Inauguration in Washington DC; Live from IRIB

In Tehran, for the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian state-run TV broadcasted a U.S. presidential inauguration and interviewed Iranians after the Obama speech.

A middle-aged man wearing a simple jacket said he was not surprised that Mr. Obama had not specifically mentioned the Israeli offensive against Gaza.

But another younger Tehrani said,"at least he is not aggressive in his talk as Bush used to be."

The two countries have had no diplomatic relations for three decades and some Iranians hope that their government will have a harder time demonizing an Obama administration than the Bush team.

Full Coverage on how World reacts to the new U.S. president

Iranians' hope for U.S. policy shift dims

The U.S. election campaign aroused enormous interest in Iran - more than any previous foreign vote - and even the official Islamic Republic Broadcasting system aired extensive coverage of the campaign and the results.

But ordinary citizens in Tehran, speaking in the aftermath of the elections, said they were pessimistic about how different the new U.S. president would be.

A supermarket owner in his 50s, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Saeid, pointed to the television set in his shop in northern Tehran that showed Palestinians killed and injured by Israel's offensive in Gaza.

"[Mr. Obama] has not said anything about such a massacre," Saeid said. "How could I count on him to consider my situation as a poor Iranian and suspend trade bans on the aviation industry of my country or to let us have something which [the Americans] do not like?"

Full Story

The "Shoe Intifada"

It might sound funny to you if I tell you about how the Iranian media sources have gotten so excited about the shoe which missed Bush in his visit to Baghdad (just like some Arab media).

IRIB and some other conservative media sources, such as Farsnews, named the incident the "shoe intifada".

An IRIB reporter went among Tehranis and gave them his own shoe. Pointing to a tree or something else, he asked them to imagine that Bush is standing there and to throw the shoe at him.

A young man told the reporter that he believes "a journalist's gun is his pen not the shoe". But there were so many others who tried their chance to beat Bush in their imagination with the IRIB reporter's shoe. This was played over in all the news programs in the Iranian state-run TV channels.

This is the "shoe intifada", according to the IRIB, Farsnews and Kayhan. By the way, there were lots of Iranian journalists who have criticized Al-Zaidi's attack.

Ali Haq is only one of them who askes in his blog: Is that ok for me to shoot a shoe to someone who is responsible for all the economic problems by which Iranians are suffering severely?!

Iranian students remember same December days two years ago when some shoes were aiming Ahmadinejad in Amirkabir University (AUT)!

Read more on how "Shoe-sympathizers advise Bush".

Correction on Fox News

I noticed that Fox News made a big mistake in describing the reason for shut down of a weekly magazine in Iran, “after featuring President-elect Barack Obama on its front cover and asking the question, Why doesn't Iran have an Obama?"

But the fact is that the weekly magazine, Shahrvand-e Emrooz, was not shut down for its speculations about the "Iranian Obama", as Fox News suggests.

Indeed, The magazine had already been closed down by the authorities before Obama won the elections. The administration of Shahrvand-e Emrooz, however, enjoyed the Iranian slow bureaucracy which let them publish another issue before the verdict was submitted to their office.

The commentary, which is referred to by Fox News and other sources, was in fact written by the editor-in-chief of the weekly as a reaction to the shut-down of the magazine. The regarding sentence reads "Why don't we have the Iranian Obama? Why does the Iranian government make the friends to be foes, instead of making the foes to be friends?!"

But, to mention the accurate justification for closing down the weekly, the Press Supervisory Board has announced the verdict to be based on what they mention as "the license mandated the weekly to address social and cultural issues whereas the publication in fact had contained political commentaries".

In addition, the editor-in-chief of what many consider to be "Iran's Time Magazine", Mohammad Ghouchani, has opposed the verdict, which is still to be approved by higher courts. Ghouchani still hopes to negotiate with the officials for the reconsideration on the verdict.

There were lots of criticizes even by conservatives. Even the Parliament Spokesman, Ali Larijani, who is a close political figure to the Iranian Supreme Leader, has criticized the weekly's shut-down.

Some other Iranian MPs have questioned and summoned the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran specifically for the event as well. In the Iranian constitution questioning a minister in the Parliament can potentially result in an impeachment.

Based on the political reactions to the shut-down of Shahrvand-e Emrooz, its staff are still very hopeful to be able to revive their weekly from the ban.

[Great thanks to The Archer for smoothing my English.]

Ahmadinejad is dreaming of President Mc Cain!

The election is taking place in US. Its winner would lead great impact on the world.

That's true to consider the job as the most powerful seat in the world. But this time is different and the 44th US president would even affect on who would be the next Iranian president.

