Iran, News and discussion

06-05-2009, 12:33 AM

Obama admits US involvement in Iran coup in 1953 QUOTEUS President Barack Obama made a major gesture of conciliation to Iran on Thursday when he admitted US involvement in the 1953 coup which overthrew the government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. 

"In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government," Obama said during his keynote speech to the Muslim world in Cairo.

It is the first time a serving US president has publicly admitted American involvement in the coup.

The CIA, with British backing, masterminded the coup after Mossadegh nationalised the oil industry, run until then in by the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

For many Iranians, the coup demonstrated duplicity by the United States, which presented itself as a defender of freedom but did not hesitate to use underhand methods to get rid of a democratically elected government to suit its own economic and strategic interests.

Obama also said: "For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is in fact a tumultuous history between us.

"Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known.

"Rather than remain trapped in the past, I've made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question now is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build."

Shortly after Obama's inauguration on January 20, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad demanded apologies for "crimes" he said the United States had committed against Iran, starting with the 1953 coup.

06-13-2009, 08:55 PM

Ahmedinejad wins disputed Iran vote, crowds clashQUOTETEHRAN (Reuters) - Hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won re-election by a thumping margin, official figures showed Saturday, but his moderate challenger rejected the tally as a "dangerous charade" that could lead to tyranny.

The scale of Ahmadinejad's victory -- he took nearly twice as many votes as former Prime Minister Mirhossein Mousavi with counting almost complete after Friday's poll -- upset widespread expectations that the race would at least go to a second round.

Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said Ahmadinejad won 62.6 percent of the vote and Mousavi 33.75 percent. Turnout was a record 85 percent of eligible voters.

Mousavi protested against what he said were many obvious violations.

"I'm warning I will not surrender to this dangerous charade. The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardize the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny," Mousavi said in a statement made available to Reuters.

...............

Yesterday, Obama made a statement that after his speech to Muslims, Lebanon voted against Hezbollah and in Iran they are having good debate. US channels were blostering that Ahmadinejad will lose because of speech. Now Iran gave thumbing majority to Ahmadinejad. Should be say Iran voted against Obama speech. <!--emo& Big Grin

--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' />

06-13-2009, 09:05 PM

SNAP ANALYSIS-Ahmadinejad heads for re-election in IranQUOTECOULD MOUSAVI CHALLENGE OUTCOME?
By declaring victory at a hastily organized news conference before the election commission announced its early counts, Mousavi signaled he would not accept defeat quietly.

But it is unclear exactly how he could challenge the official result or if any complaint could succeed.

If Mousavi pursues his accusations of irregularities, such as a shortage of ballot papers and many people being denied a chance to vote -- he may enjoy support from influential allies.

They include reformist former President Mohammad Khatami and powerful cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president who traded accusations with Ahmadinejad during the campaign.

But Ahmadinejad has basked in the support of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, throughout his presidency
................

On the eve of the election, a senior official of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards accused Mousavi's camp of seeking a "velvet revolution" in Iran, referring to the tag given to the non-violent revolution in communist Czechoslovakia in 1989.

The official, Yadollah Janavi, made clear the Guards would not tolerate any such attempt. Ahmadinejad is a former Guardsman who took part in the 1980-88 war with Iraq. The force is seen as fiercely loyal to the values of the 1979 Islamic revolution

06-15-2009, 11:25 AM

Iran Opposition Seeks Fatwa Against Ahmadinejad QUOTEA spokesman for Iranian presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi says his camp will keep pushing to change the results of Friday's election that gave incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad a landslide win.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures to journalists as he attends his first news conference after Iran's presidential election in Tehran, June 14, 2009. Iranian police again clashed on Sunday with people protesting in Tehran against the re-election of Ahmadinejad, who said in a victory news conference that the vote had been clean.
(Damir Sagolj /Reuters)"We are going to stay in the streets and ask the mullahs to give fatwas that Ahmedinejad is not our president. We are going to ask the Leader, through the will of the people, to change his mind," said Mostafa Makhmalbaf, who is speaking to the foreign press on Mousavi's behalf from his home in Paris.

"I don't think we can do a total Revolution in Iran but we can make some change," he told ABC News, describing what would be an unprecedented reversal for the Islamic Republic.


Unable to understand, why this drama? Are they showing world that Iran is truely Democratic Islamic nation or US is poping up rebel group.
Obama statement was pre-mature and he linked this to his speech.

06-16-2009, 12:47 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8101628.stm
Poll loser Mousavi at Iran rally

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8100872.stm
Shots fired at huge Iran protest

06-16-2009, 04:04 AM

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/
Current events inside Iran with pictures, video...

Slogans they are shouting
Basiji-e bi-gheyrat, Doshman-e khoone mellat (The shameless basiji, is the blood enemy of people)"

Even I can understand parsi.

QUOTEThere's an Animal Farm irony to Mousavi's stance: he warns that the original (presumably pure, shining) Islamic Revolution is at risk of giving way to "a new way of political hegemony which is being forced upon us" (June 14). He is now spokesman for the rule of law in the name of an Islamic Republic that from an American perspective never respected it, but that is now sweeping away its inadequate but to some extent functioning channels of response to the popular will. It's as if one of Lenin's original cadre were resisting a less murderous Stalin in the name of the revolution's original ideals.

