Top Stories
Political and Diplomatic Affairs
· Ahmadinejad cancels trip to Latin America, begins visit to Syria (1)
· Fars News agency quotes large portion of Haaretz report about special Israeli committee on Iranian affairs (2)
· Spokesman for Iranian Embassy in Moscow rejects Ria Novosti report on allegedly scheduled visit by Dennis Ross to Iran (4)
· Iranian FM cautiously welcomes change in US policy (5)
· Press TV interview with former U.S. NSC chief Zbigniew Brzezinski (6)
· Majlis speaker: "If Iran assists Lebanese Hezbollah or Hamas, this is due to its sense of responsibility as a Muslim country" (7)
· Kayhan editorial urges non-aligned states to take action against imperialism (13)
Domestic Affairs
· Interior minister: 0ver 1,000 candidates have registered for elections; decision on their qualifications up to Council of Guardians (14)
· Presidential Office’s press center announces postponement of president's Sunday night televised address (17)
Economic Affairs
· Iran-Belgium trade ties on the rise (21)
· First branch of Iran-China Chamber of Commerce to be inaugurated in Shanghai (22)
· Managing director of Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL): "Iran enjoys greatest sea fleet in the Middle East” (23)
· Tejarat Bank heading for privatization (24)
· Iranian commerce minister and Serbian officials set for 13th meeting of joint economic commission in Belgrade; minister will also meet with Serbian premier (25)
Human Rights, Religion and Social Affairs
· Political prisoners severely beaten by Intelligence and Security Ministry officials (28)
· Families of ‘May 1st’ detainees demonstrate (29)
· Arrest of Tehran Teachers Union board member (31)
· Iran sees rise in HIV carriers (32)
Full Report
Political and Diplomatic Affairs
1. Ahmadinejad cancels trip to Latin America, begins visit to Syria – Iran President Ahmadinejad was to visit Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador on a regional tour to Latin America but the visit has been cancelled. He is, however, in Damascus as scheduled and will confer with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, on issues of mutual interest as well as regional developments.
2. Fars News agency quotes large portion of Haaretz report about special Israeli committee on Iranian affairs – The panel, the Fars News report says will discuss weekly developments about Iran. Also, a recent study by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a prestigious American think tank, has found that a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities "is unlikely" to delay the country's program.
3. Tension between Iran and several Arab states: "Under the present circumstances, we cannot forward establishing ties with Egypt; Morocco misinterpreted its ties with Iran; we will welcome real change in U.S. behavior – According to Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, Egypt will soon take over the presidency of the Non-Aligned countries and there are several grounds for cooperation. On Morocco: “We consider Morocco an Islamic and important country and if this country wants to correct its misinterpretation regarding its ties with Iran, we can look at the resumption of ties with Morocco with a positive attitude.”
4. Spokesman for Iranian Embassy in Moscow rejects Ria Novosti report on allegedly scheduled visit by Dennis Ross to Iran - The report started circulating after Ross traveled to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other Persian Gulf states on April 28 to address regional concerns about the new U.S. administration's strategy toward Iran. The Ria Novosti report also claimed that Ross was to be accompanied on his visit to Iran by NSC Senior Director Puneet Talwar and CENTCOM Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. John Allen.
5. Iranian FM cautiously welcomes change in US policy: Iranian FM referred to the U.S. administration's slogan of change and said: “The present situation and issues between Iran and America do not mean that we have defined a strategy for [maintaining] permanent hostility between the two countries. We are monitoring the actions of the American government and if we see any real change, we will welcome it.”
6. Press TV interview with former U.S. national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski - “What Mr. Obama did is to initiate the process in a constructive way, from the American side. It is a decision for Iran to make on its own, from the standpoint of its own sense of history and interests, whether it wants relations with the United States or whether it does not… As I just cited, 69 percent of American Jews favor a two-state solution - that is something that probably a few years ago was a kind of anathema to the majority. I think that there is a growing realization within the responsible leadership of the Jewish-American community that to let the two-state solution pass is to create in the long run, conditions increasingly inimical to Israel's long-term survival in the region as an accepted part of the region.”
7. Majlis speaker: "If Iran assists Lebanese Hezbollah or Hamas, this is due to its sense of responsibility as a Muslim country" – Speaking during a meeting with high-ranking IRGC security officials Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said: "If Iran assists Lebanese Hezbollah or Hamas, this is due to its sense of responsibility as a Muslim country… Certain countries of the region are jealous of Iran and try to do mischievous acts to please western countries… Iran does not need to set up an empire… They should understand this reality and avoid miscalculations.”
8. Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: Lebanon has turned into a model of resistance among world nations – During a meeting with visiting Lebanese youth and sports minister, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, said that "faith, confidence and principled resistance are the new elements of power that have led to consecutive victories in Lebanon and Gaza… These facts are among factors showing the potential of the Islamic Revolution and its resistance to bullying powers.” Jalili also expressed hope that the upcoming nationwide elections in Lebanon would be a demonstration of the unity and solidarity of the Lebanese people.
