Clipmarks | merrie's 'tehran' clips

An Iranian "Embassy" In Boston [mullahs lobby machine]

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:16:55 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Two year ago when Maleki came to Harvard, Sadegh Kharrazi, a close friend and collaborator of his, told Shargh newspaper in Tehran (May 28, 2006): "There is actually an Iranian lobby in US which illustrates itself occasionally…. [this lobby] should remain non-governmental, but the government could support it, promote it and rely on it". Maleki's goal has been to turn this "occasional" lobby to a full time and large scale machine of influence and misinformation.

It is now apparent that the policy of United States on Iran over the past has been packed with confusion and shortsightedness. It is certainly not a mere security oversight to allow so many former officials enter the United States. Almost certainly, the United States’ goal is to create a back door channel to the mullahs in Iran, a de facto Iranian embassy. Nevertheless, this “embassy” is acting more like a Trojan horse than an ambassadorial channel.

Clip Source: english.iranianlobby.com

Three former Iranian deputy ministers, Abbas Maleki, M. Jaffar Mahallati and Farhad Atai, have made Boston the base for their mission to assist Iran's strategic goals. These Mullahs' diplomats are recycled as scholars in Harvard or other fine American institutes. Senior among them is Abbas Maleki. ¹

A former revolutionary guard, a high ranking Iranian diplomat, and now a senior fellow at Harvard, "Professor" Maleki, is a prominent figure of the Mullahs lobby in the US.

In a series of articles and speeches in Tehran, Maleki has recently elaborated on "how to combat the US". He argues that the best means of countering the US pressure on Iran with respect to the nuclear issue is the use of "soft diplomacy", which according to him is to mount a large scale PR campaign. Maleki identifies AIPAC (Pro-Israeli lobby) as a role model for a successful PR campaign. (Iranian Diplomacy, March 27, 2008)

Tags: harvard university, boston, former iranian deputy ministers, former iranian diplomat, former revolutionary guard

Sufism, Sophistry And Politics

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:56:30 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Would the Pakistanis or the Moroccans burn their homeland by joining "the ball of fire" because Khomeinism is denied the bomb?

The "ball of fire" is a poetic expression, and I wondered where it came from.

Would Turks and Algerians jump on the "ball of fire" to show solidarity with a regime that has helped terror groups against them for decades?

Even the Syrian rulers are unlikely to risk their survival by trying to jump on El-Baradaei's "ball of fire" to please the mullahs. They like the mullahs' money, not the mullahs themselves.

Despite Tehran's massive handouts in recent years, one doubts even Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in general would take risks to show solidarity with a regime that, while generous, has been trying to impose ideological control.

That leaves the branches of the Hezbollah, especially the largest and best-financed Lebanese one. But then, as always what Hezbollah does will be decided in Tehran not Beir

Clip Source: aawsat.com

El-Baradaei, another great Egyptian.

As a diplomat and bureaucrat in charge of one of the United Nations' affiliates, he is bound by a duty of reserve. This means that he should not use his position to askew the terms of international debate on subjects concerning his department.

El-Baradei's primary duty is to establish whether the Islamic Republic is, as the United States and its European Union allies claim, violating the terms of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). If he establishes beyond reasonable doubt, that Tehran is not trying to make a bomb, he would need no poetic cliché to prevent war. If, on the other hand, he cannot establish that or, worse still, feels that the opposite may be the case, he should not lend succor to the violator of a treaty of which he is guardian.

In any case, El-Baradaei should tell the world what exactly his "ball of fire" might consist of.

The greater Middle East, which is supposed to become "a ball of fire", is comprised of 25 countries

Tags: iran, el-baradei, middle east"ball or fire", syria, hezbollah, hamas, strait of hormuz,

Suicidal Mystics With Nukes

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:27:05 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks:
After more UN sanctions were threatened, Ahmadinejad stated:

As God promised, the oppressors will have their noses rubbed in the dirt. Now they are fulfilling this promise by themselves... Let it be known that in whatever we do, I see the hand of God and the hidden imam at every moment.

