Clipmarks | RecordSage's 'iran' clips

Moscow quits sanction talks about Iran

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:36:43 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: But of course...

Moscow quits sanction talks about Iran

Russia pulled out of talks on tighter sanctions against Iran despite warnings yesterday that Tehran was racing towards producing a nuclear bomb.

The apparent failure of the diplomatic initiative leaves the West without a strategy to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Moscow pulled out of multilateral talks planned for today on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly amid tensions with the United States over Russia's military action in Georgia.

Washington said that the meeting between the five permanent Security Council members and Germany had been cancelled. France, however, urged the remaining parties to go ahead with the discussions.

Tags: russia, iran

General Petraeus hails SAS

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:09:29 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

General Petraeus hails SAS after Iraq victory over al-Qaeda car bombers

The SAS has helped to defeat a murderous web of al-Qaeda's car bombers in Baghdad that brought devastation to the capital, the top US commander in Iraq said yesterday as he heaped praise on the unit's efforts.

General David Petraeus, who is due to leave his post in Iraq shortly, also dismissed the notion that American and British military relations had been strained by the recent offensive in Basra, emphasising that the problem of tackling militias in the southern port city had been rightfully Iraqi-led.

The four-star general, looking forward to his next posting as head of Central Command, said he would draw on lessons learnt from his four years in Iraq on how to fight an insurgency when tackling his new area of responsibility, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, Syria and Lebanon.

He said Britain's special forces in Iraq worked alongside their American counterparts on “many, many cases of very important operations”.

Tags: petraeus, sas, iraq war, progress

Syrian general's killing severs Hezbollah links

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:37:37 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: The wonders of a stray bullet...

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Syrian general's killing severs Hezbollah links

Bashar al-Assad’s regime is considering moving into the arms of the West as peace talks with Israel, using Turkish mediation, continue

The mysterious killing last week of a top Syrian general and key aide to Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has sparked intense speculation about internal feuding within the regime’s intelligence apparatus.

Syria is at a critical juncture as it pursues indirect peace talks with Israel and a closer relationship with the West, while attempting to maintain its long-standing regional alliances with Iran and the militant Shia Hezbollah of Lebanon.

After Mr Assad became president in 2000, General Suleiman ran his intelligence affairs, and is reported to have handled the transfer of weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Tags: syria, hezbollah

Iran's targets - Israel & US bases

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:07:29 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Iran 'to target Israel, US bases'

Iran will target "the heart of Israel" and 32 US bases in the Gulf if they launch an attack on Iran, an Iranian official has warned.

The Iranian response would come "before the dust from this attack has settled", Mojtaba Zolnour said.

Mr Zolnour is a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the elite Revolutionary Guards.

His comments come amid fears that Iran could be attacked by the US and Israel over its nuclear programme.

They also followed Iranian missile tests capable of hitting Israel early this week.

Iran has said it is prepared to negotiate with major world powers, but insisted the talks must address Iran's nuclear rights.

Nuclear ring reportedly had weapon design

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:23:47 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: ap.google.com

Nuclear ring reportedly had weapon design

WASHINGTON (AP) — An international smuggling ring may have secretly shared blueprints for an advanced nuclear weapon with Iran, North Korea and other rogue countries, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

The now-defunct ring led by Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan is previously known to have sold bomb-related parts to Libya, Iran and North Korea. A draft report by former top U.N. arms inspector David Albright says the smugglers also acquired designs for building a more sophisticated compact nuclear device that could be fitted on a type of ballistic missile used by Iran and other developing countries, according to the Post.

"These advanced nuclear weapons designs may have long ago been sold off to some of the most treacherous regimes in the world," Albright wrote in the draft report, which was expected to be published later this week, the Post reported.

Tags: terrorism, wmd, nuclear

Iran Blocks Access To Google

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:02:24 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran has blocked access to the Google search engine and its Gmail email service as part of a clampdown on material deemed to be offensive, the Mehr news agency reported on Monday.

"I can confirm these sites have been filtered," said Hamid Shahriari, the secretary of Iran's National Council of Information.

He did not explain why the sites were being blocked. Google, Gmail and several other foreign sites appeared to be inaccessible to Iranian users from Monday morning.

Iran has tough censorship on cultural products and internet access, banning thousands of websites and blogs containing sexual and politically critical material as well as women's rights and social networking sites.

