Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Iran

Siniora Says Iran Waging Proxy War On U.S. In Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora (left) with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad at a meeting in December 2005 (epa)

January 27, 2007 -- Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has told the German weekly magazine "Focus" he believes Iran is using Lebanese soil to fight the United States.

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January 27, 2007

He also said that Iran and Syria are conducting a "coup" against his government, since they have provided arms to Lebanon's Hizballah party.

Siniora told "Focus" that the "Iranians say they want to defeat the U.S." and demanded that Lebanon not be used as the battlefield.

Deadly violence in Lebanon, following a call by the Shi'ite Hizballah for a general strike on January 23 to pressure the government, has renewed fears that the country could slide into civil war like the conflict that devastated it in 1975-90.

A Hizballah-organized sit-in outside Siniora's downtown offices is nearing the start of its third month.

Hizballah is demanding that Siniora give it one-third of the seats in his cabinet and call early elections.

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

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

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India -- Investigators work at the site where a vehicle exploded near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, 13Feb2012

Alleged Attacks Tehran's Way Of Lashing Out?

(INTRO) Israel has blamed Iran for two bombings targeting its diplomats in India and Georgia this week, as well as for a botched bombing in Bangkok that Thai intelligence officials said were aimed at top Israeli diplomats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's "terrorist activities" have been exposed, but Iran has denied any involvement. RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari spoke to Juan Zarate, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and former Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism about the attacks and Iran's alleged role. More

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad (center) looks on as scientists unveil a fuel rod at the Tehran Research Reactor.

Iranian Nuke Still One-To-Three Years Away, Says Expert

Iran on announced on February 15 that it has installed its first domestically produced nuclear fuel rods in a reactor in Tehran. Tehran also announced that it activated a new generation of centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility. RFE/RL spoke with nuclear physicist Frank Barnaby about what the advances reveal regarding Iran's uranium enrichment abilities, which Western countries allege are aimed at secretly building a nuclear weapon. More

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