The expansion [of the city of Qom] is driven by an apocalyptic vision: that Shiite Islam's long-hidden 12th Imam, or Mahdi, will soon emerge -- possibly at the mosque of Jamkaran -- to inaugurate the end of the world. The man who provided $20 million to prepare the shrine for that moment, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has reportedly told his cabinet that he expects the Mahdi to arrive within the next two years.

Clip Source: directorblue.blogspot.com

According to 'Twelver' Shi'a Mulims, Imam Hujjat al-Mahdī ( المهدى) is the twelfth Imam and the Mahdi, the ultimate savior of mankind. Twelver Shi'as believe that Muhammad was born in 868 and has been hidden by God (referred to as occultation) to later emerge to fulfill his mission.

Twelver Shi'as cite various references from the Qur'an and reports (Hadith) from Muhammad and the twelve Shi'a Imams. These texts predict the reappearance of Muhammad al-Mahdi which would, in accordance with God's command, bring justice and peace to the world by establishing Islam throughout the world.

Shi'as believe that Muhammad al-Mahdi will reappear when the world has fallen into chaos and civil war emerges between the human race for no reason.

As mayor of Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is reported to have ordered the city council to build a boulevard to prepare for the Mahdi. A year later, as Iran's president, he budgeted $17 million for a blue-tiled mosque in Jamkaran that is directly tied to the Mahdi.

Tags: madhi, tehran, ahmadinejad, islamic republic of iran, nuclear weapons

Iran Supplying Equipment To Taliban To Fight British

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:38:21 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Evidence found by UK special forces is understood to concern the supply of the same bomb-making equipment Iran provides to insurgents in Iraq, namely components for explosively formed projectiles, or EFPs.

It is not clear whether the bomb that last week killed four British SAS reservists in Helmand province was such a device, although British military commanders fear that increasing Iranian involvement in Afghanistan may render irrelevant attempts to increase the number of armoured vehicles in the conflict. Yesterday four coalition soldiers were killed by a bomb in the province of Kandahar.

Meanwhile, as investigations continue into the use of Snatch Land Rovers in southern Afghanistan in which the four UK troops died last week, new figures obtained by The Observer reveal that more than 700 armoured vehicles that could be deployed to protect British personnel in Helmand are out of action.

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

British special forces operating on the border between Afghanistan and Iran have uncovered fresh evidence that Tehran is actively backing insurgents fighting UK troops.

Documented proof that Iran is supplying the Taliban with devastating roadside bomb-making equipment has been passed by British officials to Tehran, prompting fears that the war in Afghanistan may escalate into a regional armed conflict.

Days after Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Britain would freeze the assets of Iran's largest bank to discourage Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, Whitehall sources revealed that they had forwarded 'documentation' that the Iranian authorities were supplying enemy forces in Afghanistan.

Nato spokesman James Appathurai echoed concerns that elements in Iran are providing support to insurgents fighting British troops. He said: 'Weapons of Iranian origin have turned up in Afghanistan in significant numbers.'

Tags: gordon brown, uk special forces, afghanistan, ahmadinejad, iranian efp's, coalition soldiers and british sas killed, helmand

US Diplomacy On Iran Amid Reported Israeli Attack Exercise

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:35:29 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: "I can certainly understand that, given the fact that the president of Iran has talked about wiping Israel off the map," he said. "So Israel does see Iran as an existential threat. But again, I am going to have to kick any questions about what was intended by this exercise, what its purpose was, what they hoped to accomplish, to the Israeli government. They're the competent officials to talk about those issues."

Israel staged a long-range air strike to destroy an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1980, and last September it bombed a facility in northern Syria said by some analysts to have been a reactor being built with North Korean help.

Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful, but Israel and key Bush administration officials, among others, believe it is seeking a weapons capability.

