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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Report: Irans President Fires 14 Advisers

2011-01-04

[Asharq al-Aswat] An Iranian pro-government website says President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad has fired 14 advisers as part of an ongoing shake-up of his administration. The Sunday report from mashreghnews.ir says Ahmadinejad sacked the advisers a day earlier in an effort to help reduce the size of the government. The dismissals have not been confirmed by state media or the president's office. Last month, Ahmadinejad abruptly fired his longtime foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, as well as his vice president for youth affairs, Mehrdad Bazrpash. Those dismissals appeared to signal a rift at the top levels of the Iranian leadership, pitting the president against rival conservatives.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Mottaki and Ahmadinejad: A Pleasure to Watch

2010-12-27

[Asharq al-Aswat] The bickering between former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and Iran's diminutive President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad and his followers is ongoing; with each side accusing the other of lies. This bickering is, of course, enjoyable to those outside of Iran, because it helps us to discover the truth of the struggle that is taking place between the elites there. Mottaki, the man whose job it was to polish the image of the Iranian regime, issued a statement last week in which he denied that he had been informed of his dismissal before he left Iran for Senegal and called on the government to "stop lying" saying that "dismissing a Minister during a [diplomatic] mission is un-Islamic, undiplomatic, and offensive." On this topic, a reliable Iranian source informed me that during his meeting with the Senegalese, Mottaki was talking about Iranian policies when in the middle of his explanation his [Senegalese] host interrupted him saying that whilst Senegal respects and appreciates him, he no longer represented Iran; after the announcement of Mottaki's dismissal had been made. The Iranian source told me that "this was embarrassing for Mottaki, and harsh." The Iranian source also mentioned another famous story that is similar to this, and he said that: on 25 December 2001, during the visit paid by Mehdi Karroubi -- who was the Iranian Speaker of Parliament at the time -- to Soddy Arabia to meet with King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz -- who at this time was the Saudi Crown Prince -- Karroubi began to speak about the freedom and openness being seen in Iran, however his Saudi host then asked "what about the arrest of the MP for Hamadan, Hossein Loghmanian, which took place not a few hours ago?" According to the source, Karroubi was shocked, for the Soddy Arabians were more aware of the latest news from Iran than the Iranian Speaker of Parliament himself! However the Iranian source said that he believed that the major reason behind Mottaki's dismissal was a letter he had sent to the Supreme Leader of Iran, protesting against Ahmadinejad's appointment of special envoys with close ties to him. [In his letter to the Supreme Leader] Mottaki said that this weakened his own position, as well as the Foreign Ministry itself. This was after Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's own chief of staff, paid a visit to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II. According to the source, this letter [which was sent following this meeting] led to Mottaki's dismissal, and also revealed his anger [at the situation] which drove him to send such a letter to the Supreme Leader, which included a complaint against the Iranian President himself. Of course, what immediately springs to the mind of the reader and any observer are questions such as: is the [Iranian] president stronger than the Supreme Leader, and the [Iranian] parliament? Has the Iranian president begun to wield true influence, as some of the reports seem to indicate? Of course, nobody knows the answer to these questions. However the Iranian sources do not believe so, rather they believe that Ahmadinejad is a man who is unconcerned with the repercussions of his decisions, and that what is taking place in Iran today is an indication that something bigger is happening there. Therefore, this bickering between Mottaki and Ahmadinejad helps us to understand the nature of the conflict that is taking place between the elites in Iran. For history, as do our present experiences, tells us that it is difficult to predict anything in Iran. On this issue, I recall that one of Iran's revolutionary figures once told me that "before the fall of the Shah's regime we thought that the revolution would take place in a few years, but it took place within months!" Therefore, as we mentioned before, this bickering helps us to decipher what is really going on in Tehran.

