M Ahmadinejad

[Rasputin]

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has rejected international calls for Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment, a day before a UN deadline runs out.
He said Iran would only do so if states seeking the suspension stopped producing nuclear fuel themselves.

Mr Ahmadinejad said he wanted talks on his nation's nuclear programme, but only if no pre-conditions were imposed.

Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said after talks at the UN nuclear agency no solution would come by force.

Mr Larijani said at the talks at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna: "Anybody interested in non-conventional or illogical, irrational [moves] would definitely receive an appropriate response."

We have said that we want negotiations and talks, but negotiations under just conditions

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

But he said Iran was looking "for ways and means to start negotiations".

Speaking on the issue on a visit to Turkey, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki echoed the view.

"The way to solve problems through diplomacy is dialogue," he said.

Details have emerged of US contingency plans for air strikes on Iran.

The US insists it is not planning to attack, and is trying to use diplomacy to persuade Tehran to stop uranium enrichment.

Tehran insists its programme is for civil use only, but Western countries suspect Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons.

Iran will face sanctions if it fails to observe Wednesday's UN Security Council deadline on enrichment.

US rejection

IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei has warned in a UK media interview of the speed at which Iran's nuclear work is advancing.

He is due to report to the UN Security Council this week on whether Iran has met UN demands that it halt uranium enrichment by 21 February.


Iran resumed uranium enrichment work last year
If it does not, and if the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms this, the council's resolution says that further economic sanctions will be considered.

In a speech to crowds in northern Iran, broadcast on state television, Mr Ahmadinejad called on Western nations to stop their own nuclear enrichment programmes if they wanted Iran to do the same.

He said: "They tell us 'come and negotiate on Iran's nuclear issue but the condition is to stop your activities.

"We have said that we want negotiations and talks, but negotiations under just conditions.'"

The US dismissed the call to close down Western production facilities.

"Do you believe that's a serious offer?" said White House spokesman Tony Snow.

Last year Iran resumed uranium enrichment - a process that can make fuel for power stations or, if greatly enriched, material for a nuclear bomb.

Incentives urged

Mr Larijani said his country was willing to give reassurances that no nuclear material would be diverted to a weapons programme but he remained defiant on uranium enrichment.

Mr ElBaradei told the Financial Times newspaper Iran could be only six months away from being able to enrich uranium on an industrial scale.

But he said "there's a big difference between acquiring the knowledge for enrichment and developing a bomb".

Mr ElBaradei also suggested the use of military force against Iran "would be catastrophic" and urged the Security Council to look at incentives as well as sanctions to bring Tehran back to the table.

The US has been pushing hard for the international community to take tough action should Iran not meet the council's demands.

[Rasputin]

احمدی نژاد، وسط پرحرفی ها "بند" را آب داد

همه کارهای مملکت

فدای هدف اتمی تعطیل!




احمدی نژاد در سفر گیلان نیز، مانند دیگر سفرهای تهیجی و تبلیغی که تاکنون انجام داده، سلسله سخنرانی هائی برای مردم این شهرها کرد که هیچکدام نه نان می شود و نه آب و از آن بدتر: نه کار و تولید. چای شمال برباد رفته، برنج و کنف و نساخی نیز بدنبال آن. اعتراض و اعتراض کارگری تقریبا بی وقفه ادامه دارد. از چایکار تا کنف باف و نساج.

اما از آنجا که آدمی که زیاد حرف می زند بالاخره یکجا بند را آب می دهد، احمدی نژاد نیز در این سفر یک جمله ای از دهانش بیرون آمد که ریشه بی اعتنائی او و دولتش به این همه اعتراض و اعتصاب کارگری و اجتماع اعتراضی کارگران و معلمان و بیکاران و... در همین جمله نهفته است. یعنی استراتژی حاکمیت است. او در سیاهکل، درمیان حرف هائی که درباره پیامبر و خدا و ... ناگهان گفت:

«انرژی اتمی اين هم ارزش را دارد كه ما 10 سال بقيه كارهاي خود را تعطيل كنيم تا كشور را از فن آوري هسته*اي در همه زمينه*ها بهره*مند نماييم.»



همین یک جمله، از تمام مجموعه حرف های پرت و پلائی که او در سفر گیلان زده دارای چنان اعتباری است که باید بعنوان استراتژی کنونی حاکمیت جنگی برجسته کرده و به خاطر سپرد.

[donsaeid]

بر اثر سانحه رانندگي؛

سه تن از ماموران حفاظت رئيس جمهور كشته شدند


بر اثر حادثه رانندگي در محور رودبار به رشت پنج تن از ماموران حفاظت رئيس جمهور كشته و مجروح شدند.



