Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

Iran's Nuclear Move Raises Suspicions, Says Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov (file photo) (AFP)

12 January 2006 -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Iran's recent decision to resume sensitive nuclear work raises suspicions that it may be pursuing military aims under the guise of its nuclear fuel program.

TEXT SIZE - +

January 12, 2006

Lavrov was quoted as saying he believes Tehran's decision to remove international seals this week from its nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz does not violate international law.

But he said "the lack of economic logic and the absence of any real need" for Iran's atomic program feed suspicions that it "could have a hidden military aspect."

He also said Russia does not rule out the possibility of referring Iran to the UN's Security Council on account of its nuclear program.

Lavrov made the comments in an interview with Ekho Moskvy radio, excerpts of which were released in advance of its airing.

(AFP, Interfax)

RFE/RL Iran Report

SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on Iran by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Iran Report."

Iran has stepped up its pressure on activists using the Internet

Iranian Activists, Journalists Receive Threatening E-mails

A number of Iranian activists and journalists based inside and outside the country have told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda they have been threatened in anonymous e-mails. More

A vendor in the central Bosnian town of Zenica sells heart-shaped cushions with proclamations of love for 1 euro each.

Love It (Or Hate It), It's Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day, the Western holiday celebrating love, has become a global phenomenon over the past two decades. The fall of communism and the emergence of the Internet have helped February 14 become something of an unofficial international day of romance. However, not all the passions the holiday stirs are related to love. While some countries have openly embraced the holiday, others are attempting to ban it or replace it with local customs. More

Many Iranians have been claiming that their access to social networks and Internet-based e-mail sites has been blocked in recent days.

Iran Tightens Internet Control

Iranians are reporting that their access to Facebook and Internet-based e-mail sites like Gmail has been blocked, without any explanation from the government. Not even the strongest antifiltering programs have penetrated the firewall, they say. Some speculate the move is related to Iran's plan to launch a national internet, which might sever Iranians' ability to access the World Wide Web. More