The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Iran-West threat exchange over Persian Gulf escalates

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Iran-West threat exchange over Persian Gulf escalates"

Transcription

1 The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center January 2012 Dey 1390 Week of January 4-11, 2012 Editor: Dr. Raz Zimmt Spotlight on Iran Iran-West threat exchange over Persian Gulf escalates Highlights of the week: From the threshold stage to the zone of immunity : Iran confirms launching another uranium enrichment plant 2012 elections: first vetting stage ends; Khamenei calls for mass participation Severe conflict between government, leading film industry figures Big brother comes to internet cafés, national internet network to be launched soon Iran-West threat exchange over Persian Gulf escalates This week top officials in Iran once again threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz in response to the sanctions on importing oil from Iran. Ali Fadavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guards navy, stated last weekend that Iran has previous experience closing the strait. He warned the United States against launching a naval conflict with Iran, the way it had during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. Fadavi said that the world will not last more than 24 hours without the oil that passes through the Persian Gulf, and that the United States cannot guarantee the safety of maritime traffic in the region. He reported that this coming February 1

2 Iran will conduct yet another naval exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which will be different from the exercises it conducted over the past year. Top military officials also discussed the possibility of Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Top air force official Aziz Nasirzadeh said this week that the armed forces are fully capable of closing the strait if the Iranian leadership decides to do so. Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari also said that Iran can close the strait easily. The Revolutionary Guards weekly Sobh-e Sadeq dedicated the front page of its latest issue to Iran s threats to close the strait. A commentary article by Yadollah Javani, head of the Revolutionary Guards Political Department, said that, considering the threats made by the United States, Britain, and Israel, Iran is within its right to use all available means, including the weapon of oil, to defend itself. Javani warned that if the West tries to prevent Iran from exporting oil through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Iran may retaliate by stopping the passage of oil through the strait. On the other hand, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi noted at a press conference held this week that Iran never said it had any intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Majles Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Hashmatollah Falahatpisheh warned the United States that, if its military presence in the Persian Gulf continues, Iran will respond. Last week the commander of Iran s army, Atallah Salehi, warned the United States not to return its aircraft carrier John C. Stennis to its previous location in the gulf. The U.S. vessel had crossed the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Aden before the start of Iran s recent naval exercise in the Persian Gulf. At the same time, Britain s Defense Secretary Philip Hammond warned that any attempt by Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz will be illegal and unsuccessful. It was reported on the media this week that Britain intends to deploy an advanced destroyer in the Persian Gulf in light of the growing tensions around Iran. 2

3 From the threshold stage to the zone of immunity : Iran confirms launching another uranium enrichment plant This week International Atomic Energy Agency diplomats in Vienna confirmed reports that Iran began enriching uranium to 20 percent at the Fordo plant near the city of Qom. Iran s IAEA representative Ali-Asghar Soltanieh confirmed the reports as well, saying that the underground facility enriches uranium for medical needs and that its operation is fully supervised by the agency. The conservative daily Kayhan defined the launch of the additional enrichment plant as a defeat for the policy of threats against Iran, and a new stage in the demonstration of its power. In its editorial, titled From the threshold stage to the zone of immunity, the daily said that Iran has crossed the nuclear threshold into the immunity zone of its nuclear program. According to Kayhan, the transfer of 20-percent-enriched uranium to the Fordo enrichment plant rules out any possibility of a military attack on the nuclear sites, since the new plant is considered by the West to be immune to outside threats. The daily also said that the main strategic concern of Western countries, primarily Israel, stems from the possibility of two processes happening at the same time: the increase of Iran s strategic influence in the region as a result of the Islamists growing power, and the passing of its nuclear program into the immunity stage. Israel believes that, the day these two processes merge, Iran s nuclearization will become impossible to stop elections: first vetting stage ends; Khamenei calls for mass participation The first stage in the vetting of candidates for the Majles elections by the Interior Ministry was completed this week. The chairman of the Interior Ministry s election headquarters in Tehran Province, the largest constituency, reported Tuesday, January 10, that 747 of the 1,066 candidates who registered in the province were approved. Over 30 current Majles members were disqualified, including some of President Ahmadinejad s most notable critics and a number of reformists. Several candidates affiliated with the right wing of the reformist bloc were approved, however. Candidates whose nominations were rejected have four days (until January 14) to appeal. Final decisions on approving candidates are made by the Guardian Council. 3

4 Meanwhile, top regime officials are stepping up efforts to ensure the highest possible voter turnout in the March 2 elections. This week Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for mass participation in the elections. He said that this will be a crushing blow to Iran s enemies, whom he accused of trying to keep Iranians from taking part in the elections. Top officials in the conservative camp once again issued a warning about the ongoing internal power struggles between the conservatives ahead of the elections. Habibollah Asgaroladi, a high-ranking member of the Islamic Coalition Party, said that Iran s enemies are trying to create conflicts among the conservatives to diminish their power, and called for solidarity in the conservative camp. Former Majles Speaker Gholam-Hossein Haddad Adel, who announced he is going to run in the coming elections on behalf of the United Conservative Front, also gave a warning about the danger of internal disagreements, saying that the most important principle for all conservatives is to be true to the rule of the religious jurisprudent and to the Supreme Leader. In addition to the political conflict between the United Conservative Front and the Steadfast Front, supported by radical cleric Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, differences of opinion have also emerged between Steadfast Front activists and President Ahmadinejad s supporters. Steadfast Front member Ali-Asghar Zare i announced this week that his fellow front members will not agree to run in a joint list with government supporters even if President Ahmadinejad renounces his controversial office chief Rahim Masha i. Severe conflict between government, leading film industry figures Last weekend leading figures in Iran s film industry released a memorandum of opinion condemning the decision made by the Islamic Guidance Ministry to close the House of Cinema, the main trade union for those employed in the local film industry. Ahmad Tavakoli, head of the Majles Research Center, criticized the decision as well, saying it was made on the eve of the Majles elections due to political considerations. Last Tuesday the Public Culture Council informed Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpour, director of the House of Cinema, that it was decided to shut down the union following an announcement released by the Islamic Guidance Ministry, according to which the House of Cinema had made illegal changes to its constitution. The 4

5 Islamic Guidance Ministry also filed a petition to court against the House of Cinema for making the changes. Last week Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini defended his decision to close the House of Cinema. He claimed that the union had made a number of changes to its constitution without the authorities approval, refused to be supervised by the Islamic Guidance Ministry, and acted in a manner incompatible with the values of the Islamic revolution and the regime. As an example of the inappropriate conduct of the House of Cinema, he mentioned a statement released by the union this past September in support of several documentary filmmakers detained by the authorities on charges of collaborating with the BBC. In response to the authorities decision to close down the House of Cinema, the union leaders dubbed the decision as illegal since the establishment is registered as an NGO, which is why the executive authority cannot close it down without a court order. House of Cinema members even threatened to boycott the Fajr international film festival, to be held in Tehran in February as in previous years. The House of Cinema, which currently has about 5,000 members, was established in 1987 to protect the rights of those working in Iran s film industry and improve their work conditions. For the past year it has been engaged in a serious conflict with the authorities, which claim that the union leaders have turned it into a means of promoting the reformist opposition s political objectives. Big brother comes to internet cafés, national internet network to be launched soon Last week the cyber police released new regulations imposing severe restrictions on Iran s internet cafés. Among other things, the regulations require internet cafés to prominently display their operation licenses where they can be easily seen. Also under the regulations, internet cafés can only provide web surfing services through licensed internet providers rather than providers that offer satellite-based internet access; internet café operators must have no criminal records, be married and at least 25 years old; internet cafés have to record their customers personal data as it appears on their official identification; they must document the web usage data of their customers; providing access to blocked websites is strictly forbidden; files can only be sent by members of the internet café staff and after making sure that the files contain no viruses; internet cafés 5