در اين سانحه رانندگي كه بعد از ظهر امروز جمعه در مسير بازگشت رئيس جمهور و هيات دولت از سخنراني با مردم رودبار به رشت رخ داد، يكي از خودروهاي حامل محافظان رئيس جمهور از جاده خارج شد و بر اثر اين حادثه 5 تن از ماموران كشته و زخمي شدند.
وضع زخمي شدگان كه به بيمارستان رشت منتقل شده*اند وخيم گزارش شده است.
خبرهاي تكميلي متعاقبا ارسال مي*شود.

[Nutcase]

Ahmadinejad vows to continue nuclear activities despite IAEA report

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Friday that Iran would defend its nuclear program and declared that his country would be a role model for others trying to develop advanced technology.


State television reported the hard-liner president's speech to a crowd gathered in a northern Iranian town, made a day after the U.N. nuclear watchdog reported that Iran had not heeded the world body's demand to roll back its nuclear program.


"The Iranian nation has resisted all bullies and corrupt powers and it will fully defend its all rights," the broadcast quoted Ahmadinejad as telling people in Fuman. It did not say whether the president elaborated on the means of defense Iran would use.


Ahmadinejad declared that if his country reaches the "peaks of technology and science, then it will be a role model" for other countries.


State television did not report whether Ahmadinejad mentioned the report on Iran given Thursday by International Atomic Energy Agency's report to the United Nations Security Council.


The IAEA told the council that Iran has ignored a U.N. Security Council ultimatum to freeze uranium enrichment and has instead expanded its program by setting up nearly 1,000 centrifuges.


The report said Tehran also has continued to build a heavy water reactor and related facilities. It also said that Iran ignored a Security Council call to cooperate with the IAEA in its efforts to shed light on suspicious nuclear activities.


The conclusions are the basis for the council to deliberate additional sanctions meant to punish Tehran for its nuclear intransigence.


The key countries are to meet next week to develop a new U.N. resolution on the standoff.


The council issued three demands to Iran when it adopted its resolution Dec. 23 - freeze uranium enrichment, stop building heavy water facilities and fully cooperate with the IAEA.


It introduced limited economic sanctions and gave Iran 60 days to comply - a deadline that expired Wednesday.


The United States and its Western allies have insisted Iran must suspend enrichment before it will enter any negotiations over its nuclear program - a condition Tehran has rejected as it pushes ahead with developing its enrichment facilities.


Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful, but the United States and other Western countries accuse it of using it as a cover to develop weapons.

[Rasputin]

اتومبیل 5 گارد همراه وی واژگون شد

طرح امنیتی و ناکام

کشته شدن احمدی نژاد

در حادثه رانندگی



خبرگزاری های متمایل به دولت احمدی نژاد، خبر دست و پا شکسته ای را پیرامون یک حادثه رانندگی منتشر کردند که بموجب آن اتومبیل محافظان رئیس جمهور واژگون شده و 5 محافظ سرنشین این اتومبیل از مرگ نجات یافته اند. حادثه در جریان سفر احمدی نژاد به گیلان و در مسیر رستم آباد امام زاده هاشم روی داده است. خبر، میان دو انگیزه توسط خبرگزاری های طرفدار دولت "رجانیوز" و "فارس" منتشر شده است. هم خواسته اند تبلیغی شود برای رئیس جمهوری که در سفرهای استانی از خود مایه می گذارد(!) و هم تکذیب کشته شدن وی یا همراهان به کوری چشم آنها که یک ماجرائی را احتمالا ترتیب داده بودند!
مسئول تیم حفاظت رئیس جمهور نیز به خبرگزاری مهر- متمایل به شهرداری تهران- گفته است: اتومبیل محافظان رئیس جمهور، پس از دیدار وی از شهرستان رودبار، در بازگشت به رشت در مسیر رستم آباد- امام زاده هاشمی با یک اتومبیل پراید روبرو شد که از مقابل می آمد. اتومبیل محافظان برای گریز از برخورد رودررو با اتومبیل پراید( ظاهرا بصورت انتحاری حرکت می کرده است) از جاده منحرف و واژگون شد. پنج سرنشین اتومبیل محافظان که مجروح شده بودند به بیمارستان پورسینای رشت منتقل شدند. این درحالی است که در شهر شایع بود 3 تن از آنها کشته شده اند. مجروحان سپس به تهران انتقال داده شدند.

درباره اتومبیل پراید، سرنشینان آن، تحقیق پیرامون راننده و قصد وی، سرنوشت اتومبیل حامل احمدی نژاد که اتومبیل واژگون شده امنیتی از جمله کاروان آن بود و... هیچ گزارشی تاکنون منتشر نشده است.

