MEMG: The Middle East Monitoring Group

Friday, October 10, 2008

IRAN/RUSSIA: Nuclear Aid by Russian to Iranians Suspected

ALERT

International nuclear inspectors are investigating whether a Russian scientist helped Iran conduct complex experiments on how to detonate a nuclear weapon, according to European and American officials. As part of the investigation, inspectors at the International Atomic Energy Agency are seeking information from the scientist, who they believe acted on his own as an adviser on experiments described in a lengthy document obtained by the agency, the officials said...

...Still, it is the first time that the nuclear agency has suggested that Iran may have received help from a foreign weapons scientist in developing nuclear arms. The American and European officials said the new document, written in Farsi, was part of an accumulation of evidence that Iran had worked toward developing a nuclear weapon, despite Iran’s claims that its atomic work over the past two decades has been aimed solely at producing electrical power...(NY TIMES).

Full Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/world/10nuke.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

U.S./IRAN: US Congress shelves Iran draft war resolution

The US Congress has shelved recently a draft resolution calling for a naval blockade on Iran in a sign that shows it won't approve starting a war with Iran, Iranian-American activists said. Many analysts in both Tehran and Washington, meanwhile, believe the global financial crisis, the upcoming US presidential elections and the "shift" in Israeli strategies in dealing with Iran, all eliminate the military option for the near future, at least. "There were a group of organisations, who made an efficient effort in pointing out to the members of congress that the language of the draft was potentially very dangerous," said Tripta Parsi, founder and president of the National Iranian-American Council (NIAC)...

...The draft resolution, which was introduced last May, called on the President to stop all shipments of refined petroleum products from reaching Iran. It also "demands" that the President impose "stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains and cargo entering or departing Iran". In case the same draft with the same language is introduced again in the next Congress session, it will end up in the same fate. But if it has been reintroduced with a different language and clarifications that "it is not a naval blockade" it will pass, Parsi noted...

...Iran, meanwhile, is monitoring closely the developments in the US and on the international arena. Iranian analysts said the draft resolution was a "useless" attempt in the first place, and an "American attempt aims to be a prelude for the issuance of a Security Council Resolution"...(Gulf News).

Full Article: http://archive.gulfnews.com/region/Iran/10250956.html

U.S./NATO: US urges NATO to target Afghan drugs trade

The United States called on NATO allies on Thursday to allow the alliance to attack the Afghan opium trade, which it said was bringing the Taliban up to $80 million a year. NATO's operations commander, Gen. John Craddock, has asked the 26 NATO countries for authority to attack laboratories, trafficking networks and drug lords to stem a trade helping to finance a worsening Taliban insurgency.

Germany and several other NATO states are wary of extending the role of the NATO mission, whose long-term aim is to create conditions for Afghans to take over responsibility for their own security. Some are concerned it could worsen the violence and might cause civilian casualties that could turn Afghans against foreign forces. Proponents of the plan argue it is essential if NATO is to reduce violence in the longer term, and US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the drugs trade was bringing the Taliban $60-$80 million a year...(Reuters via Today's Zaman).

Full Article: http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=155471

LEBANON/SYRIA: Saniora: Syrian Military Intervention 'Not Possible'

Premier Fouad Saniora has said that it was not possible for Syrian troops to enter Lebanon despite a recent Syrian forces buildup on Lebanon's northern border. Saniora also hinted after meeting President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace that the cabinet would discuss the issue of Syrian deployment during its session on Friday...(Naharnet).

Full Article: http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&D4A585A26E674644C22574DE0014FD5B

HAMAS/GAZA: Hamas to regulate Gaza tunnels

The Hamas government in Gaza has issued new ordinance under which all underground tunnels connecting the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with its Egyptian side, must be register with local bureaus and connected to the city's power grid, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday...The area surrounding Gaza's border with Egypt is believed to have some 200 tunnels running underneath it, each nearly a mile long. The families formed an association dubbed "the association of tunnel casualties," and are said to be pressuring Hamas' government to order the tunnel owners to pay them restitution, as well...(Ynet).

Full Article: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3607233,00.html

COUNTERRORISM BLOG: Treasury Reports on Assets in U.S. of Terrorist Countries and Designees

The U.S. Treasury has released its latest annual report on the assets in the U.S. of state sponsors of terror and the other international terrorism program designees (Acrobat file). This report, mandated under law since 1991, is the sixteenth released by the Treasury and covers calendar year 2007. As of December 31, 2007, the amount of assets of international terrorist organizations and individuals which were blocked totaled over $20.7 million. Of that, over $11.3 million constituted assets of Al Qaeda, and that level was an increase of almost 46 percent over the level blocked as of the end of 2006...(COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG).

