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Politics
Man in the shadows
Rafsanjani eyeing the presidency
By Dariush Sajjadi
August 25, 2000
The Iranian
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's letter to the Majlis to remove the press
law amendment from its agenda pitted him against public opinion, as the
amendment had huge popular support. He openly confronted the reformists
for the first time since President Khatami's election and elicited the
wrath of Iranians and world public opinion.
Given that all Majlis bills have to go through the conservative Council
of Guardians and, on occasion, the Expediency Council, for final approval,
Khamenei's direct intervention was not necessary. But the fact that he
has could be interpreted as a measure tactfully orchestrated by the chairman
of the Expediency Council, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is a
master of covert diplomacy in Iranian politics >>>
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Trade
Nutty tariffs
Iranian pistachio blocked by high tariffs
By Mehrdad Valibeigi
August 25, 2000
The Iranian
When Madeleine Albright announced a partial lifting of U.S. sanctions
on Iran in March, the State Department was not aware of the 300 percent
tariff imposed on Iranian pistachios, according to official U.S. sources...
September 7 is the U.S. Commerce Department deadline for filing comments
about the tariffs. Those interested in the resumption of Iranian pistachio
sales in the U.S., including Iranian exporters and American importers as
well as American consumer advocates, should join forces and launch a coordinated
public relations and legal campaign to end the Californian pistachio monopoly.
>>>
GO TO FEATURE
Outlook
Yazdi slams government, women
BBC Persian Service
Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, member of the powerful Council of Guardians,
in the Friday Prayers sermon, reiterated that religion and politics are
inseperable. Saeed Yekta talks to two political observers >>>
LISTEN HERE
Cairo, Tehran plan to renew relations
By Daniel Sobelman
Ha'aretz
August 25, 2000
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammed
Khatami, are expected to announce the reestablishment of diplomatic ties
between their two countries next month following more than two decades
without formal relations. In a report yesterday from Tehran, the Arabic
language daily, Al-Hayat, which is published in London, said that the Egyptian
and Iranian presidents would meet next month at the United Nations General
Assembly >>>
FULL TEXT
Post no bills
Chicago Reader
August 4, 2000
Azita Youssefi has a reputation as an exhibitionist. A couple years
ago she posed at O'Hare for the Lumpen spin-off Easy Listener wearing nothing
but a pair of angel wings, and as bassist and front woman for the theatrical
no-wave band the Scissor Girls, she performed in everything from a Catholic
school uniform to a two-piece made of bubble wrap. Offstage she could be
seen loping around in heavy raccoon makeup or aviator goggles, and though
her look is now more demure, she's fond of practicing classical piano in
the game room at the Empty Bottle >>>
FULL TEXT
Thanks to Mehran Azhar
Sounds like me
They say there was this hamshahri who was a choopoon. And he had a lot
of sheep. Every day he had to make sure they were all there. So they ask
him how do you count them all? He said, "I get down on the ground,
count their feet, and divide by four."
Thanks to Maria S.
More Letters
* Finally!
S. writes: Congratulations! Just thought I would let you know
that The Iranian is now among the many sites that cannot be accessed
in Iran through Neda Rayaneh (and possibly
other Internet service providers). I guess you too are officially censored
now. When you try to access it, it says "You are not allowed to connect
to the requested site."
* Vulgar
Morteza Loghmani
writes: I am flabbergasted and ashamed, to find yet another feature
story with no substance: "Zan
gereftan". This parody, it maybe funny, but very offensive to
not only to women but to all of us. The feature is vulgar and chauvinistic.
Some of the words the author used are not appropriate for the general
audience. Is Iranian.com becoming a tabloid? This is not an attack
on freedom of speech, it is merely to point out responsible journalism.
* Nothing wrong with a joke
Mehran Azhar writes:
In response to "Racist
jokes": I was born in Tabriz to Esfahani parents and was raised
in Tehran. I have lived in both the U.S. Deep South and the Yankee North.
Because of the number of years I have lived in the aforementioned venues,
I imitate the local accents quite fluently and get a kick out of making
facetious remarks about each drawl.
I personally don't think telling a Rashti joke or speaking with a Jewish
accent makes one racist. Indeed, there are people who don't appreciate
this sort of amusement, but they are in the clear minority. Stereotypes
begin in the first place because they are all somewhat true.
I don't think an Azeri was ever denied entrance to a university or an
Esfahani to a bank due to their ethnic heritage. If anything, Iran is one
of the few countries in the world where the capital has moved from one
corner to the next; most Tehranis today are, in fact, descendants of people
from the other provinces.