A second irony is that while Mousavi insists "it's not about me," the resistance may yet be shaped by his strategy -- peaceful pressure to convince the mullahs to step back from the brink, then reform their Islamist regime in order to save it. Events could overwhelm his leadership from two directions -- brutal crackdown or a revolution that sweeps away the Islamic Republic. But so far he's something of a dam holding both sides back.

06-16-2009, 04:15 AM

QUOTEA reader writes:

I finally got through and spoke with my family in Tehran. My cousin, who studies at the University, had the following report:

"Life has come to a halt. There were at least 2-3M in the streets today. I've never seen such anger. We are not going let this go. They've closed all the universities (during final exams) and have started a purge. Many of our professors are missing and student organizers are moving constantly to avoid detainment. The police is just watching and the army has declared neutrality. The violence is 100% caused by the BASIJ and thugs who are roaming the streets. They seem to be targeting girls, swinging with clubs and chains. Its disgusting but we are protected by numbers. Get the word out-- the more of us stand together, the safer each individual will be. The reports of the university attacks yesterday are true. We don't know how many were hurt or killed."

06-21-2009, 08:42 PM

Warning - Very Graphic Iran, Tehran: wounded girl dying in front of camera
Basij shots to death a young woman in Tehran's Saturday June 20th protests At 19:05 June 20th Place: Karekar Ave., at the corner crossing Khosravi St. and Salehi st. A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim's chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes. The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St. The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me. Please let the world know.

HareKrishna · 06-22-2009, 10:22 AM

QUOTE(Mudy @ Jun 21 2009, 08:42 PM)Warning - Very Graphic Iran, Tehran: wounded girl dying in front of camera
Basij shots to death a young woman in Tehran's Saturday June 20th protests At 19:05 June 20th Place: Karekar Ave., at the corner crossing Khosravi St. and Salehi st. A young woman who was standing aside with her father watching the protests was shot by a basij member hiding on the rooftop of a civilian house. He had clear shot at the girl and could not miss her. However, he aimed straight her heart. I am a doctor, so I rushed to try to save her. But the impact of the gunshot was so fierce that the bullet had blasted inside the victim's chest, and she died in less than 2 minutes. The protests were going on about 1 kilometers away in the main street and some of the protesting crowd were running from tear gass used among them, towards Salehi St. The film is shot by my friend who was standing beside me. Please let the world know.
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All in your name khamenei.May you burn in the hell that you preach for others.

06-22-2009, 10:01 PM

from link
QUOTEIf The Regime Were To Fall
Larison looks ahead:

What I have seen no one discuss is the potential for separatist groups, particularly Kurdish and Baluchi groups, seizing the opportunity of a distracted or tottering regime to try to hive off autonomous or independent enclaves, potentially encouraging separatists in neighboring states to intervene more directly on their behalf or copy them inside the states where they reside. Pakistani Baluchistan is unstable enough without a successful example of Baluchi separatism being established across the border. Iraqi and Turkish Kurdistan could likewise experience greater unrest and violence as Iranian Kurdish militants take advantage of the upheaval. Even if such regions did not entirely break away from Tehranâs control, they could serve as bases for the destabilization of neighboring states, all of which are our allies.

Why this looks like commies at work?

06-22-2009, 10:03 PM

QUOTEIranbaan, via NIAC:
âHead of parliamentâs judiciary committee: Mousavi accountable for illegal protests, can be pursued legally.â

âIran MP: Ground ready to legally pursue Mousavi for âacting against national security.â

âHead of the Judicial Commission of Majlis has requested the judicial pursuit of Mir Hussein Mousavi.â

âAli Larijani, Hashemi Shahroudi, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had a meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei about elections and recent events.â

HareKrishna · 06-23-2009, 01:02 AM

http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/Iran_elec.../03/221083.html

âReformistâ Iranian Candidate Founded Hezbollah

The leading contender of the âreformistâ camp in Iranâs presidential elections, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi Khameneh, was a founder of Hezbollah and a key architect of the Islamic Republicâs dreaded intelligence services, Iranian political activists and scholars tell Newsmax.

His wife, Zahra Rahnavard, is making campaign appearances with him wearing an Iranian-style Islamic veil. Some in the West are even calling her the âMichelle Obamaâ of Iran. And yet, a recent photograph from an official Iranian news agency shows her stomping on an American flag.

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/06/21/76600.html
The Dubai-based television channel Al Arabiya said on Sunday that its Tehran bureau has been ordered to remain closed indefinitely for "unfair reporting" of last week's disputed presidential election.

06-23-2009, 11:23 PM

Today early morning on radio talk show, Writer of "Prisoner in Iran" gave details and her life during Mousavi's days, when he was PM. She was imprisoned and converted to Islam and forced to marry Guard. Guard was later assassinated and after six year when she was released, she managed to escape to Canada. According to her Mousavi is very violent person and assassinated whoever came on his way.

