Interpol: No Red Notice for Israelis

The Interpol rejects claims that Iran had requested Red Notices for Israeli officials despite Tehran saying it seeks over 100 arrests. 

"Interpol has neither been requested to issue by Iran, nor has it issued on behalf of Iran or any of its 187 member countries any Red Notices for persons wanted internationally or other requests seeking the arrest of senior Israeli officials," reads an Interpol statement obtained by Press TV. 

The Interpol rejection followed comments by Tehran's chief prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi that Iran had asked for international arrest warrants for 15 Israeli individuals involved in the recent war on the Gaza Strip. 

Nevertheless, Mortazavi on Thursday stated that in addition to the 15 Israelis, Iran had asked the International Criminal Police Organization to issue arrest warrants for another 15 Israeli officials for the war crimes committed during Tel Aviv's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. 

According to Mehr News Agency, Mortazavi also said Thursday that the Iranian judiciary system has plans to request Interpol Red Notices for over 100 Israeli officials involved in the war on Gaza. 

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni are reportedly on the list. 

The alleged legal move came in the wake of the three-week Israeli operations in the densely populated coastal strip which left nearly 1,350 Gazans dead. 

Mortazavi expressed hope that the 187 member states of the Interpol would take an "effective measure" to mete out justice to the Israeli criminals of war.

US to Russia: Stop Iran missile sale talks

The US Secretary of State says she will urge Russia to stop military cooperation with Iran during a Geneva meeting with her Russian counterpart. 

Hillary Clinton said on Thursday that she would ask Sergei Lavrov during their Friday meeting to halt talks with Iran about selling long-range missiles which she said is 'a threat to Russia as well as to Europe and neighbors in the region'. 

During the Iranian defense minister's visit to Russia in February, Russian media reported that Tehran had sought the sophisticated surface-to-air S-300 missiles to counter a potential Israeli air strike on its nuclear facilities. 

Tehran says the only aim of its nuclear program is the civilian applications of the technology. The US, Israel and their European allies -- Britain, France and Germany -- accuse Iran of pursuing military purposes. 

Under the allegation, Israel has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran. 

The S-300 surface-to-air system, known as the SA-20 in the West, can track targets and fire at aircrafts 120 km (75 miles) away. It also features high jamming immunity and is capable of simultaneously engaging up to 100 targets. 

Clinton's remarks come while the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexei Borodavkin, has said that Moscow will continue its military cooperation with Tehran under international regulations. 

News agencies quoted White House officials as saying on Tuesday that US President Barack Obama had sent a confidential letter to his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, calling on Moscow to join the US front to stop Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for Washington's backing off its missile shield plan in Europe. 

Both White House and Kremlin officials denied that Obama's letter contained any offers of a deal over Iran and Washington's missile program in Europe. 

Washington and Moscow are at loggerheads over US plans to deploy 10 long-range missile interceptors in Poland and a radar site in the Czech Republic. The White House says the plan is aimed to counter threats from countries such as Iran.

Afghan children comprise over 60,000 of Tehrani students

TEHRAN, March 3 (MNA) -- “A number of 61 thousand Afghan children are receiving education at Tehran schools,” an official at Education Ministry said here on Tuesday.



According to Fatemeh Peiravinia, a total number of 636 Iraqi children and 153 children from other nationalities are receiving education at Tehran schools.  

 

Based on the census figures released by the Education Ministry, there was a 75% increase in number of Afghan students being educated in 2007 compared with 1990. 

 

In 1990, Afghan children comprised 101,820 of Iranian students, while in 2008, the number was about 199,346.

Iran asks Interpol to arrest Israeli war criminals

The International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) has issued a circular calling for the arrest of 15 top Israeli officials over war crimes. 

At a news briefing on Sunday, Tehran's Public Prosecutor, Saeed Mortazavi, said that Iran had referred the case to the organization, known as Interpol, drawing on the Interpol charter and Israel's violation of the Geneva Conventions. 

"ICPO has notified governments of 180 countries to arrest the suspects," who were involved in the 23-day Israeli offensive on Gaza in December and January he said. 

In December, Iran's judiciary announced its decision to set up a court to look into complaints made by the Palestinian envoy in Iran and wounded Palestinians delivered to Iran, against Israeli atrocities in Gaza, saying it was ready to try the Israelis in absentia. 

"In the current week, we have completed our investigation of about 15 individuals who were among those criminals," IRIB, Iran's State Television, quoted Mortazavi as saying. 

"Based on our investigation and according to article 2 of the Interpol charter, we asked Interpol to arrest these suspects." 

Mortazavi said the charges included war crimes, invasion, occupation, genocide and crimes against humanity. 


The Iranian prosecutor was referring to Israeli strikes that started on December 27 on the densely populated Palestinian coastal territory and did not end until it had claimed the lives of more than 1,330 Gazans, mostly civilians. 

