UANI

The Wall Street Journal reported that "The Obama administration and its European allies are setting a target of early October to determine whether engagement with Iran is making progress or should lead to sanctions, said senior officials briefed on the policy. They also are developing specific benchmarks to gauge Iranian behavior. Those include whether Tehran is willing to let United Nations monitors make snap inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities that are now off-limits, and whether it will agree to a 'freeze for freeze' -- halting uranium enrichment in return for holding off on new economic sanctions -- as a precursor to formal negotiations." (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124225939853917439.html)

Minnesota State Senator Winkler issued a press release saying that "The Minnesota House and Senate passed a bill today (HF111) cutting off Minnesota’s investments in foreign oil companies doing businesses in the Iranian energy sector. The bill has garnered bipartisan support in both houses and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Pawlenty in the coming days.... The bill requires the State Board of Investment to divest state resources from any foreign business that has done more than $20 million of business in the Iranian energy sector since 1996. It is intended to ensure Minnesota investment funds aren’t indirectly contributing to a repressive and aggressive regime." (http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/pressrelease.asp?pressid=4515&p...)

Reuters reported that "Iran has sent two warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect oil tankers and other vessels from the world's fifth-largest crude exporter against attacks by pirates off the coast of Somalia, state radio said on Thursday." (http://uk.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUKDAH435899)

AFP reported that "Iran's state television is to air debates by candidates competing in the June presidential election, the broadcaster's chief Ezatollah Zarghami was quoted as saying by local media on Thursday. 'Six attractive televised debates are on the broadcaster's electoral agenda,' Zarghami said, vowing 'fairness' in coverage by his organisation which has a monopoly on broadcasting in Iran." (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3WptpCsX0JnAr_QWOjmU...)

Professor Mehrzad Boroujerdi wrote in Foreign Policy that "potatoes, it seems, have everything to do with the Iranian elections this year. Ramping up the public distribution of potatoes, along with a wide range of other government subsidies and alms, has become Ahmadinejad's preferred strategy for buying votes. While the Western world has focused on the incumbent's inflammatory statements about the Holocaust and his confrontationist nuclear policy, his domestic critics have focused their ire on his flawed economic remedies and populist demagogy, in addition to his erratic diplomatic style. Hence, potatoes, and the surprise return of Moussavi, a man little known outside Iran." (http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4921)

Mark Katz of the Washington Institute wrote that "Russia's recent decision not to sell the S-300 antiaircraft missile system to Iran (at least for now) raised hopes that Moscow would cooperate more fully in the effort to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Recent statements from Russian leaders indicating that they were on board with the U.S. strategy further buoyed optimism. Despite these promising signs, however, there is strong reason to doubt that Moscow's cooperation will continue." (http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=3053)

Iranian press reported that "Commander in Chief of IRI Armed Forces said here Wednesday trust in God, independence and reliance on people’s will are prerequisites for efficient defense of any nation of its prestige, its dignity and in entirety. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khameneie added at his address at joint evening program of IRI armed forces in Kurdistan Province, 'The grand Iranian nation and the mighty Islamic system do not approve of aggressive moves and invading others, but would not hesitate a second in reacting to others’ threats.'... is eminence further stressed, “The nation, and particularly their armed forces need to remain alert and to be on constant guard, which I am sure they are.'" (http://www.irna.ir/En/View/FullStory/?NewsId=486135&IdLanguage=3)