October13, 2006:
Iran promised to retaliate is any sanctions were imposed on it. While
China and Russia say they will protect their major trading partner, in the UN,
this would not prevent other Western nations from imposing sanctions on Iran.
Apparently a naval exercise by Western ships, in the Persian Gulf, to practice
for a blockade, is planned. Meanwhile, Iranian diplomats quietly point out
that, despite all the rhetoric about the "Great Satan" and Iran's
support of Islamic radicalism, Iran has not supported attacks in foreign
countries. Even in Lebanon, the Hizbollah attacks over the Summer were carried
out without any permission from Iran. "Trust us," the Iranians say.
If Iran gets nuclear weapons, they will be used as a propaganda weapon. Iran's
neighbors are not so sure of that.
October
12, 2006: The U.S. has given permission for American firms to export spare
parts for the jet engines on Iranian Airbus airliners. This was done in the
name of flight safety, as Iran was believed to be operating their aircraft even
though the engines were in need of essential maintenance and repairs.
October
11, 2006: The recent North Korean atomic test is providing Iran a test run of
what it can expect if it sets off its own nuclear weapon. North Korean has been
selling Iran military technology for over two decades, and it's believed that
this has included the design for North Korea's atomic bomb (which, in turn,
came from Pakistani nuclear weapons scientists, selling such stuff on the
side.) All Iran needs to run a bomb test is the radioactive material, which it
is producing right now.
October
8, 2006: Police arrested prominent cleric Ayatollah Mohammad
Kazemeini Boroujerdi, for advocating the separation of religion and state in
Iran. Police had earlier arrested dozens of Boroujerdis followers.
Meanwhile, the government insisted that it would not stop it's nuclear
technology projects.