The rules are applied by Internet Service Providers who use filtering programmes to prevent access to the banned sites.

Iran is in the midst of one of its toughest moral crackdowns in years, which has already seen thousands of women warned for failing to obey Islamic dress rules.

Tags: iran, google, access, politics

al qaeda (allegedly) tries to hijack a Turkish airliner

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 18:24:12 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: "The pilots convinced the hijackers that the plane needed to refuel and landed in Antalya. Then they kicked open the cockpit windows and fled the plane. The hijackers decided to free the women and children on board, but as people began filing out of the plane through two side doors, passengers forced open a door at the back of the plane and, in a sudden flood, most of the remaining hostages escaped."

Good for them!

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Passengers Escape Turkey Hijacking

ISTANBUL, Aug. 18 — Two men tried to hijack a Turkish passenger plane with 142 people aboard on Saturday but failed after pilots arranged an emergency landing in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya and the two lost control of the passengers.

The plane was en route to Istanbul from Nicosia, in northern Cyprus, when the hijackers, identified by Turkish officials as Mehmet Resat Ozlu, a Turkish national, and Abdulaziz Maliki, a Syrian holding a Palestinian passport, demanded that it be diverted to Iran. They were protesting actions by the United States administration, the officials said.

“I saw these two men at the airport; they had odd looks,” Erhan Erkul, one of the passengers, told NTV. On the plane, he added, “They said they were Al Qaeda members.”

The two men, shouting in Arabic, ran to the cockpit door and tried unsuccessfully to kick it open. One held a plastic bag and said it contained a bomb, passengers told NTV, the private television network.

Tags: turkey, terrorism, islam, al qaeda

It's official - the war with Iran starts tomorrow... or not

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 08:53:22 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Quite a clever way to start the war with Iran. Bush supposedly goes for a medical procedure, giving the power to Cheney, who according to most of the press can't wait to start the war in Iran. So here we go... left's worst nightmare coming to fruition - Dick Cheney, the President of the United States.

Clip Source: www.fox12news.com

Snow says the president will hand over presidential powers to Vice President Cheney while he is under anesthesia.

Tags: bush, cheney, presidency, iran, war

US Ship helps to force the release of British sailors

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:29:47 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.newsmax.com

USS Nimitz Forced Iran's Decision

WASHINGTON -- The announcement Wednesday by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that his government would release the 15 captured British sailors and marines came after an intense and often bitter internal debate, sources in Tehran told NewsMax.

The capture of the British naval inspection team was clearly a coordinated effort by the Iranian government aimed at demonstrating Iran's ability to confront the U.S.-led multinational forces in Iraq and to divert international attention from the nuclear showdown. The decision to release the hostages showed the limits of Iran's power and the fears of some leaders that too much provocation could backfire.

Unless Iran already has nuclear warheads, a direct military confrontation with the United States would most likely provoke a popular uprising against the regime. And retaining power is the one thing that Ayatollah Khamenei and his clerical cohorts actually care about.

Tags: usa, iran, britain, uss nimitz, hostages, release

The British Sailors will be Freed today!

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:01:41 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Finally, the ah-my-water-jad comes to his senses at least on this...

Clip Source: www.makfax.com.mk

Iran to free British sailors today

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he has pardoned and will free Wednesday the 15 British naval personnel detained by Iranian forces two weeks ago.

Ahmadinejad made the announcement at a press conference in Tehran Wednesday, saying he pardoned the detainees as a gift to the British people.

A spokeswoman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the news. President Bush also welcomed the impending release.

Ahmadinejad also said Britain had promised in a letter not to enter Iranian waters in the future. Iran said the 15 Britons were captured in Iranian waters, which Britain denied.

Tags: britain, iran, sailors, hostages

Iran takes 15 British sailors on patrol

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:28:55 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.theglobeandmail.com

Fifteen British sailors carrying out a naval inspection in the Persian Gulf were seized at gunpoint by Iranian Revolutionary Guards yesterday, adding to tensions in the region a day before the UN Security Council is expected to impose new sanctions on Iran for failing to halt its nuclear program.

The capture led to a spike in oil prices yesterday and added drama to the Security Council meeting in New York, where Iran is expected to defend what it sees as its right to enrich uranium in defiance of the international community.

