Iran Arrests Four Student Leaders

Wall Street Journal | Nov 8

Four prominent Iranian student activists were arrested over the weekend in a fresh crackdown targeting students.

The four students, from cities across Iran, are recently elected members of the central committee of a politically active student group, the Office for Fostering Student Unity, which has local chapters at campuses nationwide. The group has been at the forefront of the struggle to reform the regime.

The group says the government pressured it not to hold its biennial election this year to select five new committee members. The ballot was held via the Internet last week, the group said, and as of Monday, four of the five elected had been arrested and one was in hiding.

The detained students are Ali Qolizadeh, Alireza Kiani, Mohsen Barzegar and Mohamad Heydarzadeh. The four men were picked up by plainclothes agents without arrest warrants, according to their families and the group's website. Their current whereabouts aren't known. Prosecutors in local chapters of the Revolutionary Court, which tries political dissidents, have told their families that the men will be transferred to Evin prison in Tehran in the next few days.

"Day to day, the regime is systematically targeting different groups, like lawyers, students and journalists, in order to prevent them from activism," said Hadi Ghaemi, director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Student Activist Alireza Kiani Detained

RAHANA | Nov 9

Alireza Kiani, the former political secretary of the Mazandaran University Islamic Student Association, was detained yesterday by the security forces.

[A] Mazandaran political activist and Office for Consolidating Unity (Advareh Tahkim) member, [he] was arrested by security and plainclothes agents in a street located in Babolsar without a warrant on Sunday.

According to DaneshjouNews, his family is concerned for his health since he has to take several medications on a daily basis for his medical condition.

Alireza Kiani is pursuing his Masters at Mazandaran University and was imprisoned for a month following the presidential elections. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison and 70 lashes and he is currently awaiting the decision of the appeals court.

Student Activist Mohsen Barzegar Arrested

RAHANA | Nov 9

Mohsen Barzegar, a student activist at the Babol Noushiravani University, was arrested on Sunday morning.

[He] had [appeared at] the Babol Mati-Kalay Prison at the request of the authorities in order to fix the problems his case had. After leaving the prison, a police car that was waiting for him in front of the prison trasnferred him to an unknown location.

Last Friday, Ali Gholizadeh, another student activist was also arrestd at his house with a warrant. According to DaneshjouNews, this is is the second time a student activist is arrested this weeek.

Barzegar's father stated that he was arrested without a warrant and the police authorities went to their house and told them that he will be released in a few hours.

His father added that the Prosecutor and the Babol Intelligence Ministry authorties have stated that they are unaware of his whereabouts and the reason for his detainment.

Mohsen Barzegar, a member of the Office for Consolidating Unity (Advareh Tahkim) and a member of Karroubi's Babol Campaign, was held in the Intelligence Ministry Detention Center for a month following the presidential elections. He had been sentenced to 10 month of imprisonment and a one year ban from education. He was conditionally released in June after serving half of his sentence.

See also: "Mashad Student Activist Ali Gholizadeh Arrested" (ICHRI)

Photos (left to right): Gholizadeh, Kiani, Barzegar, Heidarzadeh

Iran Slams U.N. Nuclear Chief, Denies Keeping Secrets

Reuters | Nov 8

Iran sharply criticized the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Monday and rejected accusations Tehran is not cooperating enough with inspectors trying to verify whether it is seeking atomic weapons.

Yukiya Amano, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, told the U.N. General Assembly that "Iran has not provided the necessary cooperation to permit the agency to confirm that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities."

The IAEA chief's remarks provoked an angry response from the Iranian delegation, with Tehran's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Eshagh al-Habib telling the assembly they were "incorrect and misleading."

He said the fact the IAEA has reported "so much details about Iran's peaceful nuclear activities proves that the agency has the full access to all nuclear materials in the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Iran's relations with the IAEA have become more tense since Amano took office late last year. He has adopted a blunter approach than his predecessor Mohamed ElBaradei, including stating in a report that intelligence indicates Iran has sought to develop a nuclear-tipped missile.

The Iranian envoy implied the IAEA's reports were being influenced by countries that Tehran says are unfairly accusing it of developing weapons.

"It seems that the recent reports of the agency have been prepared under pressure from the outside," al-Habib said.

He repeated that Tehran was "determined to exercise the inalienable right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and to build on their own scientific advances...including (the nuclear) fuel cycle."

OTHER NEWS

Turkey Expects to Host Iran Nuclear Talks: Gul

Reuters | Nov 8

Turkey expects to host talks between Iran and six major powers on Tehran's nuclear programme "some time soon," President Abdullah Gul said on Monday.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Sunday Iran was ready to hold talks with the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany (known as the P5+1) and that Turkey might be the best venue.

"As a result of more recent developments, you have also heard that Turkey will host the P5+1 meeting with Iran in Turkey and that is going to happen some time soon," Gul said at an event in Oxford, England.