6 must be equipped with CCTV cameras to monitor activities in the establishment; and only one customer can use a particular computer at the same time. The new regulations are another stage in the restrictions imposed by the authorities on the use of internet cafés. This past November the Tehran police conducted an operation to shut down illegally-operating internet cafés. Meanwhile, the Iranian media reported that in the next several weeks the authorities will complete preparations for the launch of a separate, closed internal internet network, which will be cut off from its global counterpart. Telecommunications Minister Reza Taqipour said this week that the first stage in the implementation of the project will be carried out in the beginning of the next Iranian year (which starts on March 20). He noted that the internal network isn t supposed to replace the global internet network, but that since most Iranian communications do not require access to the global network, they will be routed through the new internal network. Iran-West threat exchange over Persian Gulf escalates This week top officials in Iran once again threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz in response to the sanctions on importing oil from Iran. Ali Fadavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guards navy, stated last weekend that Iran has previous experience closing the strait on a number of occasions. In an interview given to the Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow TV show, Fadavi warned the United States against launching a naval conflict with Iran, the way it had during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s. He noted that in 1987, when the United States increased the number of warships it had in the Persian Gulf from 12 to 86, it couldn t ensure freedom of maritime traffic there due to Iran s ability to hit and even sink naval targets. Fadavi said that the world will not last more than 24 hours without the oil that passes through the Persian Gulf, and that the United States, which withdrew from Lebanon, Somalia, and Iraq, cannot guarantee the safety of maritime traffic in the region. He reported that this coming February Iran will conduct yet another naval exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which will be different from the exercises it conducted over the past year (Fars, January 6). Top military officials also discussed the possibility of Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Top air force official Aziz Nasirzadeh said in an interview IRNA News Agency that the armed forces are fully capable of closing the strait if the Iranian leadership decides to do so (IRNA, January 7). Navy Chief Habibollah Sayyari also said that Iran can close the strait easily. In a TV 6

7 interview, Sayyari said that Iran s naval presence goes beyond the Strait of Hormuz all the way to the Indian Ocean (ISNA, November 8). Esma il Kowsari, member of the Majles National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, also addressed the possibility of closing the strait, saying that the military exercise which the Revolutionary Guards intend to conduct this coming February is aimed to improve the readiness of the armed forces to close the strait within a short period of time if necessary (Mehr, January 7). The Revolutionary Guards weekly Sobh-e Sadeq dedicated the front page of its latest issue to Iran s threats to close the strait. A commentary article by Yadollah Javani, head of the Revolutionary Guards Political Department, said that, considering the threats made by the United States, Britain, and Israel, Iran is within its right to use all available means, including the weapon of oil, to defend itself. Javani said that if the West decides to try an adventurous approach and attempts to prevent Iran from exporting oil through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, it should be aware that Iran is also capable of preventing the passage of oil through the strait. Referring to Western claims that Iran is unable to close the strait, Javani said that despite such claims, which are part of the psychological warfare campaign waged by the West against Iran, Western countries are well aware of Iran s capabilities. According to Javani, Iran could also close the strait during the Iran-Iraq War, but didn t do so as it wasn t necessary. Iran currently has dozens of effective ways of responding to the threats of the West, and one of them is by closing the strait (Sobh-e Sadeq, January 8). On the other hand, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi noted this week that Iran never said it had any intention of closing the Strait of Hormuz. During a press conference held at the close of the weekly government session, the minister said that Iran is the best guarantee for the security of the strait, and that if anyone is willing to jeopardize the security of the Persian Gulf, they will be jeopardizing everyone (Fars, January 8). 7

8 Meanwhile, Majles Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Hashmatollah Falahatpisheh warned the United States that, if its military presence in the Persian Gulf continues, Iran will respond (Fars, January 7). Last week the commander of Iran s army, Atallah Salehi, warned the United States not to return its aircraft carrier John C. Stennis to its previous location in the gulf. The U.S. vessel had crossed the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Aden before the start of Iran s recent naval exercise in the Persian Gulf. Salehi said that Iran is not in the habit of repeating its warnings. At the same time, Britain warned Iran that it will not tolerate the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. During a visit to the United States, Britain s Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said that disruption of the flow of oil through the strait would threaten regional and global economic growth, and that any attempt by Iran to block the strait would be illegal and unsuccessful. He stressed that the British navy will continue operating in the Persian Gulf to keep the strait open. It was reported on the media this week that Britain intends to deploy an advanced destroyer in the gulf in light of the growing tensions around Iran. From the threshold stage to the zone of immunity : Iran confirms launching another uranium enrichment plant This week International Atomic Energy Agency diplomats in Vienna confirmed reports that Iran began enriching uranium to 20 percent at the Fordo plant near the city of Qom. Iran s IAEA representative Ali-Asghar Soltanieh confirmed the reports as well, saying that the underground facility enriches uranium for medical needs. Speaking about the West s condemnation of the launch of the facility, Soltanieh said that Iran had informed the IAEA of the plant s operation about two years ago, and stressed that the enrichment plants in Natanz and Fordo are fully supervised by the agency (ISNA, January 10). The conservative daily Kayhan defined the launch of the additional enrichment plant as a defeat for the policy of threats against Iran, and a new stage in the demonstration of its power. The launch of the plant in Fordo is an effective response to Western pressure aimed to slow down or stop the Iranian nuclear program, the daily said (Kayhan, January 8). In its editorial, titled From the threshold stage to the zone of immunity, the daily said that Iran has crossed the nuclear threshold into the immunity zone of its nuclear program. Concerns in the West in recent years have focused not on the possibility of Iran developing nuclear weapons, but rather on the possibility of Iran reaching the threshold, meaning a state where it can obtain such weapons at any time if such a political decision is made. Intelligence assessments in the West also discussed the date of Iran s becoming a threshold country rather than acquiring nuclear weapons. While some intelligence assessments argued that Iran 8