دراین که احمدی نژاد به معضل حاکمیت تبدیل شده و نظام در پی چاره ای برای رفع زحمت اوست تردید نیست. بویژه که به بسیاری از جنجال های کنونی جهانی علیه ایران نیز می توان به این ترتیب خاتمه بخشید و فصل دیگری را، پس از یک دوره بسیار کوتاه پس از او سازمان داد. از میان چند راه حل پارلمانی، استعفاء، عدم کفایت و این نوع راه حل های قانونی، یک راه حل دیگر حکومتی نیز همان است که در جاده رستم آباد اتفاق افتاد. در جمهوری اسلامی در این زمینه نیز تخصص بسیار بالائی وجود دارد که توام با تجربه هم هست. برادر عبدالله نوری، آیت الله موحدی ساوجی، آیت الله ربانی شیرازی و دهها نمونه دیگر از این دست دراختیار است و تازه طرح ناکام سقوط مینی بوس نویسندگان و هنرمندان عازم ارمنستان هم فراموش نشده است. اتفاقا هزینه آن کمتر از ترور هم بنظر می رسد، چرا که یک اتفاق ساده است!

[Rasputin]

Iranian MPs enraged over test accused of mocking Muhammad

Iranian MPs have demanded an apology from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after teachers were given government-sponsored tests deemed "insulting" to the prophet Muhammad.
The exam - sat by teachers seeking promotion - provoked outrage by posing questions which appeared to degrade Islam's holiest figure by alluding to personal habits and proclivities. Most of the 40 multiple-choice questions have been judged so mocking that Iran's state-controlled media has refrained from publishing them.

One less offensive question, reproduced by local newspapers and websites, lists four choices when asking how Muhammad compared himself with the prophet Joseph. They are: "A) I am more beautiful than Joseph; B) Joseph is more beautiful than me; C) I am cuter than Joseph; D) Joseph is more beautiful than me but I am cuter than him." Others refer to his hair and beard colour.

The national teachers' representative body protested after the test was given to diploma and higher-diploma level teachers in Tehran province. The local education authority admitted the questions were "in bad taste" and withdrew them. An alternative exam is being drawn up for teachers who failed, although the results of those with pass marks have been declared valid.
Some MPs branded the incident a deliberate plot to undermine Iran's Islamic system and likened it to last year's row over Danish cartoons satirising Muhammad, which provoked outrage throughout the Muslim world after they were published in several European newspapers.

"What is the difference between these questions and the caricatures drawn in Denmark against the prophet?" said Emad Afrough, the fundamentalist head of the cultural committee in Iran's parliament.

The latest row has spurred parliamentarians to begin preparations for impeaching the education minister, Mahmoud Farshidi, who has apologised for the tests. However, MPs have dismissed his mea culpa as insufficient and have called on Mr Ahmadinejad to apologise on the government's behalf.

The president has declined to comment directly but said in a speech this week in the northern province of Gilan: "The unity, authority and dignity of the Iranian nation stems from sticking to the dignified presence of the dear prophet of Islam, Muhammad."

Teachers were given 30 hours off classroom duties to study a biography of the prophet by the late Ayatollah Muhammad Tabatabai, a Shia philosopher whose teachings inspired many senior figures in Iran's Islamic revolutionary movement. Its strong focus on personal characteristics - including hygiene, physical appearance and eating habits - was the subject of staffroom gossip and jokes. "Some teachers were even exchanging notes on the book's content in text messages," one teacher told the newspaper Etemade Melli.

Personal questions

The test posed questions on the minutiae of the prophet Muhammad's life, including:

God's prophet never ate food with

a) Two fingers

b) Three fingers

c) Four fingers

d) Five fingers

God's prophet's hair was

a) Black

b) White

c) With the exceptions of a few hairs, predominantly black

d) Whitened at the end of his life

What colour was the prophet's beard?

a) Totally white, even upon his chin

b) Totally black, even over his chin

c) White over the chin and the rest salt and pepper

d) Salt and pepper over the chin and the rest white

On which side did God's prophet sleep?

a) On his back

b) On his chest

b) To the right

d) To the left

[Rasputin]

Know your Prophet Mohammad: Multiple-choice

Iranian MPs enraged over test accused of mocking Muhammad
GUARDIAN: Iranian MPs have demanded an apology from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after teachers were given government-sponsored tests deemed 'insulting' to the prophet Muhammad

[Rasputin]