Largely Muslim Turkey is a NATO member and candidate for European Union membership. It has developed closer commercial and political relations with neighbor Iran in the last few years.

Gul, speaking through an interpreter, said Turkey believed talks were important confidence-building measures and steps toward a diplomatic solution.

Iran Pushes for Nuclear Talks in Turkey

Los Angeles Times | Nov 8

Iran agreed to talks with the United States and other world powers on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, provided negotiations take place in neighboring Turkey, officials said Sunday. The offer probably was meant to put diplomatic pressure on the U.S. and its allies.

There was no word on whether the U.S. or other world powers had approved of the proposal. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton had previously proposed Vienna, home to the International Atomic Energy Agency and many diplomats familiar with the Iranian nuclear program, as the venue for talks.

But Turkey's semiofficial Anatolian news agency quoted Foreign Ministry officials as saying that "parties had agreed in principle to hold the talks in Turkey," though no date or specific site has been set.

Larijani Reinstated as Majlis Majority Leader

Iran Daily | Nov 9

Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has been reinstated as the head of the majority conservative bloc in the parliament for the third consecutive term.

Larijani on Sunday garnered 25 out of the 47 votes to secure a narrow win over Seyyed Shahabeddin Sadr, who has been serving as Larijani's second deputy for the past year and is a member of the conservative camp's central council, IRNA reported.

Taking the helm of the parliament in 2008, Larijani was reelected as the chairman of the ruling conservative caucus.

First Deputy Speaker Seyyed Mohammad Hassan Abutorabi-Fard and former Second Deputy Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar were elected as the first and second deputies of the bloc respectively.

Other members of the bloc's central council, Esmaeil Kosari, Vali Esmaeili and Seyyed Kazem Delkhosh were elected as the secretaries.

Larijani, the highly influential Majlis speaker, is considered a heavyweight conservative who has served as the Secretary of Supreme National Security Council and the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Broadcasting.

Reformist Says All Voices Should Be Heard

Mehr | Nov 8

Majid Ansari, a senior member of the reformist Association of Combatant Clerics, has commented that all groups should be allowed to make their voices heard.

As Imam Khomeini has stated it is necessary that all people can express their viewpoints, because exchange of views on various issues can spur country's progress, Ansari told the Jamaran website which was carried by ISNA.

The loyalists to the Islamic system may have differing views on political issues, but all of them believe in the principles of the Islamic Revolution, he said.

Ansari also criticized the monopoly of certain groups over the media outlets as unfair and said, "According to Imam, justice is a principle, and justice is not merely economic justice."

He expressed regret that certain extremists are allowed to distort the history of certain political groups and make baseless allegations about the revolutionary figures and Imam's companions such as Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and members of the Association of Combatant Clerics.

He praised the patience of the revolutionary figures and also Imam Khomeini's companions who have been unfairly treated by the ruling group and divested of their rights.

"The fact that they have not expressed their views via foreign media outlets, despite all allegations and mistreatments leveled at them, shows their high tolerance," he opined.

IRGC General Raps Hawkish Senator, Says U.S. Is Iran's hostage

Mehr | Nov 8

A top IRGC general, Masoud Jazayeri, has advised Republican senator Lindsey Graham against making ill-advised remarks against Iran.

"This American conservative senator should not speak about the strategic affairs related to Iran and the U.S., because his previous advices have been proved inefficient," Jazayeri told the Mehr News Agency.

Graham has said that the U.S. should not be satisfied with stopping Iran's nuclear program but should also destroy its military capabilities and deliver a major blow to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

Jazayeri said, "This U.S. senator does not know that the world has changed and many developments have taken place in the international stage.

"This senator imagines that it is possible to govern the world by bullying...but he does not know that the U.S. is currently the hostage of Iran in the region."

US Echoes India on Terrorism but Redflags Iran

Indian Express | Nov 9

Underlining "increased responsibility" that comes along with "increased power", the US today indicated that while "it looked forward to a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that includes India as a permanent member", it expected New Delhi to move on Iran and speak up on issues like rights violations in Myanmar.

While US President Barack Obama said so in his address in Parliament, it was reiterated in the joint statement, issued three hours later.

It said both leaders Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Obama underscored that all states have an obligation to comply with and implement UNSC resolutions, including "UN sanctions regimes."

The statement made a direct reference to Iran -- the first since Iran's nuclear programme came under sanctions -- and said that "the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to diplomacy to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, and discussed the need for Iran to take constructive and immediate steps to meet its obligations to the IAEA and the UNSC".

South Block sources said that the phrase, "commitment to diplomacy," was worked out at New Delhi's insistence since India has always favoured that route over sanctions.

Envoy Lashes Out at US, West's Inaction towards N. Dismantlement

Fars | Nov 8

Iran's Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asqar Soltaniyeh blasted the world powers for their heedlessness and inaction in fulfilling their undertakings with regard to the dismantlement of their nuclear weapons.

