UPDATE 9 MARCH: I’m setting off in a few hours. Iran updates will be lighter than usual until Saturday, but we will keep our eyes on events and try and keep you posted. And, of course, our readers — thanks to all of you for advice for this trip — can be relied upon to provide information and comment.
have been invited to speak next Wednesday at “Iran at a Crossroads“, a hearing organised by the National Iranian American Council at the US Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. The event, sponsored by US Senators and including statements from US Congressman, is expected to draw an audience of legislators, government officials, and journalists, as well as the general public.
The event will be live-streamed from 9 a.m. local time(1400 GMT) at NIACInsight.
Iran: So what happens on the day after 22 Bahman? And what does it all mean?
We have three special reports and analyses this morning. Mr Verde sees the Regime’s win yesterday as pyrrhic: “For any regime, especially one that claims to be a popular republic based on Islam, pointing TV cameras at the right-looking crowd while beating the “wrong crowd” with all its might, especially on the anniversary of its formation, is not a victory.”
EA’s Scott Lucas considers the political significance of yesterday’s events, and concludes that, if President Ahmadinejad could be said to have won, then he “won ugly”. EA correspondent Mr Azadi, who was in close contact with sources in Tehran throughout Thursday, gives a detailed summary from eyewitness accounts. We have also highlighted Pedestrian’s snapshot and compelling interpretation that any “defeat” for the opposition yesterday was a tactical miscalculation rather than the end of the challenge to the Government.
We have posted an ABC TV interview with internet activist Mehdi Saharkhiz(of “Only Mehdi” fame) and will continue to add to yesterday’s video posts from Iran (set four can be viewed here), together with other TV coverage that has and will become available.
The regime’s propaganda machine drones on about nukes, nukes and more nukes, trying to divert attention away from internal squabbles and human rights issues. We’ll keep you updated on all the news our live weblog throughout the day.
2150 GMT: A Quiet Night. For the first time in days, a noticeable drop in news and chatter. So we may close shop early and welcome you to a new day in several hours.
1910 GMT: We Take It All Back — No Rest for Ahmadinejad. Remember how we said (1225 GMT) that Ali Larijani’s statement on Iran’s uranium programme yesterday — which could have just as easily been given by the President — indicated a possible easing of tensions between Ahmadinejad and his conservative/principlist opponents?
Well, forget that. Member of Parliament Ali Motahhari, who has taken the point in the challenge to the President, has resumed the attack, and he has done so in the Larijani-affiliated Khabar Online:
We cannot claim the crisis is totally over until both sides make up for their mistakes. The differences of opinion between the government and [the opposition] might have been eased to some extent, but they still exist. Our statesmen should not imagine that people’s massive presence in the Thursday rally reflects the approval of their performance…. The presence of political elite in the rally does not mean there is no longer any criticism or objection towards the regime.
Motahhari declared that the Government must stop banning the press and should release all political prisoners. And he made clear that Larijani’s apparent conciliation on the nuclear issue was more of a demand that Ahmadinejad stick to a hard line against the United States:
People expect their governments not to seek compromise with big powers. The government should be honest with people and tell people if it is engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations with big powers. Nor should the government tie Iran’s nuclear issue to normalization of ties with the United States.
Iran: Strange happenings within Iran —- newspapers being closed down but one quickly reopens; more pressure on President Ahmadinejad; claimed footage from yesterday’s first day of the “Mohareb” trial. All this and more, including tributes for the victims Professor Ali-Mohammadi and Seyed Ali Mousavi, and is available in our live weblog.
On the advice of an EA reader Scott Lucas took a “reality check” on the Regime’s position in Iran and concluded: Yep, They’re Still in Trouble.
Haiti: The most recent posts from Josh Shahryar’s Humanitarian Liveblog on the Haitian crisis can be read here and those from his News Liveblog here.
Israel/Turkey: Following Israel’s Defense Minister Barak’s visit to Ankara, Foreign Minister D-G Yossi Gal will today hold official strategic dialogue meetings with Turkish officials,
Israel/Gaza: Tzipi Livni appeared on CNN’s Amanpour on Monday. She said she would travel to Europe “For Israeli Soldiers” – despite the possibility of arrest. We have a transcript of the interview and will try to post the video later.
Iran: There’s a lot going on in and about Iran today – the trials are continuing; the Regime’s propaganda machine trundles on too! All the news, including links to our own stories and other news media, can be found on our live weblog.
