billion. Reserves of petrochemical products reaches zero.
13. Iran Central Bank's top priority – to bring down inflation
Ahmad Mojtahed, head of the research institute for financial and banking affairs in the Central Bank referred to the objectives and programs of the upcoming 19th seminar for fiscal and foreign currency policy, and said that the inflation rate in Iran is among the world's highest. Therefore, bringing down the inflation rate will be the Central Bank's top priority. He added that the unemployment rate is also very high, and that this is the main problem of Iran's economy.
14. Meli Bank sues the European Union.
The CEO of Iran's largest bank announced that within two weeks, the bank will file a suit against the European Union following its decision to enact sanctions against the bank. He added that the bank intends to defend itself and to bring about the lifting of the sanctions.
15. Persian translation of the main points of the latest IMF report on the state of Iranian economy.
16. 7 oil refineries are projected to secure Iran's gasoline self-sufficiency.
Deputy Oil Minister Nour al-Din Shahnazi says 7 oil refineries are projected to secure Iran's gasoline self-sufficiency.
17. Iran Operates 75 Percent Of Marine Transportation To Libya.
Iran's charge d'affairs to Libya said that Iran Shipping Company operated 75 percent of sea transportation from other destinations to Libya. He also said that "The cause of low level of economic relations is the fact that the two sides do not have a clear and correct conception of each others and Iran's embassy in Libya is trying to create a clear picture of the two sides' potentials". Deputy Head of Libyan Chamber of Commerce heading a 4-person trade and economic delegation has been visiting Hamedan province.
18. Iran signs MOU for cooperation with Pakistan.
The public relations department of the Ministry of Commerce announced that following the fifth convention of the joint commerce committee between Iran and Pakistan, the ministers of commerce of the two countries signed three memorandums of understanding for cooperation regarding cross-border commerce, banking relations, exhibitions, etc.
19. Iran is to establish agricultural jihad offices in Zanzibar City and Dar es-Salaam. Iran's First Vice President Parviz Davoudi returned to Tehran after a 6-day tour to South Africa, Tanzania and Zanzibar said Iran is to establish ‘agricultural jihad’ offices in Zanzibar City and Dar es Salaam. Davoudi has met Tanzanian President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and the two sides reviewed bilateral and international topics, private sections investment and their common stances in global scene. Davoudi has also met merchants and businessmen in Zanzibar and has discussed increase of trading volume and private section investments.
20. Iran will not need to import wheat and barley this year.
Iran's Minister of Agriculture announced that because of the plentiful rainfall recently, no damage was done to the wheat and barley harvest, and therefore Iran will not need to import these commodities this year. He added that the wheat harvest this year is estimated to reach 13.5 million tons.
21. Economic delegation from Taiwan to learn about Iran's private sector.
A delegation of 80 merchants, businessmen and industrialists from Taiwan led by the head of the Council for Commercial Development in Taiwan arrived in Iran in order to learn about the private sector in Iran and to examine the possibilities of cooperation with Iranian merchants. Head of the Commerce Office in Tehran, Mohammad Mahdi, spoke before the delegation and said that the economies of both nations can support each other, and that a lot needs to be done in order to realize this potential.
Security Affairs
22. Intelligence Minister believes released Iranian-American journalist was a spy. Gholamhoseyn Mohseni-Ezhe'i said that the court studying Roxana Saberi's case had charged her with espionage which was in line with the Intelligence Ministry's view. He added that the Judiciary had accepted the Intelligence Ministry's view on Roxana Saberi's case…In fact, the Judiciary had acknowledged the Intelligence Ministry's view and ruled that this person should be imprisoned.…Based on what has been said, the charges of espionage against that person have been confirmed. However, for some reason, the judge overseeing the case has ruled that her prison term should be suspended for five years.
23. Clashes between Party for Free Life in Kurdistan and Iran security forces led to the killing of 10 rebels and 10 Iranian police officers.
Revolutionary Guards bombarded PEJAK (Party for Free Life in Kurdistan) positions in Turkey after Iran's Basij Forces have killed five PJAK militants near the borders with Turkey and Iraq. The clashes in the northwestern area of Arbilan, in West Azerbaijan province, also resulted in the death of three Basij soldiers. Last Friday, PJAK attacked a police station in the town of Ravansar, in northern part of western Kermanshah province and that clash led to the killing of 10 rebels and 10 Iranian police.
24. More criticism over the quick release of Roxana Saberi in contrast to the 'Nuclear spy' Mousavian.
Alef News Agency compares the legal cases against former nuclear negotiator Abbas Mousavian and U.S./Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi and demands to know what factors led to swift release of Saberi who was charged with espionage and sentenced to eight years imprisonment, and Mousavian whose case every once in a while is used by Ahmadinejad supporters to pressure government critics. E'temad-e Melli asks why was Roxana Saberi released if she really was a spy?
Human Rights, Religion and Social Affairs
25. Fate of Political prisoner unknown.
Ever since he was moved to solitary confinement in the Gohar-Dasht prison, there is no information regarding the situation of the political prisoner Behruz Javid Tehrani. Tehrani was moved to solitary confinement 10 days ago after he began a hunger strike and was attacked by the prison guards. It is known that although he was injured, the prison authorities did not make it possible for him to receive medical treatment.