9 had already reached that point, others said that it was still possible to prevent Iran from reaching it through intelligence operations and stepping up sanctions. The use of the term threshold stage has become obsolete, Kayhan said, and strategists in the West now use the term immunity zone. The first to use this term were the Israelis, who referred to the moment when Iran would achieve deterrence that would make the regime immune to attacks by the West, and when the nuclear program would become immune to a military attack thanks to defense systems. According to the daily, the transfer of 20-percentenriched uranium to the Fordo enrichment plant makes the nuclear program immune, since the plant will always be considered immune to outside threats by the West. The relocation of the nuclear program to the Fordo facility forever rules out any possibility of a military attack on Iran s nuclear sites. The daily also said that the main strategic concern in the West stems from the possibility of two processes happening at the same time: the increase of Iran s strategic influence in the region as a result of the Islamists growing power, and the passing of its nuclear program into the stage of immunity. Israel s main concern is that, the day these two processes merge, Iran s nuclearization will become impossible to stop (Kayhan, January 8) elections: first vetting stage ends; Khamenei calls for mass participation The first stage in the vetting of candidates for the Majles elections by the Interior Ministry came to an end this week. The chairman of the Interior Ministry s election headquarters in Tehran Province, the largest constituency, reported Tuesday, January 10, that 747 of the 1,066 candidates who registered in the province were approved. In an interview given to Fars News Agency, Safar-Ali Baratlou reported that 319 candidates were disqualified or announced that they would not be running in the elections (Fars, January 10). Over 30 current Majles members were disqualified, including Ali Motahari, considered one of President Ahmadinejad s most notable critics in the conservative camp. He was disqualified under section 28 of the elections law, which requires all candidates to be committed to Islam, the regime, the constitution, and the principle of rule of the religious jurisprudent. Hamid- Reza Katouzian, another of the president s critics, and reformist Majles member Dariush Qanbari were disqualified as well. A number of candidates affiliated with the right wing of the reformist bloc were approved, however, including Mohammad-Reza Tabesh, Mohammad- Reza Khabbaz, Mohammad-Reza Sajadian, Mohammad-Hossein Moghimi, and Mostafa Zolqadr (Khabar Online, January 10). Candidates whose nomination was rejected have four 9

10 days (until January 14) to appeal. Final decisions on approving candidates are made by the Guardian Council. Meanwhile, top regime officials are stepping up efforts to ensure the highest possible voter turnout in the March 2 elections. This week Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for mass participation in the elections. In a speech given to thousands of Iranians in the city of Qom, Khamenei stressed that massive participation in the elections will reflect the people s partnership in deciding the fate of their country and will be a crushing blow to Iran s enemies, whom he accused of trying to keep the citizens from taking part in the elections (Fars, January 9). The Supreme Leader s election forecast (Rooz Online, January 10) Militant Clergy Association member Hojjat-ol-Eslam Hossein Ebrahimi also called on Iranians to take part in the elections in order to thwart the conspiracies of the country s enemies and express the legitimacy of the regime (ISNA, January 10). Voter turnout in Iran s parliament elections Election Population of Number of eligible Number of actual Voter year Iran voters voters turnout ,714,000 20,857,000 10,875,969 52% ,798,000 24,143,000 15,607,306 65% ,909,000 27,987,000 16,714,281 60% ,656,000 32,465,000 18,767,042 58% ,187,000 34,716,000 24,672,386 71% ,152,000 38,726,000 26,082,157 67% ,315,000 46,351,000 23,734,677 51% ,532,000 43,824,000 22,350,254 51% Source: Khabar Online, December 27 10

11 Top officials in the conservative camp once again issued a warning about the ongoing internal power struggles between the conservatives ahead of the elections. Habibollah Asgaroladi, a high-ranking member of the Islamic Coalition Party, said that Iran s enemies are trying to create conflicts among the conservatives to diminish their power, and called for solidarity in the conservative camp. Former Majles Speaker Gholam-Hossein Haddad Adel, who announced he is going to run in the coming elections on behalf of the United Conservative Front, also warned about the danger of internal disagreements. Speaking at a conference held in Esfahan, Haddad Adel said that the elections must not become a scene of internal struggle, since the most important principle for all conservatives is to be true to the rule of the religious jurisprudent and to the Supreme Leader. Ali-Reza Zakani, chairman of the United Conservative Front s election headquarters, said this week that the conservatives are currently facing two main adversaries: the seduction faction (Jaryan-e Fetneh, a derogatory term to refer to the reformist opposition) and the deviant faction (Jaryan-e Enherafi, a derogatory term to refer to President Ahmadinejad s allies and his office chief Rahim Masha i). He said that the deviant faction, which isn t loyal to the values of the revolution and does not obey the Supreme Leader, uses the resources it has available to influence the elections (Fararu, January 7). In addition to the political conflict between the United Conservative Front and the Steadfast Front (Jebhe-ye Paydari), supported by radical cleric Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, differences of opinion have also emerged between Steadfast Front activists and President Ahmadinejad s supporters. Steadfast Front member Ali-Asghar Zare i announced this week that his fellow front members will not agree to run in a joint list with government supporters. When asked by the Khabar Online website whether the Steadfast Front had negotiated with the president in an attempt to define boundaries between the front and deviant faction activists, Zare i said that it had not. He noted even if President Ahmadinejad renounces his controversial office chief Rahim Masha i, the front will not agree to participate in a joint list with government supporters. According to Zare i, while the front does support the government s positive activity, it does not accept its flawed conduct on certain issues (Khabar Online, January 8). Severe conflict between government, leading film industry figures Last weekend leading figures in Iran s film industry released a memorandum of opinion condemning the Islamic Guidance Ministry s decision to close the House of Cinema, the main trade union for those employed in the local film industry. The signatories strongly criticized Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini, accusing him of an attempt to compromise 11

12 the independence and freedom of filmmakers and warning that attempts to create an ideal cinema may result in its collapse (Mehr, January 7). Ahmad Tavakoli, head of the Majles Research Center, also criticized the decision to close the House of Cinema on the eve of the Majles elections, saying that it stemmed from political considerations. Tavakoli argued that even if the conduct of the House of Cinema can be rightly criticized, the decision to close it is unreasonable, inappropriate, and also illegal, since it was made without a court order (Mehr, January 7). Last Tuesday the Public Culture Council informed Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpour, director of the House of Cinema, that it was decided to shut down the union following an announcement released by the Islamic Guidance Ministry, stating that the House of Cinema had made illegal changes to the constitution on the basis of which it was established in The Islamic Guidance Ministry also filed a petition to court against the House of Cinema for making the changes. Last week Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini defended his decision to close the House of Cinema. He claimed that in recent years the union leaders have made a number of changes to the constitution of the House of Cinema without the approval of the Islamic Guidance Ministry and the Public Culture Council. For instance, they dropped a constitution article which required members of the union s executive board to be loyal to the regime and committed to the promotion of appropriate cinema in accordance with the values of the Islamic republic. The minister also noted that House of Cinema leaders refused to be supervised by the Islamic Guidance Ministry and disregarded its request to supervise the union s election procedure. Hosseini also accused the House of Cinema of acting in a manner incompatible with the values of the Islamic revolution and the regime, and claimed that the government received numerous requests from Iranians to take strong action against the trade union of the film industry employees due to its inappropriate conduct. As an example of such conduct he mentioned a statement released by the union this past September in support of several documentary filmmakers detained by the authorities on charges of collaborating with the BBC. The minister also said that regime opponents who reside abroad and have made statements against the regime have been invited to the annual celebrations organized by the House of Cinema in recent years. According to Hosseini, such functions are proof that the activities taking place in the union are not professional but rather political (Jaras, January 7). 12