آقای احمدی نژاد
دو کلام شما بگو، یک کلام من
دعوا که نداریم!
بیا در باره همین دو ادعا" فناوری صلح آميز هسته ای"،
"توليد سوخت هسته ای" و سود و زیانش گفتگو کنیم
احمد شیرزاد
شايد برای نخستين بار آقای احمدی نژاد صحبتی کرده است که در يک چارچوب "ارزيابی هزينه - فايده" قابل بحث است. او می گويد: "ما اگر ده سال بقيه کارها را تعطيل کنيم و به صورت متمرکز بر روی انرژی هسته ای کار کنيم می توانيم 50 سال جلو برويم و اين کار می ارزد." (کليه روزنامه های 3/12/85 )

هر چند ايشان در ادامه اين صحبت در جمع مردم سياهکل گيلان نکاتی را در باره "نقش انرژی هسته ای در عزت کشور" نيز مطرح کرده اند، اما نکته مهم اين است که آقای رئيس جمهور شايد برای اولين بار مدعی شده اند که اين فناوری، حتی به قيمت تعطيل شدن بقيه کارهای کشور "برای ما می ارزد".

اين سخن بسيار مهمی است که به سادگی نمی توان از آن گذشت. حتما آقای احمدی نژاد مدعی هستند که اين گفته نيز همانند گفته های قبلی ايشان در مواردی مثل موضوع هولوکاست پس از مشورت با مشاوران و بررسی های زياد اظهار شده است و عصاره کارشناسی افراد خبره ای است که با ايشان همکاری می کنند. علاوه بر اين حتما ايشان به منابع بسيار مطمئن تر اطلاعات و گزارشهای بسيار دقيق تر دسترسی دارند و بر مبنای آن قضاوت می کنند که چه چيزی برای مردم ايران می ارزد و چه چيزی نمی ارزد.

من بسيار خوشحال هستم که بالاخره يک بار هم که شده مسئولی در حد ايشان در باره مسئله هسته ای ايران از زاويه بسيار بسته سياسی خارج شده و به صراحت در مورد ارزش يا عدم ارزش اين فناوری برای مردم ايران، آن هم با اين قاطعيت و اطمينان سخن می گويد. طرح موضوع از چنين زاويه ای می تواند فتح باب بسيار با ارزشی باشد که به طور قطع در تصميم گيری و قضاوت آحاد مردم ايران تاثير گذار است.

به اين لحاظ من احمد شيرزاد، به عنوان يک مخلص کوچک مردم ايران، به عنوان يک شهروند ساده که در اين کشور حق دارم بدانم چه چيزی برای ما مردم ايران می ارزد، و به عنوان يک دانشگاهی معمولی که ياد گرفته در قضاوتهای علمی با سبک و سنگين کردن استلال ها نتيجه گيری کند، از رئيس جمهور محترم دعوت می کنم که در يک مناظره آزاد تلويزيونی دلايل سنجيده خود را در ارزشيابی ميزان مفيد بودن انرژی هسته ای در حدی که ارزش داشته باشد که تا ده سال همه چيز را به خاطر آن تعطيل کنيم عرضه کنند. در ضمن به اين شهروند ايرانی نيز اجازه دهند آنچه در ترديد نسبت به اين ادعای بزرگ به ذهنش می رسد و از واقعيت های موجود نتيجه می گيرد را مطرح کند. شايد با جوابگويی به اين ايرادها و ترديدها ما هم بتوانيم با همان قاطعيتی که آقای رئيس جمهور در هر کوی و برزن از واجب بودن انرژی هسته ای برای منافع مردم ايران صحبت می کنند حرف بزنيم و به کمک ايشان بياييم.

از آنجا که فاقد هر نوع وسيله اطلاع رسانی به جز همين وبلاگ ساده هستم، از تمام همکاران وبلاگ نويس و رسانه هايی که امکان اطلاع رسانی دارند درخواست می کنم اين آمادگی را به اطلاع مردم ايران برسانند. اگر فريب خورده بيگانگان هستم، اگر به زعم بعضی ها دلم برای منافع آنها می تپد، اگر هر عيب و ايراد ديگر سياسی را به بنده وارد می دانند، اما دلايلی دارم که بنا بر آنها اين فناوری هسته ای که امروز محل مناقشه است (منظور همين فناوری صلح آميز هسته ای است که عمدتا بر بحث توليد سوخت هسته ای متمرکز شده است) برای مردم ايران حاوی آنچنان منافعی که مدعی اند نيست و برعکس به قيمتی بسيار کلان ما را به نتيجه ای بسيار اندک می رساند.