**Hauma Hamiddha** · 06-23-2009, 11:46 PM

Any Islamic power, be it Sunni or Shia, with nuclear weapons is bad for kaffrs like us. While we need to engage Iran with the objective of keeping the Shia-Sunni rift alive and as an internal strategy to contain Islam there is no question of fooling ourselves that there can be real friendship with Islamists of any color.
So per say Mousavi or Ahmadinejad are the same for us. Also this whole issue of the Sympathy for Iranian youth is meaningless until they shed the marUnmatta delusion and become atheists or revert to their pre-Islamic condition.

**shamu** · 06-23-2009, 11:52 PM

QUOTE(HareKrishna @ Jun 23 2009, 01:02 AM)http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/06/21/76600.html
The Dubai-based television channel Al Arabiya said on Sunday that its Tehran bureau has been ordered to remain closed indefinitely for "unfair reporting" of last week's disputed presidential election.
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To put things in perspective: Al Arabiya was founded by US to counter Al Jazeera

HareKrishna · 06-24-2009, 11:04 AM

QUOTE(Hauma Hamiddha @ Jun 23 2009, 11:46 PM)
So per say Mousavi or Ahmadinejad are the same for us. Also this whole issue of the Sympathy for Iranian youth is meaningless until they shed the marUnmatta delusion and become atheists or revert to their pre-Islamic condition.
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There was hope that this movement have in fact the hidden agenda of removing the theocracy .The youth couldnt protest directly against theocracy .But if their goal is only to change one fanatic whit another then there is no hope.

Husky · (This post was last modified: 06-24-2009, 09:47 PM by Husky.)

QUOTE(shamu @ Jun 23 2009, 11:52 PM)<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HareKrishna @ Jun 23 2009, 01:02 AM)http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/06/21/76600.html
The Dubai-based television channel Al Arabiya said on Sunday that its Tehran bureau has been ordered to remain closed indefinitely for "unfair reporting" of last week's disputed presidential election.
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To put things in perspective: Al Arabiya was founded by US to counter Al Jazeera
[right][snapback]99108[/snapback][/right]</div>Totally irrelevant: Al Jazeera's origins lie in BBC Arabic TV service.

http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Rev...sp?ID=6054
Australian DVD review of "Control Room" (on Al Jazeera)
QUOTEBy now everyone with even a passing interest in the war in Iraq will have heard of the Arab satellite news channel Al Jazeera. First going to air in November 1996, the station is now watched by more than 40 million people in the Arab world. It was established to provide Arab viewers with a more free and independent source for news than some of the state run media organisations many of the countries of the Middle East provided. It was staffed primarily by former employees of the just-disbanded BBC Arabic television service, with all the journalists strong believers in the staunch BBC ethos of balance and fairness in their news reports.The last bit of the line: BBC has "an ethos of balance and fairness"? Oh that's very funny. That's going to be my one-liner at the next workplace gathering. All my colleagues will fall over in hysteria. I'll finally be known as the witty one - coveted title. (Even though I'd have had to resort to plagiarism to become it.)

dhu · 06-28-2009, 11:14 AM

Iranian envoy: CIA involved in Neda's shooting?

06-29-2009, 09:57 AM

QUOTE(dhu @ Jun 28 2009, 11:14 AM)Iranian envoy: CIA involved in Neda's shooting?
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No way, If you see Iranian demonstration on Youtube, 40% women came out on road. 25% came out without wearing any Hijab. Some big cultural revolution is on the way.

dhu · 07-01-2009, 07:36 AM

Iran, India and the US Dollar
By Dr.Dipak Basu

Excerpt:
QUOTEThe Possible US Reaction:

India has failed to understand the reason why the United States is so interested in Iran The reason is pure economics. Iran threatens the US Dollar and its present status as the sole currency of the world for trade in oil and gas. It costs nothing for the US to import anything from the rest of the world or to keep vast American military bases throughout the world, as payments can be made by Dollar, which costs only the paper on which it would be printed. However, Dollar is required for every oil- importing countries of the world; and that it is reason central banks of most countries keep their reserves of foreign exchange mainly in Dollar. When more dollars are circulated outside the US, or invested by foreign owners in American assets, the rest of the world has to provide the US with more goods and services in exchange for these dollars. The US even can pay its debt to other countries just by printing its own money.

That special status of Dollar can be threatened if the oil producing countries switch from Dollar to Euro for trade in oil and gas. From May 2006, Iran has done just that, which Venezuela already did and Iraq wanted to do just before it was invaded.

As a result, Iran can seriously undermine the demand for Dollar in the world market. If other oil exporting countries follow Iran, Dollar will collapse along with the US economy. A proposal to create a different reserve currency rather than US Dollar is already suggested by Iran"s friend Russia in the recent BRIC ( Brazil-Russia-India-China) meeting. Iran has the third largest oil reserve in the world, and it can seriously undermine the special status of Dollar on which the US economy rests.

Thus, the turmoil in Iran can provide an excuse for USA to intervene to support a supposedly pro-Western progressive force in Iran opposing the present president.

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