IRAN GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Iran Film Director Freed on Bail [May 25]
“Jailed Iranian film director Jafar Panahi, who has been on hunger strike for more than a week, was released on bail of 2 billion rials (about $200,000) on Tuesday, the official Irna news agency reported. Panahi, winner of many international awards and a supporter of opposition leader Mirhussain Mousavi in last year’s disputed presidential election, was arrested in March along with his wife and daughter. His family was later freed. Despite his release, the office of Tehran’s prosecutor said his case and the indictment against him would be submitted to the capital’s Revolutionary Court, Irna said, suggesting he may still face trial. It did not give further details. Panahi’s wife Tahereh Saeedi earlier said the bail had been deposited and that he was expected to be freed on Tuesday evening. He has been held at Tehran’s Evin jail, where human rights groups say many political prisoners are detained..” [Complete Report]
Iran Police to Confront “Illegal” June Protests [May 25]
” Iranian security forces will confront any “illegal” demonstrations on the June 12 anniversary of last year’s disputed election, Tehran’s police chief was quoted as saying on Tuesday. Opposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi have called on supporters to take part in peaceful protests to mark the first anniversary of a presidential poll they say was rigged, a reformist website reported in April. Any anti-government rallies could raise the prospect of new clashes with the security forces, which quelled mass protests that erupted after the vote won by hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Hossein Sajedi, the capital’s police chief, said “some media” had called for rallies on June 12, the ILNA news agency reported. “Police will confront any illegal gatherings … police are vigilant and in charge of public order and security,” he said..” [Complete Report]
U.S. Bill Takes Aim at Iran Oil Partners [May 25]
“A U.S. House committee has proposed barring the Pentagon from buying fuel from companies that do business with Iran’s energy industry—a stance that is a long shot for becoming law but that underscores U.S. lawmakers’ continuing dissatisfaction with international efforts to slap tough sanctions on Tehran. An amendment to a defense-spending bill, co-sponsored by a Republican and a Democrat and passed with full support in the House Armed Services Committee, would cost some European oil firms billions of dollars in Pentagon contracts if they buy Iranian oil. It would also dramatically escalate U.S. sanctions against Tehran. “The Secretary of Defense may not enter into any contract with an entity that engages in commercial activity in the energy sector of Iran,” the amendment says, according to a copy reviewed by The Wall Street Journal..” [Complete Report]
India, Iran Discuss Building Underwater Gas Pipeline [May 25]
“India and Iran are discussing building a gas pipeline between the two countries along the bed of the Arabian Sea to bypass Pakistan, a board director of the company developing the project said on Tuesday. “The carrying capacity of the gas pipeline’s first leg will total 31 billion cu m annually, with the cost of construction estimated at $4 billion,” T.H.P. Pao, a member of the board of directors and head of the supervisory board of South Asia Gas Enterprise Private Ltd. (SAGE), said. The statement came ahead of a visit by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to India. Pao said India and Iran were discussing the delivery of natural gas produced in Turkmenistan with Indian assistance to north Iran while the Islamic Republic will send natural gas from its southern deposits to Indian consumers. A diplomatic source confirmed to RIA Novosti that Delhi had discussed the project with Teheran and Ashgabat and received their backing. Under the project being worked on by SAGE, the gas pipeline will be 1,100 km (684 miles) long. The submersible part of the pipeline will start from the Iranian port city of Chabahar and will deliver gas to consumers in the Indian state of Gujarat..” [Complete Report]
Clinton: Iran Nuclear Fuel Swap Offer is ‘Ploy’ [May 25]
” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says an Iranian plan to swap some of its enriched uranium for reactor fuel is a “transparent ploy” to try to avoid new U.N. Security Council sanctions over its suspect nuclear program. Speaking in the Chinese capital of Beijing, Clinton said Tuesday the swap offer submitted to the U.N. nuclear watchdog has a number of deficiencies and does not address international concerns about Iran’s atomic ambitions. She said the U.S.-led push for fresh Security Council penalties on Iran would continue. The U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy program. Iran denies the charge but has repeatedly refused to prove that its program is peaceful..” [Complete Report]
