Iran News Round Up [Michael Rubin] : Monday, October 01, 2007

Blowback: Iran continues to see propaganda victory for itself in Senate endorsement of Biden plan.
Criticism of Biden plan enables Iran to repair the damage in its relations with Iraqis by becoming the champion rather than adversary of Iraqi nationalism.
Blowback: Iran continues to score points off Ahmadinejad’s Columbia visit.
Ahmadinejad: World heard Iranian voice at Columbia.
Supreme Leader: Ahmadinejad’s visit to U.S. brought honor to Islamic Republic.
Security Forces confront labor protestors from a Khuzistan sugar cane factory.
Independent trade union leader Mansour Osanlou’s 82nd day in prison.
Bush, Rice, every major candidate from both parties, remains silent on Iranian labor crackdown.
IRGC commander: (Paramilitary) Basij, IRGC exist to counter internal and external threats.
Does the State Department and CIA still see IRGC as distinct, representing regime or just rogue factions?
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to demand U.S. release captured Qods Force operative.
Iran reconsidering whether talks with U.S. in Baghdad should continue.
British ambassador in Washington says U.S. will continue diplomacy with Iran, and that military steps shouldn’t hinder such diplomacy.
Misinterpreting democracy: Headline (top left): Anti-war demonstrations in three big U.S. cities.
Hardline press repeats Sy Hersh, Zbigniew Brzezinski allegations as gospel.
Headline: “Anyone who accepts the Zionist Regime is an Unbeliever whose blood may be shed.” (Quote from Marwan Abu Ras, Palestinian official)
Sanctions, what sanctions? Iran claims trade explosion:
Chinese-Iranian trade to increase from $15 to $20 billion.
Crude oil exports to Japan rise.
Pakistan and Iran to finalize pipeline deal by end of month.
Ass’t Indian Oil Minister: No lapse in the project (to link that pipeline to India).
Iran and Afghanistan ink economic Memorandum of Understanding.
Iranian Envoy: Iran-Thailand trade up 75 percent.
Turkish Prime Minister: Turkey will maintain its energy ties to Iran, despite U.S. pressure.
Pistachio production to rise 15 percent.
(This is relevant because of the Rafsanjani family near-monopoly over the pistachio industry).
Flashback: Madeleine Albright lifts pistachio tariffs on Iran.
Zoroastrians to participate in annual Qods Day rally calling for Israel’s destruction.
No comment yet from Trita Parsi, lobbyist and son of Zoroastrian rep in Islamic Republic parliament.
Photo of the Day: Remembering the martyrs of the Iran-Iraq War.
Such commemorations seek to play off patriotism, tie the IRGC in public consciousness to Iranian defense.