Press TV reports: Venezuela has declared that it is establishing a common bank with Iran to finance economic development projects in the two countries. The bank, to be based in Tehran, will have an initial capital base of 1.2 billion dollars, with each nation providing half of the funds, AFP reported on Tuesday. It follows up on a March 2007 agreement the two countries signed. The relations between the two
Ha’aretz reports: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposed in discussions Monday with the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, that a naval blockade be imposed on Iran as one of several ways to pressure Iran into stopping its uranium enrichment program. Although the White House denied a published report that U.S. President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term in January, the
“The disease must be treated – not its symptoms” Hanan Awarekeh for al-Manar US President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran in the upcoming months, before the end of his term, Israeli Army Radio quoted officials in Jerusalem as saying Tuesday. The official claimed that a senior member of the president’s entourage said during a closed meeting that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were of the opinion that
Many thanks to Anita for this most interesting contribution!My comments in green italics inside the text of the original article `Angry’ Iran sharpens tone with Baghdad’s leaders BAGHDAD (AP) — When a group of Iraqi envoys headed to Iran recently, they were fully prepared for some tense moments. But they also hoped to come away with something to show for it: pledges of cooperation on weakening Shiite militias in Iraq.
Press TV reports: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has dismissed claims that Iran is sending weapons into his country and called for strong Iran ties. “Those who make such claims against Iran only express their personal views which don’t reflect those of the Iraqi government,” he said in interview with the Al-Arabiya TV on Friday. “I, as the president of Iraq, do not agree with such views,” he added. “Our Iranian
According to Press TV: Iran’s Intelligence Minister says the Shiraz mosque bombers had plans to target a Russian consulate in the northern part of the country. Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i (see picture) announced that 15 people had been arrested in connection with the deadly explosion in a mosque in the southern city of Shiraz, adding that all detainees are Iranian nationals. “Their next target was the Russian consulate general in Rasht. They
Think Progress Thursday, May 8, 2008 In a Fox News interview this afternoon, former UN Ambassador John Bolton discussed his desire to bomb camps inside Iran that are reportedly training and arming Shiite insurgents who fight in Iraq. Fox host Martha McCallum asked, “Can you imagine a scenario where President Bush would do that before the end of his term?” Bolton responded, “I think so, definitely.” He added later, “This
By Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya for Global ResearchThe Levant could be the starting point of a major international conflict with global ramifications and which could quickly spin out of control. Such a conflict could even involve the use of Israeli or American nuclear weapons against Iran and Syria. Syria has additionally declared that it is preparing for an inevitable war with Israel despite the fact that it believes that the chances
The rumors about a US attack on Iran have been recently re-energized by the sacking of Admiral Fallon, the arrival of a new US Navy Carrier in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf, Cheney’s recent visit to the region, General David “Ass-kissing chickenshit” Petraeus’ testimony in Congress, Secretary Gate’s silly comments about Iran wanting nukes after all, nevermind the NIE, or the New York Times resuming some of its worst
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior member of Iran’s negotiating team with the United States on Iraqi security demanded a halt to US attacks in Iraq before any new round of talks with Washington. “If US savage attacks against the Iraqi people are stopped, we will examine the US request for a fourth round of talks,” an Iranian official told FNA. “The Iraqi government and the United States have officially invited Iran
Press TV reports: US President George W. Bush has reportedly authorized a covert operation to set the stage for a military offensive against Iran. According to Counterpunch magazine, President Bush signed a secret finding in March authorizing a covert offensive against Iran, which those familiar with its contents believe to be ‘unprecedented in its scope’. Actions permitted under the secret directive include ‘the assassination of targeted officials’ along with operations
Five Ways to Think about Iran under the Gun By Pepe Escobar for Tom Dispatch More than two years ago, Seymour Hersh disclosed in the New Yorker how George W. Bush was considering strategic nuclear strikes against Iran. Ever since, a campaign to demonize that country has proceeded in a relentless, Terminator-like way, applying the same techniques and semantic contortions that were so familiar in the period before the Bush
by Jim Meyers for Newsmax Contrary to some claims that the Bush administration will allow diplomacy to handle Iran’s nuclear weapons program, a leading member of America’s Jewish community tells Newsmax that a military strike is not only on the table – but likely. (note: does anyone else wonder why this “leading member of America’s Jewish community” would have such advanced warning, or is it just me? VS) “Israel is
By Amir Arfa, Press TV, Tehran In a CNN interview after two days of Iran bashing before Congress and less than a month after “presumptive” Republican Presidential nominee, John McCain made himself butt of all media jokes by suggesting that [Shia] Iran was “taking [Sunni] al-Qaeda” into its soil “training them and sending them back.” US top commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus put his boot in it and suggested
(thanks to Vahe for this contribution) The Neocons may yet get their war on Iran. by Pat Buchanan (from Human Events) Ever since President Nouri al-Maliki ordered the attacks in Basra on the Mahdi Army, Gen. David Petraeus has been laying the predicate for U.S. air strikes on Iran and a wider war in the Middle East. Iran, Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee, has “fueled the recent violence
As my readers have already noticed, I am rather angry at Rep. Ron Paul for throwing in the towel in the 2008 election instead of doing what this SOB Lieberman (successfully) did and run as an independent. Still, when I heard Ron Paul’s remarks to Petraeus and Crocker I found myself daydreaming about what a Paul Presidency could have meant to the rest of the world (I am not supportive
by Leila Fadel for McClatchy Newspapers Iraqi lawmakers traveled to the Iranian holy city of Qom over the weekend to win the support of the commander of Iran’s Qods brigades in persuading Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr to order his followers to stop military operations, members of the Iraqi parliament said. Sadr ordered the halt on Sunday, and his Mahdi Army militia heeded the order in Baghdad, where the Iraqi
THE FOLLOWING IS A ONE YEAR OLD REPORT PICKED UP BY MISTAKE: MOSCOW, March 27 (RIA Novosti) – Russian military intelligence services are reporting a flurry of activity by U.S. Armed Forces near Iran’s borders, a high-ranking security source said Tuesday. “The latest military intelligence data point to heightened U.S. military preparations for both an air and ground operation against Iran,” the official said, adding that the Pentagon has probably
From the Palestinian Pundit blog: “DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria denied Iranian claims that the two countries would conduct a joint investigation into the assassination of a top Hezbollah commander, the Syrian state news agency reported. Imad Mughniyeh, who was one of the world’s most wanted fugitives, was killed in a car bomb in the Syrian capital Tuesday night. He was accused of masterminding attacks that killed hundreds of Americans in
Source: Syria detains suspects in Mughniyah killingBy Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press A joint investigation into the Damascus assassination of Hezbollah deputy leader Imad Mughniyah is well under way and suspects have been arrested in the Syrian capital, a Lebanese security source said Friday. Mughniyah was killed late Tuesday night when his car exploded in an upscale Damascus neighborhood in an incident that was not only a