Many international NGOs and human rights organizations, Palestinians wounded in the Gaza onslaught, more than 5,700 Iranian lawyers and attorneys in the Iranian Bar Association along with a large number of medics were also among those who filed complaints against Tel Aviv, Mortazavi added. 

The list of Israeli war criminals includes: 

1 Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert 
2 Defense Minister Ehud Barak 
3 Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni 
4 Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi 
5 Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force Ido Nehoshtan 
6 Commander of the Gaza war -- Operation Cast Lead -- Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant 
7 Head of Military Intelligence Directorate Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin 
8 Commander of Battalion 13 in the Golani Brigade Lt. Col. Oren Cohen 
9 Deputy to the Givati Brigade Col. Ron Ashrov 
10 Commander of the Israel Paratroopers' Brigade in Gaza Col. Hertzi Halevy 
11 Commander of 401st Armored Corps Brigade convoy Col. Yigal Slovik 
12 Commander of the 101st Battalion in the Paratrooper Brigade Lt. Col. Avi Blot 
13 Lt. Col. Yoav Mordechai, who served as a commander of the Golani infantry brigade's 13th Battalion in Gaza 
14 Givati squad commander Col. Tomer Tsiter 
15 Brigade commander in Battalion 51 Col. Avi Peled  View

Iran nuclear plant test run scares Israel

The Israeli premier Ehud Olmert sends out a warning signal to Iran after the country began a test run of its first nuclear power plant. 

"We are a strong country, a very strong country, and we have at our disposal (military) capacities the intensity of which are difficult to imagine," Olmert told public radio on Thursday. 

"We have deployed enormous efforts to reinforce our deterrence capacity," Olmert added. "Israel will be able to defend itself in all situations, against all threats, against all enemies. I cannot say more but believe me, I know what I'm talking about." 

The remarks came after Iran announced Wednesday that despite intense international pressure over the country's nuclear program it has launched the test-stage of its first nuclear power plant in the southern port of Bushehr. 

The United States and Israel and their allies accuse Iran of having a covert nuclear weapons program. Iran contends that it only seeks to produce nuclear energy and its program is civilian in nature. 

Israel -- which is the sole possessor of a nuclear warhead in the Middle East -- considers Iran's nuclear program as an existential threat to its security and has repeatedly threatened to militarily take out Iranian nuclear infrastructure. 

Benjamin Netanyahu, the hawk set to form the next Israeli government, said earlier that Iran is the top challenge facing Israel. 

"Iran is seeking to arm itself with nuclear weapons and is the most serious threat to our existence since the war of independence" in 1948, Netanyahu said. 

A senior adviser to the Israeli hawk, Dore Gold, told Reuters on Wednesday that Netanyahu would make Iran's nuclear program his "highest priority." 

The remarks give rise to widespread speculation about the possibility of an Israeli military action against Iran. 

While Israel continues to label Iran's nuclear program as a threat, the UN nuclear watchdog confirms that Iran has only managed to enrich uranium-235 to a level "less than 5 percent." 

Uranium, the fuel for a nuclear power plant, can serve in military purposes if enriched to high levels. Nuclear arms production requires an enrichment level of above 90 percent. 

Earlier on Wednesday -- the first day of the Bushehr plant's test run -- head of the Rosatom State Atomic Corporation Sergei Kiriyenko addressed Western concerns about Iran's recent nuclear achievement. 

"We believe that the structure in the Bushehr plant itself is in total conformity with the Non-Proliferation," the Russian official said. 

He added that Russia's cooperation in building the Bushehr plant removes every doubt about Iran's nuclear intentions, as the whole project is transparent in its entirety. 

"Those who think this project can be used for the proliferation of nuclear weapons can come here and see for themselves."View

Livni concerned about 'Iran's arms trade'

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has accused Iran of violating international treaties through 'smuggling weapons' into the region.

Talking to the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Marcos Kyprianou, Livni said, "arms smuggling headed by Iran is one of the region's most serious problems."

"Iran must know that its smuggling of weapons to Syria, Lebanon and Hamas, while seriously violating international treaties must stop," Israel's daily Yediot Ahronot quoted her as saying on Wednesday.

She made the comments in reference to an Iranian ship captured by Cyprus earlier this month on charges of smuggling arms into the Gaza Strip.

