Wednesday
Jul072010
The Latest from Iran (7 July): Mousavi's Intervention
Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 18:32 
1900 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Bail for human rights activist Abdolreza Ahmadi, detained in March, has been set at $150,000.1820 GMT: The Bazaar Strike and Government Climb-Down. The Los Angeles Times has a good overview of yesterday's developments over the stoppage in the Tehran Bazaar and the Government's reversal of a proposed increase in business tax.
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1815 GMT: Mousavi on Sanctions (and the Economy and the Revolutionary Guard). Agence France Presse offers a useful summary of today's statement by Mir Hossein Mousavi (see 1430 GMT).
Mousavi, in a direct manipulation of the President's words, declared, "To say that this resolution is like a 'used hankie' will not ease the hardships arising from demagogic policies, as it is clear to me that this resolution will affect our nation's security and economy."
Mousavi continued by noting the impact of sanctions and hitting at the Government's folly for bringing Iran down on both the international and economic fronts:
This oppressive resolution ... will decrease GDP, increase unemployment, create more hardships for people and widen the gap between us and other developing nations, especially our neighbours.
[The Iranian people] should know the effect of this resolution ... on their livelihood, inflation, the nation's progress and security. If people are asked to resist (sanctions), then their trust should be earned by telling them the truth.
Mousavi then linked economic woes to the intervention of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, "Bringing Sepah [the IRGC] back to its main responsibilities can decrease the greed of enemies ... and decrease the wave of corruption," he said.
1500 GMT: Rumour of Day. Iran Press News is claiming that the Tehran Bazaar, amidst this week's strike by some traders, is under heavy security. It claims there was an attack by men in plainclothes, with one merchant killed.
1430 GMT: A Double Intervention from Mousavi. Mir Hossein Mousavi has followed his Monday meeting with former President Mohammad Khatami with a further comment.
In a note on the recent UN Security Council resolution sanctioning Iran's nuclear programme, Mousavi extends remarks from the Monday meeting that the UN is wrongfully punishing Iran and adds that this is a product of the Ahmadinejad Government's wayward foreign policy.
Mousavi's website Kalemeh publishes a long editorial explaining that Mousavi does not believe church and state should be separates in the development of the Islamic Republic. The editorial is in part a response to an article in the Los Angeles Times that claimed Mousavi, in his recent "Green Charter", had advocated a secular Iranian system. (It is not stated what role, if any, Mousavi played in the writing and publication of the editorial.)
0840 GMT: The Bazaar Strike. Claimed video of yesterday's strike, protesting at a proposed 70% in business taxes, by merchants in the Tehran Bazaar:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCSSy4HZP-U[/youtube]
0700 GMT: We have two contrasting features this morning. Mr Verde takes a long look at the significant anti-Ahmadinejad intervention by MP Ahmad Tavakoli and the Islamic Azad University dispute to ponder, "Crisis...What Crisis?".
If you prefer your news tongue-in-cheek, our top EA news spies have uncovered the first violator of Iran's new guidelines for men's haircuts.
0610 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. An appeals court has upheld the six-year prison sentence of reformist activist and journalist Keyvan Samimi Behbahani, who has also been barred from political, social and cultural activities for 15 years.
Samimi Behbahani is the managing director of the banned publication Nameh and is also a member of the committee in charge of investigating the unlawful arrest of individuals.
An appeals court has approved the three-year prison sentence handed down to Arman Rezakhani.
0515 GMT: As the 11th anniversary of the 1999 student protests approaches, there is talk of some public demonstration linking the past to the present challenge to the regime. For the moment, however, this is just a ripple. Monday's Mousavi-Khatami statement, from what we can gather, seems to have brought little reaction: the summary of the meeting is more a declaration of the "Iranian" legitimacy of the opposition's politics --- the most striking passage is the criticism of international sanctions and "Western" support for terrorism --- than a call for public resistance.
Protest, however, is never far from the surface, for Iran is far more than a Green v. Government scenario. International attention is riveted by the growing campaign to halt the stoning of Sakineh Mohammadie Ashtiani for adultery.