About your comment with regard to the Shahanshah starting this "racism,"
if you mean the late Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, then I suggest you do more
research on this matter. Moreover, if you find jokestan.com
full of bigotry, then stop reading it. Why should the thousands of other
readers of The Iranian be denied the most jocular Iranian site on
the Web?
TV: Share in the Cultural & Financial
Rewards of HOMA-TV
The Foundation for American Iranian Rapprochement, a Political action
committee, also known as FAIRPAC,
is pleased to announce its plan to launch the first non-profit, satellite-based,
public TV network with a 100% annual profit sharing rebate program for
its prime subscribers >>>
DETAILS HERE
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Translation of today's poem by Zara
Houshmand:
Excuse me if my cries fill the sky.
Excuse me if I flood the plains with tears.
You're my life, and I'm running for my life.
Excuse me if my life drags in the rear.
-- Rumi
Previous
translations
Copyright © Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
May not be duplicated or distributed in any form
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More
news
Japan sets its sights on opportunities
in Iran
Financial
Times (London), August 24, 2000 -- Japan was to defy the world again more
than four decades later when several countries withdrew their ambassadors
from Tehran in 1997 after a German court linked Iran with the assassination
of Kurdish leaders in Berlin. Japan stopped official dialogue for a few
months but took no other action >>> FULL TEXT
Tehran moves to encourage more inward investment
Financial
Times (London), August 24, 2000 -- Iran's parliament yesterday approved
a draft law to encourage direct foreign investment, a move welcomed by the
foreign business community as a step in the right direction. However, businessmen
warned that a conflict of interests with the Islamic Republic's constitution
could still throw up significant barriers >>> FULL TEXT
"Problem" forces flight to return
to Tehran
TEHRAN,
Aug 25 (AFP) - An unspecified "problem" forced a Paris-bound Iran
Air Boeing 747 to return to Tehran's Mehrabad airport Friday minutes after
taking off, passengers told an AFP correspondent after landing >>>
FULL TEXT
Kharrazi, Zimbabwe president meet
HARARE,
Aug 25 (AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi and Zimbabwean President
Robert Mugabe met here Friday to discuss bilateral cooperation between their
two countries, the president's office said. "It was a positive meeting
and I believe this visit will pave the way for more cooperation between
the two countries," Kharazi told the state-run ZIANA news agency >>>
FULL TEXT
Majidi: Oscar contender
Tehran
(Cinema) -- An interview with filmmaker Majid Majidi whose "Color of
Paradise" ("Rang-e khodaa") has a good chance of winning
the Oscar for best foregin-language film >>> FULL PERSIAN TEXT
Remembering a great storyteller
Tehran
(Cinema) -- Mahmoud Ehyaie, who died recently, wrote 43 books many of which
became popular among children. Here's an obituary >>> FULL PERSIAN
TEXT
Expanding broadcast coverage
Tehran
(Jam-e Jam) -- More than 350 radio and television transmissters will begin
operation in 22 provinces during Government Week >>> FULL PERSIAN
TEXT
Persepolis thrash Al-Wakreh 4-2
DOHA, August 24 (Iran Sports Press) -- Iran's Persepolis managed
to score four times in the second half to defeat Qatar's Al-Wakreh Club
4-2 in the away game of the Asian Club Championships match on Thursday.
Despite a 2-0 deficit at half time, Persepolis managed to score four times
to defeat the host team >>> FULL TEXT
Unrest in Shiraz during soccer match
SHIRAZ, August 25 (Iran Sports Press) -- With video: Esteghlal
Tehran and Bargh Shiraz drew 0-0 on Friday in a game marred by spectrator
unrest in Hafezia Stadium of Shiraz. In minute 6 of the match, Esteghlal's
Mehdi Hasheminasab was given a red card by the referee of the match, Ali
Khosravi, when he elbowed a Bargh Shiraz player as Dariush Yazdani sent
a foul kick into Bargh Shiraz penalty box >>> FULL TEXT
Chit chat with Hassan Rowshan
Tehran, (Iran Sports Press) -- With video: Whatever happened to
Hassan Rowshan? Whatever happened to one of the most technical and brilliant
players in the history of Iranian football? >>> FULL TEXT
BBC
President
Roundtable discussion with experts: The President's
role in Iran's political structure. Participants: Hatam Ghaderi, Habibollah
Payman and Javad Salehi Esfahani >>>
LISTEN HERE
BBC Persian
Service
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