UANI

Bloomberg reported that "Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country will stand firm in resisting United Nations nuclear sanctions." "'The nuclear conflict you have created has turned into a factor of shame for you,' he said today, referring to the U.S. and its allies. 'You are mistaken in thinking the Iranian people will break down under pressure and sanctions.' The Iranian president spoke in an address aired live on state-run television from the northeastern city of Bojnourd. Ahmadinejad used the speech to criticize the U.S. and its allies as they struggle to end the global financial crisis, saying 'countries that were the world's symbols of investment are being defeated.'" Read More

AFP reported on a State Department official's comments that the six powers would discuss Iran in the coming days. "The six powers trying to scale back Iran's nuclear ambitions will consult soon via telephone about the 'next steps' to take at the United Nations, a State Department official said Wednesday. Top State Department and foreign ministry officials from the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia will debate further UN Security Council action to halt Iran's sensitive nuclear work, the official said. 'We have a political directors phone call that will probably take place in the next several days. It hasn't been finally nailed down yet in terms of timing,' said the official who was speaking on the condition of anonymity." Read More

Michael Gerson wrote on the challenges Iran poses the next president. "Economic downturns are wrenching, but eventually cyclical. Nuclear proliferation is more difficult to reverse, creating the permanent prospect of massive miscalculation and tragedy. America's next leader may be known to history as the president who had to deal with Iran." Read More

The AP reported that Russia "is suggesting Moscow won't sell advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. Whether Russia would supply Iran with sophisticated S-300 missile systems... Russian ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko was asked by reporters Tuesday whether Russia had promised Israel it would not sell weapons such as S-300s. He responded that Russia wouldn't sell such weaponry 'to countries that are located, to put it mildly, in uneasy regions.'" Read More

Washington Post reported that Iran had "to suspend the implementation of a new sales tax borne most heavily by the politically powerful merchant class" following a merchant strike. " A series of private-sector strikes has forced the Iranian government to suspend the implementation of a new sales tax borne most heavily by the politically powerful merchant class, marking a setback for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's plans for economic change. In a rare show of public protest, angry shopkeepers refused Wednesday for the second straight day to open stores in the central bazaar in the city of Esfahan. Many shopkeepers in Tehran, Mashad and Tabriz also refused to sell goods in protest of a tax measure that took effect in the final week of September." Read More

LA Times interviewed Iran's ambassador to Iraq, who had "harsh words" for the U.S. "Sitting with The Times, Kazemi-Qomi warned that the United States had worn out its welcome with the Iraqi people and said that Iraqis did not want a long-term security agreement with the United States. In contrast, he praised Iran's ties with the Baghdad government." Read More

In Middle East Quarterly, Michael Rubin analyzed whether Iran's Revolutionary Guards were or were not a rogue outfit. "What is clear is that both the IRGC and its elite Qods Force represent the core of the Iranian state and enjoy the full support of its supreme leader and his all-powerful office. ...Indeed, if rogue behavior is defined as operating without state sanction, it is increasingly clear that Mohammad Khatami and his reformist minions are the Islamic Republic's true rogue actors, not the IRGC and Qods Force. These, unfortunately, represent and are indivisible from the regime." Read More

Clifford D. May wrote in the National Review about Iran's role in the attack on US Marines in Beirut in 1983 and Iran's backing of global terrorism. "To plan and carry out the attacks, the Iranian ambassador tapped Lebanese Hezbollah. The Hezbollah operative in charge was Imad Fayez Mughniyeh. Mughniyeh organized a second attack that same day, one in which 58 French peace-keepers were killed at their base in Ramlet al-Baida. Such synchronized suicide attacks are considered Mughniyeh's pioneering contribution to modern terrorist warfare.... Iranian-backed militias have killed American troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Islamist regime in Tehran has provided support to a range of terrorist groups." Read More

Iranian Press reported that Iran and Pakistan plan to enhance their economic cooperation. "Pakistan and Iran agreed to enhance bilateral economic cooperation in various sectors including energy, railways, roads, and trade as well as establishing a joint shipping company to boost maritime cooperation and mutual trade. Iranian Ambassador Mashallah Shakiri and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Salman Faruqui discussed the issues here on Wednesday." Read More

Iranian Press highlighted remarks by Iran's OPEC governor that falling demand for crude is worrisome for Iran. "Tehran is concerned that the deepening global financial crisis is having a bigger impact on oil demand growth than previously expected, Iran's OPEC governor said. It was too early to say if OPEC would have to cut production at its December meeting to match lower demand growth, Mohammad Ali Khatibi said. 'We are worried about demand,' Khatibi said. 'The financial crisis is deeper than we expected and this is definitely influencing world oil demand.'" Read More

Iranian Press reported that France invited Iran to a meeting about Afghanistan. "France has invited Iran and Pakistan to take part in a meeting of Afghanistan's neighbors to help advance peace in the insurgency-hit country, the country's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Tuesday." Read More

Iranian Press reported that former Italian PM Prodi would attend a conference in Iran. "Italy's former Prime Minister Romano Prodi will later this week visit Iran to attend a meeting aimed at promoting dialogue among cultures and religions. The conference is taking place in Yazd, located in central Iran, which is the birthplace of ex-president Mohammad Khatami, who proposed the idea of Dialogue among Civilizations when he was in power." Read More