THE MOST CREDIBLE COUNTRY IS TURKEY

US based Gallup Research Center made a survey on “Iran” in December 2011.

The Gallop public poll inquired the most trusted country in the country. The Iranian public’s response vis-à-vis different countries was presented in percentages. The following countries were considered most credible:

-Turkey %24,

          -People’s Republic of China %18,

          - Russian Federation  %13,

          - European Union %12,

          -Germany %13,

          -US and the UK %9

According to the results of this public poll that reflects the Iranian public’s standpoint, the public regards Turkey as the most credible country.

THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR IRAN!...

Some significant questions come into mind while an effort is being
made to close down and set aside the corruption case which amounts to 3 billion dollars. Why are the people who are involved in this
corruption or the suspects of this case want to take this money
abroad? (Some of them have already did), why the money which is gained through corruption is not being spent on exploiting or confiscatingthe natural resources of the country as it was in the previous examples? How do the people, who took the money abroad, assess the political future of Iran? Read More>>

KHAMENEI AND AHMADINEJAD DO NOT ADMIT THEIR MISTAKES!

Khamanei and his followers, who have been imposing their political, economic, cultural visions on people for years, have not abstained anysecret project or plot to this end. But it is evident that theserepressive practices have come to a dead end... Khamanei is also aware of the fact that people have reached the point of eruption. These conflicts at the heart of the state, resentments developing day by day are the outcomes of this very vision... The situation is so grave that there are people who even believe that Mahdi would arrive soon.The situation remains tense on Ahmadinejad’s front as well.
Ahmadinejad and Rahim Meshai are carried away by an “Iranism” game. Indeed, this boat is sinking and everyone is throwing oneself into water in order to escape. Despite all these, Khamanei and Ahmadinejad do not admit defeat. As internal and external political developments and the economic crisis continues to surround Ahmadinejad, it seems that divergences will get deeper. It requires courage to admit defeat and to turn from the wrong path. But, neither Khamanei nor Ahmadinejad have this courage... All Iranian people talk about this cowardice in Khomeini’s birthday. Khomeini was a man who confessed his mistakes. However, Khamanei describes himself as “the envoy of Allah, of his Prophet Mohammad and of the holy imams, and as one whose Administrative Judgments cannot be questioned”. Heaven knows why, Iranian people can in no way perceive the evidences of these sublime characteristics. Here is an Iranian movie... The theme is “ceaseless struggles, plotsand desires”, and the leading actors are “Khamanei,Ahmadinejad and Rahim Mashai...”

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITED IRAQ

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi paid a visit to Iraq on 11 May during which he met the Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zabari and the Parliament Speaker Usamah al Nujayfi. At the end of the meeting, the Iraqi Foreign Minister Zabari stated that “they discussed the formation of a joint committee regarding the waters coming from the neighboring countries, the steps taken in the efforts that were initiated to determine the territorial and coastal boundaries between the two countries, economic agreements between the
two countries, and the developments in religious tourism.” As it is known, Karoun River continues to be a subject of conflict between Iran and Iraq. The Iranian leadership continues with its efforts to change the direction of Karoun River so as to make it flow into the Persian Gulf instead of Shatt Al Arab. Furthermore, decreasing the amount of water in the Karoun River from time to time, it also puts Iraq in a difficult position.

Secretary General of the Iraqi Christian Democratic Party Minas
Ibrahim Al Yousufi, who reacted Salehy’s visit, said that “the people of Iraq were disturbed by the visits of the Iranian authorities, the fact that this visit coincided with the discussions on the withdrawal of the US troops was meaningful, and whenever it faced a political crisis, Iran generated a crisis in Iraq in order to diverge attentions.”

IRAN IS FOUNDING A RADIO STATION THAT TARGETS AZERBAIJAN

“Ardabil Province Radio and TV/Ardabil State Radio-Television” which is active in Iran will found a new radio station that will carry broadcasts to the Azeri audience. This new radio channel to be named “Aran” will be the first radio station that will include programs about a foreign country.
Ardabil Governor Seyyad Hoseiyn Sabery made a statement on the subject suggesting that “when the fragile conditions today and Iranian influence on the awakening of the Islam world are considered, the effective role undertaken by the radio and TV channels as to the Islamic awakening could obviously be seen; specifically, the significance of this role will be understood when it is taken into account that Iran’s northern neighbor Azerbaijan has a population of which 85% is Shiite.” Director of the Azeri Radio that broadcasts in Tehran Bahrololoumi underlined the fact that Aran Radio will be established based on the Sharia rules and that it will absolutely serve its goal.

Ameli, the regional emissary of the Religious Leader Khamanei, also mentioned that the name “Azerbaijan” was a generated name and was put forward in 1917 while the region where Azerbaijan is located was previously named as “Aran”. On the other hand, the insistence of the Iranian leadership to define Azerbaijan as “North Iran” continues to draw reactions.