[Rasputin]

TEHRAN (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday said Iran bore no hatred towards the United States as he held talks with American Christians in a rare official contact with visitors from Tehran's arch enemy.

State television showed Ahmadinejad meeting with a dozen American representatives from various Christian orders who are in Iran for a week-long visit to promote peace and dialogue between the foes.

"The Iranian nation does not have any feeling of hatred and opposition towards the American people and we believe that all people are respectful and given the common grounds people have, they could achieve peace and justice," Ahmadinejad said according to official media.

"The US government has initiated and is continuing animosity against Iran," he told the assembled US delegation, made up of Mennonites, Quakers, Episcopalians, Catholics and United Methodists.

"Due to the repeated mistakes made by the American leadership, the image of the United States is becoming tarnished in the region," the president added.

The delegation, which arrived in Iran last week, has already met with leading Muslim clerics as well as religious leaders of Iran's Christian Armenian minority.

The trip by the US Christians comes after US religious leaders met Ahmadinejad during his visit to New York in September to address the UN General Assembly.

Iran and the United States have had no diplomatic relations since Washington severed ties in 1980 in the wake of the seizure of its embassy in Tehran by Islamist students.

However small groups of US media, sportsmen and tourists still visit the Islamic republic each year.

[Rasputin]

معاون اول رييس جمهور, گفت: در حال حاضر دنيا در مقطعى قرار گرفته كه نمي*تواند هيچ توقف عملى در موضوع انرژى هسته*اى ايران انجام دهد.

پرويز داوودي، معاون اول رييس جمهور, در اولين همايش استانداردسازى رفتار پليس, گفت: هيچ تلاشى بدون تهذيب و تربيت موثر نيست و ملت ما همواره نمونه*هايى از تهذيب و تهذب را به نمايش گذاشته است.
وي، افزود: قادر شده*ايم با نمود آشكار يك ملت مهذب، زمينه*اى را ايجاد كنيم تا به غناى 5/3 درصد سوخت هسته*اى دست يابيم.
داوودي، با تاكيد بر اين كه قبل از اين موضع ايران در بحث انرژى هسته*اى موضعى انفعالى بود، خاطرنشان*كرد: حاصل تلاش*هاى صورت گرفته در زمينه دستيابى به انرژى هسته*اى به اين نتيجه رسيده كه فشارها و هجمه*ها، يك سال به تعويق افتاده است.
معاون اول رييس جمهور, يادآور شد: قطع*نامه*اى عليه ايران صادر شد كه هيچ ثمر و نتيجه*اى نداشت و ما به زودى در پروسه ايجاد چرخه سوخت هسته*اى قرار مي*گيريم.
وي، با اشاره به اين كه تا پيش از اين به ايران در بحث انرژى هسته*اى حتى يك صندلى نيز براى چانه*زنى داده نمي*شد، تصريح*كرد: دنيا اكنون مجبور شده كه ما را بپذيرد و ابزارهايى كه از سوى آنان عليه ايران در دستيابى به انرژى هسته*اى استفاده شده، هيچ ثمره*اى نداشته است.
داوودي، گفت: دشمنان ما روز به روز حياط*خلوت خود را از دست مي*دهند و ملت ما روز به روز در اين زمينه محبوب*تر شده و به الگويى براى جهان تبديل مي*شود.
معاون اول رييس جمهور, يادآور شد: امروز در كشورى مانند نيكاراگوئه در تمام روستاهاى آن صحبت از رييس جمهور ايران است و به گفته مقام معظم رهبري، ايران در هيچ زمانى چنين ثبات و صلابتى نداشته است.
داوودي، با تاكيد بر اين كه ايران در صحنه هسته*اى به دنبال بمب هسته*اى نيست, افزود: ما به دنبال دانش هسته*اى هستيم؛ زيرا در حال حاضر بمب اتمى در دنيا جواب نمي*دهد و تنها با فكر سالم و مهذب مي*توانيم به اهداف خود دست يابيم و چنين زمينه*هايى در كشور ما ايجاد شده است.
وى, يادآور شد: ساخت پوست مصنوعى, داروى هپاتيت, سلول*هاى بنيادى و ديگر فناوري*ها حاصل حركت*هاى تربيتى در جمهورى اسلامى است و نيروى انتظامى نيز حاصل همين تهذيب است.
معاون اول رييس جمهور, خاطرنشان*كرد: در بحث استانداردسازى رفتار پليس بايد به الگوهاى ائمه دست پيدا كنيم؛ زيرا اگر نيروى انتظامى همانندساز نباشد، جامعه با مشكلات بسيار زيادى مواجه خواهد شد.
وي، افزود: امانت*دارى و دقت بايد در نيروى انتظامى افزايش يابد و با بالا بردن كيفيت, كارآمدى در ناجا پيشرفت خواهد شد.