The ship however was set free and allowed to leave the island after Cypriot officials said it could continue its trip if it unloaded its "suspected cargo".View

Iranians move forward with unity

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday evening that the Iranian nation has fought against conspiracies and is moving forward with unity. According to IRNA, Ahmadinejad, who is currently in the central province of Yazd on the second round of his provincial tours, made the remark after he inaugurated a development project in the city of Behabad. 
The president said "Nations will not achieve progress without unity."
He added that preserving Iran's dignity and strengthening the national unity and development were major objectives pursued by his government. 
President Ahmadinejad stressed that Iranians have successfully maintained their independence over the past 30 years ignoring bullying powers after the victory of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Ahmadinejad: Bush-Like Destiny Waiting Bullying Powers

Iran's President, Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addressing a massive crowd of local people in the provincial capital city of Yazd, in central Iran, said on Wednesday that those who tamely and blindly toe the line of former US President, George W. Bush, will surely face a worse disgrace (than Bush himself). According to IRNA, addressing the bullying powers, President Ahmadinejad said if they deviated from the path of God and insisted on repeating their previous crimes and atrocities, their destiny would be no better than Bush, who left office as America's most hated and disgraced president. 
Referring to unappeasable ambition as an undeniable part of the arrogant powers' cornerstone, President Ahmadinejad said these despotic powers wrongly see themselves as 'decision-makers' for other nations of the world.
He also censured certain powers for manipulating the UN, reminding them that if it was not the case at a time that the free world condemned the Zionist regime for committing crimes against the defenceless people in Gaza, you (the bullying powers) talked in support of Israeli holocaust during the 22-day war. 
The Iranian President said the bullying powers are the root cause of insecurity in different parts of the world, and advised them to learn a lesson from Bush's destiny, and avoid deviating from the right path. He asked: "What are you doing in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, and Africa, if you are pursuing peace? If you are seeking peace, what is the reason for you possessing nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction?" 
During the visit, President Ahmadinejad and his cabinet ministers are to inspect several on-going projects in the province, and inaugurate many others which have been completed.

Blast hits mosque in southeast Iran

An explosion rocks a mosque in the southeastern Iranian city of Zahedan, causing damage to the building but leaving no human casualties. 

A motorcyclist, who had tried to gain entrance into Zahedan's Al-Qadir Mosque, was responsible for the blast, police said on Wednesday. 

The motorcyclist had apparently set off the bomb outside the building after being prevented from entering the mosque. 

"The bombing was carried out by a motorcyclist who was trying to enter the building, but could not do so," Sistan-Baluchestan Deputy Police Chief Salah Asgarpour told Farsnews. 

"The explosive was a sound bomb which had been planted in the mosque's kitchen area to create public alarm and panic. However, the blast only caused minor damage," he added. 

Zahedan is the provincial capital of Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, which shares a border with Pakistan. 

Similar bombings have been carried out in the past in Iran's southeastern regions, some of them deadly. 

Iran says such attacks are usually the work of armed separatist groups, who flee to hideouts in Pakistan after carrying out their terrorist operations in Iran.

Supreme Leader urges promotion of endowment culture

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on Tuesday stressed that culture of endowment should be promoted and encouraged more than before. In a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday with Managers and officials of the Endowment and Charity Affairs Organization, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stressed that endowment is a good tradition in Islam and divine religions. 
The Supreme Leader said that good and conscientious work of the endowment custodians and managers would help promote the endowment culture throughout society. 
In further remarks, The Supreme Leader said one of the basic yardsticks for spread of Islamic values and principles can be revival of endowment culture and this heavy responsibility lied on the shoulders of the Endowment and Charity Affairs Organization.

President Addresses Nation in Televised Interview

ran's President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that the Iranian nation has been steadfast and has withstood the World Arrogance up to now, forcing the Global Arrogance to retreat step by step. Addressing the Iranian nation in a televised interview, which was aired by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Tuesday night, President Ahmadinejad noted that Iran's Islamic Revolution has been introduced as a role model for other countries, while adding that meanwhile the World Arrogance imagined that Islamic Revolution will not reach the 2nd and 3rd generations and the Iranian nation will become weary of following up on its ideals.
President underlined that the officials of different countries have confirmed and admitted to Islamic Republic of Iran's progress in the past three decades, while the representatives of these countries have stated in numerous meetings that they feel Iran's developments and progresses as their own.
President further reminded that the collapse of arrogant powers is a fact that has a theoretical base and is in accordance to actual observations. President further reiterated that the oppressive regimes do not last and in the view of Muslims, who have faith in God, empires have a limited lifespan and deadline.
President further underscored that today the slogans chanted by World Arrogance have been faced with indifference and harsh reactions of world nations.
President stressed that the World Arrogance has reached an impasse political-wise and the problems in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Afghanistan, Africa and South America are the clear examples of Global Arrogance's deadlock.
Elsewhere, in reference to the goals set by the 4th Economic Development Plan, President reassured the nation that more than 85% of the 4th Plan's aims have materialized.
President further noted that in the current year Iran's economic growth has stood at 7.2%, which is a significant growth.

Arrogance seeks to spoil the Islamic system

Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei Monday morning in a meeting with thousands of devout and revolutionary people of East Azarbaijan province said that the great lesson of Arbaeen was to understand the situation and take a timely and brave action.