IRAN IS DRAFTING A HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION

After the United Nations Human Rights Council decided in May 2011 to appoint a special rapporteur to examine the human rights violations in Iran, the Iranian leadership, together with some Islamic countries, launched efforts for the preparation of the “Islamic Human Rights Declaration.”

Javad Larijany, Vice President of the Judiciary in charge of
International Relations and Head of the Human Rights Council, who remarked on the subject during his visit to South Africa, stated that “preliminary works on the text has been concluded, the text upon which agreement would be reached in the end of the meeting to be held with the participation of the legal experts and representatives of the judiciary from the Islamic countries will be declared to the international public opinion.” Noting that the Islamic Human Rights Declaration will be a universal text that will also influence the non-Muslim countries, Larijany emphasized that the Western countries that act under the direction of the US have turned such a vital subject as human rights into a political project and taken advantage of it in covert bargains.

THIS  IS NOT A WAR OF JEWELERS...EVERYTHING IS REAL!

Fierce rivalries continue in Iranian political arena. President
Ahmadinejad compelled Intelligence Minister Heidar Moslahi  to resign. Khamanei supported Moslehi and did not accept his resignation. There has been no news from Ahmadinejad who took offence at this situation for six days now. Being sulky, Ahmadinejad is stamping his feet like kids for dismissal of Moslehi and Saeed Jalili, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and for Rahim Mashaie’s remaining as his aide... Majles Shuray Islami is trying to obtain a quorum so as to be able to submit an interpellation about Ahmadinejad. Do these incidents constitute “a jewelers’ war or a real war?”...Read More>>

IRANIAN OPPOSITION’S CALL TO THE UNITED NATIONS

The Green Path of Hope Coordination Council, based in France, sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, calling him to make attempts to free Mir Houssein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi, the leaders of the Green Wave Movement. “The Government has violated the Iranian Constitution, rules of the civil law and all international agreements on human rights, imprisoned thousands of people and suppressed peaceful demonstration attempts by using force,” stated the Green Path of Hope Coordination Council in its letter. “The whereabouts of Mousavi, Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard and Fatemeh Karroubi is not known after they have been taken under house arrest for calling the masses to organize a peaceful march in solidarity with the peoples of North African countries,” underlined the mentioned letter. A while ago, a group of reformist women active outside Iran has sent a letter to the Secretary General of the UN so as to release Fatemeh Karroubi, Zahra Rahnavard and their spouses. Feeling restless after the said developments, the opposition groups state that the wind of democracy that toppled Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Zeynel Abidin Bin Ali in Tunisia has arrived in Iran. They say that they will overthrow the Iranian Government until Newroz and that they will not hesitate using arms when need be.

IRAN RESTRICTED ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES ABROAD

 Iranian Ministry of Science and Research has forbidden the Iranian students carrying out academic studies abroad to prepare postgraduate or doctorate theses on a topic related with Iran and to submit them to their respective institutions. “Iranian postgraduate and doctorate students studying abroad with a government scholarship or their own means are forbidden to prepare theses on Iran. Only certain students carrying out academic studies abroad with a scholarship from the Ministry of Science and Research are allowed to prepare theses on topics related with Iran and the information and documents to be included in the theses will be provided by the ministry,” stated Mohammad Hossein, an official from the ministry. Iranian postgraduate students abroad are reacting against the said decision. “Such prohibitive decisions cannot be taken for students outside Iran. Scared of well-educated Iranian youth, the government is trying to obstruct any flow of information from the civilized world,” expressed the mentioned students in their assessments. According to experts, the Iranian Leadership believes that universities particularly in Western countries have been trying to gather sensitive information on Iran. It is underlined that students that will act contrary to the said decision may risk legal prosecution or take a decision not to return to Iran.

TEACHERS PROTEST IN IRAN

 Female teachers working in the remote regions and villages of the Tehran Province maintain their protest demonstration that they initiated in front of the Tehran Directorate of Education on March 09, 2011 for not being paid for five months. In addition to their educative duties, these female teachers also take part in literacy campaign that is conducted in the region. Around 500 female teachers demand that their unpaid salaries should be paid, that certain other advantages, like an annual premium, other than their monthly wages should be assured and that their rights of insurance and seniority disbursements should be preserved. Underlining that they are working in places nobody wants to work and nevertheless fulfilling their duties the best they can, these teachers emphasize that along with their families they are suffering from dire financial troubles. Mistreated teachers strongly condemn the officials in the Ministry of Education for their efforts to reveal the identities of protesting teachers and to threaten them that they will be dismissed rather than making any efforts regarding unpaid salaries. Meanwhile, protest demonstrations have reportedly spread to other provinces as well. Protests are expected to continue until salaries have been paid regularly and additional improvements have been granted.

