IRAN GROK Daily News – Excerpts from International Media Reports
[Links to full articles were active on the date posted here]
Brazil’s Foreign Minister Says Nation Will Oppose, But Respect, Any New Iran Sanctions [Jun 2]
“Brazil’s foreign minister said Tuesday that despite the nation’s strong opposition to any new sanctions on Iran, it would respect them if they are approved. Foreign Minister Celso Amorim spoke before a Senate committee to explain Brazil’s role in an Iranian nuclear fuel-swap deal it helped broker with Turkey. “Brazil meticulously respects the sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council against Iran,” he said. “If there are sanctions, even if Brazil is not in favor, we’re going to respect them.” Both Amorim and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have been outspoken in their opposition to potential new sanctions. Iran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, but the West fears it is geared toward nuclear weapons. Last month, Silva and Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan finalized a fuel-swap deal with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that was similar to an agreement the U.S. and the International Atomic Energy Agency had pushed for last October, but which Iran at the time rejected..” [Complete Report]
Iran Cenbank to Sell 45 bln Euros [Jun 2]
” Iran’s central bank will sell 45 billion euros from its reserves to buy dollars and gold ingots, a report on the website of state-owned Press TV said on Wednesday. There was no announcement of the sale on the bank’s website and officials at the bank declined comment. Following the report, the euro eased slightly versus the dollar from around $1.2227 to $1.2213. Traders said the news was having limited impact on the euro, and some in the market were sceptical about whether Tehran would be able to buy significant amounts of dollars, given that U.S. depository institutions are banned from processing transfers involving the country. Last month Iran’s central bank governor hinted at a move away from the euro, reversing several years of Tehran publicly shunning the U.S. currency in keeping with its political hostility towards Washington..” [Complete Report]
Iran Rejects US Accusation it is Training Taliban [Jun 2]
“Iran dismissed on Wednesday accusations by the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal that Tehran has helped train and arm Taliban insurgents. “Those kinds of lies are designed to conceal the failures of the (NATO forces) in Afghanistan,” Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said. On Sunday, McChrystal told reporters in Kabul that Iran _ Afghanistan’s western neighbor _ has generally assisted the Afghan government in fighting the insurgent group. “There is, however, clear evidence of Iranian activity _ in some cases providing weaponry and training to the Taliban _ that is inappropriate,” he said. McChrystal did not provide details on how many fighters allegedly were trained in Iran. Speaking in Brussels, where he met with EU officials and European lawmakers, Mottaki said that “in Afghanistan, Iran has always been part of the solution,” and that Tehran was cooperating with the government in Kabul to stabilize the war-torn nation..” [Complete Report]
No Uniform View With India on Iran: US [Jun 2]
“US has acknowledged that there are differences with India on the issue of Iran, but praised New Delhi’s view point on the controversial nuclear issue and appreciated its implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions with regard to sanctions against Tehran. “On Iran, we don’t necessarily have a uniform view of the issue, although on the nuclear question, India has made quite clear its opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran. It has an admirable record of implementing previous security council resolutions,” the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns, said in response to a question at a think-tank here. “As I mentioned in my remarks, it’s been quite straightforward in holding India accountable at the IAEA board of governors when its failed to meet its obligations, and so that’s an issue on which it’s also important for us to continue to stay in close touch,” Burns said..” [Complete Report]
Iranian Authorities Step Up Arrests of Women For ‘Immodest’ Dress [Jun 2]
“Iranian authorities have begun police patrols in the capital to arrest women wearing clothes deemed improper. The campaign against loose-fitting veils and other signs of modernism comes as government opponents are calling for rallies to mark the anniversary of the disputed presidential election, and critics of the crackdown say it is stoking feelings of discontent. But hard-liners say that improper veiling is a “security issue” and that “loose morality” threatens the core of the Islamic republic. Iran’s interior minister has promised a “chastity plan” to promote the proper covering “from kindergarten to families,” though the details are unclear. Tehran police have been arresting women for wearing short coats or improper veils and even for being too suntanned. Witnesses report fines up to $800 for dress considered immodest..” [Complete Report]