13 In response to the authorities decision to close down the House of Cinema, last Wednesday, January 4, the union leaders convened a press conference where they dubbed the decision as illegal. The union director argued that the House of Cinema is registered as an NGO, which is why the executive authority cannot close it down without a court order. Top House of Cinema figures categorically rejected the claims made by the Islamic Guidance Ministry against the union, saying they had never refused to be supervised by the ministry. The union members even threatened to boycott the Fajr international film festival, to be held in Tehran in February as in previous years. The press conference convened by the House of Cinema leaders, January 4 The House of Cinema was established in 1987 and began its official activities in The union, which currently has about 5,000 members, was established to protect the rights of those working in Iran s film industry and improve their work conditions. For the past year it has been engaged in a serious conflict with the Islamic Guidance Ministry. The conflict began in September 2010, after the 14th annual film festival organized by the House of Cinema in Tehran, during which Asghar Farhadi was awarded best director of the year for his film About Elly. The title role in the film was played by movie star Golshifteh Farahani, who had sparked an outrage in Iran in 2008 after playing in the Hollywood thriller Body of Lies, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. In his acceptance speech, Farhadi criticized the Iranian regime and called for political change in the country. The authorities were also angered by the appearance at the ceremony of film director Rakhshan Bani E temad and her daughter, the actress Baran Kowsari, who came to the ceremony wearing a green-colored bracelet and scarf, green being the color of the reformist opposition. Following the ceremony, Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini voiced strong criticism of the film industry leaders and said they should not become involved in political affairs. His deputy also condemned the House of Cinema leaders, accusing them of turning the institution into an instrument of promoting anti-revolutionary political goals. A memorandum of opinion issued by the House of Cinema this past September in support of filmmakers arrested on charges of collaborating with the BBC further exacerbated the conflict 13

14 between the union and regime supporters. The conservative Fars News Agency went as far as to mock the House of Cinema by calling it the House of BBC. Big brother comes to internet cafés, national internet network to be launched soon Last week the cyber police released new regulations imposing severe restrictions on Iran s internet cafés. According to the authorities, the regulations are designed to guarantee the safety of internet café users, minimize the dangers involved in their activity, and protect the legal operation of these establishments. A special announcement sent by the cyber police to internet café owners requires them to take the necessary measures to implement the new restrictions within 15 days of their publication date. Among other things, the regulations require internet cafés to prominently display their operation licenses where they can be easily seen. Also under the regulations, internet cafés can only provide web surfing services through licensed internet providers rather than providers that offer satellite-based internet access; selling software to clients and providing print and computer game installation services is forbidden; internet café operators must have no criminal records, be married and at least 25 years old; internet cafés have to record their customers personal data as it appears on their official identification, including first and last name, father s name, ID number, phone number, and zip code; they must keep records of each customer s internet access time, IP address, and history of viewed webpages for the past six months; the use of technology and unblocking software to provide access to blocked websites is strictly forbidden; customers files can only be sent by members of the internet café staff and after making sure that the files contain no viruses; at the end of each business day the managers are required to take the necessary measures to make sure no viruses have been installed on the computers; internet cafés must be equipped with CCTV cameras to constantly monitor activities in the establishment and keep the video recordings for six months; managers must provide their clients with detailed information on computer crimes defined by law and examples of content considered prohibited by law; only one customer can use a particular computer at the same time unless they require another person s assistance for work purposes (Asr-e Iran, January 3). The new regulations are another stage in the restrictions imposed by the authorities on the use of internet cafés. This past November the Tehran police conducted an operation to shut down illegally-operating internet cafés. Meanwhile, the Iranian media reported that in the next several weeks the authorities will complete preparations for the launch of a separate, closed internal internet network, which 14

15 will be cut off from its global counterpart. Telecommunications Minister Reza Taqipour said this week that the first stage in the implementation of the project will be carried out in the beginning of the next Iranian year (which starts on March 20) and that 25 of Iran s 31 provinces are ready for this stage of the project. He noted that the national intranet isn t supposed to replace the global internet network, but that since most Iranian communications do not require access to the global network, they will be routed through the internal network (IRNA, January 8). National internet (Rooz Online, January 8) The separate national internet is considered one of the government projects designed to provide the regime with greater ability to control and monitor internet traffic, which it perceives as a major scene of activity used by Iran s domestic and foreign enemies. According to authorities, however, the launch of the internal network will make it possible to significantly decrease the cost of web surfing services and increase access speed. Pictures of the week: President Ahmadinejad on a visit to Venezuela 15

16 16

Iran after the 2012 Majles Elections WWIC

Iran after the 2012 Majles Elections WWIC Iran after the 2012 Majles Elections WWIC Bijan Khajehpour 8 March 2012 Mood before the Elections Why were the Majles Elections Important? The elections were significant because: These were the first polls

More information

The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center

The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center January 2011 Adar 1389 Week of December 30, 2010-January 6, 2011 Editor: Raz Zimmt Spotlight on Iran Highlights of the week President reorganizes

More information

Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh 'among freed political prisoners'

Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh 'among freed political prisoners' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24151298 18 September 2013 Last updated at 20:43 GMT Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh 'among freed political prisoners' Iran is reported to have freed at least 11 political

More information

The Cause and Effect of the Iran Nuclear Crisis. The blood of the Americans and the Iranians has boiled to a potential war.

The Cause and Effect of the Iran Nuclear Crisis. The blood of the Americans and the Iranians has boiled to a potential war. Mr. Williams British Literature 6 April 2012 The Cause and Effect of the Iran Nuclear Crisis The blood of the Americans and the Iranians has boiled to a potential war. The Iranian government is developing

More information

In the News: Iranian Presidential Candidates Meet in First of Three Debates

In the News: Iranian Presidential Candidates Meet in First of Three Debates In the News: Iranian Presidential Candidates Meet in First of Three Debates Iranian voters are considering which candidate to support in the presidential election on June 14 th. The eight approved candidates

More information

A New US Persian Gulf Strategy?

A New US Persian Gulf Strategy? 11 February 2010 A New US Persian Gulf Strategy? John Hartley FDI Institute Director Summary The United States recently announced moves to improve its defensive capabilities in the Persian Gulf. This involves

More information

Iran s March 2008 Parliamentary Elections: Slogans and Stakes

Iran s March 2008 Parliamentary Elections: Slogans and Stakes Iran s March 2008 Parliamentary Elections: Slogans and Stakes Farideh Farhi January 25, 2008 The following is the presentation given by Farideh Farhi in connection with her participation in the meeting

More information

The Iranian political elite, state and society relations, and foreign relations since the Islamic revolution Rakel, E.P.

The Iranian political elite, state and society relations, and foreign relations since the Islamic revolution Rakel, E.P. UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) The Iranian political elite, state and society relations, and foreign relations since the Islamic revolution Rakel, E.P. Link to publication Citation for published

More information

Centre for Geopolitics & Security in Realism Studies Born in 1934 into a wealthy family, Rafsanjani went

Centre for Geopolitics & Security in Realism Studies Born in 1934 into a wealthy family, Rafsanjani went Centre for Geopolitics & Security in Realism Studies 20-22 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU, United Kingdom www.cgsrs.org Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was one of the founding figures of the Islamic revolution

More information

Scientists, Clerics, and Nuclear Decision Making in Iran

Scientists, Clerics, and Nuclear Decision Making in Iran Scientists, Clerics, and Nuclear Decision Making in Iran Kai-Henrik Barth Georgetown University June 22, 2007 Roadmap Introduction Iranian Nuclear Decision Making History: Iranian Nuclear Program Conclusion

More information

Ali Akbar Mousavi. Tavaana Interview Transcript

Ali Akbar Mousavi. Tavaana Interview Transcript Ali Akbar Mousavi Tavaana Interview Transcript Vision and Motivation My motivation for political and social engagement as an activist is twofold. First, a personal motivation based on my natural inclinations.