[Rasputin]

As world powers seek new ways to put pressure on Iran, Sadegh Zibakalam, professor of politics at Tehran University, looks at how much popular support President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has at home.

Criticism against has been coming from all political quarters
No-one had expected Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to face such a strong barrage of criticism at home so soon after his impressive election victory more than 18 months ago.

In the past few weeks, criticism has been coming from all political quarters, the left, the reformists, former president Hashemi Rafsanjani, influential conservative figures and even some of his hardline allies.

Ever since his election victory in July 2005, Mr Ahmadinejad has been on the offensive.

Iranian officials responsible for handling the country's nuclear negotiations with the International Atomic Agency and European countries were lambasted for "acting weakly and being too docile to the wishes of the decadent Western powers".

Praised

Imitating the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, he sent a message to the American people, advised US President George W Bush to reconsider his policies, and suggested that one solution to the century-old Arab Israeli conflict would be to carry out a referendum among Jews and Palestinians to decide the future of Israel.


Hashemi Rafsanjan is among those who has criticised the president
He also questioned the historical truth of the Holocaust and his officials organised a controversial international conference on the subject.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni, repeatedly gave his backing to the president.

At a meeting during the holy month of Ramadan in October last year he warned critics to observe "fairness and honesty" when expressing their views on a president who was working so hard for the poor.

Criticism

As late as November, Mr Ahmadinejad's star was still on the rise.

However, things were not looking good on the economic front.

When he took office, Mr Ahmadinejad promised to raise the standard of living for the huge number of Iranians living in poverty. Many of the 17 million people who voted for him did so in the expectation that he would create jobs, curb inflation and alleviate poverty.


Iran says its nuclear regime is peaceful
Instead, inflation has risen, there has been no decline in unemployment and there have been huge price rises in the housing sector. The gap between rich and the poor has shown no sign of narrowing.

The first doubts about his performance came from within the president's own camp.

The head of the Majlis' (Iranian parliament) Research Office, an influential body that advises deputies on important issues, criticised Mr Ahmadinejad for drawing "unreservedly and without much consideration" from the country's oil revenues special fund.

Ahmad Tavakoli, a leading hardliner and an economy expert, criticised the government for almost emptying the reserves. Another influential deputy and a leader of the government faction accused the government of "lacking any direction".

Election defeat

Mr Ahmadinejad did not respond to these remarks and continued very much as before. The turning point, however, came during the municipal elections in early December. They were the first national elections since his victory.

At the beginning of the campaign, everyone assumed that the election would be a battle between hardliners championed by the president on the one hand, and reformists on the other.


Mr Ahmadinejad won an impressive election victory in 2005
It was widely assumed that the conservatives would either win or, at least, take most of the seats. But, as the campaign unfolded, it became increasingly apparent that there was a serious division among the hardliners. The reason was clear. The overconfident president had refused to agree on a compromised list of candidates with the other conservatives.

As a result, and to the astonishment of most Iranians, the hardliners entered the elections with two different lists in many constituencies. The election results were catastrophic for Mr Ahmadinejad, particularly in critical seats such as Tehran and some other major cities.

The defeat, followed by the imposition of UN sanctions against Iran in December 2006, unleashed a barrage of criticism against the president. His handling of the economy and his foreign policy were the focus of the strongest censure.

The supreme leader did not meet the president for nearly three months, perhaps because of these criticisms.

For his part, Mr Ahmadinejad did not respond to his critics until the two-month period that the UN Security Council had given Iran expired last week.

In a huge gathering in Rasht, the northern province of Gilan the president repeated his hard-line stand over the country's nuclear programme. Many had expected that the president would soften his tone over the nuclear issue. But he repeated his resolute stand that Iran would not give in to the US pressure.

As long as the people stood behind the country's nuclear programme, he said, his government would do everything at its disposal to advance it.

Whether or not the nuclear issue will strengthen the weakened president's position remains to be seen. What is certain however, he is determined to stand firm on the issue.

[Rasputin]

سخنگوى دولت تأكيد كرد: اگر قطار پيشرفت هسته*اى ايران ترمز كند، زمان را از دست مي*دهيم و فعاليت هسته*اى را به عقب هم بر مي*گردانند.

به نوشته ,قدس,، غلامحسين الهام سخنگوى دولت در گفت*وگو* با فارس، درباره سخنان اخير رئيس جمهور مبنى بر اين*كه ,ايران ترمز و دنده عقب قطار هسته*اى خود را دور انداخته است,، اظهار داشت: براى غربي*ها اين مسأله اهميت دارد كه پيشرفت هسته*اى ايران را متوقف كنند و اين نقطه حساسى است.

