IAEA Resolution on Iran
Text of the International Atomic Energy Agency resolution on Iran from the IAEA website. Derestricted 27 November 2009 (This document has been derestricted at the meeting of the Board on 27 November 2009) Board of Governors GOV/2009/82 Date: 27 November 2009 Original: English Item 4(c) of the adopted agenda (GOV/2009/83) Implementation of the NPT safeguardsagreement and relevant provisions ofSecurity Council resolutions 1737 (2006),1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1835 (2008) in the Islamic Republic of Iran Resolution ado

IAEA Condemnation of Iran: An Omen of New Sanctions or a Symbolic Slap on the Wrist?
The board of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday condemned Iran for secretly building a new nuclear enrichment facility at Fordo near Qom, and called on it to mothball the new site. The resolution was backed by the permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China and Russia, as well as Germany.Fully 25 of the 35 nations on the nuclear board voted for the resolution, India jo

IRAN: Authorities confiscate lawyer Shirin Ebadi's Nobel Peace Prize
IRAN: Authorities confiscate lawyer Shirin Ebadi's Nobel Peace Prize | Babylon & Beyond | Los Angeles TimesI was privileged to be at a conference with Shirin Ebadi in early September in Atlanta, and when this relatively short and outwardly unprepossessing woman took the podium, she was transformed into something like an Old Testament prophet, preaching adherence to the rule of law and the rights of citizens with a firm, unyielding persistence and a fire in her eyes.The Nobel medal was lucky to be associated with her. Her mora

Mullah Omar Rejects Talks with US, Demands Western Departure
The USG Open Source Center translates the statement of Mullah Omar, leader of the "Old Taliban" in Afghanistan, on the occasion of the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha). Mullah Omar demands and end to the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan and rejects the idea of negotiating with the US, calling it a "surrender."November 25, 2009 WednesdayTaleban leader calls for end to Afghan "occupation" in Id al-Adha messageText of report by private Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agencyKandahar, 25 November: Taleban leader: In his message on the occasion of the 1388 [year beginning 21 March 2009] Id al-Adha,

Taliban Talks Collapse; RIC Pressure on Obama to Stay Course; German Military Head Resigns over
Proposed talks between the US and the Taliban, to be brokered by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, have broken down because the Taliban are unwilling to talk to what they consider the foreign, illegitimate occupiers of their country. (See Mullah Omar's statement in the next post).On the other hand, some negotiations are doing well. Aljazeera English reports on 300 Taliban fighters who recently defected to President Hamid Karzai, now pledging themselves to fight the forces of Mullah Omar. The defection occurred in Herat, western Afghanistan, where the security s