The National Democratic Institute and Century Foundation have teamed up to produce a guide to the Iran’s upcoming elections. It has information on Iran’s electoral system, updated candidate lists and articles by Iranian journalists. Above is their handy timeline of major events on the runup to the June 12th election.
An article appearing in the print edition of Al Hayat Feb. 19th quotes Iranian President Ahmedinejad as warning Obama, in a speech delivered in Yazd, that he must make real changes to American foreign policy or face a fate worse than Bush–and more quickly: “He who follows the policies of the previous President Bush, will meet his fate.” Chief UN Weapons inspector Mohammed El Baradei, speaking at a conference in Paris, interpreted Ahmedinejad’s remarks to indicate Iran’s feeling that it should be recognized as a major regional power, if not the major regional power. Baradei said further that he believed Iran’s main goal on the nuclear front was to be acknowleged as having being a nuclear power (having “breakout capacity”), even if it did not proceed to the next stage, i.e., manufacture of a nuclear weapon.
“Manama ceases its discussions on Iranian gas imports, and rejects Tehran’s ‘agression’,” is the headline of today’s print edition of Pan Arab Asharq Al Awsat. Bahrain’s action comes after yet another senior Iranian official allegedly reiterated Iran’s claim to Bahrain as its 14th province. The remarks, attributed elsewhere to Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri, a member of Iran’s Expediency Council and former Speaker of Parliament, constitute third time in as many years that an Iranian official has provoked Arab Gulf ire by perpetuating Iran’s long-standing, intermittent claim to ownership of the neighboring island nation. Previous remarks were attributed to the Editor of State-run Kayhan, Hussain Shariatmadari, and Dariush Qanbari, an Iranian member of parliament.
Sheikh Jasim Saidi, a Salafist member of Bahrain’s parliament, called for the expulsion of the Iranian ambassador and a break in formal relations. The National Association for Oil and Gas would look to other neighboring countries, and increased local exploration to fulfil its incrasing natural gas needs,” as Bahrain could “not continue to negotiate with an ‘entity’ that denied its existence. ” The London-based Al Hayat leads with Saudi condemnation of Nateq Nouri’s remarks, which the Kingdom refers to as a “violation of Bahrain’s Arab identity.” Interviewed on Al-Jazeera radio, an unnamed Arab official was quoted as saying the incident was most unproductive, as Iran has much to gain from better relations with its Arab Gulf neighbors.
Iran gas interest seen rekindled by Russia crisis (Forbes)
“Iran’s attraction as an alternative source of gas supply to Europe is slowly gaining momentum following a crisis over Russian gas supplies in January, top industry oil executives said on Wednesday.“
Iran’s inflation falls to 24% low in January (Arabian Business)
“Iran’s annual inflation rate fell more than two percent to 24 percent in January, a newspaper on Saturday quoted the central bank’s governor as saying.”
Iran-Oman Gas deal sealed (Zawya)
“Gas has started flowing from the West Bukha offshore field shared by Oman and Iran, and will be processed in the UAE by the Ras al Khaimah Gas Commission (RAKGAS).”
Economic Imbalance Between GCC and Iran Worrisome (Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research)
James Russell sees a Gulf security fallout from economic crisis
Investigations into tanker crash begin (The National)
“…Inflatable booms were placed around the damaged tanker yesterday to prevent spillage of its cargo of 30,000 tonnes of condensed liquid natural gas.
However, the ship’s operator, the Italian firm Martinoli Consulting, said the damaged part of the tanker had been empty at the time of the accident.”
