UANI

Reuters wrote that Iran faces a "spending squeeze" next year unless oil returns to $80 a barrel. "Iran's government risks a squeeze on spending next year, when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected to seek re-election, unless oil prices bounce back to around $80 a barrel.... The timing is particularly uncomfortable for Ahmadinejad, who has staked his presidency on sharing out Iran's oil wealth more fairly and made frequent tours of the provinces where he doled out cash." Read More

The AP reported on comments from hardline Iranian newspapers urging the Iraqi Parliament "to reject a security pact with the United States that would keep American troops in Iraq for three more years, warning that the deal was a 'sellout' to the U.S." Read More

The Los Angeles Times reported that "talk of weapons was in the air" today as Lebanese President Michel Suleiman visited Iran and met with Ahmadinejad. "No matter what comes of Suleiman's talks with the Iranians, which also includes six Lebanese ministers, most of Lebanon's politicians endorsed the president's efforts to adopt an open foreign policy toward all countries in the region." Read More

Reuters reported on a meeting between Lebanese President Suleiman and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei "urged the Lebanese people on Tuesday to unite to confront Israel, the Islamic Republic's arch foe." Read More

VOA reported that "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Mullen, says Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons is a major destabilizing influence in the Middle East and is one reason why the Middle East remains an area of deep concern for the U.S." "In a speech to the American Bar Association, Admiral Mullen said that Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons has the potential of sparking an arms race: 'When one country in a region gets it [a nuclear weapon], other countries in the region think they have to have it. So it is not just the potential intended consequence of having nuclear weapons - threatening the region with those weapons with that capability - it's the unintended consequences of that which I worry about in a region that already is pretty unstable.'" Read More

AP reported that "The chief U.S. delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency said Monday that the change in administrations in Washington would be a good opportunity for Iran to enter new negotiations to end its uranium enrichment program." "'We'll see if they take advantage of this - I mean, it would be good if they said, "OK, now is an opportunity for us to get into negotiations and to take concrete steps that the world expects," to give us assurances of the peaceful nature of their nuclear program,' [Gregory L. Schulte] told reporters." Read More

The Los Angeles Times wrote that the recent release of an Iranian in Iraq "raises questions." "Was he an Iranian arms smuggler or did he restore religious sites? Was that white powder he had on him cocaine or salt? Who arrested him, and why was he freed? Those questions surround the detention of an Iranian man, Nader Qorbani, accused by U.S. officials of being a senior officer of Iran's Quds Force paramilitary unit but who was quietly released Friday after three days in custody." Read More

VOA covered the release of the Center for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran's quarterly report. "The Center reports that in Iran 'the realm of private freedoms is becoming more limited day-by-day, and possible and desirable venues for political and social activities are becoming more restricted.' The report cited government harassment, including arrest and jail sentences for university students, journalists, teachers, and political and social activists.  It also warned of a worsening situation for religious minorities in Iran." Read More

Bloomberg reported that "Iran said it dismantled a spying ring tied to Israel that was collecting information on the Persian Gulf country's nuclear work and military operations." "Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps 'discovered a network linked to Mossad's spying organization,' the state-run Fars news agency today cited the Corps' head, Mohammad Ali Jafari, as saying. 'All members of this network were arrested.' Mossad is Israel's foreign intelligence agency. " Read More

The UK Times wrote that British foreign secretary David Miliband's recent speeches about Iran have been "well judged." "His remark comes days after the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, said its supervision of Iran's nuclear work was 'deadlocked' because Iran would not answer its questions. Iran promptly rejected his comments, accusing him of 'strong ties with Zionists,' calling Israel the greatest regional threat. Miliband's series of speeches in the past few weeks has been well judged." Read More

Iranian press wrote that "Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has arrived in Tehran to hold talks on defense cooperation, regional and international issues." Read More

Bloomberg covered a Sarmayeh newspaper report that Iran will use its paramilitary force as night watchmen. "'The Basiji militia's patrolling will take place from midnight to 6 a.m.,' starting Nov. 27, Hossein Tayeb, deputy commander of the Basiji force was quoted as saying by the newspaper.  Their mission will be in accordance with the level of threats assessed in each region, he added." Read More

In a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed, Brian T. Kennedy argued that "the U.S. needs a space-based missile defense against an EMP attack." "Mr. Ahmadinejad takes seriously, even if the average Iranian does not, radical Islam's goal of converting, subjugating or destroying the infidel peoples -- first and foremost the citizens of the U.S. and Israel. Even after 9/11, we appear not to take that threat seriously. We should." Read More

Reuters reported that "OPEC Governor Mohammad Ali Khatibi in remarks on Monday reiterated the country's call for a further reduction." "At the moment, we cannot come up with any special programme since some OPEC members are of the opinion that, not until the previous decision is felt in the market, should a new decision be made," Khatibi said in comments to Iran's state broadcaster." Read More