Latest News

Iran and the Paper Submarine Iran has announced that is has begun production of a new class of submarines that can fire both torpedoes and missiles. Iran has, as far as anyone can tell, no submarine building capability. Over the last few years, Iran has announced several new submarine construction projects. But no one can find any evidence that any of these subs exist. But all this is nothing new for the Iranians. more By The Strategy Page Posted 26/8/2008 @ 9:24:19 GMT Obama Vows to Step Up Diplomacy with Iran DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama pledged yesterday that he would step up diplomatic pressure to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons before Israel feels that "its back is against the wall" and might take military action. more By The Associated Press Posted 26/8/2008 @ 9:14:23 GMT Obsession with Israel - The Danger of Underestimation Amid all the national security challenges facing the U.S. government, one of the most important has to be assessing the character of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Kasra Naji, a highly experienced and respected Iranian journalist, has made a welcome start with this new biography of the firebrand leader of the Islamic Republic. Yet it must be said that for all the book's undoubted thoroughness, it is frustratingly silent on the very issues where one craves the most illumination - especially on whether Mr. Ahmadinejad would actually use a thermonuclear weapon if he ever got his hands on one. more By The Washington Times

Posted 26/8/2008 @ 8:28:42 GMT Facing Up to Violence in Iran The genius of the Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi was, as Norman Geras observed, to use "common experience to illuminate the experience of the Nazi universe of death, and vice versa." more By The Guardian

Posted 25/8/2008 @ 19:31:29 GMT Ailing Journalist Put in Solitary Confinement Instead of Being Transferred to Hospital Reporters Without Borders today voiced active concern about the treatment of journalist and human rights activist Emadoldin Baghi who earlier this month was placed in an isolation cell in Evin prison, Tehran instead of being transferred to hospital. more By Reporters Without Borders

Posted 25/8/2008 @ 19:28:32 GMT Iran: Jailed Kurds Begin Hunger Strike Kurdish prisoners, all jailed for political motives in Iran, on Monday began an indefinite hunger strike to promote human rights. The news, released by the Kurdish agency, Mokrian, was confirmed by the sister of Adnan Hassanpour, the award-winning journalist who has been condemned to death. more By Adnkronos International ­

Posted 25/8/2008 @ 19:21:41 GMT World Must 'Seriously' Press Iran Before Israel Strikes U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday the world must pressure Iran in a "serious way" over its nuclear program before Israel feels compelled to deal with situation on its own. more

Posted 25/8/2008 @ 8:10:27 GMT Chief Cleric of Iran Defends President TEHRAN -- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme religious leader, responded to mounting domestic criticism of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with a strong statement of support, praising his internal policies and his dogged defense of the country’s nuclear program, Iranian news media reported Sunday. more By The New York Times