Clip Source: voanews.com

The United States Friday reiterated its commitment to a diplomatic resolution of the Iran nuclear issue amid a report Israel conducted a simulated attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

U.S. officials are expressing understanding for Israel's concern about the Iranian nuclear program and pointedly have not criticized the reported exercise.

But they are reiterating the Bush administration's commitment to a two-track diplomatic strategy of incentives and sanctions to try to get Iran to drop its uranium enrichment project, and say they still hold out hope diplomacy will work.

An Iranian technician works at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facilities (UCF), 420 kms south of Tehran (File)

Israeli exercise was conducted over the Mediterranean Sea earlier this month. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

A senior official who spoke to reporters here said he did not think the Israeli military exercise would affect the Iran diplomacy

Tags: israeli military exercise, iran diplomacy, nuclear issue

Obama The Humble Savior

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:56:16 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Only last week, another of his pals bit the dust, convicted by a Chicago jury of 16 counts of this and that. "This isn't the Tony Rezko I knew," said the senator, in what's becoming a standard formulation. Likewise, this wasn't the Jeremiah Wright he knew. And these are guys he's known for 20 years.

"I face this challenge with profound humility and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people … . I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we........

It's a good thing he's facing it with "profound humility," isn't it? Because otherwise who knows what he'd be saying. But mark it in your calendars: June 3, 2008 – the long-awaited day, after 232 years, that America began to provide care for the sick.

Clip Source: www.ocregister.com

Speaking personally, I don't want to remake America. I'm an immigrant, and one reason I came here is because most of the rest of the Western world remade itself along the lines Sen. Obama has in mind. This is pretty much the end of the line for me. If he remakes America, there's nowhere for me to go – although presumably once he's lowered sea levels around the planet there should be a few new atolls popping up here and there.

Nothing in Obama's resume suggests he's the man to remake America and heal the planet.

Yet at the same time as he's being stunned by the corruption and anti-Americanism of those closest to him, Obama's convinced that just by jetting into Tehran and Pyongyang he can get to know America's enemies and persuade them to hew to the straight and narrow. No doubt if it all goes belly-up, and Iran winds up nuking Tel Aviv, President Obama will put on his more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger face and announce solemnly that "this isn't the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad I knew."

Tags: mark steyn, obama, corrupt, anti-american, rezko, ahmadinejad, tel aviv

Was He Lying Then Or Now?

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:34:33 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: I knew Barack Obama for many years as my state senator—when he used to attend events in the Palestinian community in Chicago all the time.

I remember personally introducing him onstage in 1999, when we had a major community fundraiser for the community center in Deheisha refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

I have been proud to be a part of a strong, bipartisan consensus that has stood by Israel in the face of all threats... I will always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself in the United Nations and around the world.

Lie: In January 2008, a Palestinian activist named Ali Abunimah described Barack Obama’s overnight switch from Pro-Palestinian activist to supporter of Israel.

Clip Source: directorblue.blogspot.com

For a skilled politician capable of evading concrete positions, Obama's speech was characterized by an unprecidented series of fabrications, gyroscopic spin, and outright lies.

Recall that Barack Obama spent two decades attending a church that supported Hamas, attacked Jews and repeatedly honored Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

...I will ensure that Israel can defend itself from any threat — from Gaza to Tehran... First, we must approve the foreign aid request for 2009. Going forward, we can enhance our cooperation on missile defense. We should export military equipment to our ally Israel under the same guidelines as NATO...

Lie. Obama opposes all missile defense technology.

There is no greater threat to Israel — or to the peace and stability of the region — than Iran...

Lie. Barack Obama told a crowd of 75,000 last month that Iran is not a threat.

Obama used to be very comfortable speaking up for and being associated with Palestinian rights and opposing the Israeli occupation

Tags: israel, palestinian activist, obama

"Cap and Trade" NO GOOD

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:37:16 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: In these turbulent economic times, Democrats are proposing to increase the price of gas, outsource millions of jobs to overseas providers, and create a massive new bureaucracy funded by your (additional) tax dollars.