Not everyone bought that explanation: "Too late for what?" said Richard Grenell, a spokesman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, Reuters reported from New York. "The meeting hasn't even been scheduled yet. How can they say they are too late to come if the Security Council has not given a date and time for the event?"

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cancelled plans to attend the UN session

Tags: iran, england, sailors, hostage, ahmadinejad

Iran & Saudis

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 05:42:55 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage
clipper's remarks: Just look at that photo - 'ah-I'm-almost-as-tall-as-you' and our 'friend', working together on solutions.

Clip Source: story.malaysiasun.com

Saudi Arabia king meets with Iran president

The king of Saudi Arabia King Abdullah met with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday, and the two have agreed to work together to fight sectarian violence in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, has a nujmber of times called upon the international community, "not to isolate Iran" in peace talks, emphasizing the peaceful role Iran could play in the region.

Ahmadinejad said in Tehran early Sunday the two leaders had vowed to combat 'enemy plots' designed to divide the Muslim community.

The two leaders also reportedly stressed the importance of Palestinian unity and the need to safeguard Iraq's independence and integrity.

The US has also claimed that the 'highest levels' of Iran's government are supplying arms used by Shia militants in Iraq.

It makes sense for the Saudis and the Iranians to talk as neither country has an interest in a Sunni-Shia rivalry in the region getting out of control, the BBC correspondent says.

Tags: iran, saudi arabia, meeting, collaboration

18 children die due to car bomb in Iraq

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:44:09 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: www.itv.com

Iraq football pitch blast kills 18 children

Eighteen children have been killed in a car bombing which targeted a football field in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi.

Earlier, three US soldiers were killed and one was wounded in a roadside bomb blast on the outskirts of Baghdad.

It comes after a similar bombing, also on the outskirts of the city, killed a US soldier and wounded two others yesterday.

Also on Monday, 14 people, including women and children, died when a suicide bomber blew up an ambulance at an Iraqi police station near the city in Anbar province which is at the heart of the Sunni Arab insurgency.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that officials from regional states including Iran and Syria will hold talks in Baghdad next month to seek ways to stabilise Iraq.

The White House has said US officials will attend if invited and could include Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. A British embassy spokeswoman said UK diplomats will also take part but it was unclear at what level.

Tags: iraq, terrorism, children, death, car bomb

John Edwards Says Israel is Biggest Threat to World Peace

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 22:49:26 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: hillaryspot.nationalreview.com

Edwards: "Perhaps the Greatest Short-Term Threat to World Peace Is the Possibility That Israel Would Bomb Iran's Nuclear Facilities"

Hillary Spot reader Michael points out this little gem in Peter Bart's column on John Edwards' comments in Hollywood:

There are other emerging fissures, as well. The aggressively photogenic John Edwards was cruising along, detailing his litany of liberal causes last week until, during question time, he invoked the "I" word — Israel. Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace, Edwards remarked, was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. As a chill descended on the gathering, the Edwards event was brought to a polite close.

Really? Israel is the biggest threat? Not Ahmedinijad? Not al-Qaeda? Not a coup attempt in Pakistan? Not a complete breakdown in Iraq drawing in the Saudis, Turks, and Iranians?

Or, you know, perhaps not.

Tags: john edwards, israel, threat, peace, remark

Bomb in Iran - 18 dead

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 07:04:37 GMT

clipped by: RecordSage

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

'18 dead' after Iranian bombing

Eighteen people have been killed in a bomb blast near a bus in the south- eastern Iranian city of Zahedan, the official Irna news agency has reported.

The bomb, which was hidden in a car, exploded, killing members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard who were travelling to work, the agency said.

Qassim Rezai, a military commander, described the act as "terrorism" and blamed "rebels" for the attack.

Reports say suspects behind the bombing have been arrested.

The car apparently broke down, forcing the bus to stop. Its occupants left the scene after being picked up on motorcycles.

"In this thoughtless operation, 18 citizens of Zahedan were martyred. The bandits and the agents of insecurity in this criminal act put a bomb near the bus and martyred these people," Mr Rezai said.

Zahedan lies in the province of Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

It has been hit by a string of attacks and kidnappings blamed on a hardline Sunni group called Jundallah (Allah's Brigade).

Iranian officials have accused Britain and the United States of supporting ethnic minority rebels operating in the Islamic republic's sensitive border areas.

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Tags: iran, bomb