Brief discussion and analysis of Talabani's Tehran trip

Iraqi President's three-day trip to the Iranian capital signaled a policy shift as it followed the recent restoration of ties between Iraq and Syria. For the first time since the liberation and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, its central government clearly showed some independence in its foreign policy.

The U.S. policy has either clearly failed or lacks the needed perseverance by the Iraqis, Americans and the countries surrounding Iraq. I personally believe in the former of the two. Iraq is in the midst of a civil war and in danger of being partitioned into three entities plus Baghdad.

This is neither in the interests of the Iraqis nor the Iranians, Syrians, Turks and even the Saudis. The region's stability is at stake and this may have been the single most important message delivered by Talabani to the Iranian government, the most influential neighbor of Iraq. The Iraqi government is not interested in the controlled violence directed from Iran and Syria. Instead, it is extending its hands to both neighbors, asking their assistance in preventing the break up of Iraq and making the case for a united Iraq being better for the region. Inevitably, Iraq has to make some concessions and assurances to both Iran and Syria. Some see this as appeasement, but I see it as diplomacy. The questions is, will the Syrians and the Iranians be satisfied with concessions and help stabilize Iraq? Will they have a positive influential role in Iraq? Or they will continue to use their influences only for their gains?

Let me know what you think?

Iranian woman in INS jail needs your urgent help!

Friend:
An Iranian Refugee woman who has escaped Iran and has applied for asylum at the U.S. border has been detained by INS for over 14 months while her asylum request is being considered. The laws enacted after tragic 9/11 event has caused her to remain in INS jail while her asylum application is being considered.

She has no relative in the U.S. to help her and the INS has set a bond of $10,000.00 for her release while her asylum application is being considered.

This fellow countrywoman needs our help. An American church in San Francisco is pledging to raised $5000.00 of the money. But we need to raise the rest from our own community. Timing is crucial. Because of her fragile mental condition and the danger that her bail may be revoked, we have to get her out ASAP. Another local church group has pledged shelter for her once she is out.

Please help and donate as much as you are able to. The woman has endured so much just to escape Iran and then to get to the U.S. border and now she is breaking up for being jailed for nearly 15 month. She has committed no crime except for being an Iranian refugee with no family or friends in the U.S.

Please send you checks ASAP to Ali Golchin, Esq. and make a notation in trust for “Mahroukh” release account. We have a deadline of December 6, 2006 to meet for her release.
If you wish to wire the money please e-mail me the amount you are sending also:
Wells Fargo Bank, Attorney-Client Trust Account:
Routing #: 122000247
Account#: 8836187024

Event announcement in Atlanta (Saturday, December 2nd): Iran Crisis and its Exit Strategy

An Event Organized by the Esmail Khoi Foundation on the 8th anniversary of the assassination of Parvaneh and Daryoush Forouhar

Iran Crisis and its Exit Strategy
Speakers: Dr. Mohammad Parvin from MEHR (www.mehr.org)& Dr. Siavash Abghari

4:00 PM, Saturday December 2, 2006
Iranian Community Center in Atlanta (Kanoon)
5920 Roswell RD. Suite A-209
Atlanta, GA 30328
For information please call:
Tel: (770) 698-0851 ; (770) 846-0933

Ahmadinejad forwards his second letter to the U.S., addressed to the American people

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once again criticized the Bush Administration for its bullying tactics and the "Zionist" government of Israel in a letter that was released by the country's UN mission in New York. Ahmadinejad once again reiterated the government of Iran's call for the U.S. to leave Iraq and blamed the U.S. for the destruction of Iraq. For a government that has a horrible human rights record, Ahmadinejad's appeal to resolve world's problems through integrity sounded very hypocritical to me!

Here's an online link to the news story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061129/wl_mideast_afp/iraniraqdiplomacyus_061129184413

And here's a Link to the text of the letter:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15952309/

I want to know what you think!

Surprise! Surprise! Khamenei sees U.S. leaving Iraq as key to stability

In today's meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Tehran, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has said that the key to peace and stability in Iraq lies with the U.S. troops leaving the country. He has further stated the instability in Iraq is detrimental to the whole region. Talabani has asked for an all-out expansion of ties between Tehran and Baghdad.