The World Resources Institute reports that, "air pollution in some Chinese cities is among the highest ever recorded, averaging more than ten times the standard proposed by the World Health Organization... In Beijing, 40 percent of autos surveyed and 70 percent of taxis failed to meet the most basic emission standards."

USA Today reports that, "[d]ecades of... pollution have allowed industrial poisons to leach into groundwater, contaminating drinking supplies and leading to a rash of cancers, residents say. In this village, where the air has a distinctive sour odor, the rate of cancer is more than 18 times the national average.

Meanwhile, the world's worst polluters continue choking the atmosphere with toxic fumes and poisons.

Clip Source: directorblue.blogspot.com

Satellite data indicates that Beijing, China is the "air pollution capital of the world."

The World Bank has warned China is home to 16 of the Earth's 20 most air-polluted cities.

The World Resources Institute reports that, "air pollution in some Chinese cities is among the highest ever recorded, averaging more than ten times the standard proposed by the World Health Organization... In Beijing, 40 percent of autos surveyed and 70 percent of taxis failed to meet the most basic emission standards."

Iran is another interesting case. Its pollution problems are visible throughout the capital city of Tehran.

In a single year, 10,000 people have died from pollution-related causes in that city alone.

In these turbulent economic times, Democrats are proposing to increase the price of gas, outsource millions of jobs to overseas providers, and create a massive new bureaucracy funded by your (additional) tax dollars.

The American Consumer summarizes the fatally flawed "Cap-and-Trade" approach.

Tags: lieberman/warner/boxer, cap and trade

U.N. Chief Meets With Ahmadinejad

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:39:29 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: particularly the demand that it suspend its uranium enrichment.

"We expect to hear that the secretary-general told the Iranian president that he was in violation of three Security Council resolutions, that he should comply with international demands to stop enriching uranium, and to stop the crazy talk," a spokesman for the American mission to the United Nations, Richard Grenell, said.

Iranian officials increasingly are emphasizing Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's prophecy that Israel will be erased from the map of the region, but the Western response has been muted.

The U.N.-affiliated Food and Agriculture Organization is hosting the three-day food conference in Rome, where yesterday Mr. Ahmadinejad blamed the "bullying powers" for creating a food crisis and called for the formation of "an independent and powerful body" that would "justly regulate" food distribution.

Mr. Mugabe, who critics say has single-handedly transformed his country from a food exporter into a starving n

Clip Source: www.nysun.com

Yesterday's meeting in Rome underlined the increasingly chaotic state of a U.N. conference on food shortages, at which Zimbabwe's dictator, Robert Mugabe, has been given a platform to disparage perceived enemies such as Britain. Thirty world leaders, gathered in the Italian capital to discuss food aid, have instead heard Mr. Ahmadinejad blame "powerful and international capitalists" for rising food and energy prices.

"Mr. Ban said that Iran needs to resolve its nuclear issue through dialogue and in a way consistent with all relevant Security Council resolutions on the issue."

The European Union's top negotiator with Iran, Javier Solana, has been unable to secure a meeting on the nuclear issue with Tehran's leading mullahs for months.

Secretary of State Rice and other Bush administration officials have said in the past that American and Iranian officials have a number of issues to discuss, but a high-level meeting can take place only after Iran obeys Security Council resolutions,

Tags: u.n. conference, rome, food shortages, zimbabwe, mugabe, ahmadinejad, ki ban-moon, security council, nuclear issue, tehran

Conference On Islamic Wakefullness: Delegates Fall Asleep

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:55:25 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: A preliminary investigation by the Iranian government into the glaring lack of Muslim wakefulness has uncovered a possible Zionist plot to inject sleepy juice into the attendees' water bottles.

Press photos show that next to each sleeping delegate there was a bottle of water. "Coincidence? I don't think so," said Mustafa Zadeh, secretary of the Islamic Republic's Guiding Council. "A Jewish conspiracy is always more plausible than any other theory. Thank Allah for that, otherwise we might erroneously conclude that Muslim lethargy was caused by our failure to generate ideas, stimulate thought, and provoke intellectual curiosity."

