CNN: Political prisoners in Iran say they are ‘dark stain’ on regime

Political prisoners issued a blunt statement slamming the Iranian regime for its post-election crackdown, and opposition supporters and security forces clashed at a mosque in southwestern Iran, an opposition Web site reported Friday.

“It is indeed shameful for this system to have so many prisoners of thoughts, ideals and aspirations. The ties between this regime and the people, which had been extended to each and every segment of society, are coming undone,” according to an impassioned letter from political prisoners.

Addressed to “the people of Iran,” the letter said the presence of political prisoners is “a dark stain on the face of this regime” and praised the opposition for its “sustained commitments” that have helped the so-called Green Movement grow, Rahesabz, an opposition Web site said.

Repressive methods used against prisoners, the letter said, will foster more embarrassment for the regime, adding the fate of the regime will be similar to those under “the reigns of Pinochet in Chile, the Colonels in Greece, Franco in Spain, the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran and Saddam Hussein’s tyranny in Iraq.”

“The veils of impervious piety that the regime had put up for itself and the Supreme Leader have now been broken. Those who stand for the violence, treason, lies and terrorism of this regime, are being brushed to the periphery, more and more, with each passing day and fewer people stand up to defend this government,” the letter said.

The letter said that while the prisoners don’t “fear becoming the martyrs of the Green Movement,” independent rights groups should monitor their conditions “in order to ensure the survival of all political prisoners.” It also said that the judiciary in Iran “is but a puppet in the hands of the military-security forces.”

“The situation has become so bad that some of the judges, at the time of sentencing, say: ‘I have issued this sentence for you, based on the request of your interrogators!’”

PBS Charlie Rose: A look at Israel and Iran 02/04/10 (Look for the title and then click on it) Iran and the political revolution within the effort to develop nuclear capability and what it means for the rest of the world, especially the United States, Arab neighbors and Israel. We talk to Ethan Bronner from ‘The New York Times,’ Bret Stephens from the ‘Wall Street Journal’ Jeffrey Goldberg from the ‘Atlantic’ and Abbas Milani from Stanford University.

Guardian: US in line of fire as China toughens up foreign policy IND:  WOW! Are we at a dawn of a new cold war?

China signalled its intent to pursue a more assertive foreign policy, saying “a fifth of mankind” had a right to be heard, and stating its opposition to the west on a range of issues.

The country’s foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, threatened retaliation for American arms sales to Taiwan, and made it clear that China was prepared to stand alone among the permanent members of the UN security council in opposing sanctions against Iran.

He insisted Iran had not closed the door on negotiations over the export of its uranium, and called for patience and “a more flexible, pragmatic and proactive policy” towards talks with Iran.

Speaking at a global security conference in Munich, Yang also rejected western criticism on internet freedoms and China’s role at the Copenhagen global warming summit in December.

He said it was time for China’s voice to be listened to with more respect on the world stage.

“We have one fifth of mankind,” the foreign minister said. “At least we deserve a chance to express our views on how things should be run in the world.”

“We are offering views but we have the modesty to listen to others. That has always been the tradition of China, but I think, we also deserve a hearing of one kind or another. One country, two countries three or four countries can definitely not decide the future of the world.”

China has already privately signalled to the US and its allies that it would oppose any new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. Hitherto, China has avoided standing alone among the permanent five members of the security council on the Iranian nuclear programme.

This time however, China, has remained adamant even in the face of a clear softening in Russia’s stance. In recent months, Moscow has signalled that it is might be ready to agree to more punitive measures. Its foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, warned todaythat if Iran did not co-operate, the security council would deal with the matter. Lavrov is due to meet his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, at the Munich security conference this weekend.

AFP: US to appeal to China on Iran sanctions: Clinton IND:  Persistence is an admirable trait but at what point does persistence become delusional wishful thinking?

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday the United States will continue to reach out to China and other partners as it seeks ways to impose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear ambitions.

Clinton issued her remarks after Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Thursday rejected calls by the United States and other powers for sanctions against Tehran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium.

“We think it is important that we move now toward looking at what pressure, what sanctions can be brought to bear on the Iranians,” Clinton told reporters after saying Iran had balked at offers to engage in talks over its nuclear plans.

“We’re going to continue to reach out to all of our colleagues in this effort, including, of course, China,” the chief US diplomat said.

Atlantic: A Landmark Statement

In my judgment, the most important event of 2009 was the Green Revolution in Iran. But I think it is important to grasp that it was more than a simple event. It is a continuing process. It is far from over and it is gaining strength.

And yes, I believe it is succeeding. The courage of the Iranian people – especially when compared to the cowardly, self-serving cynicism that courses through the American republic – is indisputable. And next week, we will see their latest battle, against a regime whose legitimacy has gone, whose isolation around the world is deeper than at any time in its history, and whose fate is as sealed as those tyrants in Moscow two decades ago.

BW: U.S. Uses Iran to Globalize Its Defenses, Russia Says

U.S. plans to base a missile-defense system in eastern Europe are a pretext to encroach on Russia’s borders, said Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian envoy to NATO.

“Maybe it’s against Iran, but that same system can be targeted against any other country, including Russia’s strategic nuclear potential,” Rogozin said in an interview on state broadcaster Rossiya 24 today. “The U.S. is using Iran’s actions to globalize its system of missile defense.”

Reuters: Balli unit settles with US over 747 export to Iran

A unit of Britain’s Balli Group Plc pleaded guilty on Friday in a U.S. court to charges it illegally exported Boeing Co (BA.N) 747 aircraft from the United States to Iran, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday.

The unit, Balli Aviation Ltd, agreed to pay a $2 million criminal fine and be placed on corporate probation for five years, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Balli Aviation and its parent also agreed to pay $15 million in civil penalties in settlements with the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments, although $2 million could be waived if there are no further export control violations.

AEI: Iran News Roundup February 5, 2010

Bloomberg: Iran Avalanche Kills 8; 3 Foreigners Among 49 Rescued

Stratfor: Iranian Proxies: An Intricate and Active Web