Addressing a "nuclear test ban" conference, Soltaniyeh reminded the dark record of the nuclear armed states, specially the US, in implementing nuclear disarmament treaties, and stated, "Their five-decade record proves that these states, particularly the United States, have not even taken a step in this direction, let alone carrying out their undertakings on the basis of the international treaties."

"They have not even remained loyal to the bilateral and multilateral agreements that they themselves have concluded," Soltaniyeh stated, adding that the nuclear armed states just rely on non-binding pledges in a bid to divert the world public opinion from their nuclear stockpiles.

He further underlined Iran's resolve to pursue global nuclear disarmament, and continued, "The human community cannot wait forever to see the materialization of a nuclear-free world, and practical moves are, thus, needed in this regard."

"People of the world demand a specified deadline for the full dismantlement of all nuclear armaments, and they don't want to see that after several decades an agreement is held only for dismantling a limited number of nuclear arms," Soltaniyeh said, and stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran would spare no effort to materialize a nuclear-free world.

Iranian Nobel Laureate Says Opposition Growing

AP | Nov 8

Iranian Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi said Monday that opposition to the Iranian government is growing, spurred by an increase in government violence, more human rights violations and deepening poverty.

The human rights lawyer, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her efforts to promote democracy, said in an interview with The Associated Press that she came to the United Nations to talk about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran and seek support for a draft U.N. General Assembly resolution that would condemn the country's rights record.

Although much of the opposition movement has gone underground since the violent crackdown after the disputed June 2009 presidential election, Ebadi said it definitely isn't faltering.

"I can tell you that opposition is increasing in Iran," she said. "Not only the government is becoming more violent every day, and there are more violations of human rights, but the issue of poverty has become another issue now. ... And, of course, poverty plays a big role in opposition."

She said the latest statistics she received had Iran's economy growing by just 1.6 percent a year, lower than the rates in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ebadi urged the international community "to bring the voice of the people of Iran and the political prisoners to the outside world," stressing that the human rights situation in Iran "is very bad ... (and) is worsening."

Iran Role Wanes in Iraq: US Officer

AFP | Nov 8

A top US military officer said Monday that Iran's influence has waned in neighboring Iraq, where prolonged negotiations have struggled to decide on a new government.

"Probably in the last couple months, in this period of government formation, I think that we think that the Iranian influence has diminished somewhat," said Lieutenant General Robert Cone, the deputy commander of US operations in Iraq.

Cone gave a nuanced take on the role of Iran, which is a sworn foe of the United States but also strongly opposed Saddam Hussein's regime.

"We see all sorts of Iranian influence -- some of it positive, in fact," Cone told reporters in Washington by video-link.

"We believe some of it (is) negative, although it's very difficult to attribute that to the Iranian government," he said, explaining that weapons heading across the border could come from non-government players.

New Dollar Checking Accounts

Uskowi on Iran | Nov 8

The Governor of Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Mahmoud Bahmani today encouraged the public to deposit their dollar holdings into the new foreign currency checking accounts that carries 4% interest. In the past few weeks, a significant number of people rushed to purchase dollars, fearing a devaluation of touman, local currency, and the rise in prices as the result of the removals of subsidies.

Defending [the] touman in the past few weeks, the CBI has been injecting 1 billion dollars a week into the currency exchange markets in purchasing the local currency [ISNA, 8 November]. Continuing on that pace, the country would need to convert nearly all its oil revenue-generated hard currency into touman; hence the CBI's latest attempt to bring back dollars held by the public into the country's banking system.

Journalist Arrested, No Information Despite Promises by Authorities

ICHRI | Nov 8

Azam Afsharian, mother of imprisoned journalist Nazanin Khosravani, told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran of the plight of her daughter and family. Five days have passed since Khosravani's arrest and no phone call has been made, despite promises by Tehran's Prosecutor Jafari Dolatabadi that Khosravani would call her family. Authorities have provided no information as to her detention location. "I went to the Justice Department today and met Mr. Dolatabadi. He said that Nazanin would call today, but so far she has not called yet," she told the Campaign.

"But when I asked him about my daughter's detention location, Evin authorities said that her name is not on the prisoner roster at Evin prison. They didn't give me any answers. They said 'your daughter will contact you,'" Khosravani's mother said.

Afsharian emphasized that her daughter has been unemployed and not working for any newspapers for the past seven months. "I hope my daughter's arrest is only a misunderstanding, and that Nazanin returns home soon, because she hasn't done anything, and during all these months she has been at home with me," said Afsharian.

Journalist Nazanin Khosravani was arrested by security forces at her home last Wednesday and her computer was confiscated. Two days later, security forces returned to her home. "They rang the bell for me to open the door, but because what they were saying seemed abnormal, I didn't open the door. I called the police. When the police came, they showed their warrant to the police, but I didn't see anything. They said they were looking for a laptop computer, which of course they didn't find and they left. I asked them where Nazanin was and they told me that they did not have to answer this question," explained Afsharian.