Arbaeen is the 40th day folwing the martyrdom of third Shii Imam, Hussein Ibn Ali (A.S.) in Karbala at the hand of the then tyrannical rulers.

In the meeting which was held to mark a historical uprising by the people of Tabriz, the center of East Azarbaijan on February 18, 1978, Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian nation has realized the sensitivity of the situation and remained vigilant against the enemy efforts to ruin the Islamic and revolutionary aspects of the system.

Ayatollah Khamenei said Hazrat Zeinab and Imam Sajjad (A.S.), the captive emissaries of Karbala, mostly sought to encourage people and spread the message of Imam Hussein in their speeches after his martyrdom, adding that Arbaeen developments paved the way for the historical struggle of the faithful against despotism, arrogance, and tyranny.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the uprising of Tabriz people played the same role in the Islamic Revolution and further motivated people to continue their struggle.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the uprising taught other people to keep vigilance, understand the situation, take action bravely and maintain hope in future.

The IR Leader said the arrogance made use of all available political, economic and military tools to destroy the Islamic Republic, finally finding that it is impossible to destroy the entity as long as the nation supports the system and the system relies on the profound faith of people.

"For the same reason, the arrogance seeks to spoil the anti-arrogance and revolutionary aspects of the system with all its might," Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that the nation and authorities must keep full vigilance.

Ayatollah Khamenei then appreciated people for their massive participation in the February revolutionary march and called it an indication of deep popular support for the Islamic Revolution.

The IR Leader said the scientific progress in the country and the enthusiastic presence of youths in different arenas are among other indications of the failure of enemy in defeating the Islamic Republic.

Ayatollah Khamenei warned that a cultural invasion by the enemy was among its efforts to spoil the Islamic System, adding that all individuals, including him, have duty to defend the Islamic and revolutionary values.

The IR Leader said the Divine promise to assist the faithful was irrevocable, adding that the Iranian nation under the auspices of faith treads the path of truth with the same enthusiasm as in early revolutionary era.

"The current young generation, more experienced than the youths of early revolutionary era, has mixed thought and enthusiasm in different fields. The Divine blessing is appreciable," the IR Leader added.

Post-Revolution Youngsters Foiled Enemies' Plots

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, in a message to the Union of Islamic Associations of Iranian students in the Indian sub-continent, hailed on Sunday the brilliant achievements of the Iranian youth. According to IRNA, in the message on the occasion of the Union's 25th anniversary, the Supreme Leader said the Iranian nation is now investing even greater hope in its highly educated, brilliant youngsters than before, seeing that they are conquering the new heights of success with every passing day. 
Pointing out that the policy of the enemies of the Iranian nation in the past had been to destroy the young generation by seducing it into corruption and disappointment, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the post-revolution youngsters have managed to foil the plot through their vigilance and sense of responsibility. 
The Supreme Leader further urged the Iranian students, including those studying in the Indian sub-continent, to focus on learning, research and innovative ideas as their duty.

Principalists all behind Ahmadinejad?

The majority of Principalists will support Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to win over the Reformists in the upcoming elections, a political activist says. 

"There is general consensus among the Principalists on (President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad and they have focused to win over the Reformists," Habibollah Asgar-Oladi, a senior member of the Islamic Coalition Party, a major member of the Principalist camp, said on Wednesday. 

The former minister of commerce added that the Principalists have to be closely aligned if they want to win the presidential elections. 

On President Ahmadinejad's candidacy, Asgar-Oladi said he would for sure join the race, adding, "if the Principalist camp reaches a consensus on Ahmadinejad other Principalist candidates will step back from their presidential bids in favor of him.” 

Asgar-Oladi went on further saying that if after such an agreement a Principalist decides to run as a candidate, he will not be considered a Principalist nominee. 

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is yet to announce his decision to run again for office. His media advisor Aliakbar Javanfekr, however, told Reuters in late January that the current President 'will become a candidate for the next election'. 

No member from the Principalist camp has yet officially announced their candidacy. However, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mohammad Jahromi and former interior minister under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Mostafa Pour Mohammadi, are Principalist candidates who have hinted their bid for the post. 

Former Iranian president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami and former Majlis speaker Mehdi Karroubi are among prominent Reformist members who have officially announced their candidacy. 

There is speculation that Khatami's candidacy and Ahmadinejad's possible announcement would heat up the race between Principalists and Reformists creating a polarized competition between the main two political camps in Iran. 

Reformists believe Khatami's candidacy will increase their chance of winning the presidential race and defeating Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 

The participation of Khatami in the elections has also prompted certain Principalists to set aside their differences and throw weight behind Ahmadinejad in order to defeat their main rival, raising the possibility of his introduction as the sole nominee of the party. 

Iran will hold presidential elections on June 12.