New York Times: Putin Is Said to Offer Idea on Standoff Over Iran
Tehran Times: Iran studying Putin’s nuclear proposal: Larijani
AFP: Larijani, Solana to hold talks on Iran's nuclear programme
AP: Olmert to Discuss Iran With Putin
Baltimore Sun: Bush only 'making a point' with 'World War III'
AFP: Iran brushes off Bush 'World War III' warning
The Hindu: Lanka lends support to Iran's right to nuclear technology
Economy:
Bloomberg: Iran, Venezuela Form Oil Venture to Rival Shell, Eni (Update1)
The Moscow Times: Gazprom Goes to Iran for Talks
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Wednesday Links
Oil:
International Herald Tribune: Oil soars above $88 as Turkey threatens to strike in Iraq
GoldSeek: Is Crude Oil on Course to hit $100 per barrel?
Market Watch: Energy spike heating up solar shares
Iran:
UPI: U.S. criticizes covert Iran business
Persian Journal: Iran-Russia 50 jet engines deal
Unique Pakistan: Iran Offers Joint Venture In Auto Parts
IranMania: 5 mln active in Iran carpet industry: official
Tehran Times: Iran’s CBI issues foreign bank setup permit
The Economic Times: Iran to import 15 mn litres fuel
International Herald Tribune: Oil soars above $88 as Turkey threatens to strike in Iraq
GoldSeek: Is Crude Oil on Course to hit $100 per barrel?
Market Watch: Energy spike heating up solar shares
Iran:
UPI: U.S. criticizes covert Iran business
Persian Journal: Iran-Russia 50 jet engines deal
Unique Pakistan: Iran Offers Joint Venture In Auto Parts
IranMania: 5 mln active in Iran carpet industry: official
Tehran Times: Iran’s CBI issues foreign bank setup permit
The Economic Times: Iran to import 15 mn litres fuel
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Putin in Tehran
Australia, Herald Sun: Putin to visit embattled Iran
Russia, Pravda: Suicide terrorists prepared to assassinate Putin during his visit to Iran
UK, Guardian: Iran death threat fails to discourage Putin
International Herald Tribune: In Iran, Putin warns against military action
Russia, Interfax: Putin hails decision to allow only coastal countries' vessels into Caspian Sea
Council of Foreign Relations: Top of the Agenda: Putin in Iran
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin arrived in Iran today, the first visit to the country by a Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin in 1943. Putin will attend a summit of nations bordering the Caspian Sea, the focus of which seems likely to be Iran’s nuclear program (BBC). Thus far, the meetings have been overshadowed (RFE/RL) by an apparent plot to assassinate Putin while he is in Iran.
Russia, Pravda: Suicide terrorists prepared to assassinate Putin during his visit to Iran
UK, Guardian: Iran death threat fails to discourage Putin
International Herald Tribune: In Iran, Putin warns against military action
Russia, Interfax: Putin hails decision to allow only coastal countries' vessels into Caspian Sea
Council of Foreign Relations: Top of the Agenda: Putin in Iran
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin arrived in Iran today, the first visit to the country by a Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin in 1943. Putin will attend a summit of nations bordering the Caspian Sea, the focus of which seems likely to be Iran’s nuclear program (BBC). Thus far, the meetings have been overshadowed (RFE/RL) by an apparent plot to assassinate Putin while he is in Iran.
Still, analysts remain hopeful that progress can be made on the nuclear question, particularly given Russia’s strong regional influence in energy markets. Bloomberg reports that initial energy talks between Putin and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad focused on how to divvy Caspian energy resources among the countries that border the sea. Russian press report that Ahmadinejad told Putin that he hopes the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program will be resolved in the near future (RIA Novosti).
Reuters: Putin gives no guarantees on Iran atom plant fuel: TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin declined to give any guarantees on when Russia might start delivering fuel to Iran's first nuclear power plant on Tuesday, saying it would happen after differences over the contract were solved… Read more.
Photo is From ISNA
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Immortality of an Ordinary Life
I finished a conversation and then looked around my small apartment to do some errands, the housekeeping ones: categorizing papers, cleaning and dusting. Then phone rang, the number was a long distance one, the one my family use to call me. I answered; surprised since the time was almost 2:00 AM in the morning Tehran time. It was my sister.
My sister said hi. And I said hi. She asked how I was doing and I asked how she was doing.
-“I am fine”
-“I am good a bit tired though.”