Full Article: http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/10/treasury_reports_on_assets_in.php

PNA/HAMAS: Fatah-Hamas Talks Set for October 25 in Cairo

Fatah and Hamas will meet in Cairo on October 25 for Egyptian-mediated talks aimed at forming a transitional government comprising ministers acceptable to the rival factions, Hamas said on Thursday...(AFP via Asharq Alawsat).

Full Article: http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=14344

SYRIA: Two American reporters held in Syria

Two American journalists who went missing during a vacation in Lebanon eight days ago were arrested on Thursday in Syria after they crossed the Lebanese-Syrian border with the help of smugglers, Syrian officials said. Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23 were detained after they crossed into the country, the Syrian foreign ministry said. It said the two will be handed over to the US Embassy following a completion of “necessary measures.”...(The News International).

Full Article: http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=140156

Iran News Round Up (Oct. 9): IRGC launching unmanned naval vessels in Persian Gulf; Direct subsidies to begin; Iranian Kurds on hunger strike; more on scandal involving cash subsidies to parliamentarians

From the Office of Michael Rubin at AEI

[Thanks to Ali Alfoneh for his compilation; (E) signifies English link]

Economy

· Ridiculing the economic policies of the Ahmadinejad government, Alef News comments: "Some years ago, in every neighborhood there was a doctor who would prescribe Aspirin as a cure to all ailments and maladies... The appointment of Dr. Bahmani as director general of the Central Bank shows a similar tendency...whatever happens to the Iranian economy the government prescribes infusion of more money into the economy as the sole solution!"

o (E) Direct subsidies to begin, according to Ahmadinejad.

· Alef News describes the mechanics of train ticket racketeering in Iran.

Human Rights and Labor

· (E) 46-day hunger strike for Kurdish prisoners in Iran.

Military and Security

· Deputy chief of the Revolutionary Guards Navy commander Ali Fadavi says the Islamic Republic will launch unmanned vessels in the Persian Gulf.

o (E) More, in English.

· Salary of Iranian military servicemen to be doubled.

· Intelligence Ministry Public Relations Office claims "the famous villain Omid Aliz-Dehi known as Sardar [commander]" has been identified and arrested in Mashhad.

· Intelligence Minister Ezheh'i: "What defeats all conspiracies is belief in God and self-confidence, unity of slogans and solidarity of the elites...We expected that this year would be a very tough one and this has been the case to a degree. Let's not forget that the United States and some of its allies claimed they would attack Iran by military means, even if limited to a few targets... This issue affected the atmosphere so much that some domestic experts considered it a serious possibility and some precautions were made. The United States and her allies even threatened more sanctions, which partially have been imposed... Sanctions, pressures and psychological instruments were used against Iran and we had predicted that the enemy thought they could create a tumultuous atmosphere in the domestic arena. After the effects [of rising prices and psychological operations had worked] the enemy would seriously enter the arena. This too was foreseeable...The enemy has activated dormant or marginalized counter-revolutionary movements by providing logistical support, training and organization in order to instigate insecurity in the Western borders of the country...the enemy is also behind counter revolutionary movements in the East of the country and by providing them with logistical support, training and propaganda in different Western media...These elements are well known to the Intelligence Ministry and we expect they stop from doing so. Otherwise we will take appropriate measures with regard to them...the enemy thought that by hard countersecurity measures and provoking some tribes they could create costly mayhem for us but the intelligence of our people and executives this did allow this to happen."

Trade

· (E) Iranian car maker blasts France's political approach to cooperation.

Religion, Society, and Culture

· Son of Sunni religious leader Qaradwi refutes rumors on his conversion to Shi'a Islam.

· Asr-e Iran publishes an article on Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani's immigration to the United States.

· Hojjat al-Eslam Re'isi, a judiciary official, warns against spread of superstition.

Nuclear Issue

· (E) NATO support for Israel's nuclear arsenal shocks Iran.

Politics

· Asr-e Iran compares editorials of Kayhan on cash handouts to the members of the sixth parliament and the current parliament.

· Asr-e Iran publishes a report on Ahmadinejad's interview with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Channel One.

· Khatami vice president Abtahi attacks potential candidate Abdollah Nouri, Khatami's former interior minister, as being an opponent of the Islamic Republic.

Diplomacy

· Ecuador's president to visit Tehran.

Photo of the Day

· Ahmadinejad visits North Khorasan.