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Africa Subsaharan

Senegal recalls envoy to Iran

2010-12-16

[Al Jazeera] Senegal has recalled its ambassador to Iran over an arms scandal in which military-grade weapons were shipped into the region allegedly bound for neighbouring Gambia. Madicke Niang, the Senegalese foreign minister, made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday, saying the explanations Iran had given for the affair were "not satisfactory". "True to the need for peace and security which should guide ties between states, and deeming unsatisfactory the explanations provided by the Iranian side in this affair, Senegal has decided to recall its ambassador to Iran for consultations as of today," the statement said. Senegalese analysts have said the arms may have been bound for Senegal's restive southern Casamance region, where rebels have waged a low-level uprising against the government since 1983. The Senegalese move comes just one day after Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian foreign minister, was sacked while on a two-day visit to the West African state, partly to explain the affair. Artillery rockets and other weapons loaded in shipping containers labeled as building supplies were seized in October at a port in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian authorities have charged an Iranian national for attempting to import prohibited weapons with the intent of sending them to nearby Gambia, which has since severed all diplomatic ties with Iran. Al-Qud's link? The seizure in Lagos prompted two Iranians to seek refuge in Iran's embassy in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. Diplomats and security sources identified the two as members of Iran's al-Quds force, the foreign operations unit of its Revolutionary Guard. The purpose of the shipment remains unclear. Before Gambia abruptly severed all ties with Iran, it had hosted Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, on a number of visits and had economic, agricultural and security ties. Iran has existing trade ties with Senegal and in May offered to carry out infrastructure projects including road, railway, port and airport construction. Reasons behind Mottaki's abrupt sacking were not given but analysts suggested it tightened Ahmadinejad's grip on foreign policy and was a demonstration of his political power.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran Says No Change in Nuclear, Foreign Policy with New Minister

2010-12-15

If that's the case they probably just got tired of the sound of Mottaki's voice. [An Nahar] Iran said Tuesday its nuclear and foreign policies will not change after President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad fired Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and replaced him with the atomic chief. "Iran's major international policies are defined in higher levels and the foreign ministry executes these policies. We will not see any changes in our basic policies," foreign ministry front man Ramin Mehmanparast said at his weekly briefing. "I don't think there will be any changes in the nuclear policy and the talks" with world powers over Iran's nuclear program, he said. Ahmadinejad on Monday named Ali Akbar Salehi, a vice-president and head of Iran's atomic energy organization, as caretaker foreign minister after sacking Mottaki. No reasons were given for the surprise move, which came just days after Iran held crunch talks in Geneva on December 6 and 7 with world powers over its controversial nuclear dossier. Further talks are scheduled for next month in Iran's neighbor Turkey. Salehi, 61, who was appointed atomic energy chief on July 17, 2009, has been a driving force behind Iran's atomic program, and during his tenure, the country's first nuclear power plant has come on line. Earlier this month, at a security meeting in neighboring Bahrain, Mottaki hailed as a "step forward" remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill... that Iran is entitled to a peaceful nuclear energy program. Clinton had told the BBC that Tehran could enrich uranium for civilian purposes in the future, but only once it has demonstrated it can do so in a responsible manner and in accordance with Iran's international obligations. Mottaki's comments appeared to cut across the Islamic republic's official position, repeated almost daily, that its enrichment of uranium is non-negotiable.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iranian President Fires Foreign Minister

2010-12-14

[Asharq al-Aswat] President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad fired Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Monday and replaced him with his atomic chief, in an apparent falling out over policy as Iran holds talks with world powers over its nuclear programme. The official IRNA news agency gave no reasons for the move, and reported that Ali Akbar Salehi, a vice-president and head of Iran's atomic energy organisation, would become caretaker foreign minister. Mottaki, a career diplomat who was appointed foreign minister in August 2005, is currently in Senegal on an official visit. Earlier this month, at a security meeting in neighbouring Bahrain, Mottaki hailed as a "step forward" remarks by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill... that Iran is entitled to a peaceful nuclear energy programme. Clinton had told the BBC that Tehran could enrich uranium for civilian purposes in the future, but only once it has demonstrated it can do so in a responsible manner and in accordance with Iran's international obligations. Mottaki's comments appeared to cut across the Islamic republic's official position, repeated almost daily, that its enrichment of uranium is non-negotiable. "I thank you and appreciate the work and the services you have rendered during your tenure in the foreign ministry," Ahmadinejad was quoted as telling Mottaki in a directive carried by IRNA on Monday. It reported that Ahmadinejad also issued a separate directive appointing Salehi as the "caretaker of the foreign ministry." "Due to your commitment, knowledge and valued expertise... you are appointed as caretaker of the foreign ministry," the directive read. Under Iranian law, the president has to submit his nominations for ministerial posts to parliament for approval. Mottaki's sacking comes just days after Iran held crunch talks in Geneva on December 6 and 7 with world powers over its controversial nuclear dossier. Further talks are scheduled for next month in Iran's neighbour Turkey. Berlin urged Tehran on Monday to continue negotiations with world powers over its disputed nuclear work, despite Mottaki's dismissal. "We hope that the negotiations which just resumed in Geneva will continue," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said ahead of a regular meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels. Salehi, who was appointed atomic energy chief on July 17, 2009, has been a driving force behind Iran's atomic programme, and during his tenure, the country's first nuclear power plant has come on line. Salehi, a PhD graduate of the prestigious MIT in the United States, in comments after his appointment as atomic chief said: "Legal and technical discussions about Iran's nuclear case have finished... and there is no room left to keep this case open."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