Yesterday, in his meeting with his Iranian counterpart President Ahmadinejad, Ahmadinejad pledged that Iran will do all it can to help Iraq.

This is a first time when the Iraqi President openly seeks help from Iran in restoring peace and stability in Iraq.

For BBC's coverage of the story, below is the online link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6190662.stm

FIFA President announces temporary lifting of Iran's suspension

FIFA President Joseph Blatter's announcement will enable Iran to compete in the 2006 Doha Asian Games football tournament in December and will give the Iranians an opportunity to defend their 2002 title. The lifting of the ban only applies to Iran's under 23 team and the 2006 Asian Games. I first told you of the suspension on November 25 in "FIFA suspends Iran Football Federation".

Click on the online link below from the Asian Football Confederation's Website for further details:
http://www.the-afc.com/english/national/default_NA.asp?action=newsDetail&nationalID=76&newsID=7543

NEWS ALERT: Talabani has arrived in Tehran

Now let's see if this meeting produces any real and tangible results! He'll be in Tehran for at least two more days.

Talabani is set to fly to Tehran today

After postponing his trip due to continuing violence in Baghdad and subsequent closure of Baghdad's airport, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is flying to Tehran today to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart, Talabani's spokesman stated. The talks are aimed at helping curb sectarian violence in Iraq. I will report on the actual visit, if it ever happens!

Iraqi President postpones his Saturday Tehran visit

In the midst of fresh violence on Friday that claimed more than 200 lives in Baghdad, which resulted in a curfew and closure of the airport, Iraqi president Jalal Talabani postponed his visit with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran scheduled for today. He insisted that he will fly to Tehran as soon as the airport is reopened and the trip is still on. Through his spokesman, Talabani called the earlier reports of a three way Talabani-Ahmadinejad-Asad summit in Tehran on Saturday as false. I first reported about the story here:

http://iranianamericandiary.blogspot.com/2006/11/iran-to-host-iraqi-president-and.html

FIFA suspends Iran Football Federation

Last Thursday FIFA suspended Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) after it determined that IRIFF had violated Article 17 of the FIFA statutes, which forbids government interference in football matters of its member associations. Following Germany 2002, IRIFF President was forced out from his position after members of the Parliament passed a resolution that essentially called for his removal. FIFA considers his removal a direct violation of Article 17. The suspension will not allow Iran to play in any FIFA sanctioned matches and will be removed following IRIFF taking the necessary steps as identified by FIFA.

FIFA is right on!!! Let me know what you think.

Here is the link to FIFA's press release for further details:

http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,126229,00.html

Iranian actor in sex video scandal talks for the first time publicly, denies being a collaborator in the film

Iranian actor Zahra Amir Ebrahimi finally breaks her silence publicly and talks to The Guardian regarding the notorious homemade film circulating all over Iran and the Internet. Ebrahimi denies being the woman in the film and points to the production and circulation of the film as an act of revenge by her former fiance for her breaking up their relationship a year ago.

Here is the link to the full article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1954552,00.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's is an excellent article from The Christian Science Monitor about the history of Thanksgiving in the U.S. if you actually have enough patience to read it in entirety. It's entitled "The first Thanksgiving" and here is the online link:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1127/p13s02-lign.html

Maybe it will clear up some historical inaccuracies for you or maybe not!

Iranian student activist calls for support of Iranian opposition groups

National Iranian American Council (NIAC), Washington DC, November 20, 2006 - “The United States government should lend spiritual and financial support to opposition [student] groups in Iran so they can come together with a specific plan of action [against the regime],” Iranian student activist Manouchehr Mohammadi, said at a recent, 30-minute press conference at Freedom House in Washington DC.

Here is the link to the full story on NIAC's Website:
http://www.niacouncil.org/pressreleases/press491.asp

Update on Osanlou's arrest

Two days after Osanlou was arrested and taken away by plainclothes intelligence agents, the Judicial Branch speaker finally confirms his arrest, stating that Osanlou was arrested after he ignored the Judiciary's summon and warrant.