وى با اشاره به ادبيات رئيس جمهور ادامه داد: احمدي*نژاد ادبياتى ويژه دارد كه براى مردم قابل درك و دوست داشتنى است و من هم به اين زبان ساده و رساى رئيس جمهور غبطه مي*خورم.

الهام با بيان اين*كه راه پيشرفت راهى غيرقابل برگشت است، افزود: اگر قطار هسته*اى ايران ترمز كند، زمان را از دست مي*دهيم و نه تنها مجبور به دنده عقب خواهيم شد، بلكه فعاليت هسته*اى را به عقب هم بر مي*گردانند.

سخنگوى دولت، ,توقف يا تعليق, را در هر صورت به معناى برگشت به عقب دانست و گفت: توقف در فعاليت*هاى هسته*اي، فرصتى براى بازسازى دشمنان و جريانات شكست خورده به وجود خواهد آورد تا همه باورهاى ملت ما را زير سؤال ببرند و پس از آن حتى سازندگى و اقتصاد ايران را نيز متوقف كنند و اينگونه ,نتوانستن, وارد ادبيات سياسى ملت ايران شود.

وى تصريح كرد: ملت ايران براى ادامه راه هسته*اى به صحنه آمده و با شتاب در حال حركت است كه اگر ايست داده شود، اعتماد ملت به دولت از دست مي*رود و سرمايه ملى آسيب مي*بيند كه بازسازى وحدت دولت و ملت هزينه*اى سنگين را تحميل خواهد كرد

[Rasputin]

TEHRAN (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was on Wednesday under fire from moderates for inflaming the nuclear standoff with the West in a speech where he compared the Iranian nuclear programme to a runaway train.

Ahmadinejad on Sunday again defied UN demands for a freeze to sensitive nuclear work in the most graphic language, proclaiming the atomic drive was a "train on a one-way track with no room for stopping, reverse gear or braking."

"Ahmadinejad's statements, such as the 'nuclear train having no brakes', neutralises other officials' efforts and makes the enemies more determined in their decisions," reformist MP Ghodratollah Alikhani was quoted as saying by the Etemad Melli newspaper.

"They speed up the adoption of a harsher resolution against Iran," he said, referring to the looming threat of a second UN Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran's nuclear drive.

Fellow reformist MP Esmail Gerami Moqaddam told Ahmadinejad to copy the more measured language used on foreign visits by chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and adviser to the supreme leader Ali Akbar Velayati.

"Today, we'd better talk in the reasonable language of Velayati and Larijani and not move in a direction desired by the enemies with sensationalist slogans and adventurism," he told Etemad Melli.

"The Iranian people and the Islamic republic do not deserve such language. Having no brakes means that decisions made by Ahmadinejad are exclusive and he does not accept any consultation," the MP added.

The criticism of Ahmadinejad's speech echoed complaints in recent weeks not only from reformist but also conservative deputies about the government's handling of Iran's nuclear case and its expansionist economic policies.

Ahmadinejad, who was on a visit to fellow US foe Sudan on Wednesday, has also been criticised for going on a tour of Latin American states headed by leftist leaders in January at a critical period in the Iranian nuclear case.

Two newspapers usually seen as stoutly conservative, Jomhouri Eslami and Hamshahri, in January published editorials that were unprecedented in their criticism of Ahmadinejad's handling of the issue.

The president, who presents himself as an ordinary man close to the people, has repeatedly described the nuclear standoff in colourful terms in populist speeches across the country to rallies attended by thousands.

Following Ahmadinejad's "train speech" the normally hardline Reselat on Monday published an editorial calling for "sophisticated behaviour, dignified diplomatic language and a non-primitive firmness" in Iran's diplomacy.

"We have important days ahead. There is no doubt that neither weakness nor naivete and needless verbal violence is acceptable in our foreign policy," wrote the respected conservative commentator Amir Mohebian in an editorial.

"Let's not forget that our foreign policy should reflect the ancient Iranian civilization and deep Islamic culture."

The controversy comes at a deeply sensitive time in the standoff with the UN Security Council set to work on a second sanctions resolution against Tehran and the United States not ruling out the use of force.

Influential former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who Ahmadinejad defeated in a 2005 presidential vote, also warned Iranian officials after Ahmadinejad's speech about the dangers of a "wounded" United States.