Nazanin Khosravani has worked in the political section of Kargozaran, Jomhouriyat, and Norooz newspapers in the past.

Female Prisoners Transferred to Evin Prison's 'Methadone Ward'

ICHRI | Nov 8

Following news of the transfer of several prisoners of conscience from Evin prison's Women's Ward to the prison's "Methadone Ward," where drug addicts are kept, the sister of Mahdieh Golroo confirmed the transfer. Marzieh Golroo told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that after the telephone privileges of these prisoners were cut off, they were moved to the Methadone Ward by prison authorities. Marzieh Golroo added that she will find out from her sister precisely what occurred.

While several female political prisoners have been moved to the Women's Prison Quarantine Ward and telephone privileges cut off, their families have been able to find out about these developments through information from cellmates. Marzieh Golroo told Campaign about the transfer and her lack of information about her sister's condition after the transfer. "Someone called Mahdieh's husband from the prison and told him that telephone contacts are cut off and the prisoners are no longer able to make calls. The person called again a little while later to say that all women with political charges have been moved to the Methadone Ward," said Marzieh Golroo.

The imprisoned student's sister told the Campaign that the cellmates of the transferred women have contacted all the political prisoners' families about the developments. "We thought the telephone disruption was due to November 4 [Student Day in Iran]. But now we can't speculate what may have happened to take them to the drug addicts' ward. We will wait until Tuesday, the visitation day, to talk to Mahdieh herself and learn what happened," she said.

According to the pro-Mousavi website Kalame, female political prisoners were transferred to the Methadone Quarantine Ward by prison authorities as punishment for objecting to the disruption of their access to phone calls.

President: Five Million Should Be Transferred from Tehran Province

Mehr | Nov 7

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said five million inhabitants of Tehran Province -- three million from the city of Tehran -- should be transferred to other provinces.

This is the only way to solve numerous problems facing Tehran's residents, Ahmadinejad told a group of executive managers of Tehran Province on Sunday.

Tehran Province homes about 12,300,000 people of whom 8,000,000 live in Tehran city and that means wasting time, getting nervous, getting stuck in traffic jam, suffering from air pollution and living in cramped apartment buildings, he stated.

Population, traffic, water shortage and living expenses are other problems, he added.

He also pointed to the potential threat of earthquakes, saying Tehran sits on several fault lines and it is seriously threatened by earthquakes.

"We cannot order people to evacuate the city...but provisions have to be made. At least five million should leave Tehran so it would be less crowded and more manageable in case of an incident."

"We cannot predict when an earthquake will happen. But if anything happens to Tehran province...how can we manage that?" he asked.

The government could offer land, loans at four percent interest rate and substantial subsidies in other provinces to encourage Tehran residents to leave the sprawling capital, he noted.

Ahmadinejad also called on the managers of Tehran to make preparations for teleworking of 40 percent of their employees by the end of the Iranian calendar year (which starts on March 21).

Desertification a Huge Concern

Iran Daily | Nov 8

Iran is listed among countries at great risk of desertification.

The country's water reserves reached 130 billion cubic meters this year, which is 55 cubic meters lower compared with last year's figure.

In 2006, the UN announced desertification as the third biggest global danger after climate change and water scarcity, requesting all countries to join hands in combating it.

Mohammad Darvish, an Iranian environmentalist, was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency that desertification could be regarded as the top danger in Iran because 90 percent of the country are desert areas.

"Close to 40 percent of the earth are desert and billions of people are facing severe water shortage," he said.

Darvish said the biggest decline in water tables has occurred in California in recent centuries.

"The severe decline in water tables has also been reported in Middle Eastern countries, with Iran near the top of the list," he said.

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Iran to Defend Women's Rights and Philosophy? No, Unfortunately, It's Not a Joke

Bernard-Henri Lévy (Huffington Post) | Nov 8

We're not done with Iran. First of all, of course, because of Sakineh, who has been granted a new stay of execution but remains imprisoned, in solitary confinement, like her own son. And the sentence may be executed at any moment. The summum of ignominiousness, the local presiding justice of Tabriz had the gall to declare that Sakineh is in good health. But because of two other affairs (I don't dare say two new affairs, for they are known and have been going on, the one and the other, for several months now) that have been little discussed, far too little, when they are just as indicative of the blindness, the cowardice, and the absence of democratic reflexes of the West when confronted with Iran.

The first concerns World Philosophy Day, organized every November by UNESCO and which, it has been decided, will be held this year in -- Tehran! Before the incredulousness and disturbance the news caused in philosophical circles, the organizers attempted to duck the issue by scheduling a pre-opening, in Paris, on November 18th, followed by a series of meetings in the days thereafter in Mexico, Tunis, or Dakar. But they did not go so far as to cancel the days in Tehran. So, if things remain as they are, one will philosophize from November 21st to 23rd in one of the world's capitals of fanaticism and tyranny.