Read about his arrest here: http://iranianamericandiary.blogspot.com/2006/11/mansour-osanlou-was-arrested-in-tehran.html

Iraq and Syria restore ties after 24 years

A day after the announcement of President Talabani's trip to Tehran, it was finally confirmed that Iraq and Syria have begun the process of restoring ties 24 years later after the two cut all diplomatic relations during Iraq's war with Iran. Syrian Foreign Minister Muallim has been in Baghdad since Sunday talking and signing an agreement with his counterpart to offically begin the process.

What a strange world we live in! Who would have thought there will be a Damascus-Baghdad-Tehran Axis? having Syria and Iran at the table will definitely reduce the violence in Iraq, but will it benefit the Iraqis in the long run or will it benefit the Syrians and Iranians? I want your opinions.

Iran to host Iraqi President and perhaps President Asad on Saturday

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will be in Tehran on Saturday, following an invitation by his Iranian counterpart, to discuss scurity issues in Iraq. President Asad of Syria is rumored to join the two, although many doubt that he will. Here is the link to the BBC story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6166794.stm

Folks, as much as no one wants to admit, the key to a secure Iraq lies in the hands of Syria and Iran along with Iraq's other neighbors. This is a regional issue, which will only be solved by regional cooperation and the will of Iraqis themselves.

Will the French elect their first woman President?

Last Thursday, Ségolène Royal won the Socialist Party's nomination for President of France in next year's election, as she became France's first-ever female presidential candidate representing a major party. She is currently a member of the National Assembly as well as the President of Poitou-Charentes region.

According to Wikipedia, On the issue of Iran's development of nuclear technology, Royal initially took a harder line than even U.S. President George W. Bush. In a televised debate, Royal contended that any nuclear power program must be prevented since it would inevitably lead to weapons production. When she was criticized by French politicians for not understanding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which gives signatories the right to nuclear power for non-military purposes, Royal softened her position and, through a spokesman, said that a civil nuclear program should be allowed as long as United Nations inspectors were permitted to conduct spot checks. Perhaps her election may soften France's stance against Iran's nuclear program.

Mansour Osanlou was arrested In Tehran, again!

Mansour Osanlou, President of Tehran’s Bus Drivers Syndicate, was arrested Sunday morning in Tehran, near Resalat Square, by some plainclothes undercover intelligence agents. Apparently, Osanlou had just gotten out of a car to buy a newspaper when he was surrounded by the undercover agents and after a brief scuffle during which he and Ebrahim Madadi, the VP of the Syndicate, were both beaten several times, Osanlou was rushed into a car and disappeared. Although there has been no official report of his arrest, Osanlou's wife has been notified by the authorities that he has been taken to Evin prison, where high profile political prisoners are held.

Osanlou was just released three months ago on bail following his arrest and subsequent imprisonment back in January 2006. His case is still pending, as the governemnt has stated that it will not tolerate any union or syndicate that has a political agenda against the Islamic Republic. Osanlou's supporters state that his only crime was educating the bus drivers regarding their rights under the Islamic Republic's Constitution.

From my own experience, the Iranian authorities are notorious for arresting dissident leaders a few weeks before anniversaries of the events that led to their arrests. So I'm not surprised. My guess is his VP will be arrested soon as well and they will both be released in Februray 2007.

حالا فارسی

خوب به هر حال بیخودی که اسمش رو نگذاشتم "ایرانی ان آمری کن". اما راستش بیشترانگلیسی خواهد بود چون
فارسی من زیاد جالب نیست. می خوام اگر یک روز هوس فارسی نوشتن کردید مطمئن باشید که من حتما" جواب خواهم داد... در انتظارنوشتنی های شما

Simply the premier post...

... and not much more, really! You ask: What's this blog going to be all about? IAo (that is I) says: It's simply daily observations of a person who happens to be Iranian-American. IAo believes it's going to be an interesting blog, because it offers a different and personal perspective. Of course, the focus will be on the IRANian-AMERICAn-ness of stuff! Welcome to IAo's world as IAo sees it!