More information

IMPLICATIONS OF IRAN S S EIGHT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

IMPLICATIONS OF IRAN S S EIGHT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IMPLICATIONS OF IRAN S S EIGHT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION Mehrzad Boroujerdi Director, Middle Eastern Studies Program 332 Eggers Hall Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 13244 Tel: ( 315)443-5877 5877 mboroujerdi@maxwell.syr.edu

More information

Iran nuclear sanctions update: a step closer to

Iran nuclear sanctions update: a step closer to Page 1 of 6 Iran nuclear sanctions update: a step closer to implementation This article highlights some of the key developments since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was initially agreed.

More information

Urgent Request Regarding Human Rights Abuses in Iran

Urgent Request Regarding Human Rights Abuses in Iran 23 June 2009 To: Mr. Frank La Rue Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations

More information

1. Use international and domestic law to prevent and combat Iran s state sanctioned

1. Use international and domestic law to prevent and combat Iran s state sanctioned VII. PETITION S CALL TO HOLD AHMADINEJAD S IRAN TO ACCOUNT: AN EIGHTEEN POINT ROAD MAP FOR ACTION [1] Pursuant to the witness testimony and documentary evidence in this Petition - and in conformity with

More information

Rafsanjani and Mashaei:

Rafsanjani and Mashaei: Report Rafsanjani and Mashaei: The consequences of Exclusion Al Jazeera Center for Studies Tel: +974-44663454 jcforstudies-en@aljazeera.net http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/ Fatima Al-Samadi* 4 June 2013

More information

Introduction to Comparative Politics (4)

Introduction to Comparative Politics (4) Introduction to Comparative Politics (4) Paper Value: 25% final mark Length: 2000 2500 words (7-9 pages approximately) Due: 28 March 2012 Test 1 Value: 15 % of final mark Date: 8 February 2012 Test of

More information

A Bill To ensure and certify that companies operating in the United States that receive U.S. government funds are not conducting business in Iran.

A Bill To ensure and certify that companies operating in the United States that receive U.S. government funds are not conducting business in Iran. A Bill To ensure and certify that companies operating in the United States that receive U.S. government funds are not conducting business in Iran. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives

More information

Scott D. Sagan Stanford University Herzliya Conference, Herzliya, Israel,

Scott D. Sagan Stanford University Herzliya Conference, Herzliya, Israel, Scott D. Sagan Stanford University Herzliya Conference, Herzliya, Israel, 2009 02 04 Thank you for this invitation to speak with you today about the nuclear crisis with Iran, perhaps the most important

More information

Report. Iran's Foreign Policy Following the Nuclear Argreement and the Advent of Trump: Priorities and Future Directions.

Report. Iran's Foreign Policy Following the Nuclear Argreement and the Advent of Trump: Priorities and Future Directions. Report Iran's Foreign Policy Following the Nuclear Argreement and the Advent of Trump: Priorities and Future Directions Fatima Al-Smadi* 20 May 2017 Al Jazeera Centre for Studies Tel: +974 40158384 jcforstudies@aljazeera.net

More information

Conflict on the Korean Peninsula: North Korea and the Nuclear Threat Student Readings. North Korean soldiers look south across the DMZ.

Conflict on the Korean Peninsula: North Korea and the Nuclear Threat Student Readings. North Korean soldiers look south across the DMZ. 8 By Edward N. Johnson, U.S. Army. North Korean soldiers look south across the DMZ. South Korea s President Kim Dae Jung for his policies. In 2000 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But critics argued

More information

Thailand s Contribution to the Regional Security By Captain Chusak Chupaitoon

Thailand s Contribution to the Regional Security By Captain Chusak Chupaitoon Thailand s Contribution to the Regional Security By Captain Chusak Chupaitoon Introduction The 9/11 incident and the bombing at Bali on 12 October 2002 shook the world community and sharpened it with the

More information

Iran. Freedom of Expression and Assembly

Iran. Freedom of Expression and Assembly January 2009 country summary Iran With the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continuing to invoke national security as a justification for silencing dissent, 2008 saw a dramatic rise in arrests

More information

P7_TA-PROV(2010)0016 Situation in Iran

P7_TA-PROV(2010)0016 Situation in Iran P7_TA-PROV(2010)0016 Situation in Iran European Parliament resolution of 10 February 2010 on Iran The European Parliament, having regard to its previous resolutions on Iran, having regard to the statement

More information

IRAN. Part 2: Governance & Policymaking

IRAN. Part 2: Governance & Policymaking IRAN Part 2: Governance & Policymaking The Basics Theocratic Republic Theocracy with democratic elements Theocratic Institutions: Supreme Leader Guardian Council Assembly of Religious Experts Expediency

More information

The Six Presidents Shaul Bakhash

The Six Presidents Shaul Bakhash The Six Presidents Shaul Bakhash Iran s constitution vests ultimate authority in the supreme leader, but the presidency has developed into a powerful office. The last three presidents have each stamped

More information

IRANIAN PUBLIC ON CURRENT ISSUES

IRANIAN PUBLIC ON CURRENT ISSUES INTRODUCTION IRANIAN PUBLIC ON CURRENT ISSUES Perhaps no two presidents have dominated headlines during 2009 the way Barack Obama and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have. Obama s inauguration in January not only

More information

Global Media Journal German Edition

Global Media Journal German Edition Global Media Journal German Edition ISSN 2196-4807 Vol. 3, No. 2, Autumn/Winter 2013 URN: nbn:de:gbv:547-201300541 New Trends of Social Media Use in Iran: Candidates Campaigns on Social Networks in the

More information

Iranian Public Attitudes Before & After Parliamentary Elections

Iranian Public Attitudes Before & After Parliamentary Elections Iranian Public Attitudes Before & After Parliamentary Elections A public opinion study March 2016 Ebrahim Mohseni, Nancy Gallagher & Clay Ramsay The Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland

More information

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN THE BEGINNING OF A NEW STAGE OF POLITICAL TURBULENCE LEVAN ASATIANI

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN THE BEGINNING OF A NEW STAGE OF POLITICAL TURBULENCE LEVAN ASATIANI ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN THE BEGINNING OF A NEW STAGE OF POLITICAL TURBULENCE LEVAN ASATIANI 91 EXPERT OPINION ÓÀØÀÒÈÅÄËÏÓ ÓÔÒÀÔÄÂÉÉÓÀ ÃÀ ÓÀÄÒÈÀÛÏÒÉÓÏ ÖÒÈÉÄÒÈÏÁÀÈÀ ÊÅËÄÅÉÓ ÏÍÃÉ GEORGIAN FOUNDATION FOR

More information

The Iran Equation: Using Analytical tools and DIME analysis to inform Policy

The Iran Equation: Using Analytical tools and DIME analysis to inform Policy 1 The Iran Equation: Using Analytical tools and DIME analysis to inform Policy Alfred W. Pinkerton III 2 Introduction: Regime Change and National Security Stability in the Middle East is coupled with US

More information

The Advisory Role of the Guardian Council

The Advisory Role of the Guardian Council The Advisory Role of the Guardian Council 13 February 2010 Mehrangiz Kar Since 1997, when Mohammad Khatami became the President, the conservative faction has labeled the critics of approbative supervision

More information

The failure of logic in the US Israeli Iranian escalation

The failure of logic in the US Israeli Iranian escalation The failure of logic in the US Israeli Iranian escalation Alasdair Hynd 1 MnM Commentary No 15 In recent months there has been a notable escalation in the warnings emanating from Israel and the United

More information

1953 Coup. In 1953, the Shah, with the support of the CIA, overthrew the democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh.

