Chabahar attack meant to divide Islamic ummah: Leader

MNA-- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that the enemies are afraid of unity among Muslims and the power of the Islamic world.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a message to the families of the victims of Wednesday’s terrorist attack in the southeastern city of Chabahar, which were read out at the funeral ceremony for the victims on Friday.

“People have become aware of the enemies’ objectives and have recognized that the global arrogance (imperialist powers) do not want to see the Islamic ummah live in dignity,” part of the message read.

On Wednesday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device outside a mosque in the southeastern city of Chabahar during a Shia religious ceremony, killing 35 people and injuring more than 100 others. Women and children were among the victims.

The terrorist group Jundullah claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying it was retaliation for the execution of the group’s leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, in June.

Iran has arrested nine suspects in connection with the attack. Continued…

Lebanese politician urges US to recognize legitimacy of Iran’s nuclear program

IRNA– Head of Lebanon’s Al-Mardah Party said here Friday Washington has reached a stage that it must recognize legitimacy of Islamic Republic of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

According to the IRNA correspondent in Beirut, the former Lebanese president Suleiman Franjiyeh made the comment in a meeting with the IRI Ambassador to Lebanon Qazanfar Roknabadi during which the two sides also exchanged opinion on the latest regional, bilateral and Lebanon developments.

Franjiyeh and Roknabadi both also evaluated the results of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit of Lebanon and Saad Hariri’s visit of Tehran as “good and positive, emphasizing that maximum advantage should be taken of the emerged positive atmosphere at the service of broadening and deepening the bilateral ties and cooperation.”

Franjiyeh also praised Iran’s serious and resolute stands in its talks with the west regarding the Iranian nation’s absolute right to take advantage of the full cycle of the nuclear energy for totally peaceful purposes.
 
U.S., EU Plan Iran Sanctions

The Wall Street Journal--The U.S. and representatives of the European Union have agreed to impose joint sanctions against Iran in January and are considering breaking off talks with the country, as patience with Tehran’s nuclear activities wears thin, according to people familiar with the matter.

Western officials are discussing making further talks with Iran contingent on Tehran’s progress toward compliance with existing United Nations Security Council resolutions, which call on Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog.

Iran returned to the negotiating table this month in Geneva with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, which seek to contain Tehran’s nuclear program. The talks led to an agreement to another round of discussions early next year in Istanbul.

Some Western officials accuse Iran of playing for time by agreeing to talks but refusing to engage in meaningful negotiations. Senior diplomats from the U.S., U.K. and France met in Paris on Tuesday to chart the new course, amid growing frustration over Iran’s obstruction of IAEA inspections. London and Paris help to coordinate policy for the entire EU on Iran.

The three nations plan to finalize details of the plan by the end of the year, then deliver the proposal to the EU sanctions committee to get the new measures in place before talks resume in Istanbul.

Iranian officials couldn’t be reached late Friday to comment. Iran says it fully complies with its international obligations.

It is unclear what shape the new sanctions will take. The three countries agreed that the U.S. and European Union should act together with a uniform set of sanctions, rather than seeking further United Nations sanctions, a time-consuming process with no guarantee of success.
Continued…
 

Iran nuclear chief takes over as foreign minister

Washington Post-- Iran’s nuclear chief has taken over as the country’s interim foreign minister after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad abruptly fired his predecessor.

State TV says Ali Akbar Salehi was introduced as the new top diplomat at a function at the Foreign Ministry on Saturday. The sacked minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, refused to attend in an apparent gesture of protest.

Ahmadinejad fired Mottaki on Monday in the middle of an official visit to the African nation of Senegal.

No reason was given, but the president may have wanted to install a figure more personally loyal to him as Tehran resumes critical talks with world powers over its nuclear program.

Salehi will serve as caretaker foreign minister until a permanent replacement is named.