Noam Chomsky

DUBAI, UAE, June 9--Antiwar activist Noam Chomsky said a reasonable solution would permit Tehran to develop nuclear energy.
A popular American linguist, author and political activist, Chomsky criticized the US for not promoting democracy and mentioned Iran’s nuclear right to develop nuclear energy within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
He also criticized US remarks about the Iranian government helping Iraqi terrorists in his recent article published by Khaleej Times Online.
Chomsky added that US statements about Iran providing terrorists in Iraq with arms are baseless and such ideas have provoked predictable debates among pro-war and antiwar parties in the US leading to absurd statements based on assumptions that the US owns the world.
The prominent author believes that the US government defines ’interference’ as the action of any country impeding US objectives in countries it invaded and occupies.
Chomsky wrote in his article, “In April, Rice spoke about what she would say if she encountered her Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki at the international conference on Iraq at Sharm El-Sheikh. ’What do we need to do? It’s quite obvious,’ Rice said. ’Stop the flow of arms to foreign fighters; stop the flow of foreign fighters across the borders.’ She is referring, of course, to Iranian fighters and arms. US fighters and arms are not ’foreign’ in Iraq, or anywhere. The tacit premise underlying her comment and virtually all public discussion about Iraq (and beyond) is that we own the world.“
According to Chomsky, it is useful to ask how Washington would act if Iran had invaded and occupied Canada and Mexico, overthrown the governments there, slaughtered thousands of people, deployed major naval forces in the Caribbean and issued credible threats to destroy the United States if it did not immediately terminate its nuclear energy programs (and weapons).
“Would the US watch quietly?“ he asked.
Commenting on the West’s accusations of Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, Chomsky wrote, “Surely no sane person wants Iran (or anyone) to develop nuclear weapons. A reasonable solution to the crisis would be to permit Iran to develop nuclear energy, in accordance with its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.“
The American author also presented results from polls conducted by the University of Maryland stating 75 percent of Americans believe it is better for the US to build relations with Iran rather than use threats of force.
Chomsky concluded by stating that the US could only become a “responsible stakeholder“ in the international order if it takes useful steps for hatred dislike throughout much of the world.

Sheikh Mohammad Sayed Tantawi

ALGIERS, Algeria, June 9--Egypt is ready to establish a branch of Al-Azhar University in Iran, said Al-Azhar Sheikh Mohammad Sayed Tantawi.
Tantawi made the remark during a meeting with the head of Iran’s Interests Section in Cairo Hossein Rajabi and Cultural AttachŽ Mohammad Hassan Zamani on Friday, IRNA reported.
Referring to the significance of scientific and cultural collaboration between the two countries, he said Al-Azhar is interested in dispatching its professors to Iranian universities.
Tantawi welcomed the exchange of scientific articles and educational books as well as organization of gatherings for Iranian professors.
Zamani, for his part, called for expansion of intellectual and cultural ties between the Al-Azhar’s Center of Islamic Research and Tehran’s research centers.
“We welcome expansion of scientific and cultural cooperation between the two sides,“ he said.
On May 15, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he is ready to restore full diplomatic relations with Egypt by reopening the Iranian Embassy in Cairo.
Iran and Egypt currently only have interests sections in their respective countries.
Tehran cut diplomatic ties after Cairo signed a peace agreement with Israel in 1979 and provided asylum for the deposed Iranian shah. Relations deteriorated further when Egypt backed Iraq during the 1980-88 war. Since then, the two countries have had limited diplomatic contacts.

A view of the AzerbaijanÕs oil derricks along the Caspian Sea shore near the capital Baku

TEHRAN, June 9--A Department of Environment official has warned against the continued oil-related contamination of the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea.
Deputy head of DoE for marine environment, Seyyed Mohammad Baqer Nabavi, added that his department is currently implementing 35 research projects to preserve the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Caspian Sea.
According to ISNA, 12 oil-related incidents endangered Persian Gulf aquatics in the last Iranian year (ended March 21). Also, 350 sturgeons and 1,000 seals died because of the Caspian Sea pollution.
Nabavi said that a national plan has been prepared for reducing pollution in the Iranian territorial waters in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme.
He added that this plan will be implemented on a trial basis along the coastal waters of Gilan province in northern Iran and of Khuzestan province in the south.
Nabavi also said oil and petrochemical activities as well as industrial operations have made the southern ports of Khour-e Mousa, Bushehr and Hormuzgan the most contaminated areas.
“Persian Gulf is the world’s largest oil-rich region,“ he said, adding that oil transit has created environmental concerns in the region.
Iran is surrounded by 3,500 kilometers of water borders.

KERMAN, June 9--A former president said achieving national solidarity would not be possible without satisfying the public about the ruling establishment’s conduct.
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is also chairman of State Expediency Council, told reporters at Rafsanjan Airport that officials must fulfill their responsibilities to satisfy the nation, IRNA reported.
He said national unity and Islamic solidarity would be possible only by decreasing the level of differences of opinion as well as proposing positive and fruitful projects.
“The people and political officials should attract one another’s love,“ he said. The former president added that his main objective in taking a trip to Rafsanjan was to participate in a commemoration service for the martyrs of Nouq and Anar townships.
Rafsanjani also met with citizens and relatives in his native place to inquire about their situation.