A bit of small talk followed and then she said:
-“Mom and dad are visiting Uncle Mohammad, he is not feeling well.”
- Why? what happened?
- He is not good, he is not feeling well.
- What happened?
- He had a heart attack, he is in hospital
- How is he feeling?
- Not good. (her voice trembled)
- He is not feeling good or…?
- He is…
It is over. The forgotten reality of life strikes. He is with my dear grandmother now, chatting in their Farsi with Shahroudi accent.
My uncle was what seemed to be an ordinary man. He did not go to college. He had a high school diploma, served his mandatory obligation as a private before revolution and then went back to his hometown. A provincial city south of Eastern Alborz Mountains, called Shahroud. There he worked in a pharmacy and then in a small agricultural firm started by a cousin. He was quiet and kept to himself most of the time; a calm looking man who wore a thick black moustache and dark rim glasses with thinning hair which became silver in the later years. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking about.
That was not all. He played as an amateur actor in plays produced by the city theatrical groups, formed by enthusiastic fans like him. His passion was his library and his music. He had a collection of Iran’s traditional and folklore music that was coveted by everyone in the family. He never missed an issue of Film magazine, Iran’s prominent monthly publication on movie and art industry. He loved movies and followed the industry very closely or as much as he could.
He did not have any child of his own, so he spoiled his nieces and nephews. He never showed up empty handed. He always had books, something remarkable and thought provoking. My small library as a teenager owed him and his generosity a great debt of gratitude. He brought me books by Jules Verne, Turgeniev, Jalal Al Ahmad, Simin Daneshvar and other renowned authors. He never seized to encourage us, the noise making bunch of wild rebels. He took pride in our achievements, in my cousin admission to medical school, in my sisters’ and my cousins’ academic and professional achievements and in my graduate studies. Last time we talked he addressed me as “Shoma”; the formal way of saying “You” in Farsi. I was embarrassed. I dreamed of the day I gave a seminar in Shahroud that he could come to, I wanted him to see me as an economist.
Was he a religious man? Yes he was in a very old fashion way. He went to Mecca and served as a Khadem[1] in a local Tekeyeh[2]. He also kept an open mind; I never heard a word of judgment about anyone from him. His rule was simple: “be good”. My uncle certainly knew the difference of good and evil. His politics was simple like millions of Iranians: hoping for better days and believing that hope is a good thing.
He was not rich. His means were limited and his life utterly simple. But he was generous with his friends and family. He never claimed to be an “intellectual”. But he was always learning or reading. His library kept growing and growing. “Dayee[3] Mohammad” managed to live above and beyond the society, without any claim to grandeur or any pretense of talent. His share of history is not larger or smaller than that of other Iranians, yet as remarkable. In a turbulent time he did what he could to keep life memorable and to bring a little sunshine to this world. There rests the secret to immortality of his life..... I sure miss you a lot Dayee Joon.
[1] Literally it means “server” but in Iran it is used for people who work in Mosques, holy shrines and Tekyehs.
[2] A place of gathering in Ashura and other holy occasions for people who mourn the martyrdom of Shiite Imams, particularly Imam Hussien, the mourners are usually served by food and tea, donated by members of Tekeyeh.
[3] Dayee: Mom’s Brother, Uncle
My sister said hi. And I said hi. She asked how I was doing and I asked how she was doing.
-“I am fine”
-“I am good a bit tired though.”
A bit of small talk followed and then she said:
-“Mom and dad are visiting Uncle Mohammad, he is not feeling well.”
- Why? what happened?
- He is not good, he is not feeling well.
- What happened?
- He had a heart attack, he is in hospital
- How is he feeling?
- Not good. (her voice trembled)
- He is not feeling good or…?
- He is…
It is over. The forgotten reality of life strikes. He is with my dear grandmother now, chatting in their Farsi with Shahroudi accent.
My uncle was what seemed to be an ordinary man. He did not go to college. He had a high school diploma, served his mandatory obligation as a private before revolution and then went back to his hometown. A provincial city south of Eastern Alborz Mountains, called Shahroud. There he worked in a pharmacy and then in a small agricultural firm started by a cousin. He was quiet and kept to himself most of the time; a calm looking man who wore a thick black moustache and dark rim glasses with thinning hair which became silver in the later years. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking about.
That was not all. He played as an amateur actor in plays produced by the city theatrical groups, formed by enthusiastic fans like him. His passion was his library and his music. He had a collection of Iran’s traditional and folklore music that was coveted by everyone in the family. He never missed an issue of Film magazine, Iran’s prominent monthly publication on movie and art industry. He loved movies and followed the industry very closely or as much as he could.