9. Foreign Ministry spokesman condemns "trend of Judaization and destruction of Muslim holy sites by the Zionist regime in the occupied territories” - In his weekly press briefing, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman called on the international community to respond to the actions of the “Zionist state,” voicing regret at what he termed as the “growing trend of Judaization in the occupied lands… Such a move by the Zionist regime is against all international conventions and instructions made by world cultural centers such as UNESCO… The trend of Judaization by the Tel Aviv regime should not lead to the destruction of the holy sites of other religions.” The spokesman urged the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as well as the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Arab League to respond.
10. Iranian foreign minister: Iran and Africa to define roadmap of ties at African Union summit – Speaking during a meeting with former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda in the Iranian capital on Sunday, Mottaki said that Tehran hoped the African Union summit would be held in Iran according to previous agreements. He also said the summit would be an opportunity to define the roadmap of Tehran’s ties with Africa. He then voiced Iran's readiness to play a part in the development of African countries by implementing various projects on the continent and sharing Iranian know-how in various fields. (Source: Iranian Students News Agency)
11. Hebrew books at 22nd annual Tehran International Book Fair that opens today - Ahmadinejad will officially inaugurate the book fair, which, unlike others, will allow direct retail sales to the public. Books from domestic and foreign publishers will be on display – both to view and to buy. The fair will offer books in Azeri, Kurdish, Arabic, Hebrew and Armenian, reflecting Iran's multicultural society, as well as Persian and English. Some 1,700 foreign companies from 78 countries will be presenting their latest publications. The organizers of the event announced earlier that foreign e-books and e-journals would be offered for the first time at this year’s fair. The 22nd Tehran International Book Fair runs until May 16.
12. Iranian anti-drug officials in Afghanistan – The delegation, in Kabul on an official visit, is set to form a tripartite committee, with the Afghan government and the United Nations, in the coming days in an effort to counter poppy growing and drug trafficking. (Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
13. Kayhan editorial urges non-aligned states to take action against imperialism – Under the headline, “Non-aligned states must act” the Conservative daily urges the non-aligned states to take action against global imperialism and the excessive demands of “bullying and treacherous countries that wish to undermine equal rights among the nations.” The editorial comments on the “unlimited powers” of the five permanent members of the Un Security Council and urges all Third World and independent countries to find a way to fend off imperialistic control in the world.
Domestic Affairs
14. Interior minister: 0ver 1,000 candidates have registered for elections; decision on their qualifications up to Council of Guardians – According to Iranian Interior Minister Sadegh Mahsouli, "More than one thousand people have registered as presidential candidates through the web portal [of the Interior Ministry] but there are no distinct faces among them... As [a part of the] executive [branch], we register all applicants to the Election Headquarters of the country, including the women, but the issue of their qualifications is the responsibility of the Council of Guardians… Most certainly, there are 46,200,000 eligible voters.”
15. Mohsen Rezaei calls for televised debate between presidential candidates - In a letter to IRIB chief Ezzatollah Zarghami, Rezaei writes: "I hereby announce that I am ready to take part in debates with all three presidential candidates, particularly Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Ahmadinejad the Principlist contender." Rezaei said programs such as debates that have been broadcast on Iranian television in the months leading up to presidential votes have been informative, adding that he hoped to see debates aired this time as well.
16. Shariatmadari - Karrubi affair heats up – The Hammihan News website has come to the defense of presidential candidate Mahdi Karrubi and has launched a counterattack against Kayhan editor Hossein Shariatmadari, who recently slammed Karrubi in an editorial, accusing him of abusing his official position as head of the Martyrs Foundation in the 1980s and early 1990s and threatening to disclose more details about economic corruption on the part of the candidate.
17. Presidential Office’s press center announces postponement of president's Sunday night televised address - A televised address by Ahmadinejad that was due to be aired live on state television Sunday night has been "postponed due to the intensive agenda.”
18. Headquarters for Swine Flu virus set up in Iran - Based on a proposal made by the president, the HQ is comprised of Executive Affairs Vice-President Ali Saeidlou, Planning and Strategic Supervision Vice-President Amir Mansour Borqe'ie, Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli, Education Minister Ali-Reza Ali-Ahmadi, Health Minister Kamran Baqi Lankarani and Agricultural Jihad Minister Mohammad-Reza Eskandari.
Security Affairs
19. Iranian pirates captured - A Russian investigative committee claims that Iranian citizens are among the 29 pirates captured by Russia in the Horn of Africa region.
