[Thanks to Ali Alfoneh for his compilation; (E) signifies English link]
Nuclear Issue
- (E) Foreign Minister: Iran will never relinquish its right to enrich uranium.
Politics
- Former President Khatami says he has two preconditions before he runs for the presidency: "The nation and I must reach a compromise on what is desired" and "the present circumstances taken into consideration, to what degree is there possibility of realizing the programs of the president? If there is no real possibility of realizing those programs, and there are obstacles on the way, presenting the best and most complete of all programs to the public would be nothing but deceit."
- Mashallah Shams al-Va'ezin ridicules Khatami's preconditions, says he is being a "sissy," and suggest that with such statements, it would be better if he does not run for presidency: "Only three months into his presidency, Mr. Khatami, in an statement said that the power of presidency is limited. My question to Mr. Khatami is this: If the power of the presidency is limited, why did you remain in office? Why did you run for a second term? Why did you...not study the Constitution...prior to your candidacy…? If the power of presidency is limited, why do you want to run for presidency for a third term...? I don't understand Mr. Khatami's demands that the elections should be free. What does this mean? Is it because he does not know the political conditions of the country? The political conditions of the country have not changed, and have remained the same as before."
- According to Agah-Sazi's analyst, the presidential elections will take two rounds, and Khatami will win with large margin.
- Veteran politician Behzad Nabavi says Khatami has become a symbol of national salvation.
- National Trust Party deputy leader Montajab-Nia says the reformists in the end will support Mehdi Karrubi.
- Student Basij at Sharif University demands resignation of Interior Minister Ali Kordan (who forged his doctoral degree).
- Former Tehran Governor Kamran Daneshjou appointed political deputy of Interior Ministry.
Economy
- Foreign insurance companies allowed to operate in Iran's free trade zones.
- The Iranian Army establishes a bank.
- (E) Ex-Minister slams revolving door shuffles at Central Bank.
Trade
- Discussing the conditions of natural gas exports to India through the Peace Pipeline - which runs through Pakistan - the Iranian government says any blockage of exports to India will result in a stop of natural gas exports to Islamabad.
Diplomacy
- Asr-e Iran's polling shows 96 percent of Iranians are skeptical of Russian intentions.
- (E) Iran ready to help resolve Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
- (E) Condoleezza Rice says U.S. still interested in having mission in Iran.
- (E) U.S. shelves plans to send diplomats to Iran.
Military and Security
- Law Enforcement Forces chief Ahmadi-Moghaddam says Pakistani authorities are responsible for "martyrdom of Law Enforcement Forces members [kidnapped by Jundallah terrorist organization.]"
- Former IRGC chief Safavi says that he has updated the list of his duties as advisor to the Supreme Leader in armed forces affairs.
- Fars News Agency tells the story of Iran's first ballistic missile launch during the war with Iraq.
- Launch of SAJED website, an information portal on the Iran/Iraq war which includes a Hebrew service.
Religion, Culture, and Society
- Numerous quakes in Qeshm island provoke rumors of "super natural phenomena," "subterranean test explosions," and the like.
- Alef News Agency publishes a Persian translation of Reuter's report on Iranian influence in Najaf, Iraq.
Public Health
- HIV increases in Kerman.
Human Rights and Labor
- Ten students staging a peaceful demonstration to protest being barred from university because of student political activism are arrested by the Law Enforcement Forces.
Media
- (E) Aide to Ahmadinejad opens Khorshid newspaper.
Photo of the Day
- Meeting between foreign ministers of Iran and Venezuela.