'Iran to legally pursue terror cases'

2010-12-11

[Iran Press TV] A senior Iranian politician says the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) will take up the case of the recent terror attacks against two Iranian scientists with the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society. "The Human Rights Committee of Majlis will follow up the issue through the UN and the Human Rights Council," said Zohreh Elahian, Chairwoman of the Human Rights Subcommittee of the Majlis Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, quoted by Fars news agency on Wednesday. Elahian pointed out that Majlis will pursue the matter in line with efforts to defend the Iranian nation's nuclear rights. Unidentified bully boyz attached explosives to the vehicles of Dr. Majid Shahriari and Professor Fereydoun Abbasi in different locations on November 29. Shahriari was killed immediately after the blast, but Abbasi and his wife beat feet the bombing with minor injuries. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Press TV earlier that Tehran is going to send a letter to UN Secretary General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon to protest the attacks and call on the UN chief to put the matter on his agenda. He strongly condemned the inclusion of Abbasi's name as a "nuclear scientist" in the UN Security Council Resolution 1747 against Tehran. The Islamic Theocratic Republic says the perpetrators behind the liquidation could be traced through those who put the scientist's name in the resolution and thus provided terrorist groups with a hit list. Earlier in January, another Iranian nuclear scientist, Massoud Ali Mohammadi, was killed in a bomb attack which Tehran blamed on "mercenaries" hired by Israel and the United States. Iran suspects foreign intelligence services of involvement in the liquidations.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran blasts use of chemical arms

2010-12-06

[Iran Press TV] Iran's deputy foreign minister has decried the production, stockpiling and use of chemical arms, saying Tehran has been a victim of such weapons. "We are very sensitive about chemical arsenals," said Mohammad Mahdi Akhoundzadeh, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, in an interview with the Dutch newspaper NRC. The Iranian diplomat is in the Netherlands to attend an annual conference of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He said Iranian people, who have been victimized by chemical weapons, do not like others to be victimized by the weapons. In October, the 62nd Session of the OPCW Executive Council issued a landmark declaration condemning Iraq's chemical attacks on Iran's northwestern city of Sardasht in 1987, during the eight year war that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had imposed on the Islamic Theocratic Republic in 1980s. The initiative for an international support network -- proposed by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki -- was first tabled at OPCW conference in 2007 as the "Chemical Weapons Victim's International Funding and Assistance Network."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran will 'never' use force against Muslim neighbors, foreign minister says

2010-12-04

IRAN will never use force against its Muslim neighbours, the country's foreign minister told a conference on Middle East security today, following US said Arab states voicing concernss over Tehran's suspected attempts to acquire nuclear weapons. And in a keynote address to the conference, Jordan's King Abdullah II said Israeli-Palestinian peace talks must be rescued from collapse to ensure regional and world stability. "We have never used our force against our neighbours and never will because our neighbors are Muslims," Iran's Manouchehr Mottaki said. "Your power in the region is our power, and our power is your power." US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said Friday that US concerns over Tehran's suspected atomic weapons program were shared by Iran's neighbours. But Mottaki cautioned against submitting to "pressure by outsiders to divide us and create instability," saying that "the presence of foreign powers will not help establish security in the region" and urging cooperation among Gulf countries. He said it was vital for Iran to "have stability and security, because we [Iran and its neighboring Gulf states] provide the world with most of its energy." "Iran is determined to guarantee international security in the field of energy," he added. Yesterday, Mrs Clinton said that "there is no debate in the international community, and perhaps the Iranians will engage seriously ... on what is a concern shared by nations on every continent but most particularly right here in the region," referring to talks due to start Monday between major powers and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program.