We'll discuss "theory and practice" -- the theme of these day sessions -- in a country where, in August 2009, after demonstrations against the fraudulent elections, humanities were banished from the universities' curriculum. We shall debate the means of progressing towards excellence -- another theme of these days -- under the presidency of a "thinker" (Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel) whose greatest accomplishment is to have married his daughter to the son of the Supreme Guide, and in the presence of two others (Mohammad-Javad Larijani and the Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi) who have to their credit little more in the way of philosophical titles than, for the former, a subtle theory on the relative "humanity" of death by stoning and, for his colleague, a delicate analysis of the Jewish "race", described as "the most corrupt in the world".

The second affair concerns the creation of UN Women, this new United Nations agency charged with promoting the cause of women in the world and where the Asian region chose a representative of the Iranian government as one of the 41 members of the board of directors destined to pilot the thing. Truth compels one to say that the Asia group proposed another country whose choice would scarcely have been better: Pakistan. Worse still, it seems that, in the contingent of delegates reserved for so-called "donor" countries is a third whose presence in this conclave is scarcely less incongruous -- Saudi Arabia.

But Iran! The country of Neda and Sakineh charged with promoting the advancement of women's rights. One of the last places in the world where adulteresses are condemned to stoning, assigned to champion gender equality and the struggle against discrimination. It sounds like a joke. Or even a provocation. But no, this is reality. This is the state of the balance of power at the United Nations, one we have already seen operate in the composition of the Human Rights Commission as well as at Durban 1 and 2. And it is, in this case, a slap in the face to every woman on the planet, spitting in the faces of the most humiliated and tormented among them.

Netanyahu Pounds War Drums

Jim Lobe (IPS) | Nov 8

While Netanyahu and his supporters [...] are dismissing as insufficient Obama's strategy of sanctions and talks, two centrist think tanks Monday urged the administration to place more emphasis on engaging the Islamic Republic.

Previewing a more-comprehensive report to be released Nov. 16, Barry Blechman and Daniel Brumberg of the non-partisan Stimson Center urged Obama to offer Tehran a "set of robust economic, political and strategic incentives that give Iran's leaders reason to cooperate" as part of a "recalibration" of U.S. strategy that would reduce its reliance on "coercive measures".

Writing in USA Today, the two non-proliferation specialists argued that Washington should explicitly recognise Iran's right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty -- something that it has yet to do -- and provide other inducements, including proposing bilateral or multilateral talks on security issues, notably Afghanistan and the drug trade, and normalising diplomatic exchanges, and offering help in modernising Iran's energy industry.

In addition, a new paper released Monday by the bipartisan Iran Task Force convened by the Atlantic Council on the evolution of internal Iranian politics, particularly since last year's disputed elections, called for Washington to pursue "strategic patience" with Tehran "and avoid overreactions that could set back Iran's political development".

"Short-term prospects for U.S.-Iranian reconciliation and for a resolution of the Iranian nuclear file are poor in large part because of Iran's internal political crisis," according to the author, veteran Iran observer Barbara Slavin. "In the longer term, however, history, demography, and education favour liberalization and international integration.... The focus of U.S. policy should be to buy time for this evolution to take place."

See also: "The Iran Stalemate and the Need for Strategic Patience" (Atlantic Council)

Is Iran Gaining the Upper Hand in Nuclear Negotiations?

Riccardo Redaelli, Director of the Middle East Program at LNCV and Professor of Geopolitics at the Catholic University of Milano (insideIRAN) | Nov 8

After the disastrous adventure in Iraq and the growing difficulties in Afghanistan -- which are forcing NATO to accept negotiations with the Taliban from a position of weakness as the only possible exit strategy from an untenable situation on the ground -- regional perceptions are that the Obama administration has only limited room for maneuver in the Middle East . This is particularly true in dealing with the Iranian nuclear crisis.

At least this is a growing perception within Tehran's hardline and security circles. In other words, Washington would be forced to accept a compromise on the nuclear question that is very favorable to Iran: another blow to US power in the region.

This perception could provoke dangerous consequences at several levels. In the region, it is enhancing the sense of uncertainty due in part to the degrading security conditions of both Israel and the moderate Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Seen from the other way round, it brings a high political cost at the domestic level for the current U.S. administration, forcing President Barack Obama to adopt a more rigid posture.

In other words: could the geopolitical role of the US withstand a third fiasco in the Middle East, allowing Iran to reach a military nuclear status (although latent), after Iraq and Afghanistan? And might a weaker Democratic administration look too feeble in its posture towards Ahmadinejad?

In recent weeks, Tehran has sent confusing signals regarding a new will to re-launch the negotiation process, but it is not clear what is meant by this: Do they want to return to the P5+1 proposals of Fall 2009, discussed in Geneva and Vienna, or use as a starting point the Iran-Turkey-Brazil agreement of last May, better known as the Tehran Declaration? It makes a great difference. Any acceptance of the latter as a basis for discussion would represent a major diplomatic victory for the Islamic Republic and an unaffordable setback both for the Obama administration and for Europe, which never endorsed the Tehran Declaration.

