Top Stories
AFP: "Iran has given a two week ultimatum to energy giants
Shell and Repsol to decide on their investments in key gas projects or else
they would be replaced by local firms, a top official said on Monday. The deadline comes just two days after
Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi threatened to kick out foreign firms for
delaying the development of its massive South Pars gas fields and replace them
with domestic ones." http://bit.ly/bNEPpw
NYT: "The Iranian government hanged five Kurdish activists,
including a woman, on Sunday morning in the Evin prison in Tehran in what
appeared to be an effort to intimidate protesters from marking the anniversary
of last year's huge anti-government rallies after the June 12 election." http://nyti.ms/c8MoAq
NYT: "Since the 2003 American-led invasion, the American
military has repeatedly accused Iran of fueling Iraq's continuing violence and
instability; and it is in this portion of Iraq's 910-mile frontier with Iran
that American intelligence officials say explosives capable of penetrating
armor, trigger devices for roadside bombs, 240-millimeter Katyusha-style
rockets and sniper rifles, among other weaponry, have been smuggled." http://nyti.ms/bIE7I2
Nuclear Program
AP: "Iran won't stop enriching uranium and has a right to
pursue atomic technology, the country's foreign minister told U.N. Security
Council diplomats at a private dinner.
A U.S. official familiar with Thursday night's meeting in New York told
The Associated Press that Manouchehr Mottaki was defiant in the face of demands
that Iran halt the process that can produce fuel for a nuclear weapon." http://bit.ly/b6TDd2
AFP: "Syria and Qatar back Turkish efforts for a diplomatic
solution to the row over Iran's nuclear program, Turkey's foreign minister said
after leaders of the three countries met Sunday, a report said." http://bit.ly/9p7U14
Human Rights
WP: "The executions could increase tensions in Iran's
Kurdish area, which is the scene of regular battles between security forces and
Kurdish separatists. On Wednesday five men were killed in a shootout with
members of the Revolutionary Guards corps in the city of Dalahu, Sepah News,
the guard's news outlet reported." http://bit.ly/93kegV
Radio Farda: "Lawyers and relatives of activists jailed in
Iran's 2009 postelection crackdown have described an arbitrary justice system
keeping those jailed in legal limbo, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports. Mohammad Davari, Akbar Karami, Mohammad
Olyaeefard, Emadedin Baghi, and Navid Khanjani have all been imprisoned for
their political activities since Iran's disputed presidential election 11
months ago." http://bit.ly/aeUBof
Domestic Politics
Radio Farda: "Gholamhossein Elham, a member of Iran's
powerful Guardians Council, has reportedly said that opposition leader Mir
Hossein Musavi is a 'mohareb,' which means 'an enemy of God' or someone who
takes up arms against the Iranian establishment. The charge carries the death
sentence in the Islamic republic." http://bit.ly/c5Vazw
Foreign Affairs
WSJ: "Amid the ongoing war of words between the U.S. and
Iran, one of the more unusual broadsides from Tehran is that a terrorist
organization bent on overthrowing its government has for years used America's
second-largest city as a safe haven." http://bit.ly/b4hEzJ
Opinion
Sadegh Zibakalam in The Daily Star: "After its apparent
success on February 11, the government's spirits rose to a level unprecedented
since the June polls. All talk of national reconciliation were shelved. The
state media as well government supporters simply began referring to the green
movement as 'the conspiracy' and to its nominal leaders as 'the conspirators.'
On the face of it, the hardliners appeared to have won the battle. But the war continues." http://bit.ly/bUXnPE
News Analysis
Paul Richter in LAT: "A top-level Iranian delegation
garnered worldwide attention this week with appearances at the United Nations
aimed at winning international support for its position on nuclear issues. But
the effort instead underscored many of the challenges Tehran faces in its
quest." http://bit.ly/aiPgUK
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