Iran in deadly warning to Israel

ON the eve of talks with the international community about its nuclear aspirations, and only hours after a "provocative" missile test, Iran has issued a warning to Israel that it would face destruction if it attacked the Islamist nation.

"If this (an Israeli attack) happens, which, of course, we do not foresee, its ultimate result would be to expedite the last breath of the Zionist regime," Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi said on state television.

His comments came after Western leaders called a second day of rocket launches by Iran a "reprehensible" distraction from talks this week that will determine whether Tehran is ready to negotiate over its nuclear program, or face biting new sanctions.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called the missile tests "provocative". He added: "This is an important day and an important week for Iran." Mr Gibbs demanded unfettered access to a new nuclear facility that Iran admitted to last week.

Meanwhile, in the lead-up to tomorrow's talks in Geneva, the administration of US President Barack Obama and its Western allies were working up new ways to impose sanctions on Iran if it does not comply with demands to come clean about its nuclear program.

American officials said the US would expand its own penalties against Iranian companies and press for greater international sanctions against foreign firms, largely European, that do business in the country unless Iran can prove that its nuclear activities are not aimed at developing an atomic weapon.

Among the ideas being considered were asset freezes and travel bans.

The proposed sanctions would largely focus on investment in Iran's energy infrastructure and development, the officials said. But some economic giants are less enthusiastic about sanctions.

China and Russia are still seen as only half-hearted partners in any effort to push penalties through the UN Security Council. And France and Germany are skittish about targeting Iran's oil imports.

European officials stressed yesterday that they were likely to seriously consider new sanctions on Tehran only at year-end, citing a December deadline - replacing Mr Obama's September deadline - that has been set to see whether diplomacy with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad works.

While Iran is a major oil exporter, its lack of refining capacity requires it to import about 40 per cent of its petrol and other petroleum-based fuels. A total embargo on Iranian oil - which Israeli officials have suggested - seems unlikely. US law already forbids American firms from buying Iranian oil, but Europe, Japan and China are big customers.

Source: The Australian

Iran cabinet thumbs nose at Israelis

TEHRAN: Iran's parliament strongly backed a cabinet proposed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that includes the Islamic republic's first woman minister and a man wanted for bombing a Jewish community centre in Argentina.

The conservative-dominated assembly approved 18 of 21 nominees, propelling Mr Ahmadinejad into his second term at a time when the Islamic republic is battling its worst crisis since the hardliner's re-election in June.

The candidates who failed to secure the required majority of votes were the two other women proposed and the would-be energy minister.

In a move highlighting Iran's often maverick status in the world, nearly 80 per cent of the delegates approved Ahmad Vahidi - who is wanted by Argentina for a 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires - as defence minister.

Following the vote, Mr Vahidi said his election, which was by a far greater margin than any other, was a "decisive slap to Israel", an arch-enemy of Iran.

The first woman to join a cabinet in the Islamic republic will be Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi, at the health ministry. A gynecologist and two-time former MP, Ms Dastjerdi, 50, was approved despite not having held an executive job in government.

Ms Dastjerdi described her selection as an important step for Iranian women.

"I think today women reached their long-standing dream of having a woman in the cabinet to pursue their demands," she told the parliamentary news service soon after the vote. "This is an important step for women and I hold my head high."

The other two women candidates, Sousan Keshvaraz and Fatemeh Ajorlou, fell short of the required number of votes to take over at the education ministry and at welfare and social security.

Oil ministry nominee Masoud Mirkazemi, who is set to head the crucial portfolio of OPEC's second-largest exporter, barely squeaked in after being harshly criticised by a powerful conservative MP.

The voting took place after five days of heated debate in which key nominees were strongly opposed by some MPs, yet approved in the end.

The confidence motion follows Mr Ahmadinejad's June re-election and subsequent protests that have divided Iran's ruling elite and powerful clerical groups and shaken the regime.

Source: The Australian

Iran's Cynicism in the Face of Terrorism

Ahmad Vahidi - Wanted by Interpol

The nomination of one of the AMIA bombings as minister of defense in Iran is one that should set off alarm bells across Latin America.

By Douglas Farah

One of the clearest signs of the danger that the Iranian presence poses in Latin America is the decision by president Ahmadinejad to name one of the masterminds of the 1994 AMIA bombings as minister of defense.

Ahamd Vahidi, who at the time of the bombing was the head of the Quds Force, is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, asking for his arrest for his part in the worst terrorist attack in Latin America.

He was deputy defense minister in Ahmadinejad’s first government, and is now being promoted. Seven other senior Iranian officials are subject of Interpol Red Notices as well.

Alberto Nisman, the Argentine prosecutor who has spent years investigating the case (and presenting enough evidence to Interpol to get the Red Notice issued), called Vahidi “a key participant in the planning and of having made the decision to go ahead with the attack.” FSM

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Ahmad Vahidi
Latest recipient of the Distinguished Islamofascist Award

Ahmadinejad Nominates Wanted Terrorist as Iran's Defense Minister

Ahmad Vahidi - Wanted by Interpol

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad submitted a list of cabinet nominees to the Iranian Majlis Wednesday. The proposed Minister of Defense is Ahmad Vahidi, a former Revolutionary Guard commander wanted by Interpol for his role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires in which 85 people died and another 200 were injured

At that time Vahidi was commander of the Guards' Quds (Jerusalem) Force. The Force has been active outside Iran, supporting Hizballah through extensive training and funding. The Director of National Intelligence has testified before Congress that weapons the Quds Force smuggled into Iraq were responsible for the deaths of at least 170 Americans.

Most recently, Vahidi was deputy head of Iran's Ministry of Defense Armed Forces Logistics. In 2008 The European Union named him as someone involved in Iran's development of nuclear weapon delivery systems. EU member states are mandated to freeze any funds Vahidi holds in them and to prevent his entry or transit through their territories.

The Majlis, Iran's parliament, will vote on the cabinet list on August 30. The body's Vice-Speaker has stated that several on the list would be rejected. They are being criticized for lack of experience (The Speaker of the Majlis said, "A ministry is not a place for apprentices.") rather than any ties to terrorism. In this regard Vahidi seems well experienced.

Source: IPT Blog