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Africa Subsaharan

Gambia shuts door on Iranian allies

2010-11-29

[Daily Nation (Kenya)] A proud man, President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad must be smarting. That's because Iran has been losing face in West Africa. It's a lesson. Two days after Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, a Mr Ahmadinajed bosom buddy, cut ties with Iran, a Nigerian court charged an Iranian with arms smuggling. Mr Jammeh added an insult. He gave the Iranians 48 hours to get out. As communications go, entering and exiting Gambia isn't easy. Seven days earlier, Nigeria announced seizing 137.75 kilogrammes of heroin shipped from Iran. Early this month, Nigeria told the UN Security Council that Iran had attempted to transit a consignment of arms through Lagos. That's a possible violation of the council's ban of Iran's arms trade. Gambia gave no reasons for its action. All indications though are the deal involving the 13 shipping containers of weapons ostensibly destined to Gambia soured. Incidentally, if black people blushed, Nigeria's officialdom would be red. The containers remained at Apapa port in Lagos for more than three months before officials confiscated them. Moreover, if the Israeli newspaper Haaretz is correct, foreign intelligence agencies tipped off the law abiding Nigerians. The consignment included 107mm rockets designed to hit stationary targets. They have an 8.5-kilometre range and a 12-metre killing radius. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki flew to Lagos to clear a "misunderstanding," a diplomatic say-nothing. Assuming Gambia ordered the weapons, whom does a country of 1.8 million plans to fight? If a legal deal, why disguise the consignment as construction material? Moreover, why did the Iranian consignee seek refuge in the Iranian embassy and an associate claim and get, through Mr Mottaki, diplomatic immunity? A plausible explanation of the saga is the arms headed to re-exportation, with the Gambians, obviously, getting a cut. Iran can use the cash, needs friends, and supports proxies--allies, to be diplomatically correct. Moreover, Iran's Revolutionary Guards--the Iranian the Nigerian court charged is reportedly a member--is in big businesses worldwide. It's plausible Mr Jammeh abandoned Mr Ahmadinejad when things went awry. He has a history of U-turns. Libyan leader Moummar Qadaffy can testify. Maybe, though unbelievable, Mr Jammeh took advice: We are too flimsy to face the storm. Anchor. The heroin affair seems criminal, unless one takes the view that the Revolutionary Guards makes money by whichever means. In all fairness, Iran's effort in fighting the heroin problem is commendable. However, The infamous However... in Tehran, getting infidels' money, a possible $9.9 million in this case, might qualify as war by peaceful means. As all cases of illegal arms and drugs come and go, facts and intentions of the arms and the heroin haul, reportedly destined to Europe, remain murky. One thing is clear, in quickening efforts to make friends, especially African; Iran might be taking too many things for granted.

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Africa Subsaharan

Arms Found in Nigeria were Headed to West Africa: Iran

2010-11-17

[Asharq al-Aswat] Iran said on Monday that an arms shipment sent from an Iranian port and discovered in Lagos was heading to a West African country, and the "misunderstanding" had since been cleared up with the Nigerian authorities. Ummm... Nigeria's a West African country... "A private company which had sold conventional defence weapons to another country in West Africa had transferred the shipment via Nigeria which raised some doubts with relevant officials," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told news hounds. Mottaki said an Iranian national who was in Nigeria as the representative of the company "had offered explanations (to Nigerian authorities) and I believe the misunderstanding has been cleared." "We'll wait and see, once the check clears..." He did not specify whether the firm was Iranian. On Friday, Nigeria threatened to report Iran to the UN Security Council if the arms shipment, which included rockets and grenades, violated sanctions over its sensitive nuclear programme. Iran is under four sets of UN sanctions for pursuing the atomic programme, which the West suspects is masking a drive to build weapons, a charge Tehran denies. Nigeria had backed the latest round of UN sanctions against the Islamic republic on June 9. Nigerian security agents last month intercepted 13 containers discharged from the vessel CMA CGM Everest at the country's busiest port of Apapa in the economic hub of Lagos. Shipping firm CMA CGM said the containers had been loaded and sealed in Iran by an Iranian businessman who does not appear on an international list of prohibited traders. CMA CGM, which is based in France, said the shipment was loaded in Bandar Abbas, a southern port city of Iran, and discharged in Lagos in July. But some time last month the shipper sought to have the containers reloaded and sent to Gambia, a tiny West African country wedged inside Senegal, according to the firm. Nigeria's intelligence agency said it had been monitoring the shipment, which was disguised as building material, before it arrived in the country. It also said the shipment's destination was Nigeria, and "any argument that the cargo came into the country by mistake is false". The intended recipient and the clearing agent have been jugged, the agency said. Illegal weapons are widespread in Nigeria, but the recent discovery led to major concerns, with elections set for early next year and following independence day twin car boomings on October 1 that killed at least 12 people. Elections in Nigeria have often been tainted by violence.

