Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

Iranian President Praises Hizballah's 'Victory'

Mahmud Ahmadinejad (file photo) (epa)

August 15, 2006 -- Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said today that "God's promises" had come true, as he praised what he called Hizballah's victory over Israel.

TEXT SIZE - +

August 15, 2006

The Iranian president told cheering crowds in the northwestern city of Ardebil that Hizballah had won a victory for Islam, foiling what he said were plans for a U.S. and British-dominated Middle East.

Ahmadinejad also said that supporters of Israel's "brutal invasion" of Lebanon should be brought to justice.

"Those who had a hand in the planning of the brutal invasion and then supported the brutal invasion and prevented a cease-fire from being established are guilty of taking part in crimes committed by the Zionist regime and should also be prosecuted for these crimes," he said.

Iran and Syria are Hizballah's main backers and Ahmadinejad echoed earlier comments by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.

(AP, dpa)

Iran, Syria, And Hizballah

Iranians demonstrating in support of Hizballah in Tehran on July 17 (epa)

'FOR THE SAKE OF LEBANON': The Islamic Republic of Iran has served as an ideological inspiration for Hizballah since the Lebanese militant group's creation in 1982, and Tehran acknowledges that it supports the organization morally and politically. "Yes, we are friends of Syria and Iran" Hizballah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said. "For 24 years we benefited from our friendship with Syria and Iran for the sake of Lebanon...." (more)

Hizballah -- Past And Present

Tehran Playing Key Role In Israel-Lebanon Crisis

Iran, Hizballah Brush Off U.S. Terrorism Label

Intifada Conference In Tehran Has Multiple Objectives

UN Resolution Rankles Syria, Hizballah, Iran

ARCHIVE

RFE/RL coverage of Iran. RFE/RL web special on Iran's nuclear program.

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

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

Web-savvy Iranian oppositionists are renowned for their ability to use proxies and other means to circumvent Tehran

Explainer: Iran's National Internet

Reports that Iran has stepped up its Internet censorship in recent days -- as evidenced by a general slowdown of the web, Internet blackouts, and the blocking of sites such as Google -- has raised speculation that the country might be testing its controversial "national Internet." More