Clip Source: thepeoplescube.com

The recent International Conference on Islamic Unity and Wakefulness in the 21st Century in Tehran became a fiasco as it failed to keep the delegates awake long enough for the photo ops. Soon after they were seated, the attendees began to doze off and fall from their seats, with nobody left alert enough to pick them up. The conference was closed on the second day after the neighbors complained that the continuous snoring was making their pets paranoid.

The tone of the event was set by the Director of the Expediency Council of Iran, who nodded off before finishing his welcoming address. "Today more than ever, the Islamic World is in need of wakefulness of Muslims," he said as he slowly slid behind the pulpit.

Hat tip to our Iranian friend Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi who discovered and sent us the pictures published by HEIDARIAM.BLOGFA.COM - a blog we wouldn't be able to read because it's in Persian.

Tags: islamic conference, zionist plot, sleepy juice, water bottles

Obama rejects McCain's challenge

Wed, 28 May 2008 04:17:34 GMT

clipped by: n2sooners

Clip Source: minx.cc

Maverick And Barry’s Excellent Adventure: Not Going To Happen

Yesterday McCain suggested that he and Obama travel to Iraq to get a first hand look at what’s going on there.

Obama, who hasn’t been to Iraq since 2006 (when the situation was a weeee bit different) said no thanks.

Apparently Obama learned all he need to know about Iraq from watching Olbermann.

I guess the idea of sitting down with American troops, their leaders and the elected government of Iraq isn’t as interesting as a world tour of thugs and killers. Perhaps if McCain had suggested skipping Baghdad and going right on to Tehran to chat with Ahmadinejad Obama would have been more interested.

Obama '08: Hope, Change and Bitterly Clinging to an Old Narrative.

Tags: obama, mccain, election, politics, iraq, military

Ahmadinejad: Israel Is Doomed

Thu, 15 May 2008 11:30:57 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Ahmadinejad used an Arabic word, ismihlal, that can also be translated as destruction, death and collapse.

"Nations of the region hate this criminal fabricated regime (Israel) and will uproot this fabricated regime if the smallest and shortest opportunity is given to them," Ahmadinejad said Wednesday in an address broadcast live on state television.

He spoke hours after President Bush arrived in Israel for the anniversary celebrations.

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

Israel considers Iran a serious threat because of its support for Hamas and Hezbollah militants, its nuclear program and its arsenal of long-range missiles, which can be fitted with nuclear warheads and are capable of striking the Jewish state.

Tehran is equipped with Shahab-3 missiles, which have a range of up to 1,250 miles. Israel is about 625 miles west of Iran.

Iran doesn't recognize Israel, and Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel's destruction. Threatening exchanges between Iran and Israel have intensified since 2005, when Ahmadinejad said in a speech that Israel will one day be "wiped off the map." The Iranian leader has also described the Holocaust as a "myth."

"The Zionist (Israeli) regime is dying," said Ahmadinejad during a speech in northern Iran. "The criminals assume that by holding celebrations ... they can save the sinister Zionist regime from death and annihilation."

Tags: ahmadinejad, "annihilation", israel, 60th anniversary celebrations, hezbollah, hamas, shahab-e missiles

Europe's New Pro-American Direction

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:48:36 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Europe’s new political configuration has already partially manifested itself in NATO’s decision in Bucharest to support deployment of U.S. missile defense assets in Poland and the Czech Republic. Even the Bucharest Summit, however, reveals continuing problems, such as Europe’s reluctance to start Ukraine and Georgia on the path toward ultimate NATO membership.

For both America and Europe’s leading nations, therefore, the diplomatic chances of preventing Iran from achieving its objectives are rapidly diminishing. Although tough sanctions are at this point almost certainly too late, they would at least demonstrate that Italy and other Europeans are preparing for the even more difficult step that may be required, namely changing the regime in Tehran, or, as a last resort, the targeted use of military force against Iran’s nuclear program.