In the light of the Ashura demonstrators’ trial starting this morning, and as they are charged with “Mohareb” (offending God and the prophet), Edward Yeranian assesses how this may hurt the regime.
We’ve got the video of the CNN interview in which Tehran University academic Seyed Mohammad Marandi lays out, in the guise of reporting and analysis, the strategy. (Apologies to those of you in the US whom CNN have blocked from seeing the video; the alternative, as laid out by our readers, is to download the video from CNN’s Amanpour website and play it back using QuickTime.)
Afghanistan: We have an evaluation from Juan Cole on this morning’s Taliban bomb attack in Kabul, which reportedly killed five and injured eight people. A video of the Esanech (Press TV) report on the attack can be viewed here.
Haiti: EA’s Josh Shahyrar has been producing an almost constant humanitarian liveblog since the Haiti earthquake disaster last Tuesday – read his latest posts (17-18 January) here.
Israel: EA’s Ali Yenidunya reports on the “strategic” relationship between Israel and Turkey, following Sunday’s 3.5 hour meeting in Ankara between Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. An Israeli official said the meeting was conducted “in a very friendly atmosphere”.
Palestine: After Israel’s Foreign Minister said on Sunday that it would make no further “gestures” towards the Palestinians, Palestinian Authority Leader Mahmoud Abbas has called on Washington to “Draw Red Lines”.
Iran will put 16 opposition demonstrators on trial, Monday, and several are to be charged with “offending God and his prophet.” Sixty journalists and intellectuals are expressing outrage over use of the charge of being “mohareb”, which carries the death penalty.
The Iranian judiciary will put 16 opposition protesters on trial, Monday, in connection with demonstrations last month on the holy day of Ashoura. Press reports and recent statements by Iranian prosecutors indicate several will be charged with the offense of “mohareb” or “making war against God and his prophet.” Conviction on such a charge carries the death penalty.
In an open letter to the Iranian judiciary, a group of 60 Iranian journalists and intellectuals, most of whom live abroad, are demanding a stop to using the religiously-based charge of “mohareb” against opposition protesters. They say in their letter, that “if protesting is making war against God, then we are all warriors.”
Iran: News from Iran this morning concentrates on the booby-trap bomb explosion in Tehran that killed Professor Massoud Mohammadi. We have the latest, which includes indication that Mohammadi was not involved in Iran’s nuclear programme, and a video of state media’s presentation of the event.
Links to this and other top stories, from EA and other media, are available as always, in our weblog.
Amidst recent coverage of Iran and Twitter, and following yesterday’s contributions on this issue, we have a comprehensive analysis today from Christopher Parsons, which seeks to dispell some of the fear, uncertainty and doubt around the Iranian Government’s use of digital surveillance techniques.
Scott Lucas considers, amidst recent statements by Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and Mohamad Khatami, the way forward for the opposition: “The question may not be how the regime reacts to these statements but how the Green movement(s) respond.”
US/Israel: Israel media suggest that, behind the scenes, Israel’s relationship with the Obama Administration is flourishing, despite Washington’s recent sale of arms to four “moderate” Arab states.
Turkey/Israel: A meeting between Turkish and Lebanese Prime Ministers turned into a platform for sharp criticism of Israel.
Iran: We’ve caught up with all the latest news this evening on our LiveBlog.
Josh Shahryar lets loose his frustrations at Will Heaven: “Next time, if you’re going to write on this subject, please, inform yourself about the many terms you used and try to show the real picture.” Scott Lucas offers another perspective with a tribute to the bravery of two Iranian Twitterers no longer with us.
Videos from last night’s international football game between Singapore and Iran are posted in a special section. Iranian State TV reportedly cut the soundtrack to block the sound of the very political, pro-green, chants being heard throughout the stadium.
Israel/Palestine: EA’s Ali Yenidunya analyses the various statements and asks whether change could be in the air over the peace talks.
Israel: We report on an article in today’s Jerusalem Post which compares and contrasts the current Prime Minister Netanyahu with former PM Ariel Sharon.
Gaza: Following a call from Hamas rulers on Wednesday, protesting at the delay of an international aid convoy, a policeman has died and many activists have been injured following clashes between them and Egyptian forces.
UPDATE 9 MARCH: I’m setting off in a few hours. Iran updates will be lighter than usual until Saturday, but we will keep our eyes on events and try and keep you posted. And, of course, our readers — thanks to all of you for advice for this trip — can be relied upon to provide information and comment.
Entries (RSS)