1953 Coup. In 1953, the Shah, with the support of the CIA, overthrew the democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh. Iran 1953 Coup In 1953, the Shah, with the support of the CIA, overthrew the democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh. Pahlavi White Revolution White to counter influence of red communists

More information

The Carter Administration and the Arc of Crisis : Iran, Afghanistan and the Cold War in Southwest Asia, A Critical Oral History Workshop

The Carter Administration and the Arc of Crisis : Iran, Afghanistan and the Cold War in Southwest Asia, A Critical Oral History Workshop The Carter Administration and the Arc of Crisis : Iran, Afghanistan and the Cold War in Southwest Asia, 1977-1981 A Critical Oral History Workshop The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars July

More information

IPS Survey of Iranian Public Opinion on its Nuclear Program, Recognition of Israel, Relations with the US, and the Removal of Sanctions

IPS Survey of Iranian Public Opinion on its Nuclear Program, Recognition of Israel, Relations with the US, and the Removal of Sanctions Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) IDC Herzliya IPS Survey of Iranian Public Opinion on its Nuclear Program, Recognition of Israel, Relations with the US, and the Removal of Sanctions Prof. Alex Mintz

More information

The United States and Russia in the Greater Middle East

The United States and Russia in the Greater Middle East MARCH 2019 The United States and Russia in the Greater Middle East James Dobbins & Ivan Timofeev Though the Middle East has not been the trigger of the current U.S.-Russia crisis, it is an area of competition.

More information

Understanding Beijing s Policy on the Iranian Nuclear Issue

Understanding Beijing s Policy on the Iranian Nuclear Issue Regional Governance Architecture FES Briefing Paper February 2006 Page 1 Understanding Beijing s Policy on the Iranian Nuclear Issue LIANGXIANG JIN Beijing s Policy on the Iranian Nuclear Issue FES Briefing

More information

Thinking About a US-China War, Part 2

Thinking About a US-China War, Part 2 Thinking About a US-China War, Part 2 Jan. 4, 2017 Sanctions and blockades as an alternative to armed conflict would lead to armed conflict. By George Friedman This article is the second in a series. Read

More information

Recognizing that Iraq has been in a continuous state of war since the Baath party came to power in 1969,

Recognizing that Iraq has been in a continuous state of war since the Baath party came to power in 1969, From: Iraq Subject: Iraq s reconstruction Date: March 29, 2011 Recognizing that Iraq has been in a continuous state of war since the Baath party came to power in 1969, Noting that NPA ( Norwegian People

More information

Iran Resolution Elements

Iran Resolution Elements Iran Resolution Elements PP 1: Recalling the Statement of its President, S/PRST/2006/15, its resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), and 1887 (2009) and reaffirming

More information

How to Rescue Obama s Engagement Policy with Iran. Ambassador Mousavian

How to Rescue Obama s Engagement Policy with Iran. Ambassador Mousavian How to Rescue Obama s Engagement Policy with Iran Ambassador Mousavian Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland January 9 th 2012 At the

More information

The Outcomes of Iranian Civil Unrest Over the Next Four Years

The Outcomes of Iranian Civil Unrest Over the Next Four Years Volume V Winter 2010/2011 The Outcomes of Iranian Civil Unrest Over the Next Four Years Solaiman Afzal ISSN: 1947-2633 The tainted June 2009 Iranian presidential election and the regime s violent response

More information

Current Developments in Middle Eastern Politics and Religion

Current Developments in Middle Eastern Politics and Religion Current Developments in Middle Eastern Politics and Religion A Conversation with Shai Feldman BOISI CENTER FOR RELIGION AND AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE BOSTON COLLEGE, CHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS APRIL 18, 2007

More information

Iranian Attitudes in Advance of the Parliamentary Elections: Economics, Politics, and Foreign Affairs

Iranian Attitudes in Advance of the Parliamentary Elections: Economics, Politics, and Foreign Affairs Iranian Attitudes in Advance of the Parliamentary Elections: Economics, Politics, and Foreign Affairs A public opinion study January 2016 Ebrahim Mohseni, Nancy Gallagher & Clay Ramsay The Center for International

More information

Iran: A Developing Grand Strategy

Iran: A Developing Grand Strategy 17 June 2013 Iran: A Developing Grand Strategy Gustavo Mendiolaza Research Analyst Key Points Hassan Rouhani s victory in the 14 June presidential election, and his apparent willingness for policies of

More information

7031/13 ADD 1 RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED dated: 5 March 2013

7031/13 ADD 1 RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED dated: 5 March 2013 7031 COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 13 March 2013 7031/13 ADD 1 REV 1 PESC 242 RELEX 182 COMEM 48 COHOM 33 OC 115 DECLASSIFICATION of document: 7031/13 ADD 1 dated: 5 March 2013 new status: Public

More information

Americans on the Iran Nuclear Issue

Americans on the Iran Nuclear Issue Americans on the Iran Nuclear Issue March 3, 2015 Questionnaire Dates of Survey: February 19 25, 2015 Margin of Error: 3.7% Sample Size: 710 MoE w/design effect of 1.2365: 4.1% Q1. The main focus of this

More information

THE FUTURE OF IRAN: JUDICIAL REFORM Is there a Future for Iran s Judiciary?

THE FUTURE OF IRAN: JUDICIAL REFORM Is there a Future for Iran s Judiciary? www.li.com www.prosperity.com THE FUTURE OF IRAN: JUDICIAL REFORM Is there a Future for Iran s Judiciary? By Hamid Sabi GLOBAL TRANSITIONS PROSPERITY STUDIES THE FUTURE OF IRAN: JUDICIAL REFORM Is there

More information

The Islamic Republic in the Vortex of Crises

The Islamic Republic in the Vortex of Crises سازمان فداي يان خلق ايران(اکثريت ( Organization of Iranian People s Fadaian (Majority) http://www.fadai.org/english.htm international-relations@fadai.org Statement of the Organization of Iranian People

More information

Iran's Strategy under New Sanctions

Iran's Strategy under New Sanctions Position Paper Iran's Strategy under New Sanctions Tel: +974-44663454 jcforstudies-en@aljazeera.net http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/ 31 July 2012 This past two weeks, the full wrath of Europe and the US

More information

Professional Communication

Professional Communication Journal of Professional Communication Is the communication revolution good for democracy? Daniel Tisch Argyle Communications, Toronto (Canada) Journal of Professional Communication 3(1):23-27, 2013 A r

More information

On the Iran Nuclear Agreement and Its Consequences

On the Iran Nuclear Agreement and Its Consequences August 4, 2015 On the Iran Nuclear Agreement and Its Consequences Prepared statement by Richard N. Haass President Council on Foreign Relations Before the Committee on Armed Services United States Senate

More information

Great Powers. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, United States president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and British prime minister Winston

Great Powers. Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, United States president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and British prime minister Winston Great Powers I INTRODUCTION Big Three, Tehrān, Iran Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, United States president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and British prime minister Winston Churchill, seated left to right, meet