Changing Dynamics in the Turkey-Iran Relationship

Mehmet Efe Biresselioglu, Assistant Professor at Izmir University of Economics' International Relations and EU Department and Board Member of the Turkish Energy and Climate Change Foundation (Balkanalysis.com) | Nov 4

The relationship between Turkey and Iran has undergone considerable change during the rule of Turkey's Justice and Development Party (AKP). Starting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Tehran on 28 and 29 July of 2004, there has been a thawing of relations between the two neighbors. This visit was a key sign of the winds of change affecting Turkey's world view. From that time, both Turkey and Iran began to adopt the view that they should put aside deep-rooted and enduring ideological differences, and instead to increase trade, while also addressing the continuing problem of terrorism.

Turkey has strengthened its ties with Iran since the AKP took power in 2002. As a result of Turkey's policy goals of becoming a regional power and achieving a 'zero problems with neighbors' foreign policy, Turkey has offered to become a mediator in disputes between Iran and the Western world, and also between Iran and Israel. The main concern in this respect has been Iran's nuclear program.

However, the recent Mavi Marmara incident has jeopardized not only Turkish-Israel relations, but relations between Turkey and the West. Eight Turks and one US citizen of Turkish decent were killed by Israeli forces as the ship, in spite of discouragement from Ankara, tried to reach Gaza. This incident has had serious repercussions in the Middle East, and Turkey has started to be seen as the leading voice of the Muslims, including Arabs.

On the other hand, Turkey has been criticized by the West and domestic opposition as "turning east," "joining an Islamist bloc" or "turning its back on the West." However, Turkey's aim is to be an active regional power actor not only through hard power, but to use its soft-power capacity by increasing economic engagements, supporting this with trade and investment, but also increasing its social and popular connections in the region.

Still, Turkey is also increasing its level of relationship with Iran by supporting its nuclear program, but only for peaceful purposes. There are two views on Iran's nuclear program, first that Iran has plans to threaten Israel and the US with nuclear weapons, and second that Iran genuinely needs nuclear energy, as it is unable to refine enough of its petroleum products, and therefore needs alternative sources to exchange in order to supply its energy needs. This is a result of US sanctions, leaving Iran's energy sector needing more than $100 billion dollars of investment in the coming decade.

Turkey is supporting Iran's second, peaceful aim and for that reason is trying to mediate between Iran and the West, accepting Iran's guarantee that it will not build nuclear weapons.

DOCUMENTS & DECLARATIONS

Interview with Hassan Danai, Iranian Ambassador to Iraq (Elaph, in Arabic) | Nov 7

Are you worried about the Shiites in Iraq? And how do you view the situation in Iraq?

The relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq is a historic one and it was, still is, and will remain a fateful relationship. Indeed, the bonds between the sons of the two countries are uniting bonds and they will stay in place today and in the future. We share with Iraq one religion, a unified culture, and a joint geography. We have joint borders extending over 1,400 kilometers.... Thus, the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq is a strong and deep relationship...

Do you believe that the USA has failed in Iraq?

The USA brandished the slogan of fighting terrorism. However, the reality indicates that the proportion of terrorism has increased here and there... Prior to the occupation of Iraq, the United States of America had attempted to imply that the [event] that is about to take place in Iraq will be a great one, and one that gives hope. However, things are quite different in reality and the American interference and occupation have left a deep negative effect in Iraq and Afghanistan. And in general, the American interference in the Middle East is causing very negative results.... The American failure in Iraq and Afghanistan is being acknowledged by the American politicians and the leaders of the American army who themselves admit the current failure and the chaos and terrorism. The failure to provide basic services to the Iraqi people is leaving negative traces that the Iraqis are suffering from...

Are you worried by the talk about the USA's support for the return of the Baathists to power in Iraq?

I think that the USA has worked ever since the first year of the occupation of Iraq, and especially during the period where the American Paul Bremer was ruling Iraq, on promoting the Baathists and bringing them closer [to power] and giving them some posts. I believe that the USA is still working along this line. However, for the time being, the return or failure to return of the Baathists is left for the Iraqis themselves.... However, I believe that the Iraqis still have bad memories about the Baathists' behavior and methodology...

Why do you support Nouri al-Maliki for a second term?

We hear and read about such claims in media channels at times...but in any case, we do not support this suggestion and we strongly reject it. Yes, we may have a vision and ideas, but we have not pressured any side for the benefit of another side and we do not support someone over the other and we do not have preferences...

How do you respond to the news about pressures that you have exerted on Muqtada al-Sadr in order to support the candidacy of Nouri al-Maliki, who has visited Iran for the same purpose?

