UANI

Iranian press noted Ahmadinejad's comments that Iran would be "quick on the draw" if attacked. "'Aggressors should realize that the vigilant Iranian nation will be quick on the draw in the event of a military attack on the country,' said President Ahmadinejad in a Wednesday address to the people of Lorestan province." Read More

AP picked up Iranian reports that "a lawmaker has physically assaulted a confidant of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, alleging the official was trying to pay legislators not to vote for the impeachment of the interior minister." Read More

Iranian press reported that "Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has proposed establishing a nuclear fuel market in cooperation with Persian Gulf littoral states." "During a Wednesday meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Abdul Rahman al-Attiyah, President Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic is willing to share its nuclear knowledge with its neighbors in the Persian Gulf. 'Together we can set up a nuclear fuel market of which regional nations would make use,' the Iranian president suggested." Read More

In Newsweek, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard N. Haass wrote a foreign policy memo for America's next President. "I would suggest that we work with the Europeans, Russia and China to cobble together a new diplomatic package to present to the Iranians. Ideally, Iran would be persuaded to give up its independent enrichment capability or, if it refused, to consider accepting clear limits on enrichment and intrusive inspections so that the threat is clearly bounded." Read More

Reuters quoted Ayatollah Kali Khameni's comments which seemed to indicate "an end to any debate about closer links" between Iran and the U.S. before the U.S. presidential election. "'This dispute (with America) is beyond differences of opinion on a few political issues,' Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of state, was quoted by state TV as saying." Read More

The Gulf News wrote that "Ahmadinejad faces tough test ahead in elections." "The tumbling oil price has made Iran's presidential campaigning much tougher.... The next election will be different from previous struggles since it will not be a straight fight between a liberal/moderate and a conservative." Read More

Newsweek reported that "Western intelligence experts believe that Iran's nuclear facilities are so deep underground that it would be difficult for Israel to wipe them out, or even significantly damage them, with a quick airstrike. In order to deal a serious setback to Iran's nuclear program, at least four key sites inside Iran would have to be hit, said one Western official". Read More

Iranian press reported that "Visiting UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al Nahyan said on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates is ready to broaden all out ties with Iran in political, economic, cultural and security affairs." Read More

Iranian press reported that "A senior Iranian defense official says the country has successfully produced a new generation of Saeqeh (Thunderbolt) fighter jets." Read More

In a Washington Times Op-Ed, Frank Gaffney discussed Shariah-Compliant Finance (SCF).  "[A]t its core, Shariah is sedition: It explicitly espouses the violent overthrow of all secular governments and constitutions - including those of the United States - in favor of a global Islamic theocracy. The Yerushalmi memo makes clear that Shariah advisers - who play a central role in this industry as it falls to them to determine whether transactions are Shariah-compliant or not - and/or the companies that employ them appear to be involved in one or more of the following: racketeering, antitrust violations, consumer and securities fraud or material support for terror." Read More