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Africa Horn

Nigeria Reports Iran Arms Seizure To U.N.

2010-11-16

Nigeria has reported the seizure of an illegal arms shipment from Iran intercepted by its secret service in Lagos last month to the U.N. Security Council, Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia said on Monday. Rockets and other explosives, hidden in containers of building materials shipped to Nigeria from Iran, appear to put Tehran in breach of U.N. sanctions imposed over its refusal to halt a sensitive nuclear program, diplomats have said. "Following preliminary investigations, our permanent mission in New York has reported the seizure and inspection of the arms shipment from Iran in compliance with our reporting obligations under (U.N.) resolution 1929," Ajumogobia told Reuters. Mystery surrounds the intended destination of the weapons, but investigations have focused on two Iranians believed to be senior members of the Revolutionary Guards, Iran's elite military force, diplomatic and security sources say. Nigeria's secret service was able to question one of the men, who had taken refuge in the Iranian embassy in Nigeria's capital Abuja, after Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki visited the West African country on Thursday. It has been unable to question a second Iranian in the embassy because he has diplomatic immunity. The two Iranians were believed to be members of al-Quds, an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guards which specializes in foreign operations on behalf of Iran, diplomatic sources said. The goods were originally meant for an address in Abuja, but shipping documents subsequently appeared to re-export them to Gambia, Nigerian authorities said last week. The weapons shown to journalists in Lagos when the seizure was made included 107mm rockets, used by armies to support infantry units, but also by groups including the Taliban in Afghanistan and Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip.

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Africa Subsaharan

Iran says arms seized in Nigeria "misunderstanding"

2010-11-16

[Al Arabiya] Iran's foreign minister said Monday that the issue of an alleged Iranian arms shipment intercepted in Nigeria was a "misunderstanding" that has been settled. "Tut tut, my good man! A mere misunderstanding!" Nigeria says the artillery rockets and other weapons, found at a Lagos port last month in shipping containers labeled as building supplies, originated in Iran and may have been destined for Nigerian politicians intending violence if they lose in upcoming elections. Nigeria said last week it would take action against Iran if an investigation shows it violated international law and U.N. sanctions. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says that an Iranian implicated in the case has explained the situation to Nigerian authorities. "I think the misunderstandings have been settled in this field," Mottaki said, according to the state news agency IRNA. Mottaki, who visited Lagos last week, also said that he had replaced Iran's ambassador to Nigeria. Mottaki did not say whether the replacement was connected to the weapons case. Mottaki did not elaborate on the nature of the misunderstanding or how it was resolved. His statement was the highest-level Iranian comment so far on the case. In late October, Iran's then-ambassador to Nigeria, Hussein Abdullahi, said there was no clear evidence linking his country to the shipment. There was no immediate reaction from Nigerian officials to Mottaki's claim the case had been resolved. An international shipping company based in France CMA CGM said it had picked up the containers in which the weapons were hidden in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The shipment stopped in Mumbai, India, before heading to Lagos. On Friday, Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobi said Iranian officials confirmed the consignment originated in Iran. During his visit, Mottaki cleared the way for Nigerian security officials to interview one of two Iranians who Nigeria says organized the shipment, Ajumogobia said. The Nigerians say the two have taken refuge in the Iranian Embassy. The interception of the weapons had drawn sharp criticism of Iran from Nigeria. In a 2007 resolution stepping up sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, the U.N. Security Council banned Iranian arms exports, forbidding the sale or supply of weapons by Iran, whether directly or indirectly. It requires nations to prevent any such transfers and prevent their citizens from obtaining any weapons from Iran. But Mottaki on Monday depicted the tensions as eased. He said he and the Nigerian foreign minister had held talks on bilateral relations and that Ajumogobia would visit Tehran. Mottaki said the appointment of a new ambassador to Nigeria would "create new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries."

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