UANI

The Los Angeles Times wrote that recent reports that Ahmadinejad is suffering from exhaustion are fueling speculation about whether he will run in the next election. "The absences have prompted whispers that Ahmadinejad is on his way out. But Kowsari and others close to Ahmadinejad have accused his critics of trying to use what they say is a routine illness for political advantage." Read More

UPI quoted German press reports that Germany was ready to follow France’s lead in supporting "unofficial sanctions against Iran." Read More 

AP reported that Iran accused the U.S. of attacking Syria in violation of territorial sovereignty. "Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman is condemning a U.S. military raid in Syrian territory close to the border with Iraq. Spokesman Hasan Qashqavi told reporters on Monday that a violation of the territorial integrity of any sovereign state is unacceptable." Read More 

AP reported on Iranian comments that OPEC would be willing to further cut crude oil output if needed. "Speaking in a live TV interview Sunday, Mohammad Ali Khatibi said a reduction in production 'will be considered' at the next meeting in Algiers in December - a meeting that might be held early if necessary." Read More 

Bloomberg quoted a spokesman for Ahmadinejad who said the Iranian President was simply ill last week and has now recovered. "Ahmadinejad canceled some appointments on Oct. 22 before resuming his programs later the same day, said the spokesman, who declined to be identified citing government policy. The president is now 'feeling fine,' the spokesman said in a telephone interview from Tehran today." Read More

AFP reported that the U.S. student detained in Iran had been participating in a "women’s rights equality campaign." "Dadkhah said he had not yet been allowed to visit Momeni, who was arrested on October 15 for an alleged traffic offence and detained in Tehran's Evin prison. Momeni, a graduate student at the Northridge campus of California State University, had travelled to Iran to carry out research for her thesis on women's rights, the lawyer said." Read More

The Washington Post editorialized that the falling price oil likely means "the substantial weakening" of Iran, Russia, and Venezuela's "challenge to U.S. interests in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America." "Unless oil prices quickly recover, Venezuela's Hugo Chávez and Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are likely to face even tougher domestic economic challenges in 2009 than the next U.S. president. According to independent estimates, both countries need an average oil price of up to $95 a barrel to fund the populist subsidies and social programs they have launched." Read More

The Wall Street Journal analyzed whether "weaker oil" may "crimp Iran's spending." Read More

The Palm Beach Daily reported a speech by foreign policy analyst Michael Kraig arguing that the U.S. should accept a nuclear-armed Iran and could rely on nuclear deterrence. "After India was welcomed by the United States into the world's nuclear club, the emerging Asian power stopped behaving like an outcast, he said. 'They started thinking of themselves as needing to stop nuclear proliferation,' Kraig said." Read More

AP reported that an Iranian commander claiming that Iran provides weapons to "liberation armies" in the Middle East. "An Iranian government Web site is quoting a top Revolutionary Guards commander as saying Iran supplies weapons to 'liberation armies' in the Middle East." Read More

In a Washington Times Op-Ed, Mark Weston wrote that the best chance of preventing Iran from possessing nuclear weapons lies in taking steps to ensure its oil supply won't increase. "If the world can prevent Iran from increasing its oil production, Iran's petroleum exports could fall to half the current level by 2020 and stop completely by 2030. By then, if not sooner, Iran's deeply unpopular theocracy, starved of money, could collapse just as the Soviet Union did when its oil revenues plummeted in the 1980s." Read More

VOA summarized Sec. Rice’s position on Iran’s nuclear activities. "According to Secretary Rice, the negotiations that would result from Iran's decision to suspend its uranium enrichment and other related proliferation activities, would allow Iran to receive cooperation and technical assistance in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. … Once Iran has complied with the requirement, said Secretary of State Rice, the U.S. is 'ready to sit down and talk with Iran about anything at any time, at any place.'" Read More

The Los Angeles Times covered Russia’s angry reaction to U.S. sanctions against a Russian arms company that the U.S. said had been doing business with Iran. "Russia reacted angrily Friday to U.S. sanctions leveled this week against an arms trading company, calling them an 'arrogant application' of American laws abroad." Read More

AP reported that "Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Saturday said Christians and Muslims should work together to help rid the world of cruelty and injustice." Read More

Lawrence Korb and Laura Stanley wrote that the U.S. should reach out to Iran about helping with reestablishing efforts in Afghanistan. "[T]he Bush administration's unwillingness to work with a nation it dislikes has made it much harder to achieve US goals [in Afghanistan]....The United States may have one more chance to reach out to Iran to secure its participation in stabilization efforts, diplomatic relationship notwithstanding. This time, it should make the right decision." Read More

The Telegraph wrote that Ahmadinejad is "under pressure amid poor health rumors." Read More

The Washington Post reported that Adm. Mullen and the U.S. military is closely monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities as it braces for the first wartime Presidential transition in 40 years. "The military is also watching closely for destabilizing events in Iraq and Afghanistan, while monitoring Iran's nuclear activities, Russia's military presence in Georgia and other areas of concern, a senior military official said." Read More

AP reported that "A British army interpreter suspected of spying for Iran said Friday that he sent coded messages as part of an attempt to set up a possible gas deal, not because he was stealing secrets." Read More 

Bloomberg reported that "Iranian Interior Minister Ali Kordan may be impeached by Parliament and lose his job after he acknowledged that the degree he claimed was from Oxford University was a fake." Read More