|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saudis Downplay Iranian Threat
|
|
Prince Saud Al-Faisal
|
RIYADH,
Saudi Arabia, July 6--Saudi Arabia still hopes for a peaceful solution to the international standoff over Iran’s nuclear energy program and has downplayed the idea of Iran targeting the Persian Gulf region in any war, a report said on Friday.
The Persian Gulf Arab region contains a large US military presence that could be deployed to attack Iran, Reuters reported.
“We have expressed hope that the Iranian crisis is solved peacefully,“ the official news agency SPA quoted Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal as saying after a meeting of Persian Gulf Arab ministers in Jeddah on Thursday night.
Asked about the chances of Iran striking at Persian Gulf countries in the event of hostilities, the minister said: “I haven’t heard of such a suggestion...but it is inappropriate.“
Persian Gulf Arabs have announced their own plans to develop nuclear energy for civilian purposes.
The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, grouping Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, has begun talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency on international monitoring of the program, which is at a very early stage.
|
|
|
|
MP Tells British Premier:
Revise Iran Policy
TEHRAN, July 6--A senior lawmaker called on the new British government to revise its wrong policies vis-ˆ-vis Iran’s nuclear case.
Chairman of Majlis National Security Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi also called on the new government in London to compensate for the previous wrong policies of ex-premier Tony Blair, Fars reported.
“Blair’s administration has made many blatant mistakes in its foreign policy. The most transparent mistake was the Iraq issue and tagging along with the US [in the Middle East],“ he said.
Boroujerdi called on Gordon Brown and his cabinet to change the British policies toward Middle East countries, particularly Iraq and Iran.
“Wisdom dictates that we shall witness changes in the British foreign policy in all areas. However, we should wait for the policies of the new administration without making any prejudgment,“ he said.
Boroujerdi hoped that with the opening of a new chapter in Iran’s nuclear case and IAEA’s cooperation, “we would witness a change in the policies of the UK“.
|
|
|
|
Mottaki Stresses Palestinian Unity
TEHRAN, July 6--Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has called for unity among Palestinian groups as a solution to the unfolding complex situation in occupied Palestine.
In a telephone conversation with Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Mottaki reiterated the need to hold talks for resolving the current crisis, Mehr reported.
“National solidarity among Palestinians is the only way to resolve problems and that’s why we call on all Palestinian groups to resolve differences through negotiations,“ Mottaki said.
Haniyeh, for his part, praised Iran’s efforts to support the rights of Palestinians and the resistance movement, saying that the Palestinian nation has always hoped that problems will be soon resolved with the help of Muslim nations.
“Our main battle is with our Zionist enemy and we don’t want to enter into conflict with our [Fatah] brothers. So, we propose direct negotiations,“ Haniyeh said.
|
|
|
|
Lukashenko Keen on Military Cooperation
MINSK, Belarus,
July 6--Belarus’ president promised aid to Iran’s military Thursday, and held talks with the visiting Iranian defense minister.
“Our cooperation with Iran in the military-technical sphere is based on the development, above all, of high technologies,“ Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting with Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, AP reported.
He also said Belarus would implement contracts it had signed with Iran, but it was unclear whether he was talking about weapons sales or other trade deals. Belarusian officials declined to comment.
Najjar said that “Belarus holds a special position in Iran’s foreign policy“ and that “cooperation between Belarus and Iran is developing thanks to mutual understanding at the presidential level“.
Less than two months ago, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad traveled to the ex-Soviet republic and pledged solidarity in the face of foreign pressure.
Lukashenko and Ahmadinejad are vocal critics of the United States and have cultivated ties with other countries at odds with the West.
|
|
|
|
Nuclear Program
A Nat’l Issue
TEHRAN, July 6--Interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran said nuclear energy is now a part of the country’s “Islamic and Iranian culture“, stressing that Iran will never abandon this advantage.
Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani added that Iran would never give up its nuclear right, because the nuclear program is a national issue, IRNA reported.