More information

Art 2 Nature and scope of the service to be delivered by the company

Art 2 Nature and scope of the service to be delivered by the company Terms of reference and chapter of services in support of the applicants and the Consular chancery of the Embassy of Italy in Tehran in the issuance of entry visas. Art. 1 Definitions VISA: Transit visa,

More information

The Rise of the New Right

The Rise of the New Right Name: America s History: Chapter 30 Video Guide Big Idea Questions Have you seen the Daisy advertisement from the 1964 election? What other presidents have been political outsiders? Guided Notes The Rise

More information

Track II Diplomacy Suzanne DiMaggio

Track II Diplomacy Suzanne DiMaggio Track II Diplomacy Suzanne DiMaggio In the absence of formal U.S.-Iran relations, which were severed in 1980 following the U.S. Embassy takeover, Americans and Iranians have held track II meetings to discuss

More information

Strategic Folly in the Framework Agreement with Iran

Strategic Folly in the Framework Agreement with Iran Strategic Folly in the Framework Agreement with Iran by Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaacov Amidror BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 296, April 20, 2015 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Only a profound misunderstanding of the

More information

Elections and Obama's Foreign Policy

Elections and Obama's Foreign Policy Page 1 of 5 Published on STRATFOR (http://www.stratfor.com) Home > Elections and Obama's Foreign Policy Choices Elections and Obama's Foreign Policy Choices Created Sep 14 2010-03:56 By George Friedman

More information

Israel s Strategic Flexibility

Israel s Strategic Flexibility Israel s Strategic Flexibility Amos Yadlin and Avner Golov Israel s primary strategic goal is to prevent Iran from attaining the ability to develop nuclear weapons, which would allow Tehran to break out

More information

1/13/ What is Terrorism? The Globalization of Terrorism. What is Terrorism? Geography of Terrorism. Global Patterns of Terrorism

1/13/ What is Terrorism? The Globalization of Terrorism. What is Terrorism? Geography of Terrorism. Global Patterns of Terrorism What is Terrorism? The Globalization of Terrorism Global Issues 621 Chapter 23 Page 364 1/13/2009 Terrorism 2 Unfortunately, the term terrorism is one that has become a part of our everyday vocabulary

More information

Americans on the Middle East

Americans on the Middle East Americans on the Middle East A Study of American Public Opinion Dates of Survey: September 27-October 2, 2012 Margin of Error: +/- 4.6 percentage points Sample Size: 737 MoE includes design effect of 1.606

More information

Iran: the 2006 Elections and the Making of Authoritarian Democracy.

Iran: the 2006 Elections and the Making of Authoritarian Democracy. Iran: the 2006 Elections and the Making of Authoritarian Democracy. By Babak Rahimi It is now a well-known fact that post-revolutionary Iranian politics has undergone several dramatic changes since its

More information

Statute International Union of Virtual Media (IUVM)

Statute International Union of Virtual Media (IUVM) In the name of God the Compassionate the Merciful Statute International Union of Virtual Media (IUVM) The Technology of Information has had an enormous impact on the lives of not only people but on Nations

More information

Noise in the Gray Zone:

Noise in the Gray Zone: Noise in the Gray Zone: Findings from an Atlantic Council Crisis Game Rex Brynen Department of Political Science, McGill University Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council senior editor, PAXsims The

More information

The Cairo Review Interview. Power of One

The Cairo Review Interview. Power of One The Cairo Review Interview Power of One Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, assesses Iran s new president, the outlook for human rights, and the threat of war After Iran s revolutionary

More information

Industry News: Ford And General Motors To Close Flight Departments And Dispose Of Aircraft

Industry News: Ford And General Motors To Close Flight Departments And Dispose Of Aircraft Latest News Industry News: Ford And General Motors To Close Flight Departments And Dispose Of Aircraft NATA News NATA News Volume 7, Issue 49, December 8, 2008 In the wake of criticism for using their

More information

CIVIL SERVICE DIGEST (CSD-Daily) DEC 04, 2018

CIVIL SERVICE DIGEST (CSD-Daily) DEC 04, 2018 CIVIL SERVICE DIGEST (CSD-Daily) DEC 04, 2018 Qatar pulls out of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which controls global oil output Qatar announced on Monday it was leaving the Organization

More information

U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY AND STRATEGY,

U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY AND STRATEGY, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY AND STRATEGY, 1987-1994 Documents and Policy Proposals Edited by Robert A. Vitas John Allen Williams Foreword by Sam

More information

Milton Wolf Seminar 2015 Triumphs and Tragedies: Media and Global Events in 2014 Vienna, Austria, April 19 April 21, 2015

Milton Wolf Seminar 2015 Triumphs and Tragedies: Media and Global Events in 2014 Vienna, Austria, April 19 April 21, 2015 Milton Wolf Seminar 2015 Triumphs and Tragedies: Media and Global Events in 2014 Vienna, Austria, April 19 April 21, 2015 ABOUT THE MILTON WOLF SEMINAR SERIES Launched in 2001, the Milton Wolf Seminar

More information

An analysis of Israeli perspectives on Iran

An analysis of Israeli perspectives on Iran An analysis of Israeli perspectives on Iran Written evidence submitted by BICOM to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee inquiry on UK Policy Towards Iran January 2014 Executive Summary 1. Israel considers

More information

Alex Mintz Dean Lauder School of Government IDC Presented at the Herzliya Conference, January How Rational is Ahmadinejad?

Alex Mintz Dean Lauder School of Government IDC Presented at the Herzliya Conference, January How Rational is Ahmadinejad? Alex Mintz Dean Lauder School of Government IDC Presented at the Herzliya Conference, January 2008 How Rational is Ahmadinejad? The Research Project In this project, our team analyzes every decision taken

More information

Middle East that began in the winter of 2010 and continue today. Disturbances have ranged

Middle East that began in the winter of 2010 and continue today. Disturbances have ranged The Arab Spring Jason Marshall Introduction The Arab Spring is a blanket term to cover a multitude of uprisings and protests in the Middle East that began in the winter of 2010 and continue today. Disturbances

More information

Intra Syrian Talks - Round Four: Grappling with Peace

Intra Syrian Talks - Round Four: Grappling with Peace INSTITUTE OF STRATEGIC STUDIES web: www.issi.org.pk phone: +92-920-4423, 24 fax: +92-920-4658 Issue Brief Intra Syrian Talks - Round Four: Grappling with Peace Arhama Siddiqa, Research Fellow, ISSI May

More information

Chapter 34 Crisis, Realignment, and the Dawn of the Post Cold War World

Chapter 34 Crisis, Realignment, and the Dawn of the Post Cold War World Chapter 34 Crisis, Realignment, and the Dawn of the Post Cold War World 1975 1991 Postcolonial Crises and Asian Economic Expansion, 1975 1990 Islamic Revolutions in Iran and Afghanistan Crises in Iran

More information

this cover and their final version of the extended essay to are Date:

this cover and their final version of the extended essay to are Date: r this cover and their final version of the extended essay to is are is ate: must use Examiner Examiner 2 Examiner 3 2 2 B 2 2 c 4 4 4 4 E reasoned 4 4 F and evaluation 4 4 G use of 4 4 H conclusion 2

More information

The Politics of Iran's Nuclear Program

The Politics of Iran's Nuclear Program The Politics of Iran's Nuclear Program Shahram Chubin Iran s nuclear program, initially cancelled after the 1979 revolution, was revived in the closing phases of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq. Tehran wanted

More information

NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES DESIGNING INSTITUTIONS TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES. Martin S. Feldstein

NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES DESIGNING INSTITUTIONS TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES. Martin S. Feldstein NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES DESIGNING INSTITUTIONS TO DEAL WITH TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES Martin S. Feldstein Working Paper 13729 http://www.nber.org/papers/w13729 NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH

More information

10 Defining Moments of

10 Defining Moments of 1990 s 10 Defining Moments of 1990 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jak-tvdktc Crisis in the Middle East In 1990, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, wanting to control of the oil-rich country.