"The Americans brought their troops with high spending to Iraq and Afghanistan. The only thing they did was to remove Iran's enemies, Saddam Hussein and the Taliban," said Rafsanjani, president from 1989 to 1997.

"Therefore they are angry. So we must be more alert. They are like a wounded tiger and we must not ignore this."

[Nutcase]

Iranian president blames U.S. and Israel for world's problems

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) - Iran's president blamed the United States and Israel for the world's problems Thursday in a lecture to Sudanese officials and intellectuals during his visit to Sudan.


President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments came as Iran and Sudan face mounting international criticism Iran over its nuclear activities and Sudan over the conflict in Darfur.


In his lecture titled "Iran and the World," the hardline president reiterated arguments that he has made repeatedly throughout the standoff with the United States and its Western allies over Iran's nuclear activities.


"There is no place in the world that suffers from divisions and wars unless America or the Zionists' fingerprints are seen there," Ahmadinejad told his audience in Farsi translated into Arabic.


He urged Muslims to rally behind Iran and accused detractors of Iran's nuclear program of trying to prevent a developing country from making scientific advances.


"Our strength and the cornerstone of the victory is in our (Muslims') unity ... we have to pay attention to the devils who want to cause divisions among us," the Iranian president said.


"They want to keep science in their hands only ... they don't want the rest of the world to progress," he said referring Iran's nuclear program.


Ahmadinejad arrived in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, Wednesday in a show of solidarity with Sudan.


Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir declared support for Iran's nuclear ambitions while Ahmadinejad said Iran viewed Sudan's progress as important as its own.


Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany have begun discussing a new round of sanctions on Iran for failing to halt uranium enrichment by late February.


Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor accused a junior member of al-Bashir's cabinet and another suspect of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.


The Sudanese government has rejected the allegations and said it would not hand the men over for trial.

[Rasputin]

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's president on Saturday makes his first official trip to Saudi Arabia, a U.S. regional ally that is leading a diplomatic drive to curb Tehran's growing influence in Lebanon and Iraq.

Even as the United States and other big powers put pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, which they say is a front for developing a bomb, Saudi Arabia has accused Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias of sectarian killings of Sunni Iraqis.

Saudi Arabia, a Sunni bastion, and other U.S.-allied Arab governments are also concerned that Shi'ite Muslim Iran is gaining influence in Lebanon by supporting Hezbollah in its conflict with the U.S.-backed government of Fouad Siniora.

An Iranian official, who did not wish to be identified, said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, leaving on Sunday, after talks on regional affairs. He gave no other details.

Saudi Arabia and Israel share U.S. suspicions that Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of its nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the accusations.

Saudi and Iranian officials have met several times to mediate between Lebanese opposition forces led by Hezbollah, which is also backed by Syria, and the Siniora government.

But these talks -- as well as Saudi contacts with Washington, and Paris and Iranian talks with Syria -- appear to have made little headway.

A Lebanese political source in Beirut said Iran wanted to break the ice between Saudis and Syrians -- a key element in defusing Lebanon's crisis -- before an Arab League summit set for Saudi Arabia at the end of March.

Saudi commentators, noting Syrian officials have not visited Saudi Arabia in months, say Riyadh might want a thaw in its relations with Damascus to pry Syria away from Iran.

The Hezbollah-led opposition demands veto power in the Lebanese government and early parliamentary elections. Siniora has refused. Lebanon's government has no Shi'ite representatives after all Shi'ite ministers quit last November.

SECTARIAN DIVISIONS

The crisis in Lebanon and Sunni-Shi'ite fighting in Iraq has led to fears of growing sectarian divides across the region.

Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria have all accepted Baghdad's invitation to attend a regional conference in March on ways of easing tensions in Iraq.

Riyadh's diplomatic effort to try to limit Iran's growing regional influence has been led by veteran diplomat Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

Western diplomats in Riyadh say he is very close to the U.S. administration but is sometimes an independent operator who does not necessarily represent the king's thinking.

Iraqi analyst Mustafa Alani, who recently visited Riyadh and met Saudi officials, said Tehran was aware of this and felt it had to woo Saudi leaders, starting with King Abdullah himself.

Ahmadinejad has been to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage before, but this will be his first official visit.

"The Iranian leadership think they are going to face a major crisis sooner or later with the nuclear program and the United States trying to push them out of Iraq, so basically they want to neutralize Gulf opposition at the least," Alani said.

"The visit is an Iranian initiative. It wasn't an invitation. The problem is Ahmadinejad himself. He is not trusted by the Saudi leadership," he said.

"The Iranians tried to show the Saudis goodwill in Lebanon and that they are open to diplomatic bargaining. They reduced the tension markedly in Lebanon."