Ahmadinejad is suffering his worse days. Any of economic and political problems his cabinet is suffering now was enough to disappoint any other cabinet. Though he might be the first incumbent candidate who would lose.

The affect might not be so clear now but it's easy to assume that Mc Cain would make the situation a little better for Ahmadinejad and his supporters. He would hang on supposed "President" Mc Cain's tough words to justify his own aggression and annoy to the western world.

Ahmadinejad and other Iranian hardliners would enjoy such phrases that "the enemy is waiting for our weak and for tolerance to beat us".

Iranians riveted to U.S. presidential race

TEHRAN | With only nine months to go before their own presidential voting, Iranians appear far more interested in the U.S. election than in their own, and many think the U.S. choice will deeply affect Iran.

Iranian newspapers and even the state-run Iranian broadcasting network - which typically cover only negative stories in the United States, such as school shootings and broken families - are writing and broadcasting about the U.S. campaign nearly every day and competing to report the latest events.

The Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, has plenty of supporters here, but some Iranians prefer Republican Sen. John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Even Mr. Ahmadinejad, who is expected to run for re-election in June, has had trouble hiding his interest in the U.S. campaign. He told reporters at the United Nations last month that he wanted to meet with both U.S. presidential candidates - an offer that neither Mr. McCain nor Mr. Obama accepted.

Six months ago, Mr. Ahmadinejad expressed doubts that a black man could be elected president of the United States. As the senator from Illinois has moved forward in the polls, however, Mr. Ahmadinejad has tried to appear balanced, stressing that the presidency is an American choice.

His caution is based in part on historical disappointments here about U.S. elections.

In 1980, while Iranian students were holding 52 Americans hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini said President Carter would "take to his grave" his wish to be re-elected.

Furious at Mr. Carter for supporting the ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and giving him refuge in the United States, Ayatollah Khomeini refused to release the U.S. hostages until after U.S. elections, which helped Ronald Reagan win the White House.

Afterward, Iranian leaders realized that Mr. Reagan was no kinder to Iran than the Carter administration and that U.S. policy toward Iran was largely bipartisan.

Still, Iranians have trouble hiding their interest in the U.S. vote.

[Full story here]

Ahmadinejad sidesteps problems inside Iran

Nosrat Azizi, a carpenter who built most of Tehran's old wooden ballot boxes, said he voted in 1997 for Mr. Khatami and in 2005 for Mr. Ahmadinejad, who was then considered the anti-establishment candidate.

"I have always voted for reform and for good change, to make the situation better," he said.

Asked whether he would vote for Mr. Ahmadinejad again, however, Mr. Azizi said he would not bother because "for sure he would be president. All the presidents have won their second rounds." Still, he didn't rule out participating if Mr. Khatami or someone like him runs.

"I've heard that Khatami is going to nominate himself," Mr. Azizi said. "There are also some other names. I would vote only if there was someone better than Ahmadinejad.

Full Story>>>

Iranians historically scarred by Russian aggression

Washington Times - TEHRAN | Ahmad Tajadod makes his early morning tea in a samovar, drives an old Lada car to work, wears a Russian fur hat with ear flaps during cold Tehran winters and serves guests bootleg vodka at parties.

But Mr. Tajadod, an electrician who fixes wires in old houses, is not surprised by Russia's recent behavior in Georgia and two breakaway provinces in the Caucasus.

A native of the Iranian province of Azerbaijan, Mr. Tajadod remembers the period after World War II when a Soviet-backed communist party declared Iranian Azerbaijan an autonomous state. Intervention by Britain and the United States helped local forces make the Russians withdraw.

"We do not trust the Russians," he said.

The Story Continues...

Can a culture of respect be introduced?

This question could be suggested that if there has been a similar issue about some other major religions like Jewry or Christianity or Buddhism, would these justifications about "freedom of expression" work as much as now?!
I think what European Muslims want is the very rights that other Europeans already have, just like Christians, Jews, and non-believers. It seems that European Muslims are addressed by their governors as “Europeans”, just when they rely on those Muslims support!
Europe could make this image correct this time, if its governors want the Individual Rights to be respected in a real manner.

Would Gul make a good Turkish president?

It’s now the time in which western states and also Turkish army should accept the modern face of a Muslim politician; who do believe and practice in Islam but is not against the modern values like equality, secularity and globalization.
Gul could be a proper and practical figure who'd be a good example for other Muslim politicians in future. So Europe should not only be against him, but also help him in his inspiring way.
Muslim world lacks such figures, not all of those rhetoric words!
(Published on BBC haveyoursay)

What is the future for the BBC?