More information

PULASKI POLICY PAPERS

PULASKI POLICY PAPERS PULASKI POLICY PAPERS KOMENTARZ MIÊDZYNARODOWY PU ASKIEGO www.pulaski.pl ISSN 2080-8852 12/2012 The Unpredictability of Iran: To Be Continued? In the shadow of the Syrian drama, and the still tense, volatile

More information

Germany and the Middle East

Germany and the Middle East Working Paper Research Unit Middle East and Africa Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs Volker Perthes Germany and the Middle East (Contribution to

More information

Proposed Amendments to S The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2009 December 2009

Proposed Amendments to S The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2009 December 2009 Proposed Amendments to S. 2799 The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2009 December 2009 For questions or further information, contact: Lara Friedman Director of Policy

More information

Russia and the United Kingdom in the Changing World

Russia and the United Kingdom in the Changing World Speech of Mr. Igor Ivanov at the dinner hosted by the Defence and Security Forum London, 14 March 2019 Russia and the United Kingdom in the Changing World Our world has never stopped changing. However,

More information

SSUSH25 The student will describe changes in national politics since 1968.

SSUSH25 The student will describe changes in national politics since 1968. SSUSH25 The student will describe changes in national politics since 1968. a. Describe President Richard M. Nixon s opening of China, his resignation due to the Watergate scandal, changing attitudes toward

More information

Summary of Policy Recommendations

Summary of Policy Recommendations Summary of Policy Recommendations 192 Summary of Policy Recommendations Chapter Three: Strengthening Enforcement New International Law E Develop model national laws to criminalize, deter, and detect nuclear

More information

2015 Biennial American Survey May, Questionnaire - The Chicago Council on Global Affairs 2015 Public Opinion Survey Questionnaire

2015 Biennial American Survey May, Questionnaire - The Chicago Council on Global Affairs 2015 Public Opinion Survey Questionnaire 2015 Biennial American Survey May, 2015 - Questionnaire - The Chicago Council on Global Affairs 2015 Public Opinion Survey Questionnaire [DISPLAY] In this survey, we d like your opinions about some important

More information

Proposed Amendments to HR 2194 The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act December 2009

Proposed Amendments to HR 2194 The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act December 2009 Proposed Amendments to HR 2194 The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act December 2009 For questions or further information, contact: Lara Friedman Director of Policy and Government Relations Americans

More information

Cyber War and Competition in the China-U.S. Relationship 1 James A. Lewis May 2010

Cyber War and Competition in the China-U.S. Relationship 1 James A. Lewis May 2010 Cyber War and Competition in the China-U.S. Relationship 1 James A. Lewis May 2010 The U.S. and China are in the process of redefining their bilateral relationship, as China s new strengths means it has

More information

10/15/2013. The Globalization of Terrorism. What is Terrorism? What is Terrorism?

10/15/2013. The Globalization of Terrorism. What is Terrorism? What is Terrorism? The Globalization of Terrorism Global Issues 621 Chapter 23 Page 364 What is Terrorism? 10/15/2013 Terrorism 2 What is Terrorism? Unfortunately, the term terrorism is one that has become a part of our

More information

The Iran Protests of January 2018: Challenging Four Decades of the Islamic Republic

The Iran Protests of January 2018: Challenging Four Decades of the Islamic Republic SITUATION ASSESSEMENT The Iran Protests of January 2018: Challenging Four Decades of the Islamic Republic Policy Analysis Unit January 2018 Protests in the Islamic Republic Series: Situation Assessment

More information

AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 2006 SCORING GUIDELINES. Question 8

AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 2006 SCORING GUIDELINES. Question 8 AP COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 2006 SCORING GUIDELINES Question 8 8 points Part (a): 2 points One point is earned for each of two descriptions of measures taken by Iranian political leaders to

More information

Iran s June 14, 2013 Elections

Iran s June 14, 2013 Elections 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 8th Floor Washington, DC 20001-2621 p: 202.728.5500 f: 888.875.2887 www.ndi.org www.twitter.com/ndi www.facebook.com/national.democratic.institute Iran s June 14, 2013 Elections

More information

trials of political detainees

trials of political detainees IRAN @Unfair trials of political detainees Amnesty International remains concerned about unfair trial procedures in political cases in the Islamic Republic of Iran and has repeatedly expressed these concerns

More information

DOCUMENT. Report on the negotiations of Deputy Foreign Minister Róber Garai in Iraq between December 11-13, 1984 (December 22, 1984)

DOCUMENT. Report on the negotiations of Deputy Foreign Minister Róber Garai in Iraq between December 11-13, 1984 (December 22, 1984) DOCUMENT Report on the negotiations of Deputy Foreign Minister Róber Garai in Iraq between December 11-13, 1984 (December 22, 1984) TOP SECRET! Made in: 12 copies Sent to: Comrade Várkonyi Comrade Roska

More information

(Non-legislative acts) REGULATIONS

(Non-legislative acts) REGULATIONS 12.10.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 267/1 II (Non-legislative acts) REGULATIONS COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1002/2011 of 10 October 2011 implementing Article 12(1) of Regulation

More information

United States Policy on Iraqi Aggression Resolution. October 1, House Joint Resolution 658

United States Policy on Iraqi Aggression Resolution. October 1, House Joint Resolution 658 United States Policy on Iraqi Aggression Resolution October 1, 1990 House Joint Resolution 658 101st CONGRESS 2d Session JOINT RESOLUTION To support actions the President has taken with respect to Iraqi

More information

PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION / ANWAR SADAT CHAIR

PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION / ANWAR SADAT CHAIR PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION / ANWAR SADAT CHAIR 1 OVERVIEW Iran has been engaged in tense negotiations with the United States and five other nations (the five permanent members of the United Nations

More information

The Lose-Lose Game for the Iranian Workers

The Lose-Lose Game for the Iranian Workers A Critical Evaluation of the Proposed Draft of Labor Law in Iran By Mohammad Maljoo mmaljoo@hotmail.com IDEAs International Conference in memory of Guy Mhone, on "Sustainable Employment Generation in Developing

More information

Modern Republicanism,

Modern Republicanism, Modern Republicanism, 1953-1961 How Eisenhower Accepted the New Deal and Fought the Cold War using Nuclear Weapons and Reconnaissance, while intervening in the Third World using the hidden hand of the

More information

Iranian Public Opinion, One Year after the Nuclear Deal

Iranian Public Opinion, One Year after the Nuclear Deal Iranian Public Opinion, One Year after the Nuclear Deal A public opinion study July 2016 Ebrahim Mohseni, Nancy Gallagher & Clay Ramsay The Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CISSM)

More information