Wednesday, July 31, 2002

IS IRAN NEXT AFTER IRAQ?
Guardian Unlimited: Since becoming president, Bush has labelled Iran a part of the "axis of evil" and accused it of sponsoring terrorism via Hizbullah in Lebanon and of shipping arms to the Palestinians. Iran is said by Washington to harbour al-Qaida remnants fleeing Afghanistan.
The Pentagon and CIA assert that Iran is "actively" acquiring weapons of mass destruction. It has, for example, "manufactured and stockpiled chemical weapons" (just like the US, in fact). It is estimated that Iran will attain nuclear weapons and long-range missile capability within seven years. This is said to represent a direct threat to (nuclear-capable) Israel and, indirectly, to the US and its Nato allies.

Monday, July 29, 2002

Public confidence in Iran
IRNA: "Minister of Defense Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani here Monday warned that Americans are trying to weaken considerably the confidence of the Iranian people and social groups to the government structure and to the ideology dominating the country's political establishment."
Mr. Shamkhani should notice that Americans don't need to do much to undermine the Islamic Republic of Iran or the people’s confidence, because the people of Iran have already shown that they don’t trust the government and cleric rulers any more. Now they are seeking freedom and human rights, which have been promised by Khatami’s government, in other ways. Obviously the government’s situation reveals that reform process is facing with a big obstacle and it seems that this administration either cannot or don’t want to do away with the problem and keep on its way to the democracy and freedom. Today the people of Iran need to be confident that they can achieve their aspirations and definitely the other nation’s supports could play a positive role in thire way.

Sunday, July 28, 2002

Thirty-three leaders received jail terms
The Toronto Star: Freedom Movement party leader Ebrahim Yazdi described the verdicts as "unconstitutional," but said the continued repression of reform efforts would only further alienate the country's people. Iranians are "aware of the realities and will not be deceived," Yazdi told The Associated Press yesterday.

Friday, July 26, 2002

Iranian seek new voice
Michael Slackman in his article ( Losangles Times ) talks about the people of Iran and their frustration by Impasse. most of Iranians are against the hard-liners who rule the country by decree, elevating themselves above the law by controlling the police, the military and the courts. These people are considered as a "Third Force," a movement that encompasses almost everyone who is not in power. It is a social force, a political force. Religious groups, reform groups, radicals and conservatives alike are claiming title to this emerging power. The Third Force appears to cover everyone who is disgusted and disaffected, which, judging from the crowd outside Tehran University, cuts a wide swath across the social, political and economic strata of Iranian society.

Thursday, July 25, 2002

Who is the real reformist?
There is no doubt that Bush administration is willing to deal with reformists in Iran.But question is with which group of them?
In one hand, it seems that khatami and his government are reformists and for six years they have been trying to do some changes in country. This group believes in reform base of non-secular idea and they are trying to reinforce the Islamic republic base of its constitution. If we look behind, we can observe that they played a positive role in reform process. They started very well and attracted people attention to some important issues such as freedom and human rights. So many reformist papers were published, giving new prospects and hope to the people. The political atmosphere has been totally changed in Iran. So many people who were shut up for years could be able to speak out and express themselves.
But suddenly all of these developments faced with great obstacles. Newspapers were banded, journalists and writers were put in jail and the reforms’ wheels stopped.
But in the other hand, there are huge populations in Iran that are seeking reform in every thing. Statistically, most of people are not interested in regime any more. They are looking for more social reform than political. Most of their demands could be considered against the Islamic laws and this regime would not be able to respond them. They are following the reform process carefully and cautiously. They don’t want another bloody revolution. They have enough experience and that’s why they supported Khatami and his reform plans. But now is different time. They are aware that regime cannot accept any change and they are waiting for some thing else and America’s support of peoples’ movements could help them to achieve their aspirations.

Wednesday, July 24, 2002

No change in policy!
VOA:The White House Tuesday denied a published report that it is abandoning efforts to work with reformists in Iran. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says there has been no change of policy on Iran.

Tuesday, July 23, 2002

U.S. shifts policy on Iranian reform
msnbc: A senior administration official said Bush has concluded with his senior foreign policy advisers that Khatami and his supporters in the government “are too weak, ineffective and not serious about delivering on their promises” to transform Iranian society. Instead, the official said, “we have made a conscious decision to associate with the aspirations of Iranian people. We will not play, if you like, the factional politics of reform versus hard-line.”

Sunday, July 21, 2002

Exchange the bodies
Nearly 14 years after ending the bloody eight-year war, Iran and Iraq exchanged the remains of soldiers who were died in captivity. Iraq handed over the remains of 570 Iranians, and Iran delivered the bodies of 1,166 Iraqi soldiers at the al-Mundhariya border crossing, 100 miles northeast of Baghdad. The war between two country left about a million soldiers dead or wounded.

Friday, July 19, 2002

::Common Pain::
I’m not a fiction,
That you can narrate me.
I’m not a song,
That you can sing me
Not a sound,
That you can hear me.
Not a thing,
That you can see.
Not a thing,
That you can know.

I am a common pain
Cry me out.