Clip Source: www.townhall.com

President Bush’s critics have been quick to assign him blame for weakened trans-Atlantic relations, particularly because of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

But look today at Europe’s political leadership: Nicolas Sarkozy in France has replaced the bitterly anti-American Jacques Chirac. In Germany, Angela Merkel has replaced the dyspeptic and anti-Iraq war Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Britain now once again speaks about the US-UK “special relationship.” And now, Berlusconi will soon return to the Chigi Palace. How times change.

Europe’s new political configuration has already partially manifested itself in NATO’s decision in Bucharest to support deployment of U.S. missile defense assets in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Tags: europe, nicolas sarkozy, angela merkel, gordon brown, berlusconi, missile defense assets, poland, czech republic, israel, iran

Manufactured Martyrdom - Iran "Kills" Aide to Muqtada al-Sadr

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:18:00 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: It is significant Washington is being blamed and not the administration of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad as Tehran is using this to inspire more hatred (attacks) against the foreign led occupation. It is also significant this took place in the religious center of Najaf which will inspire even more hatred. This comes right after Thursday's statement by the Sadr movement saying they were "under siege" and warned they will end the ceasefire they imposed last August. Tehran is setting the stage for more attacks against the remaining British-U. S. troops in the country, an offensive Iran will be entering at least by launching missiles from Iran at UK/US bases.

Clip Source: newsblaze.com

Night Watch: NAJAF - Tehran has manufactured another martyr with the reported assassination of Riyadh al-Nouri in the Shia holy city of Najaf Friday evening. He was a senior aide to Muqtada al-Sadr head of the Sadr movement and Mahdi Army and his so-called killing will serve the same purpose Iran has been using with their staged assassination in February of Hezbollah official Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus.

Tehran used that incident to increase the war against Israel since Israel was accused of it. Al Jazeera reports the Sadr movement is already accusing the U. S. military. Salah al-Obeidi, a spokesman released this statement, "The occupation forces and others who are working with them are responsible for this assassination. Those who have done this want the situation in Iraq to be unstable and want the fighting between the Sadrists and Iraqi forces to continue. This action serves the interest of the occupiers."

Tags: tehran, riyadh al-nouri, shia, najaf, muqtada al-sadr senior aide, mahdi army, imad mughniyeh, damascus

China Has Provided IAEA With Intel On Iran's Nuke Program

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:40:39 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: VIENNA, Austria — China, an opponent of harsh U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran, has nonetheless recently provided the International Atomic Energy Agency with intelligence linked to Tehran's alleged attempts to make nuclear arms, diplomats have told The Associated Press.

In a summary recently forwarded to the AP, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, an opposition group that claims to have informants inside the Iranian government, identified three others as Revolutionary Guard commander Fereydoon Abbasi, Seyed Jaber Safdari and Mohammed Mehdi Nejad-Nouri.

It said the three and others are involved in clandestine nuclear weapons-related research at three Iranian universities: Beheshti; Malek Ahstar and Imam Hossein.

Asked for verification, a senior diplomat of an IAEA member state said that a fact check run by his country's relevant agency showed the claims to be generally accurate. Another senior diplomat also said the information appeared to be fairly reliabl

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

A Chinese decision to provide information for use in the agency's attempts to probe Iran's purported nuclear weapons program would appear to reflect growing international unease about how honest the Islamic republic has been in denying it ever tried to make such arms.

The new development was revealed by two senior diplomats who closely follow the IAEA probe of Iran's nuclear program. One commented late last week and the other Wednesday.

The diplomats said Beijing was the most surprising entry among a fairly substantial list of nations recently forwarding information to the agency that adds to previously provided intelligence, and which could be relevant in attempts to probe Iran for past or present nuclear weapons research.

But they said several other countries not normally considered to be in the anti-Iran camp had also done so in recent weeks.

The diplomats — who demanded anonymity because their information was confidential — declined to name individual nations

Tags: china, beijing, intel, national council of resistance iran, tehran, nuclear program