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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranian government out of the loop on nuclear policy |
| 2004-06-29 |
| I think we guessed that... The official spokesman for Iranâs reformist government admitted Monday that the cabinet was effectively out of the loop on nuclear policy-making, a domain now in the hands of rising conservative forces. In his first press conference for months, Abdollah Ramazanzadeh was pressed for more details on Iranâs decision to resume the manufacture of centrifuges used for enriching uranium, a move that has drawn fresh criticism from the UN nuclear watchdog. The official replied that top conservative cleric and national security official Hassan Rowhani as well as the foreign ministry had already addressed questions on Iranâs ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). âPolicy decisions on this matter are not in the hands of the government, so I have nothing to say,â said the beleaguered cabinet secretary of embattled reformist President Mohammad Khatami. He was also questioned why the cabinet had been so silent on a string of other sensitive topics since Februaryâs controversial parliamentary elections, which were easily won by religious hardliners after most reformist candidates were barred from even standing. âI will stay silent,â the spokesman said bluntly. The February polls saw the conservatives cement their grip in the Islamic republic, and left Khatami and some of his cabinet isolated as some of the few reform-minded politicians still in public office. During the electoral crisis, sources close to Ramazanzadeh even said he may resign, but he later denied this. Ramazanzadeh has since taken up an additional post as head of the Iranian Baseball, Cricket and Rugby Federation - and betrayed the obvious fact that he no longer wanted to speak to reporters. âThe president ordered me to, so I have to,â he said when asked why he had agreed to resume press briefings. Khatamiâs second and final term in office ends in June 2005. Reformists have yet to put forward a potential replacement, in contrast to conservatives who have already fielded several names through the local press. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 The IRG and the Mullahs have been bypassing hte elected government and "Regular" Army for a while. And its not sitting well with either group (the electorate and the Army). The seizure of Brit Sailors is a probably case in point: I bet the Mullahs wanted to do that to trade off for theer captured terrorists they sent into Iraq, but the Army was proably left completely out of the loop and the Revolutionary Guards were the ones that did the seizure. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-06-29 11:03:14 PM |
| #4 Ramazanzadeh has since taken up an additional post as head of the Iranian Baseball, Cricket and Rugby Federation - and betrayed the obvious fact that he no longer wanted to speak to reporters. Anyone ever tell these asshats that baseball, cricket, and rugby are the sports of the infidels/Great Satan? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-06-29 6:27:19 PM |
| #3 Somehow, knowing that the Black Hatz control nuclear policy drives away that warm and fuzzy feeling that the LLL plants and nurtures about tyrants. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-06-29 5:03:51 PM |
| #2 Here are several indicators that the Iranian spokesman might not be in the right occupation: 1. He states, "Policy decisions on this matter are not in the hands of the government, so I have nothing to say." 2. He bluntly says, âI will stay silent." - the silent spokesman is unusual unless he is good at mime, excellent at sign language or has a unuisually expressive face. 3. Ramazanzadeh has since taken up an additional post as head of the Iranian Baseball, Cricket and Rugby Federation - and betrayed the obvious fact that he no longer wanted to speak to reporters. 4. With respect to press conferences, it is highly unusual for the spokesman to point out his reason for attendence as: âThe president ordered me to, so I have to,â |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-06-29 3:32:55 AM |
| #1 Rubber stamp, no ink. They're doin' what their Invisible Buddy tells 'em to, folks. It's psycho preacher time in Tehran. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-06-29 2:40:12 AM |