Iran Early Bird

* Ahmadinejad:Holocaust was West's main weakness (1)
* Iranian Transportation Minister: The brain of an Iranian student is four times larger than that of European students, who are like cows and sheep (5)
* Formation of human rights coalition: "Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran" (6)
* Fruit prices soar 29 percent last month (10)
* Senior transportation and fuel management official denies rumors of plans to reduce fuel allowances in the summer (13)
* Iran Khodro car manufacturer is reportedly suffering a liquidity crisis (14)
* Tender for sale of Baha’i-minority cemetery ground in Semnan area (15)
* Five Iranians who converted to Christianity arrested (16)



Political and Diplomatic Affairs



1. Ahmadinejad:Holocaust was West's main weakness

Speaking during a radio program (May27), Iran President Ahmadinejad said: “[Western] powers used it [the Holocaust] to oppress other nations, but we touched the issue of the Holocaust, which was their main weakness." Ahmadinejad’s comments came after he was asked if he accepted the criticism that his reference to the issue had amounted to "adventurism" in the country's foreign policy."Today, Iran's role is as important as that of the United States in the international arena. Is this adventurism?" he replied.

2. “Great Prize of Islamic Resistance” festival comes to “sow fear in the hearts of the Zionists”

Members of the Supreme Council and the principal organizations and bodies involved in the first international “Great Prize of the Islamic Resistance” festival have met to discuss the event’s policies. According to the secretary-general of the Ahal Albait international organization, the festival comes to perpetuate the memory of the fallen soldiers and martyrs, boost the spirit of resistance of the Palestinian people and “sow fear in the hearts of the Zionists.”

3. Iran Football Federation okays friendly matches with USA; U.S. women's national soccer team also expresses readiness to play against Iranian women's team

Ali Kafashian, the president of the Iran Football Federation, said Iran had agreed to the U.S. request to hold two friendly matches between the two countries' national soccer team. "We are interested in holding friendly matches against the United States,” he said. “The first leg of the match will be held in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and the second leg in the United States.” He added that "the U.S. women's national soccer team had also expressed readiness to play against the Iranian women's squad in Tehran... We are considering the issue at the moment.”

4. Fars News Agency accuses Persian version of Google of generating anti-Iranian material

According to Fars News, when one types a letter to begin a search on the Persian version of Google, the suggestions that the search engine offers include sexual references, immoral perversions and anti-Iranian material. The site charges that Google is maliciously trying to sway the minds of the Iranian surfers.

5. Iranian Transportation Minister: The brain of an Iranian student is four times larger than that of European students, who are like cows and sheep

Commenting on his studies outside Iran, Transportation Minister Hamid Behbahani said: “The mind and brain of every Iranian youth is four times larger than the brain of an European. The students there are like cows and sheep.” (i.e. stupid – Terrogence)



Domestic Affairs

6. Formation of human rights coalition: "Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran"

A coalition composed of grassroots pro-democracy political forces has been established (May 25) in Iran. The announcement of the formation of the "Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran" is an important development for those hoping for the establishment of freedom, democracy and human rights in Iran. For the first time, this coalition brings together many pro-democracy groups, labor union activists, human rights activists, women’s rights activists, university student activists, prominent moderate Muslim activists, intellectuals, and political prisoners. In the next month or two, it will become clear whether or not this effort will succeed. The founding document states: “The situation in our country is extremely grave and sensitive. In the past years, the ruling regime has undermined the most basic human rights of the citizens of Iran, ignored the international treaties on human rights and international law, as well as lacked commitment to the rule of law.” Click here for the complete document and list of founding members.

7. Mousavi's banners are burned in Isfahan.
8. Request to send Iran, Jam-e Jam and Keyhan newspapers cases to judicial authorities for breach of impartiality

Ali Akbar Mohtashamipur, the chief of Mir Hoseyn Mousavi’s elections committee for the safeguarding of votes, has asked the Elections Campaign Committee to warn the Iran, Jam-e Jam and Keyhan newspapers against breaching impartiality in the presidential election campaign (by promoting Ahmadinejad) and to send their cases to the judicial authorities. (E’temad Meli, May 27)

9. Keyhan editor-in-chief criticizes Combatant Clergy Association's decision not to announce its preferred candidate

Criticizing the Militant Clergy Association's decision not to announce its preferred candidate in the upcoming presidential elections because it did not reach the required majority to do so, Keyhan editor-in-chiefHoseyn Shariatmadari said: "It was no place for silence.” Shariatmadari did praise Ayatollah Mahdavi-Kani, the association's secretary insistence on announcing his personal support for Ahmadinejad despite the association's silence. He concluded that the association could have issued a statement listing the criteria for a suitable candidate instead of adopting a meaningful silence. (Keyhan, May 27)



Economic Affairs

10. Fruit prices soar 29 percent last month

According to recently published Central Bank figures, fruit prices in Iran soared 29 percent last month. On the other hand, dairy produce prices remained stable, with only cheese rising 2 percent. Egg prices increased by 5.7 percent, red meat prices remained unchanged, and chicken prices climbed 15.7 percent.

11. Oil Ministry to issue more than $12 billion in bonds

As part of Ahmadinejad’s initiative to allow all Iranians to benefit from the country’s oil revenues, the Oil Ministry will be issuing bonds to the tune of more than $12 billion over the coming three years. In such a manner, the public will become partners in the country’s oil and gas field development.

12. Gazprom willing to participate in Iran-Pakistan pipeline project

Russian Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yankovsky has announced his country's readiness to take part in a multi-billion-dollar pipeline project to carry Iran's gas to Pakistan. “We are ready to join the project as soon as we receive an offer,” he said. Iran plans to connect the Caspian Sea with the Persian Gulf through an oil pipeline.

13. Senior transportation and fuel management official denies rumors of plans to reduce fuel allowances in the summer

Sardar Royanian, the head of Iran’s transportation and fuel management headquarters, has denied rumors published in his name by some media outlets that fuel allowances will be reduced during the summer months. Royanian stressed that no decision to this effect had been taken and that the rumors are designed to undermine the free elections in the country.

14. Iran Khodro car manufacturer is reportedly suffering a liquidity crisis.



Human Rights and Minority Affairs

15. Tender for sale of Baha’i-minority cemetery ground in Semnan area

Human rights activists are reporting that a tender has been issued for the sale of the land on which a Baha’i-minority cemetery currently lies in the village of Ayool, near Semnan. The cemetery is some 100 years old. In the early 1980s, the 20 Baha’i-minority families living in the village were forced to leave their homes.

16. Five Iranians who converted to Christianity arrested

Five Iranian citizens who converted to Christianity were arrested last week in Karaj during a prayer meeting at one of their homes. The five were taken to an unknown location and officials have not provided any information regarding their condition or whereabouts.

17. Execution of minor offender suspended

The scheduled execution of Mohammadreza Haddadi has been halted. His defense lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, wrote in a letter that Haddadi’s execution, which was scheduled to take place on May 27, was suspended following a Judiciary order. Meanwhile, sources in Iran confirmed that one of the individuals executed on May 20 in Shiraz was 17 at the time of committing the alleged offense.



18. Detained students will not be released before elections

Abas Hakomzade, the mother of one of the detained Amir Kabir University students, says that she was told by legal authorities that all the detained students will remain in custody until after the elections. The decision, she believes stems from the fact that students are not cooperating with their interrogators. She said her son was in serious condition as a result of the torture he has undergone.