20. Attack on Iranian ambassador's guards in Kabul - Two armed men attacked a car carrying the Iranian ambassador in Kabul. The armed men, posing as presidential bodyguards, attacked the vehicle and beat up the ambassador's bodyguard. According to an eyewitness, the incident took place after the ambassador's vehicle tried to enter Kabul International Airport; the armed men, who introduced themselves as Afghan President Karzai's bodyguards, stopped it, the witness said. (Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
Economic Affairs
21. Iran-Belgium trade ties on the rise – Iran’s Trade Development Organization has announced that during the past Persian year, Iranian exports to Belgium totaled $410 million – up from $225 million in the previous year. Belgium, the organization notes, has risen to ninth place in the list of Iran’s top trading partners from the point of view of non-petroleum products such as pistachio nuts, carpets, caviar and more. According to Iranian officials, the figures prove that despite the economic pressures and sanctions, EU member states still wish to develop economic and commercial ties with Iran.
22. First branch of Iran-China Chamber of Commerce to be inaugurated in Shanghai - The first deputy head of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce said that four joint chambers would be opened in China within the next two years. Majid Hariri said the chambers aimed to transfer information between Iranian and Chinese economic activists and promote Iranian investment opportunities in Shanghai. Trade between Iran and China amounts to some $29.45 billion a year. (Source: IRNA)
23. Managing director of IRISL:"Iran enjoys greatest sea fleet in the Middle East” – The managing director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), Mohammed Hossein Dajmar, said Iran enjoys the greatest fleet in the Middle East, with 154 cargo ships and a good number of oil tankers. Dajmar also announced that Iran planned to add 16 additional vessels to its fleet by mid-March, with the company aiming to ship 50 percent of the country's cargo in the future. IRISL and its subsidiaries carry a total cargo capacity of 5.29 million tons in Asia, Europe and Africa. Noting that Iran ranks 14th in the number of its commercial liners and oil tanker vessels in the world, Dajmar reiterated that the company now had 154 cargo ships – up from 138 during the year that ended on March 20.
24. Tejarat Bank heading for privatization – The CEO of Tejarat Bank has commented on plans to privatize 51 percent of the bank’s shares within the coming two months, noting that a decision has been made to sell off 80 percent of the bank’s shares by the end of the year.
25. Iranian commerce minister and Serbian officials set for 13th meeting of joint economic commission in Belgrade; minister will also meet with Serbian premier - According to Masoud Mirzaee, an Iranian Trade Development Organization official, an Iranian economic delegation arrived in Belgrade on Monday to attend the preliminary meeting of the commission. Iranian Minister of Commerce Masoud Mirkazemi is expected to arrive in Belgrade on Wednesday to attend the joint economic commission meeting that will take place May 6-8. The Iranian minister will also meet with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and a number of other Serbian ministers to discuss major issues of mutual interests.
26. Proposal to drop zeros off Iranian currency – Iranian Central Bank Governor Mahmood Behmani has announced the establishment of a committee that will review a proposal to drop three zeros off the Iranian currency, commenting: “If the review is positive, we will work towards dropping three zeros off the currency.” Commenting on the printing of higher-value banknotes, the governor said that there was no need for this at present but the idea was also under consideration by the bank’s experts.
27. Strike at one of Tehran’s largest commercial centers – Stall and shop owners on Lalezar Street in Tehran – one of the capital’s largest and busiest commercial centers – went on strike and refused to open their stores, protesting the Internal Security Forces’ implementation of its program to boost the level of security in society. The strike led to severe traffic disruptions in the city. According to reports, the security forces have decided to forgo the program and have issued parking permits for vehicles and motorbikes along the street.
Human Rights, Religion and Social Affairs
28. Political prisoners severely beaten by Intelligence and Security Ministry officials – Human rights activists are reporting that Intelligence and Security Ministry officials raided the wing of Gohar-Dasht where political prisoners ate held and severely beat the inmates before moving some to solitary confinement. According to the activists, Behrooz Javid Tehrani, the last detainee from the student riots of 1999, was also severely beaten and placed in solitary confinement. Tehrani has launched a hunger strike, the activist reported.
29. Families of ‘May 1st’ detainees demonstrate – The families of individuals arrested during May 1 parades in various Iranian cities have staged a demonstration outside the Revolutionary Court. They have also sent a letter of protest against the arrests to the head of the Iranian Judiciary, demanding the immediate release of all the detainees.
30. Drug trafficker executed – A prisoner convicted of drug trafficking was executed Monday in the courtyard of the Ardebil prison.
31. Arrest of Tehran Teachers Union board member– Rasoul Bedaqi, a Tehran Teachers Unionboard member and human rights activist, was arrested during a teachers’ demonstration outside the Education Ministry. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
32. Iran sees rise in HIV carriers – According to official Iranian figures, the number of AIDS-virus carriers in the country has increased. The use of infected needles among drug addicts and unprotected sex are cited as the main causes. Meanwhile, the Iranian Health Ministry believes that the number of HIV-positive individuals in the country is four times higher than the known number of infected patients.
33. Released after 13 years on death row – Kobra Najar, who was sentenced to death by stoning some 13 years ago, was released from jail last week. She was released in the framework of pardons granted to prisoners during the Islamic Revolution celebrations.
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