Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Iran

Germany's Merkel Likens Iran To Nazis In Early Days

German Chancellor Merkel (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)

4 February 2006 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel likened Iran's nuclear plans today to the threat posed by the Nazis in their early days.

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February 04, 2006

Merkel made her remarks at an international defense forum in Munich at which U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also had strong words for Iran.

Merkel said Iran has "overstepped the mark" with its nuclear program and said Tehran must not develop nuclear weapons.

"We want, we must prevent Iran from developing its nuclear program further. Iran's nuclear program understandably suggests that it is not about the peaceful usage but also about military options," Merkel said. "Iran has blatantly crossed the red line and I have to add that the absolutely unnecessary provocations of Iran's president make it necessary for us to react."

Rumsfeld, who addressed the conference after Merkel, said the world "did not want a nuclear Iran."

Rumsfeld said Iran was a danger to the world's peace and accused the Iranian regime of being the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism."

The remarks were made before the United Nations' atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), voted to report Iran to the United Nations' Security Council.

(AP, AFP, Reuters)

Security Guarantees For Iran?

Hans Blix (CTK)

SECURITY GUARANTEES On January 26, RFE/RL Radio Farda correspondent Fatemeh Aman spoke with former UN chief weapons inspector HANS BLIX about the confrontation between Iran and the international community over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Blix urged the United States to participate in direct negotiations with Tehran and to offer Iran security guarantees that are similar to those being discussed with North Korea...(more)

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Listen to the complete interview (about five minutes):

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THE COMPLETE STORY: RFE/RL's complete coverage of controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program.

CHRONOLOGY

An annotated timeline of Iran's nuclear program.

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