Monday, April 28, 2014

Eye on Iran: Iran to Target Decoy US Aircraft Carrier in Drills








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AP: "An Iranian newspaper is reporting that the country's military plans to target a mock-up American aircraft carrier during upcoming war games. The Sunday report by independent Haft-e Sobh daily quotes Adm. Ali Fadavi, navy chief of the powerful Revolutionary Guards as saying Iranian forces should 'target the carrier in the trainings, after it is completed.' Adm. Fadavi said: 'We should learn about weaknesses and strengths of our enemy.' This is the first reaction by Iranian officials to a March report that said Iran is building a simple replica of the USS Nimitz in a shipyard in the southern port of Bandar Abbas." http://t.uani.com/QUAuvB

WSJ: "Less than a year after Iranian President Hasan Rouhani was elected in a landslide vote on a platform of change, he faces his first domestic crisis, as public anger roils his administration. Many Iranians who voted for Mr. Rouhani in the expectation that he would improve human rights and the economy have protested his government in recent weeks over what they say is his neglect of domestic issues, as he focuses on foreign policy. On the economic front, Mr. Rouhani's move to trim gasoline and energy subsidies, which went into effect on Friday, leading prices to nearly double, is testing support for his government in a country already battered hit by inflation and consumer shortages. On the human-rights side, the alleged beating of dozens of prominent political prisoners last week set off an unusual public fury, evident in a flood of calls into television talk shows, newspaper commentaries, social media and spontaneous protests and vigils. The government said it was investigating the alleged beatings but he has yet to publicly comment on them. 'If he doesn't show any reaction now, he has betrayed the people's votes,' said a 42-year-old doctor in Tehran." http://t.uani.com/1rEzg4S

Reuters: "A senior U.S. official signaled optimism on Sunday about a possible resolution of the Iranian nuclear dispute but said Washington remained concerned that Iran's ballistic missiles threatened Gulf Arab states. Frank Rose, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for space and defense policy, said Washington was 'acutely' aware of Gulf Arab states' anxieties about Iran and wanted to help them launch a Gulf-wide coordinated missile defense capability. 'We are optimistic that we'll have a successful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue ... but that doesn't downgrade our concern about Iran's other bad behaviors, specifically their support for terrorism as well as their continued development of ballistic missile capabilities,' Rose told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Abu Dhabi on missiles and defense. 'As long as Iran continues to develop ballistic missiles that can threaten the United States or deployed forces and our friends and allies in the region, we will work effectively with our partners here in the UAE as well as the rest of the Gulf to defend against that threat.'" http://t.uani.com/QUxX4o
      
Nuclear Program & Negotiations

Reuters: "Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday he saw a good chance for a nuclear deal with the West because 'most Iranians' were in favor of it, playing down resistance from Islamic hardliners. 'Some factions have no interest in reaching an agreement due to political reasons, but what counts at the end is the vote of the majority of Iranian people,' Zarif told a joint news conference in Tehran with visiting Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz... 'Mr Rouhani is acting on a popular mandate and I am sure Iranians will accept any deal that would respect their rights and legitimate demands,' Zarif said, in comments broadcast live on state Iranian television. 'I am sure if we score a decent deal, it will be backed by a majority of Iranians,' he added." http://t.uani.com/1m16EE1

AFP: "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned anew on Sunday of a nuclear-powered Iran at the annual Holocaust memorial for the victims of the Nazi genocide, saying Tehran wants 'our destruction'. 'Iran is calling for our destruction, it is building underground bunkers to enrich uranium, producing heavy water for plutonium, acquiring intercontinental missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads that threaten the entire world,' Netanyahu said... Speaking at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, Netanyahu urged world powers 'not to give in for the sake of avoiding, at all costs, a confrontation' with Tehran. Netanyahu, whose government has not ruled out military action to prevent Iran from acquiring an atomic bomb, said the international community must demand Tehran 'dismantle totally its capacity to produce nuclear weapons.'" http://t.uani.com/1nyGGqY

Press TV: "Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the nation's peaceful nuclear program is homegrown and no one can take it away from Iranian scientists. Zarif made the remarks during a meeting with the Chairman of the French Senate's Finance Committee Philippe Marini, who heads a French parliamentary delegation, in Tehran on Sunday." http://t.uani.com/1hHlRGf

Sanctions Relief

WSJ: "Iran held talks with Russia over $10 billion worth of electricity deals on Sunday, in the latest attempt by Moscow to leverage a privileged relationship with Tehran. Russia is already in talks with Iran to swap food and other goods for Iranian oil. The move is seen by some as a Russian attempt to take positions in Iran's vast market when it opens up and assert its international clout amid increased tensions with the West. In a statement posted on its website, Iran's energy ministry said Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian met his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak in Tehran on Sunday to discuss $10 billion worth of power deals. They included the construction of hydroelectric power plants and, according to the Mehr news agency, the possibility of Russia exporting 500 megawatts of electricity to Iran... Moscow is also in talks with Tehran to barter 500,000 barrels a day of Iranian oil for Russian goods. The deal, worth as much as $20 billion, has rattled Washington because it could bring Iran's crude exports above a one-million-barrels-a-day threshold agreed in the nuclear deal." http://t.uani.com/1k3vEU9