IRAN IS TAKING MEASURES AGAINST PROPAGANDA

In Iran, “Cyber Internet Unit” was established in January 2011 within
the body of Nirouye Entezami so as to combat cyber crimes. The
objective of the unit was reported to identify, monitor and hack the
opposition web sites broadcasting from inside and outside Iran and
conduct counter propaganda activities.” Also the unit was reported to be primarily aimed at South Azerbaijani formations and proponents of Green Movement. It is noted that a hacker unit has been created within Basij Forces and within this scope 1.500 technicians have been
employed....Read More>>

THE RESULTS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH IN IRAN ARE WORRYING

A social research was conducted in January on the basis of provinces throughout the country by the Research Center of the Iranian Islamic Advisory Assembly. The results regarding “age of marriage, divorce, birth rate, the newly married couples’ desire to have children and the structure of country’s population” are quite worrying…Read More>>

DEPENDENT JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN IRAN

“Corruption allegations” about Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimy have again raised defects in the judicial system to the agenda. Rahimy is accused of “serious embezzlement on revenues of public insurance institutions during the 7th term of Majlas Shouray  Islami (Islamic Advisory Council) in which he functioned as the Head of Accountancy Council”. Read More>>

IRANIAN ADMINISTRATION IS TO BENEFIT FROM THE IRANIANS LIVING ABROAD

Ali Akbar Salehi, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated the following in a conference held at the Martyr Behashti University in Tehran in December 2010: “In an era in which communication is prevalent, one should benefit from the means of the Iranian academicians, artists and businessmen living abroad”. He also asked for a planning to be made by the government within this respect. Read More>>

INCIDENTS OCCURRED DURING INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS OF SOUTH AZERBAIJAN

 The match between the football teams of Traktorsazi and Persepolis in Iran/Tabriz ended with incidents. In the competition which took place under the control of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, Azeris  who were the fans of Traktorsazi filling the stadium completely were prevented from celebrating the founding anniversary of South Azerbaijan National Government. Resisting pressures, South Azerbaijanis marched holding placards and chanting slogans. Upon the developments, Iranian security forces postponed the match between Tabriz Municipality Sport and Tehran/Independence football teams. Another reaction to the pressures applied against South Azerbaijanis during the match came from Azeris in Tehran. A group of South Azerbaijanis consisting of 250 people gathered in a land outside Tehran decided to continue making their voices heard in the matches of Traktorsazi and other platforms.

ARMENIANS ARE CLAIMING TABRIZ

 Recently, there has been an increase in the propaganda by the Armenians living in Iran/Tabriz that “Tabriz belongs to Armenians”. It is stated that those activities have occurred under the direction of Iranian security units. As is known, in Tabriz, riots occur between Armenians and South Azerbaijanis from time to time. The proponents of national movement who make a statement regarding the issue said that “The Turkish identity of Tabriz can not be questioned, Tabriz is a Turkish city and the Administration is using Armenians in order to keep South Azerbaijanis under pressure.”

IRAN’S ALLERGY TO AZERI TURKS…

 The fact that the grave of Azeri writer/historian Samad Sardaryniia in Tabriz has been destroyed by unidentified people has been met with reaction. On the other hand, clothing trade unions of Tabriz reported that the manufacturing of clothes with moon-star and similar symbols on them has been ended. Also the statements included in the course books taught in primary and middle schools in Iran that “Azeris are the wild people living in deserts, they maintain their approach of occupation, they aren’t Persian and they are the communities who have come from abroad,” have made South Azerbaijanis feel uneasy. It is expected that the oppressive practices will be protested by large number of masses.

THE BACKGROUND OF KHAMANEI’S VISITS TO QOM

It is remarkable that Khamanei visited Qom two more times with a sudden decision following his 10 day visit to the city on October 19-29, 2010. Why has the Leader tended to visit Qom three times in a row rather than convening the mullahs in Qom in his office in Tehran? Read More>>

SANCTIONS IMPOSED AGAINST IRANIAN OFFICIALS

US Departments of State and Treasury brought sanctions in terms of traveling and finance against 8 senior officials for having ignored the human rights violations that took place after the presidential elections held in Iran last year. This decision which entered into force upon the approval of US President Barack Obama and was publicized by Timothy Geithner, Secretary of Treasury, has been valid as of September 29, 2010. The above-mentioned senior officials include Mohammad Ali Jafari (Commander of the Revolutionary Guards Corps) ,Sadeq Mahsouli (Minister of Welfare and Social Security), Heider Moslehi (Minister of Intelligence), Ahmad Reza Radan (Director of Security of Tehran), and Mostapha Mohammad Najjar (Interior Minister). The sanctions involve the freezing of assets of the Iranian officials in the US and the avoidance by the US nationals to do business with these individuals.  Read More>>

STRUGGLE OF POWERS CONTINUES IN IRAN

Efforts of Ahmadinejad and his company to make the executive body more efficient than the other state powers continue to receive reactions from the Majlis which is the legislative body. Moreover, available information indicates that deputies have the intention to take serious measures in order to make the power of the legislative body felt. Under the Iranian laws, if the Majlis takes a decision to launch investigations about and dismiss seven individuals from among the members of the board of ministers, the said ministers have the right to recourse to the president about their incompetence in fulfilling their tasks. On the other hand, should it be found that the president had played a role in the appointment and incompetence of the identified seven individuals; the Majlis has the right to discharge the president. Read More>>