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Posts Tagged ‘Iran’
The Turkey vs Iran Flotilla Race
To some Iranians, the Turkish flotilla shouldn’t be interpreted as an attack on the Israeli siege of Gaza, but first and foremost as an assault against their influence in Gaza.
Iran’s efforts to send its own flotilla are testimony to that.
http://the-diplomat.com/2010/06/18/iran%E2%80%99s-next-rival-turkey/
http://the-diplomat.com/2010/06/18/iran%E2%80%99s-next-rival-turkey/
Flotilla Fiasco Boon for Iran
What’s likely to make Tehran particularly happy is the fact that Israel walked into a trap, with its eyes wide open.
http://the-diplomat.com/2010/06/01/flotilla-fiasco-boon-for-iran/
Nuclear weapons = more stability for Iran?
I am about to embark on a full day simulation.
Its title is “Iran – The Day After”. It will basically try to asses the behavior of Iran after it will become armed with nuclear weapons.
I will be a member of the Iran team.
http://portal.idc.ac.il/en/schools/Government/Research/iran/Pages/homepage.aspx
Here are my thoughts before the simulation begins.
The main question asked in this article is: will nuclear weapons and their ability to create deterrence being security and stability for the Islamic republic?
http://the-diplomat.com/2010/05/13/iran-risking-multi-front-war/
Lets see if the simulation proves otherwise.
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Lula plays a risky diplomatic game in Iran
On Saturday 15th of May, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will arrive in Tehran.
Will he, much like professional football players from his country manage to score a goal from a very difficult angle?
Or is he risking too much by going to a country which is becoming increasingly isolated?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/13/lula-brazil-iran-nuclear
Obama’s nuclear misstep in Iran
The Mahmoud Ahmadinejad show arrived at the UN for the sixth time, and much like its previous episodes, it did not disappoint. His speech contained its usual anti-Israel and anti-US diatribe but, surprisingly,
this year he also had some interesting and salient points.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/04/obama-nuclear-misstep-iran
MEA Weekend: Iranian vs Western Etiquette
I left Iran at the age of fourteen. The year was 1987. At that age, and with the experiences of living in a country surrounded by memories of revolution and war, I arrived in the UK with all the mannerisms and etiquette of a conservative Persian. I was told that British people are polite, so I automatically expected them to understand all of our traditions, which show politeness.
One such Iranian tradition is ‘Tarof’. According to this tradition, you must never accept food which is offered to you, until it has been offered three times.
Soon after my arrival, more than once, I left the houses of British friends starving hungry. I used to turn up there, and they used to offer me food. Of course according to British tradition, they politely offered once, and according to Iranian tradition I had to refuse, because the whole goal of Tarof is to show dignity and restraint. In some cases some even offered twice. I stuck to my Persian traditions. They did not know any better, nor did I. So after a while, I started stuffing my face before going to houses of my British friends, knowing full well that this is the only food I am going to get for the whole evening.
After a while I just had to stop because I realized that I was offending some people by not eating at their home.
That was one of the difficult aspects of adapting to life in the UK. Sharing classes with girls and openly going on dates (something I could not do in Iran back then) was a much easier one, which definitely made up for it. Thats another story for another day. But as Gerry Seinfeld said “I always even out”.
Here is a fantastic clip by the famous Iranian - British comedian Omid Djalili, explaining his experiences with the tradition of Tarof in Britain. Enjoy and have a great weekend. Regards, Meir Javedanfar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FONvTTlqNVs
Is nuclear armed Iran a foregone conclusion?
“Get ready to live with nuclear Iran” was the title of a recent article by H.D.S. Greenway, in the Boston Globe.
Greenway is not alone in thinking that Iran’s nuclear program is unstoppable. The article below examines the question whether it is simply too late, and the world should switch from preventing a nuclear Iran, to containing it.
http://the-diplomat.com/2010/04/20/the-truth-about-a-nuclear-iran/
Two part panel interview with France24, about the question of nuclear terrorism, Iran, The Pakistani nuclear program and Obama’s new nuclear doctrine.
Part 1
Part 2
For Human Rights in Iran, Sanctions Are Needed.
Why sanctions are now needed more than ever to force Iran back to the negotiation table, to discuss not only the nuclear program , but also human rights.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/01/iran-sanctions-china-un
Article in Persian, discussing Israel’s diplomatic encirclement of Iran policy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2010/03/100330_an_mj_iran_israel_conflict.shtml