Trend: "China's COSCO Container Lines is studying the possibility of resuming operation at Iranian ports. Wu Jinping, Director General of the Chinese International Shipping Line COSCO, paid a visit toIran's Shaid Rajaee port, which is the largest container port in the country, Iran's IRNA news agency reported on April 28. Wu Jinping promised to talk with senior officials of the company about resuming operation at the Iranian port. China's COSCO Container Lines, the world's 5th largest international shipping company, ended its ties with Iranin June 2013. 'All of COSCO's business to and from Iran was suspended,' said a Shanghai-based company official, citing a company statement saying lines to Iran stopped in early June and those leaving Iran ended in early July." http://t.uani.com/1isAaQx

Trend: "Belgium has called for boosting investment in Iran. The chairman of Belgian chamber of commerce said it is hoped that Belgian companies would boost investment in different economic fields in Iran, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on April 28. The official made the remarks in Tehran in a meeting with Abolfazl Koudehi, director of Iranian bureau for foreign investment. In February, Head of Iran's Chamber of Commerce Gholam-Hossein Shafeyee underlined Tehran's willingness to expand economic cooperation with Brussels, Fars news agency reported. 'We ask the Belgium-Iran Joint Chamber of Commerce to pave the way for the expansion of economic ties with Iran,' Shafeyee said in a meeting with Vice-President of the Federation of Belgian Chambers of Commerce Jacques Glorieux in Tehran." http://t.uani.com/1fpanIA

Trend: "Iran plans to import 200,000 tons of rail tracks from India. Abbas Nazari, director of international affairs at the Iranian Railways Company, said officials of India's STC will come to Iran next week to pave the way for selling 200,000 tons of rail tracks, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on April 28. On April 20, the Indian Express reported that with the Western nations easing sanctions on Iran, India's biggest steel maker SAIL is all set to sign a definitive agreement to help Tehran set up a railway network project spanning over 15,000 km to connect its major ports and key production centers. Khaleel Rahim, chairman of state-owned trading firm State Trading Corporation (STC) is slated to visit Tehran to finalize some of the formalities that could pave the way for steel exports from India." http://t.uani.com/1h6GlED

Trend: "Ali Akbar Velayati, director of the Iranian Expediency Council's Center for Strategic Research, said France has announced its readiness to facilitate trade with Iran. Velayati made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting with a delegation of French parliament members in Tehran, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on April 28. The two sides discussed ways to expand bilateral ties and remove obstacles on economic transactions between the two countries, Mehr quoted Velayati as saying. The French delegation, headed by Chairman of the Finance Committee of the French Senate Philippe Marini arrived in Iran on April 22." http://t.uani.com/1flhyBQ

Press TV: "An Italian parliamentary delegation is slated to pay a visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran early next month to hold talks with the country's authorities. Hossein Sheikholeslam, an advisor to Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani on international affairs, said on Monday that the Italian lawmakers are to visit the Iranian capital of Tehran on May 3 to exchange views with senior Iranian officials over issues of mutual interest. The visit takes place at the invitation of Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Majlis. The Italian parliamentarians are also set to meet with the Iranian side of Iran-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group during their stay." http://t.uani.com/1isCI1h

Today's Zaman: "After growth restrictions were removed on one Iranian bank already doing business in Turkey, two more have been approved to open branches in the country, Turkish news outlets reported on Tuesday. Bank Mellat, which has been in Turkey since 1982, faced restrictions in 2012 which led to a decline in its growth due to economic sanctions imposed against Iran. However, the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) approved expansion requests from Bank Mellat last month in light of the US and the UN Security Council loosening economic sanctions after headway was made in negotiations regarding the curbing of Iran's nuclear program. Afterwards, applications from the Iranian banks Pasargad and Tejarat to set up shop in Turkey were approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bank Mellat has operated in Turkey through its three branches in İzmir, İstanbul and Ankara. Turkish news outlets reported last week that Turkey and Iran had come to an agreement allowing an increase in banking transactions between the two countries." http://t.uani.com/1itQlHx

Human Rights

IHR: "One prisoner was hanged in the public in Semnan (Northern Iran) today, April 26, reported the official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Semnan province... At least 48 people have been executed in the month of April, most of them not being announced by the official Iranian media." http://t.uani.com/1j7QsNA