Addressing oppressive world powers, Emami-Kashani said, “We do not care about your obligations and prohibitions, and you better heed the world community’s strong protest, displayed in rallies against your conduct.“
He labeled as “truly inappropriate“ the West’s claim about Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities, arguing, “The US position is out of the question, but we hope to be able to convince Europe that Iran is really not after adventurism.“
The prayer leader referred to gasoline rationing plan as one of the best and most important projects of the government and the parliament and said, “The price of a liter of gasoline in Iran is lower than that of a bottle of water, while a high price is paid for importing it.“
Emami-Kashani considered the rationing plan as a sign of cooperation between the government and the parliament, advising the nation to assist the government in implementing it more effectively in a bid to save energy.
|
|
|
|
|
New Challenge
IRAN: The UK is increasingly arresting foreign nationals everyday. The news of cars packed with bombs found in London after the new British government took office has led to tough security measures against foreigners. The prevailing political ambience of London is similar to the pre-September 11, 2001, situation in New York. Analysts are seriously concerned that the reality about what is currently going on in UK will remain a mystery. Having said that the solution to insecurity problems is not tightened security, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown now admits that the UK is facing a serious challenge. Former UK police chief, Lord Stevens, maintains that Al-Qaida has grown in the UK and become very sophisticated.
Non-Interference
ETEMAD: The international principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries has been the focus of human rights institutions. What is noteworthy here is that there is no international guarantee that this interference will stop. Human rights institutions are duty-bound to find a way to prevent these interferences. According to UN Resolution 688, only humanitarian organizations can interfere in the affairs of other countries. This resolution obliges governments to provide human rights bodies with facilities to assist the needy people. These civil institutions should be allowed free access to places and people that have been discriminated against and prosecuted in an unlawful manner or denied recourse to the court of law.
US Control
DONYA-YE EQTESAD: In 1918, the Russian revolutionaries forced the British troops to withdraw from the Caucasus until 15 years ago. Over 70 years of dispute between the former Soviet Union and the West did not allow the US and its European allies to approach the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Balkans. However, 15 years ago when the former Soviet Union collapsed, this trend changed and the regions under Soviet control gradually went under the domination of the US. Today the US is more actively present in these regions in the absence of any force to challenge its presence. The West is primarily interested in the oil resources of this sensitive region.
Obligation
SARMAYEH: Social Security Organization of Iran, which increases retirement benefits annually, is responsible for procuring the budget required for the raise. If government policies are really based on promoting welfare, cabinet ministers should ratify supplementary budgets to allow the SSOI fulfill its commitments. In this respect, the organization should devise new mechanisms to generate funds for paying the millions of retirees by increasing investments, adjusting premiums and raising the productivity of affiliated companies and industries. One important move could be to bring more people under the SSOI umbrella to augment its income. As the aged and the retirees are under pressure to make ends meet, the SSOI should strive to increase its revenues and help the government dispense justice.
Biased Confab
RESALAT: A conference will be held on September 8-9 on the occasion of 500th anniversary of the invasion of Hormuz Island by Portuguese troops in Washington DC. The conference is themed “Persian Gulf and Safavid Dynasty“ and supported by two research institutes, namely, ’Julius Bar’ and ’Target Follow’. The conference aims to discuss the role of Portugal in the Persian Gulf in historical and political terms. The Portuguese were the first Europeans whose warships commanded by Alfonso de Albuquerque (1453-1515 AD) conquered the strategic Hormuz Island in the Persian Gulf in 1507 AD. After defeating the ruler of Hormuz in an unequal and unfair war, the foundations of Portugal’s colonial rule in the east was laid by Albuquerque. Some western historians take pride by saying that Albuquerque was the first European after Alexander of Macedonia to establish a European Empire in the east. The Portuguese ruled for more than a century in Hormuz, Kish and Gambroun (the former name of Bandar Abbas) until Shah Abbas of Safavid Dynasty by exploiting the differences among colonial powers defeated the Portuguese and recaptured Hormuz. What is interesting is that the conference will highlight the capture of Hormuz Island and not the humiliating defeat of Portuguese.
Liquidity
ASR-E EQTESAD: One of the main reasons attributed to the rise in housing prices is the sharp increase in liquidity in recent years accompanied by the incapability of financial markets in absorbing this liquidity. This has also affected other sectors, but its impact is significant on the housing sector. When people invest in the housing sector and liquidity converges, housing prices begin to increase. The policy usually recommended by economists in other countries is to reduce liquidity and increase the profit rates of banks. This is while the opposite happens in Iran.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