Although there would b more news corporations as large & as professional as BBC in the years ahead, this corporation would still b the most quoted & the most reliable broadcasting corporation in the near future because of its structural independence which has been institutionalized by its disciplines & guidelines. I think the BBC would manage its budget 2 maintain & develop its quality. But the corporation should get more active in other countries like which lack the variety of medias like Iran.
(Published on BBC haveyoursay)

Iranian nuclear negotiator resigns: Your reaction

In Iran those important figures like Larijani always resigns instead of getting dismissed! I think his dismissal is a clear and shouting sign to the west which means the time of confrontation have already came. That means there is no time for negotiations anymore!
(Published on BBC haveyoursay)

Do you welcome deal on EU Treaty?

The more powerful EU means the better world for me! A mono-polar world like which we are living in now, means the exact catastrophe which we are experiencing these days. Tough-minded international leaders - who empower each other by their ideas and decisions - would not take the opportunity to fool their nations and climb the elevator of democracy, anymore! It's obvious that a poly-polar world - which EU could help to give birth - would be a better pace to live in!
(Published on BBC haveyoursay)

Will sanctions stop Iran's nuclear programme?

Iranian hardliners are making their endeavor to justify their radicalism and may be their suppression as a response to the western enemy.Such sanctions would only give some powerful reasoning to those hardliners and make them sustainable in their current position. If the western leaders prefer to see someone like Ahmadinejad in power and make his friends more powerful, of course the sanctions would work and make them satisfied!

"God's Warriors", the Jews

Tonight I watched Christiane Amanpour’s “God’s Warriors” first part which has been made about Jewish fundamentalist people and organizations. I think that was excellent and a little late!

As an Iranian student in Sociology and a freelance journalist, I should deeply thank Christiane because of her brilliant work with which I saw new horizons in my studies and in my interest. I got exited by watching the scenes she got portrayed and the quotes she made documented. If we agree that there would not be any story or documentary which would be really objective and wholly true, her Jewish “God’s Warriors” would be one of the best documentaries which have got close to be objective and true, ever I saw.

The documentary has truly represented the real nature of fundamentalism which leads to terror; the nature which is multi-religious rather than being Muslims', Jews' or Christians'. I believe that she have truly managed to show the obscure line between being faithful to a religion and being so fundamentalist to let call yourself a terrorist so easily that those people in her documentary could.

Terrorism which originate from religious fundamentalism in some part, is the final synthesis of lots of trends; the point which lots of people – even decisive ones – could not realize. Such works like hers would be watched globally and I believe she would take part in shaping the future world by doing such documentations.

Although her documentary was almost the first one in its field with such an in-depth view, I can tell that it's quite late for such a documentary. Maybe there are some concerns and observations which she have to take care and might step slowly forward because of them, but I’m sure she would do agree with me that sometimes it would be too late to talk and make documentations about a trend. They do not wait for us to pull together and make such brilliant works like she did. But I insist she were the first and that’s what she’s been called as Christiane Amanpour!

Considering the sharpness and the objectivity of the first part of “God’s Warriors”, I would follow the other two parts. My image of her has aways been a Zionism-friend! Although I still could hardly imagine her as a Muslim-friend journalist yet, but what she have done in the Jewish part of the documentary made me to reduce her position in my mind to an Israel-friend and may be truly a Zionism-foe.

Christiane and journalists alike her, are teaching me great by their lessons as I am virtually in a distance-class. I hope to be such a journalist; even with more objectivity, curiosity, and intelligence.

P.S.:
Christiane Amanpour responded to me:
"Many thanks for your comments and I am so pleased you enjoyed the report. CNN won the ratings and we are pleased that the message seems to be: serious news wins!"

Best wishes,
Christiane"

P.P.S.:
The Other two parts on Muslim God Warriors and Christians, were as shocking and brilliant as the first part.
Don't miss them!

Hurricane Dean: Are you affected?

Although I do not have any relative or friend in the zone of Dean nor I have been there to have a nostalgia in the place, I feel pity for people who loose their life and should start from the beginning. That would feel deep bad! I think the question which is forgotten to be asked here, is how human could stop such casualties?!
Click to view comment and may be recommend it!

Would Gul make a good Turkish president?

It’s now the time in which western states and also Turkish army should accept the modern face of a Muslim politician; who do believe and practice in Islam but is not against the modern values like equality, secularity and globalization. Gul could be a proper and practical figure who'd be a good example for other Muslim politicians in future. So Europe should not only be against him, but also help him in his inspiring way. Muslim world lacks such figures, not all of those rhetoric words!
Click to view comment and may be recommend it!