Inside Iran, the most striking result on Tuesday was the apparent success of merchants in the Tehran Bazaar. A sudden shut-down by some textile vendors --- there was also news of closures in the jewellry market --- seems to have brought a reversal of plans for a 70% increase in business tax.
On the labour front, the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Drivers Union has again strongly condemned the arrest and intimidation of members Saeed Torabian and Reza Shahabi.
And, far from least, the battle within continues. Later this morning we'll have an analysis of the latest "protest" of Ahmad Tavakoli --- key member of Parliament and ally of Speaker Ali Larijani --- against the Government and President Ahmadinejad.
tagged Abdolreza Ahmadi, Agence France Presse, Ahmad Tavakoli, Ali Larijani, Arman Rezakhani, Balatarin, Iran, Iran Press News, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Kalemeh, Keyvan Samimi Behbahani, Los Angeles Times, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Nameh, Reza Shahabi, Saeed Torabian, Tehran Bazaar, Tehran Bus Workers Union, United Nations Security Council, sanctions in Middle East & Iran
Abdolreza Ahmadi, Agence France Presse, Ahmad Tavakoli, Ali Larijani, Arman Rezakhani, Balatarin, Iran, Iran Press News, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Kalemeh, Keyvan Samimi Behbahani, Los Angeles Times, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mohammad Khatami, Nameh, Reza Shahabi, Saeed Torabian, Tehran Bazaar, Tehran Bus Workers Union, United Nations Security Council, sanctions in Middle East & Iran
Reader Comments (18)
[...] The Latest from Iran (7 July): The Power of Protest? | Enduring … [...]
Interesting video : "Former elite officers reveal tensions in Iran regime" :
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/11/iran-revolutionary-guards-regime" rel="nofollow">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/11/ira...
Here are some photos:
Tehran Bazaar On Strike Over Tax Row With Government
http://www.payvand.com/news/10/jul/1057.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.payvand.com/news/10/jul/1057.html
RE 0515 GMT: As the 11th anniversary of the 1999 student protests approaches, there is talk of some public demonstration ......For the moment, however, this is just a ripple
The ripple: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/07/iran-simmering-tensions-in-leadup-to-july-9-protest-anniversary.html" rel="nofollow">http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2...
Bernard-Henri Lévy , a famous french philosopher and writer, explains :
"The Arab World Against Ahmadinejad?"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bernardhenri-levy/the-arab-world-against-ah_b_636952.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bernardhenri-levy...
More videos of the Bazaar strike:
http://persian2english.com/?p=12516" rel="nofollow">http://persian2english.com/?p=12516
The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States said Tuesday that the benefits of bombing Iran's nuclear program outweigh the short-term costs such an attack would impose.
"I think it's a cost-benefit analysis," Mr. al-Otaiba said. "I think despite the large amount of trade we do with Iran, which is close to $12 billion … there will be consequences, there will be a backlash and there will be problems with people protesting and rioting and very unhappy that there is an outside force attacking a Muslim country; that is going to happen no matter what."
"If you are asking me, 'Am I willing to live with that versus living with a nuclear Iran?,' my answer is still the same: 'We cannot live with a nuclear Iran.' I am willing to absorb what takes place at the expense of the security of the U.A.E."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/6/uae-ambassador-endorses-bombing-irans-nuclear-prog/" rel="nofollow">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/6/...
It looks like Mr. Al-Otaiba has just put the UAE on Iran's asymmetrical warfare target list!
320 deputies out of 577 in national assembly have signed a support's appeal for uprisings inside of Iran; they are for a democratic and secular regime in iran saying that the resistance of Moujahidin's organisation is "decisive" : (le Figaro)
http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/07/07/97001-20100707FILWWW00433-iran-le-parlement-soutient-la-resistance.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2010/07/07/97...
Nuclear Watch: Change of tone: Iran says sanctions 'may slow down' nuclear work.
TEHRAN - Newly-imposed sanctions "may slow down" Tehran's nuclear drive, including its sensitive uranium enrichment work, but will not halt the programme, atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said Wednesday.