This is not true. Muqtada al-Sadr is present in Qum and he lives there; and him being visited by Iraqi officials does not mean that we are imposing Al-Maliki's candidacy. This talk is completely untrue. As for the visit of Nouri al-Maliki to the Islamic Republic of Iran, this visit, according to my knowledge, was not only confined to the Iranian Republic as he had also visited other countries in the region. And according to us, we have said that we do not support any particular person for prime minister. And had we interfered in the formation of the cabinet, we would have been able to form the cabinet during the first month following the elections. Here, we must recall again that the formation of the Iraqi cabinet is left to the Iraqis themselves, and no external interference must take place in this regard.

What is your position vis-à-vis the initiative of the Saudi monarch to hold a meeting for the Iraqi forces in Al-Riyadh?

We have heard about this initiative and we feel that any country or side offering such initiatives to help the Iraqis must be thanked and acknowledged. However, the basic and essential thing is that the actions and positions vis-à-vis the Saudi initiative are completely dependent on the Iraqi will and the decision of the Iraqi leaders. We have noted that some sides said that this was a good initiative while some others said that it came a bit late because it would have been more useful had it come at an earlier time. Some other sides indicated that the initiative resembles that of Massoud Al-Barazani for the Irbil meeting. In any case, we believe that any initiative aiming at supporting Iraq and the Iraqi people is a good initiative. But we believe at the same time, that any initiative, be it an internal or an external one, depends on the decision of the Iraqi leaders themselves...

See also: "Iran Primer: Iran and Iraq" (USIP)

Iranian Influence in Afghanistan: Refugees as Political Instruments

Position Paper by Ahmad Majidyar and Ali Alfoneh (American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research) | November

Key points in this Outlook

* Iranian influence in Afghanistan is not benign; the forced repatriation of Afghans living in Iran destabilizes western Afghanistan.
* By threatening to flood Afghanistan with waves of refugees, the Iranian government forces the Afghan govern- ment to comply with its demands.
* U.S. aid to Afghanistan must take into account the millions of refugees living outside the country.

Background

Iran and Pakistan treated their Afghan refugees differently. While Pakistan kept Afghans in refugee camps, Iran allowed them to live across the country and took formal responsibility for them in the 1980s and 1990s, giving only a limited role to the United Nations refugee agency and other international humanitarian organizations. Although Iran is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, it did not grant the Afghans fleeing the Soviet occupation refugee status (panahandeh) and instead classified them as "involuntary religious migrants" (mohajerin). Indeed, the term mohajerin was more dignified than panahandeh in postrevolutionary Iran, and Iranian leaders often described helping Afghan refugees as the country's Islamic and humanitarian duty.

With the fall of the Taliban's regime and the inauguration of a Western-backed government in Afghanistan, the Iranian government took a tough line with the Afghan refugees. "It is now time for them to return," said Ahmad Hosseini, the senior Interior Ministry official dealing in refugee affairs, in March 2002. "Registered Afghan nationals will be gradually repatriated in a two-year program." Unregistered Afghans were given six months to leave Iran. In April 2002, Iran signed a trilateral agreement with Afghanistan and the UN's High Commission for Refugees to facilitate repatriation of Afghans. By April 2004, 730,000 Afghans had returned to Afghanistan.

With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ascent to power in August 2005, the Iranian government stepped up forcible repatriation of Afghans. On March 12, 2006, Hosseini announced that 350,000 Afghans had been forcibly repatriated in 2005 and warned that the Iranian government would apply "new measures" against Afghans who resisted. Forced evictions continued over subsequent years, and, in January 2008, Taghi Ghaemi, Hosseini's replacement at the Interior Ministry, threatened the 1.5 million "illegal Afghans" in Iran with "five years of imprisonment" or "internment in camps" if they refused repatriation.

The Ahmadinejad government also imposed stringent restrictions on Afghans inside Iran. Since May 2007, Afghans have been banned from living in certain Iranian provinces and cities, such as border towns in the east. They were banned from the southwestern Kohgiluyeh va Boyerahmad province in July 2007 and the Caspian littoral Gilan province in May 2008. The list has continued to grow through this year such that, at present, Afghan citizens are entirely prohibited from living in thirteen provinces, with many cities in other provinces also off limits. The government has also imposed education and employment restrictions on Afghans.

Iranian leaders often justify their actions by citing problems Afghan refugees cause in Iran: unemployment, drug trade, and related criminal activity in the Iranian border provinces. Afghan officials, however, allege that Iran is using the refugees as a destabilizing political tool against Afghanistan.

Refugees as a Political Tool

The Ahmadinejad government successfully uses the refugee issue to increase its leverage over Hamid Karzai's government in Afghanistan. Whenever Afghanistan's policies displease Tehran, the Iranian government threatens to expel all Afghans living in Iran. Tehran understands that the fragile Afghan government lacks the capacity to absorb a large number of returnees under current security and economic conditions. At times, it has dumped thousands of Afghans into lawless areas in western Afghanistan without advance coordination with either Afghan authorities or international organizations. Such mass deportations trigger humanitarian crises, undermine security in southern and western Afghanistan, and cause political turmoil in Kabul.

