Headlines: Fidel Castro Criticizes Iran over Anti-Semitism

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Cuba's Fidel Castro criticises Iran over anti-Semitism

BBC | Sept 8

Fidel Castro has criticised Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for what he called his anti-Semitic attitudes. The former Cuban leader also warned that an escalating conflict between Iran and the West could lead to nuclear war.

Mr Castro, speaking to a US journalist, also questioned his own actions during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Asked if he stood by his recommendation for the Soviets to bomb America, he said "it wasn't worth it at all".

Mr Castro was speaking to Jeffrey Goldberg, a journalist with The Atlantic magazine based in Washington, DC, whom he personally invited to Cuba.

Iran: Woman's stoning sentence on hold

CNN | Sept 8

Iran has put the stoning sentence of a woman convicted of adultery and murder "on hold," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told state-run Press TV on Wednesday.

While the statement did not differ greatly from previous, sometimes contradictory reports from the Iranian government about the fate of the woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, it did indicate continued attention to the murder aspect of her case.

EU calls 'barbaric' plans to stone Iranian woman

AP | Sept 7

The European Union on Tuesday condemned the stoning to death sentence passed against an Iranian woman convicted for adultery, saying it was "barbaric."

In his first State of the Union address to the European parliament in Strasbourg, France, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he was "appalled" by the news of the sentencing, and called it "barbaric beyond words."

South Korea to Close Iranian Bank Branch

WSJ | Sept 7

South Korea will move to temporarily close the local branch of an Iranian bank as part of its effort to join United Nations sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, according to people familiar with the matter.

A task force led by South Korea's Finance Ministry has been working for more than a month to develop the penalties under U.N. resolution 1929 and is scheduled to formally announce them on Wednesday. According to people familiar with the plans, a two-month suspension of the South Korean branch of Iran's Bank Mellat will be the centerpiece of the South Korean penalties.

An executive at the Bank Mellat office in Seoul declined comment Tuesday on word of the expected temporary closing. The branch has assets of about $3 billion.

But Seoul is unlikely to cut oil imports or curtail business activities by South Korean companies in Iran.

China to build $2bn railway for Iran

Telegraph | Sept 7

China's railways minister, Liu Zhijun, is expected to visit Tehran this week to seal the deal, according to his Iranian counterpart, Hamid Behbahani.

"The final document of the contract has already been signed with a Chinese company and the Chinese minister will visit Iran on September 12 to ink the agreement," said Mr Behbahani.

The new line will run from Tehran to the town of Khosravi on the border with Iraq, around 360 miles as the crow flies, passing through Arak, Hamedan and Kermanshah.

Eventually, the Iranian government said, the route could link Iran with Iraq and even Syria as part of a Middle-Eastern corridor

Senior Lawmaker Blasts Amano's 'Politically-Driven' Report on Iran

Fars | Sept 7

A senior Iranian lawmaker criticized the recent report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief, Yukiya Amano, on Tehran's nuclear activities for its "politically-driven" nature.

The head of Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Kazzem Jalali, told reporters on Tuesday, "The report presented by Mr. Amano and the IAEA on Iran's peaceful nuclear program is political and two-sided."

"As we had said before we have decided to build 10 enrichment centers and the fact that Mr. Amano has mentioned the issue again, I think, is kind of excuse-seeking," Jalali underlined.

MP Cautions S. Korea, Japan against Implementing Anti-Iran Sanctions

Fars | Sept 7

On Tuesday, a senior Iranian lawmaker warned Japan and South Korea against compliance with the US and West's unilateral sanctions against Tehran, stressing that the move would leave grave impacts on the Islamic Republic's interactions with such states.

"Joining the sanctions that are beyond the (UN Security Council) resolutions and are imposed under US pressure will no doubt be a negative point for those states which comply with these illegal decisions," said the Head of Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi.

122 MPs urge Ahmadinejad to abide by Leader's directives

Mehr | Sept 7

122 lawmakers wrote a letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday calling on him to obey the Supreme Leader's instructions on national foreign policy and remove his special envoys.

The president has recently appointed some special envoys in some strategic regions around the world, a move which drew widespread criticism.

Ayatollah slams "Quran Burning" day, warns Obama

Tabnak | Sept 8

Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegan warned both President Obama and Pope Benedetto XVI over Satruday's planned "Burn A Quran Day." In an open letter published today in Iran, Ayatollah Safi said, "The barbaric news of the decision of an American church to burn copies of Quran Majid depicts the depth of enmity, spite and hostility of the contemporary Church toward high humane values and prophets' legacies while indicating Church's flawed teachings and ways. Quran Mahid is the only [holly] book that respectfully mentions all the Abrahamic prophets and invites everyone to follow them. "

He warned the Pope and other Christian leaders of the consequences should the burning takes place. He continued by declaring the US government and President Obama as the responsible parties for the ceremony. "... This Priest must be arrested without losing time and his church must be closed forever," was Ayatollah Safi's last demand.

Iran steps up campaign against activists and lawyers

Guardian | Sept 7

Iran has launched a fresh crackdown on human rights activists by arresting an outspoken Iranian lawyer and charging a young activist with "waging war against God", a crime punishable by death in Iranian law.

On Saturday Nasrin Sotoudeh, who has represented several political activists and protesters arrested in the aftermath of the disputed presidential election last summer, was arrested and charged with "propaganda against the regime" and "acting against national security".

Shirin Ebadi said the latest moves were intended to send a message to human rights activists that "they have to pay a high price if they want to pursue their work in the country."

S.F. shop closes after Iran sanctions ban rugs

SFC | Sept 7

After nine years, my husband, Dodd, and I will end what we consider to be our life's work. Our thriving San Francisco felt rug business, Peace Industry, is a casualty of recent U.S. sanctions that include a ban on the import of rugs and other goods from Iran.

Shojaei gives Iran 1-0 victory over South Korea in friendly ahead of 2011 Asian Cup

CP | Sept 7

Masoud Shojaei's first-half goal Tuesday gave Iran a 1-0 victory against South Korea in a friendly.

The Osasuna striker scored in the 35th minute from the edge of the area after receiving a pass from Pejman Nouri following a mistake by South Korea defender Lee Young-pyo.