Khamenei: Failing the Test
From The Guardian: Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, warned today that continuing divisions would lead to the collapse of the country's ruling elite, after a former president called for a referendum on the government's legitimacy. The referendum call from Mohammad Khatami appeared to be part of an opposition strategy to keep Khamenei and allied hardliners on the defensive over last month's disputed ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 20, 2009 18:54
‘Watching the Fall of Islamic Theocracy’
The protests in Iran have entered a third week and the state media acknowledges that the death toll has reached 19 and that hundreds have been injured. Fareed Zakaria, a man not noted for idle leaps, proclaims, "we are watching the fall of Islamic theocracy." In an interview with CNN, he explains: No, I don't mean the Iranian regime will fall soon. ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on June 21, 2009 08:24
“The Islamic republic state would not cheat”
Iran's supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has raised the stakes in the ongoing confrontation between his government and those demonstrating against the results of last week's election: TEHRAN — In his first public response to days of protests, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sternly warned opponents Friday to stay off the streets and denied opposition claims that last week’s ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on June 19, 2009 08:42
Iranian Mullahs Order Election Probe
I'm going to write up a longish piece trying to make sense of the Iranian elections for New Atlanticist later today. Since comparisons to happenings in America seem to be the blogospheric rage de jour, however, I will just note that I have received the news that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered the Guardian Council to "look into ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on June 15, 2009 08:58
Iranian Nukes Breakthrough? (Updated)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his gang of mullahs are said to be "seriously considering" the latest EU 5+1 proposals on resolving the international standoff on the Iranian nuclear program and are telling President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to pipe down. Warren Strobel: Iran's senior diplomat said Tuesday that Tehran was seriously considering a new offer from six world powers to resolve the dispute over ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 2, 2008 07:12
Horowitz Calls Ahmadinejad ‘Persian Hitler’
Several days after the story of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Columbia University visit inflamed the blogosphere, professional outrage monger David Horowitz has weighed in. Robert Stacy McCain has the story on the front page of today's Washington Times. Columbia University's invitation to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak at the Ivy League school's New York City campus tomorrow is ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on September 23, 2007 07:47
Iran Makes Warning on Nukes
Iran has stepped up its rhetoric in its ongoing clash with the international community over its nuclear program. Iran's top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Wednesday the country will pursue nuclear activities outside international regulations if the U.N. Security Council insists it stop uranium enrichment. "Until today, what we have done has been in accordance with international regulations," Khamenei said. "But ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on March 21, 2007 12:17
Iran Could Have Nuke in 16 Days
While most experts have said it would be months, if not years, before Iran could build a nuclear weapon, the State Department thinks it could be 16 days away: Stephen Rademaker, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, told reporters today in Moscow. "Using those 50,000 centrifuges they could produce enough highly enriched uranium for a ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on April 12, 2006 15:40
Dealing With Iran’s Nukes: Choosing From Bad Options
A mere three weeks ago, Der Spiegel reported that the United States is seriously considering military action against Iran's nuclear programs. Reactions trickled in at first but now there is a flood. David Ignatius contends that the National Security Council principals are seriously weighing their options but that "The goal is not simply to stop the Iranians from making a ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on January 21, 2006 08:57