Iranian Student Activists Write Letter to President Obama

Letter Signed by Ali Taghipour, Ahmad Eshghyar, Amir Hossein Etemadi, and nine others (Persian2English) | Nov 8

A group of current and former Iranian student activists including members of the Tahkim Vahdat organization have written a letter to American president Barack Obama on the occasion of 13 Aban (November 4th).

Greetings to Mr. Barack Obama, the President of the United States of America,

31 years ago on this day, students who claimed to act in the name of Imam Khomeini forcefully seized the United States Embassy in Iran, thereby violating international law and American property. This illegitimate seizure marked the beginning of increased conflict and severe differences between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America and consequently led to amplified diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Today, three decades later, after all relations between the two governments have been suspended, the nuclear ambitions of the Islamic Republic of Iran [is] a [threat]. Additionally, the [current] regime in Iran oppresses its people more than ever. It has impeded any domestic opposition toward its dangerously destructive policies.

We would like to emphasize that the publicly known human rights record of these autocrats is so openly horrendous that further explanation should not be necessary.

More than ever before, freedom fighters and freedom thinkers around the world have made evident the tortures, imprisonment, and murder of Iranian citizens. They have raised concerns about this government that disrespects the people's fundamental rights so blatantly. What if such a government gains access to nuclear weapons? What would they do to the people of this world?

Mr. President,

31 year ago on this day, the Islamic Republic of Iran took American diplomats as hostages, thereby taking the world as their hostage. For 31 years they have continued down this destructive path. Today, at least two US citizens (Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer) suffer as hostages of this government. Also, more than 80 students, our friends and classmates, are currently held in various prisons across Iran. We regard them as 'university hostages'.

Honorable Mr. President Obama,

It is the situation of our imprisoned friends that prompts us to directly address you on the anniversary of the occupation of the United States embassy. Instead of studying in a classroom, the Iranian youth must persevere in a prison cell and sometimes endure solitary confinement while constantly [enduring] the most inhumane pressures.

As the President of the United States of America and as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, we expect you to continuously and fervently observe the systematic human rights violations in our country, in addition to your rightful concern about the Islam Republic of Iran's nuclear ambitions. We call upon you to not hesitate to employ any means of leverage necessary to stop these atrocities.

While you closely monitor the situation of the current American hostages in Iran, we, a group of former and current student activists, diligently and persistently ask you to also observe the situation of our fellow Iranian students taken hostage by the Islamic Republic of Iran and question the motives of the regime's authoritarian rulers in regards to these hostages.

We specifically demand humanitarian efforts by the international community and call for increased pressure to attain the immediate release of the below mentioned social and student activists:

Hamed Rouhinejad, Kouhyar Goodarzi, Majid Dori, Majid Tavakoli, Shabnam Madadzadeh, Zia Nabavi (all six are currently held in a horrible situation, forced into exile), Abbas Kakaiee, Abdollah Momeni, Abed Tavancheh, Aidin Khajei, Ali Jamali, Ali Malihi, Atefeh Nabavi, Arman Reza Khani, Arsalan Abadi, Bahareh Hedayat, Emad Bahavar, Foad Sojoodi, Hassan Assadi Zeidabadi, Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, Javad Ali khani, Kiarash Kamrani, Mahdieh Golroo, Masoud Babapour, Mehdi Khodaei, Mehdi Nezam Eslami, Milad Asadi, Mohammad Pourabdollah, Mohammad Amin Valian, Naeim Aghaiee, Navid Mohebbi, Nezam Hassanpour, Nima Nahvi, Ronak Saffarzadeh, Sina Golchin.

We believe that the time has come for the government of the United States to forget the bitter experiences of Sunday November 4, 1979, and stand beside the people of Iran in order to achieve a peaceful life under the wings of a government born of popular vote.

We believe that it is time for the United States government to move past the bitter memories of November 4th, 1979 and by the side of the Iranian people in order to achieve a peaceful life under the wings of a government born of true popular vote.

Respectfully yours,

Signatures:

Ali Taghipour, former Secretary of the Islamic community of students at Babol Noshirvani University of Technology; Ahmad Eshghyar, student activist, member of the Iranian Liberal Students and Graduatesl Amir Hossein Etemadi, former student activist, member of Advar Tahkim Vahdat; Amir Hossein Fotouhi, secretary of the Islamic community of students at the University of Hormozgan; Amir Rashidi, Student and human rights activist; Liuna Eisagholian, student activist, member of the Iranian Liberal Students and Graduates; Mazdak Abdipour, student activist; Rahim Hemmati, student activist; Saeed Ghasseminejad, former student activist, spokesperson for the Iranian Liberal Students and Graduates; Saeed Yaghoubinejad, former secretary of the Islamic community of students at the University of Mazandaran; Salman Sima, student activist, member of the political committee of Advar Tahkim Vahdat; and Youhana Najdi, member of the political committee of Advar Tahkim Vahdat.