26. Stirring dispute between Sunnis and Shiites reflects enemies' fear of Iran.
In his speech before religious clerics in the Kurdistan province, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamene’i referred to the attempts made by foreigners and enemies to penetrate the hearts of the revolutionary youth and students, and recommended to the clerics to take into consideration the thoughts and emotions of the younger generation, and in this way to defend against the cultural assault of Islam's enemies. The Spiritual Leader added that Islam's enemies are trying to intensify the conflict between Shiites and Sunnis, and to make accusations regarding the spreading of Shiism in countries in which most of the population is Sunni. This, he said, reflects the deep fear that exists in the heart of the enemies of the revolution and Islam in the world.
27. Anti-Baha’i section at Tehran Book Fair.
A section in the 22nd Tehran International Book Fair is devoted to displaying books against the Baha’i Faith. This section is organized by a group called Baha’i-pashuhi [Baha'i-Research]. They have created a clever website in form of neutral and friendly commentary which is designed to attract Baha’is. The effort is funded by the Qom seminary which has had a number of publications against the Baha’is and held various lectures and seminars on the same subject.
28. Tabnak News condemns Danish writer Kaare Bluitgen's translation of the Quran, which is to be released soon.
29. Intelligence Minister: Importers and distributors of Israeli oranges arrested.
Intelligence Minister Ezheh'i. Mohseni-Ezhei said that arrests have been made to dissolve the ring of importers and distributors of Israeli oranges and forging the stickers on them in the city of Tehran. Masoud Mir-Kazemi also said in the cabinet meeting that the country from which the oranges were imported (China) has stated that the oranges did not originate from the "Zionist regime" which also verified this claim. In any case, the Ministry of Agriculture ran DNA tests on the oranges and determined that the oranges are Chinese. The file of the importer of the oranges will be dealt with in court.
30. Students begin hunger strike.
Students in the Najafabad Open University began a hunger strike following the refusal of the university's management to comply with their demands to improve the quality of the food served at the university. The students laid their trays on the floor and demonstrated in the vicinity, but the employees in the cafeteria picked up the trays and explained that the university's management threatened to fire them if they don't do so.
31. Equality in Iran - ‘Blood money’ same for man and women
A member of the Majlis Board of Directors said that part of the proposed amendment to the penal code has already been approved, and that the blood money to be paid following the killing of a woman will be equated to that to be paid for a man, and will not be what it was previously - half of that paid for a man.
32. US and Israeli flag stepping in Yazd University.
Ever since assuming the post of President of Yazd University in 2005, Dr. Mir-Mohammadi ordered that American and Israeli flags be painted on the stairs in the main corridor of the university, thus forcing students to step on the flags each time they go up or down the stairs. The students oppose this, and try to step around the flags and not on them.
33. Ansar Hezbollah: The Book exhibition in Iran has become a fashion show and it insults revolutionary principles.
The Ansar Hezbollah organization severely criticized the organizers of the international book exhibition currently being held in Teheran, and said that it has become a shameless venue for seeing the latest styles in hairdos, cosmetics, and Western garb.
Editorials:
34. The news agency "Aftab Zard" in its editorial titled "Thank God that there is no excuse" criticizes President for inaction against corruption
35. During the first year of his term as President, Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referred in a number of public speeches to the economic mafia and corruption, and promised to fight a relentless battle against corrupt elements. He even claimed in one of his speeches, that he has in his possession a list of corrupt officials that he wants to expose, but has refrained so far from doing so because of the recommendations of those close to him. This statement of his shows in effect that there is a need to expose the corrupt officials, but the excuse for not doing so is interests. Up to a few months ago, the government and especially Ahmadinejad himself clamed that the rise in the prices of housing, the virulent anti-government articles published in the press, etc. are all examples of the activities of corrupt people that are continuing in their plots against the government. However, the President's statement yesterday raises serious questions regarding all of his previous claims. He referred to his promise in the past regarding the exposure of the corrupt officials and said: " I had said that if these people will not stop their activities, I will take steps to expose them". Ahmadinejad did indeed say this in the past. However, from his statement yesterday, it can be deduced that the economic mafia and the corrupt officials have ceased their activities against the government, and therefore they have not been exposed by the President. If so, and if they indeed have stopped sabotaging the policies of the government, the economic situation in the country should have been excellent and flourishing. The government therefore has no excuse for not succeeding in the economic field. But is this the state of affairs now in the country?
36. The editorial in the ‘Jomhouri Eslami’ newspaper focuses on Papal visit to Israel
"One of the important events during the previous week was the Pope's visit to occupied Palestine. He visited occupied Palestine while the wounds of the wicked attacks of the Zionist regime against Gaza are still open and bleeding. We expected the Pope to correct the Vatcan's passive stance during the war against Gaza. Not only did he not do so, he even acted in order to completely satisfy the Zionists and proclaimed that the massacre of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust is a fact, and that no one has the right to deny this! It is distressing that the leader of the Christians in the world has shown such submissiveness towards the criminal Zionists, and has been willing to humiliate himself before them".
Comment: Judea and Sameria are disputed territories replete with Jewish history.
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