IHR: "Three prisoners were hanged in the public in the town of Zabol, southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan. The executions were carried out only two months after the trial by the Revolution Court. Iran Human Rights (IHR) strongly condemns today's public executions... IHR strongly condemns today's executions. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said: 'These prisoners have been subjected to unfair trials and possibly torture, followed by public execution which is an inhumane and brutal punishment meant to spread fear in the society.'" http://t.uani.com/1h6Be7o

AFP: "Iran's judiciary banned reformist newspaper Ebtekar on Saturday for 'spreading lies', ISNA news agency reported, making it the third such publication to be shut down by authorities in recent months. 'I received a note from media court which said a ban has been imposed on the daily for spreading lies,' Mohammad Ali Vakili, managing director of the daily, told ISNA. ISNA said the ban was imposed because of a headline in Thursday's edition for a story about the replacement of the country's prisons chief over reports of violence against political prisoners. 'The headline of one of the Ebtekar columns read prisons chief was dismissed, while he has been appointed to another post and not dismissed,' ISNA said." http://t.uani.com/1rECx4j

IranWire: "Despite renewed calls from the international community for the Iranian government to protect the rights of all of its citizens, Iranian Baha'i communities continue to face systematic abuse and violations. The Iranian government's long-running campaign to repress and isolate the Baha'is includes arbitrary arrests, long prison sentences, expulsion from higher education, bans on government employment and the destruction of Baha'i homes and cemeteries. Those responsible for the murder of and violence against Baha'is are not punished... The infographic directly contradicts Larijani's claims, clearly outlining the Iranian government's failure to uphold the rights of its citizens." http://t.uani.com/S1DuHL

AFP: "Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami has called for the release of political prisoners and urged an end to house arrest for two leaders who alleged fraud after the 2009 election. In remarks published by ISNA news agency, Khatami, in office between 1997 and 2005, said such steps would benefit the country. He was referring to Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, reformists held incommunicado since February 2011, after they urged massive street protests following the election. Thousands of protesters, reformists and journalists were arrested after demonstrations that became known as Iran's green movement." http://t.uani.com/1hIoQtI

Domestic Politics

AFP: "Iran's President Hassan Rouhani was elected on hopes that he could revive the country's sanctions-neutered economy, but the public's goodwill towards him is showing the first signs of fading... Although there is a general acceptance that prospects for economic growth are positive under Rouhani, Iranians are being squeezed and they speak of being no better off now than when he took charge. 'It's just the same,' said Nahid Pakmiat, a retired university administrator, as she bought groceries in Ali Abad, a lower-middle class area of southern Tehran. Most sanctions remain in place and the economy is still in recession. But no matter how tough the medicine, Rouhani's cabinet appears determined to pursue major reforms, including an overhaul of state subsidies for electricity, fuel and basic foods, which will hit the poorest people hardest." http://t.uani.com/1nVCeQh

AFP: "After accusations of wiretapping of parliamentary officials, a new bill that sets guidelines and oversight on wiretapping has been presented by Iran's parliament. The bill is being hailed as promoting 'Islamic wiretapping.' Member of parliament Saeed Haydar-Teyeb told the parliament's leadership that the new bill has been put together 'so the security apparatus is not infected with sin.' He added that all aspects of wiretapping 'will be monitored by members of parliament.' According to the Reformist newspaper Shargh, Haydar-Teyeb said that wiretapping would then conform to Islamic standards. The other members of parliament who support this bill said that the bill 'would be in line with citizen's rights and based on jurisprudence and Shariah.' They added, 'It is necessary in order to protect the sanctity and dignity of people.'" http://t.uani.com/1fJhne2

Al-Monitor: "A former leader of the group responsible for storming the American Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and taking American hostages has been criticized for offering an apology to the families of the hostages. 'Talk of an apology is not from one administration to another, but of sympathy for families of individuals that for any reason were mentally and spiritually hurt,' Ebrahim Asgharzadeh told the Iranian Students' News Agency on April 14. As a member of the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line who stormed the embassy and held 52 hostages for 444 days, Asgharzadeh was asked to weigh in on the controversy over Iran's pick for its new United Nations envoy, Hamid Aboutalebi." http://t.uani.com/1h6ETC2

Foreign Affairs

Trend: "Director general of political affairs of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office is due to visit Iran. Simon Gass will visit Iran on April 28 to talk with Iranian officials on mutual and international issues, Iran's Fars news agency reported on April 28. Gass who heads the British delegation to P5+1 group, served as the UK Ambassador to Iran from 2009 to 2011." http://t.uani.com/1mRdZFy



Eye on Iran is a periodic news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eye on Iran is not intended as a comprehensive media clips summary but rather a selection of media elements with discreet analysis in a PDA friendly format. For more information please email Press@UnitedAgainstNuclearIran.com

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