A piece of Ahmad Shamlu’s poem (one of the greatest Iranian contemporary poets)

Tuesday, July 16, 2002

Unsure Future For Iran Oil Project
On May 21st Asdullah Salehi-Fouz, the managing director of Pars Oil and Gas Company, said that there were an estimated 5bn barrels of oil reserves there, ahead of planned development projects in the area. He said a second oil well was being drilled and could be followed by a third, depending on the success of the other two.
"With the investments already made and those about to be secured … Iran's crude oil production capacity and its quota in OPEC will not decrease," he said.
Buyback deals like this one permit foreign companies to skirt a constitutional ban on foreign investment, allowing them to take a profit from the project's output, recouping their investment.

The president of United State Of America!
Ronald Reagan dies and God made a decision to send him to the hell. He objects and says: “ I don’t want to go to the hell. I am the president of USA.”
God says: “ It doesn’t matter who the hell you are. You must to be placed in the hell.”
Reagan says: “It is not fair. Maybe there is some exception that you can refer to it and send me to the Paradise. Please check it out.”
God checks some of his files and documents and says: “ you are right, there are some authorizations which allow great people, musicians and scientists to go to the Paradise directly.”
Reagan says: “ so, I am Ronald Reagan, president of United State.”
God says: “ It doesn’t make any sense. You must have some proofs. For instance, last week Einstein and Beethoven came here. They presented some documents, which illustrated that they were great people. Then they were sent to the Paradise.”
Reagan asks: “ who are these guys?”
God thinks for a moment and says: “ you can go to the Paradise. I just found out that you are the president of United State of America.”

Monday, July 15, 2002

Middle East Times:"Russia-Iran nuclear cooperation to end with Bushehr"
Russian Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev said Friday that his country's nuclear cooperation with Iran is likely to end following the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant...

Sunday, July 14, 2002

Saddam's son warns Iran
Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday has warned Iran against taking advantage of any US military assault on Baghdad to launch its own attack. In a statement handed to reporters on Saturday, Uday urged Iran not to repeat the harm he said it had sought to achieve during the 1991 Gulf War.

Saturday, July 13, 2002

Top 11 facts that prove George W. Bush is too stupid to be President
1. Even he confuses himself with his father
2. "Nu-Q-lar, Nu-Q-lar, Nu-Q-lar"
3. He was born with a silver spoon in his nose
4. Even his brother Neil is smarter
5. The word "Strategic" has only one correct pronunciation
6. He has to take off a boot to count all of the items on this list
7. He couldn't find oil in Texas
8. He attacked Larry King in the South Carolina debate because he thought King was another Republican challenger
9. He thinks he can keep his past hidden
10. He calls Greeks "Grecians"
11. Dan Quayle is one of his advisors
Too stupid peresident

Friday, July 12, 2002

125 Iranian Lawmakers Declare Support For Resigned Cleric
More than 100 members of Iran's parliament have declared support for a senior Iranian cleric who resigned to protest the way religious hardliners are running the country. ...(VOA)

Monday, July 08, 2002

Top Iranian Dancer Sentenced

CBC News:A Tehran court has banned an Iranian-American dancer from teaching for life and sentenced him to a 10-year suspended jail term for promoting moral corruption by holding dance classes in the United States, his lawyer said Monday. Continue...

Wednesday, July 03, 2002

Traditional and National Foods

Iranian "sofre" (cloth which is spread on the floor and on which food is served) is a colorful one and the food culture of this country is very rich. This richness is due to the diversity of natural environment. In different areas of the country, based on existing possibilities, diverse local foods are cooked. But there are some foods, which are common all around the country, so they considered as traditinol an national foods. In this Interesting site you will be able to find some useful recipies of Iranian foods sush as Chelokabab (steamed rice with grilled lamb or beef), Khoresht ( a kind of food which is commonly cooked with different ingredients and served with rice) and Abgoosht (the mixture of lamb, beans, spice, and potato).

Tuesday, July 02, 2002

Historiography of Iran

Achaemenian ........................................................ 533 - 330 BC
Seleucidian ............................................................330 - 247 BC
Parthian ................................................................ 247 BC. - 224 AD
Sassanide ..............................................................224 - 651 AD
Arab Attack ............................................................645 AD
Omavian and Abbasian ...........................................749 - 932 AD
Saffarian ................................................................866 - 903 AD
Samanian ............................................................. 819 - 999 AD
Al Bouyeh...............................................................945 - 1055 AD
Qaznavian ............................................................. 977 - 1186 AD
Seljukian ............................................................. .1038 - 1194 AD
Kharazmshahian ...................................................1077 - 1231 AD
Mongol invasion to Iran .........................................1220 AD
Eilkhanian ...........................................................1256 - 1353 AD
Mozaffarian ...........................................................1314 - 1393 AD
Teymurids ...........................................................1370 - 1506 AD
Turkamens .......................................................... 1380 - 1468 AD
Safavid ................................................................1501 - 1732 AD
Afsharian .............................................................1734 - 1796 AD
Zandian ...............................................................1750 - 1794 AD
Qajar ..................................................................1779 - 1924 AD
Pahlavi ................................................................1924 - 1979 AD
The Islamic Revolution ............................................1979 AD