Salehi's comments marked the first time a top Iranian official has acknowledged the impact of the new sanctions imposed on June 9.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=39948" rel="nofollow">http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=3...
Death Row Watch: The European Union urged Iran to stop three death sentences, including one death by stoning of a woman accused of adultery. Catherine Ashton, head of EU foreign relations issued a statement expressing “deep concern” regarding reports of imminent executions in Iran.
http://www.zamaaneh.com/enzam/2010/07/eu-urges-iran-to-stop-dea.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.zamaaneh.com/enzam/2010/07/eu-urges-...
Khamenei going 'Green'? Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's top cleric, said following consultations with the Expediency Council, his top advisory body, that the country is to reform consumption patterns. "The government, especially state companies and institutions, should serve as pioneers in promoting the efficient use of resources, especially energy consumption," the semi-official Fars News Agency quoted the measure as stating.
Iranians must cut energy consumption by more than 30 percent of their current levels by 2015, the supreme leader of Iran said in a decree.
Khamenei added that Iranians must do more to use water resources more efficiently and prevent environmental contamination.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2010/07/07/Khamenei-issues-energy-savings-decree/UPI-12191278506978/" rel="nofollow">http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2...
So this is the official reaction :-) : A senior UAE official says his country rejects the use of force against Iran over its nuclear program, despite reports that a top diplomat suggested a military strike is an option if sanctions fail. The UAE's Assistant Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Tareq Al-Haidan says the Emirates flatly opposes military action and favours talks to end Iran's nuclear standoff with the West. His comments were reported on Wednesday by the state news agency WAM.
Al-Haidan says the ambassador's comments were taken out of context, but offered no other clarifications.
http://www.brandonsun.com/world/breaking-news/uae-official-says-his-country-rejects-military-options-against-iran-97933259.html?viewAllComments=y" rel="nofollow">http://www.brandonsun.com/world/breaking-news/u...
And another one... Iran MP Slams U.A.E. Ambassador's Remarks, Says Tours May Be Suspended. (MP is Kazem Jalali, the spokesman for the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee).
That will teach 'm!!!
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-07/iran-mp-slams-u-a-e-ambassador-s-remarks-says-tours-may-be-suspended.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-07/iran-m...
@ 1500 GMT: Rumour of Day
Bazar strike extended to Tabriz, parts of plastic, whiteware and other bazar sections shut down in protest against taxes (unconfirmed): http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=18905" rel="nofollow">http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=18905
Gay Watch
GB has granted asylum to 2 gays from Iran and Cameroun:
http://derstandard.at/1277337597842/Integration-Grossbritannien-Schwule-Asylbewerber-duerfen-bleiben" rel="nofollow">http://derstandard.at/1277337597842/Integration...
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Suicide-Bomber-Kills-At-Least-28-Shiite-Pilgrims-in-Baghdad-97960974.html" rel="nofollow">http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/middle-eas...
Can somebody PLEASE explain this to me - I just don't get it.
A person who decides to kill themselves (suicide) in such an act - must be either crazy, particularly passionate about their cause (whatever it is), deluded or drugged. Who are these people committing suicide to kill Muslims? I could possibly understand it if it was an attack on an American base or something like that. This is precisely what I had in mind when I said that I cannot see countries like Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan advancing to be stable Democratic societies - and was then denounced as being "racist" for that thought.
Barry
barry - you are either a little kid or naive. When there are over 100,000 US troops in Iraq and when so much of US tax payers money has been spent on bringing peace and security to Iraq and yet these things still happen. One should ask questions as to who is aiding and abetting these terrorist acts and under whose watch are these incidents happening and their real purpose to create hatred between Sunnis and Shi'ites and lay the basis of a civil war. There are Arab regimes, who are the best of friends of the US, the Saudi wahabi regime comes to mind who detest what is going on in Iraq. They do not want to see a stable, democratic and peaceful Iraq under Shi'ite majority rule. As sooner or later this habit will catch on with their own restive public who will also want to elect their own leaders as happens in both Shi'ite Iran and Iraq.