Iran News Round Up

Politics

• Ahmadinejad registers Tabriz as the "first capital of Shi'ism in the world of Islam."

Diplomacy

• Ahmadinejad: "Iran's answer to the charlatans of the world who claimed friendship but in secret conspire [against Iran] is decisive and hard hitting... The Iranian nation is demanding its rights and will never allow anyone, anywhere in the world to violate them regardless what position and power they have...The United States and their foreign allies should know that if there is not a clear and correct change in their behavior, if they don't stop violating the inalienable rights of the Iranian nation and should they continue their predatory nature of rape and genocide and don't respect the rights of the nations, this nation will teach them a hard hitting and crushing lesson..."

• [E] Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and discussed issues of mutual interest.

• [E] Iran has deplored Israel's plan to construct hundreds of new housing units in Gilo settlement in East Jerusalem Al-Quds.

Military and Security

• Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah is reelected Hezbollah Secretary-General and accepts appointment of Sheikh Na'im Qasem as his deputy. Other members of the Consultative Assembly of Hezbollah are: Sheikh Mohammad Yazbek, head of the Shari'a Council, Seyyed Ebrahim Amin Al-Seyyed, head of the Political Council, Seyyed Hashem Safi al-Din, head of the Executive Council, Hajj Hossein Alkhalil, Political Deputy of the General Secretary, Mohammad Ra'd, head of the Resistance Loyalist faction in the parliament. Nasrallah will soon release a new "political document" on Hezbollah.

• IRGC commander Mostafa Izadi, Armed Forces Command Council Deputy, speaking in Qom: "Today, the enemies try to impose soft warfare upon us in order to stop the movement of the Islamic revolution and in doing so they create some trouble for the revolution."

• Commander Javad Maleki, Isfahan Revolutionary Guards Deputy: The "counter revolution" is using the election as an excuse to attack the "revolution."

• Hojjat al-Eslam Ali Moradi, Takab Friday prayer leader: “After the tenth election, some counter revolutionary elements attempted to disturb the public order and the regime and the Basij played a praiseworthy role in containing those conspiracies and resisted by self sacrifice in the face of the enemies of the regime and the revolution.”

• [E] Iran plans to launch another research satellite, the Mesbah 2, in 2011.

Religion, Society and Culture

• Hojjat al-Eslam Mohammad Salimi, Special Prosecutor of the Special Clergy Court: "Reorganization of the theological seminaries of the Sunnis does not mean intervention in affairs of the Sunnis but aims at creating the correct environment to stop infiltration of the sacred space of the seminaries by deviating individuals...The enemies are trying to disturb the unity of the community of believers through infiltration of the theological seminaries of the Sunnis by extremist individuals and by propagating extremist thought..."

  • Regarding admittance of non-Iranian Sunni theological students in Baluchistan, Salimi says: "The measure is clear in legislation and no one is allowed to take extra-legal liberties. Everyone must perform his duties within the frameworks of the law and people must abstain from civil disobedience the result of which is anarchy..."

Nuclear Issue

• [E] U.N. nuclear inspectors visited Iran's recently announced Fordo nuclear enrichment plant near the city of Qom for a second time in three weeks, diplomats said.

• [E] The Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief ElBaradei warns against imposing fresh sanctions on Iran.

• [E] Iranian ambassador to IAEA says Iran is ready for final round of talks for acquiring fuel for Tehran Research Reactor, but stresses that "we want 100% guarantee".

Photo of the Day

• Ahmadinejad in Tabriz.