He did not have any child of his own, so he spoiled his nieces and nephews. He never showed up empty handed. He always had books, something remarkable and thought provoking. My small library as a teenager owed him and his generosity a great debt of gratitude. He brought me books by Jules Verne, Turgeniev, Jalal Al Ahmad, Simin Daneshvar and other renowned authors. He never seized to encourage us, the noise making bunch of wild rebels. He took pride in our achievements, in my cousin admission to medical school, in my sisters’ and my cousins’ academic and professional achievements and in my graduate studies. Last time we talked he addressed me as “Shoma”; the formal way of saying “You” in Farsi. I was embarrassed. I dreamed of the day I gave a seminar in Shahroud that he could come to, I wanted him to see me as an economist.
Was he a religious man? Yes he was in a very old fashion way. He went to Mecca and served as a Khadem[1] in a local Tekeyeh[2]. He also kept an open mind; I never heard a word of judgment about anyone from him. His rule was simple: “be good”. My uncle certainly knew the difference of good and evil. His politics was simple like millions of Iranians: hoping for better days and believing that hope is a good thing.
He was not rich. His means were limited and his life utterly simple. But he was generous with his friends and family. He never claimed to be an “intellectual”. But he was always learning or reading. His library kept growing and growing. “Dayee[3] Mohammad” managed to live above and beyond the society, without any claim to grandeur or any pretense of talent. His share of history is not larger or smaller than that of other Iranians, yet as remarkable. In a turbulent time he did what he could to keep life memorable and to bring a little sunshine to this world. There rests the secret to immortality of his life..... I sure miss you a lot Dayee Joon.
[1] Literally it means “server” but in Iran it is used for people who work in Mosques, holy shrines and Tekyehs.
[2] A place of gathering in Ashura and other holy occasions for people who mourn the martyrdom of Shiite Imams, particularly Imam Hussien, the mourners are usually served by food and tea, donated by members of Tekeyeh.
[3] Dayee: Mom’s Brother, Uncle
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Satureday News
Tehran Times: Swiss proposalon Iran's nuclear program worth study: Majlis speaker
AP: Iraqi Shiite Leader Seeks US-Iran Talks
New York Times: At New York Film Festival: Upheaval in Iran, Fiasco in Westchester
AFP: Expo in Ahmadinejad's Iran showcases avant-garde art
The Hindu: Indian women to take on Iran
The headlines do not update properly so i thought to add this here.
AP: Iraqi Shiite Leader Seeks US-Iran Talks
New York Times: At New York Film Festival: Upheaval in Iran, Fiasco in Westchester
AFP: Expo in Ahmadinejad's Iran showcases avant-garde art
The Hindu: Indian women to take on Iran
The headlines do not update properly so i thought to add this here.
Eid Mobarak!
Happy Eid :) It seems even in the USA there was not a global agreement as to when is the first day of Shavval, when Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan. Some mosques celebrated yesterday and some today. Today, Satureday, also is the Eid day in Iran. So Happy Eid to everyone :) .... sometimes one wonders how significant a scientific observation could be :))
Eid Mobarak!
Photo is from Canada Post.
Ali Farahbakhsh is Free
Ali Farahbakhsh an Iranian journalist and economist who has been arrested last year on his return from an international gathering in Bangkok, Thailand, was released Tuesday after 318 days of imprisonment.
Ali Farahbakhsh collaborated as an economist columnist with several reformist daily papers during his career as a journalist, among them: Sobh-e Emrouz, Shargh and Yaas-e No, where he was the editor for economic affairs desk. He was charged by “espionage” and “receiving funds from foreign institutions”. Last February a court found him guilty and condemned him to 3 years of imprisonment. He and his family paid equivalent of three times of the fund he had received to attend a conference in Bangkok as penalty. He still denies the charges brought against him in the court.
Ali Farahbakhsh collaborated as an economist columnist with several reformist daily papers during his career as a journalist, among them: Sobh-e Emrouz, Shargh and Yaas-e No, where he was the editor for economic affairs desk. He was charged by “espionage” and “receiving funds from foreign institutions”. Last February a court found him guilty and condemned him to 3 years of imprisonment. He and his family paid equivalent of three times of the fund he had received to attend a conference in Bangkok as penalty. He still denies the charges brought against him in the court.
His freedom is a blessed news. The photo is from Kosoof.
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