Breaking Tweets » Iran

Iran talks with six world powers about nuclear activity

Anam Khan — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:16:24 +0000

According to the Associated Press, Iran and six other world powers met in Geneva, Switzerland to talk about Iran’s nuclear activities on Thursday.

While the talk still centered around conflicting ideas about Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, called it a “good talk.” President Barack Obama said he thinks the talk is a good start, but also that Iran must match its words with actions.

The talk included a rare 45-minute one-on one meeting between U.S. Under Secretary of State, William Burns, and Jalili. Burns focused on the international community’s concerns about a nuclear Iran.

The six world powers, U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, expressed the need to freeze Iran’s nuclear program while Iran fought for “global nuclear disarmament.”

Twitter users express their opinion:

RaymondMorrison (Tehran, Iran) Oke lets talk serius now. What will be the outcome if Iran dont agree on nuclear issue? Sanctions and iff those sanctions dont work? #Iran 25 Sep 2009 from web

Titi81 (Tehran, Iran) Talk about the nuclear question is a TRAP of the regime.We must denounce the violations of human rights in Iran.#iranelection 25 Sep 2009 from web

niggip (Undisclosed) Iran nuclear talk is just the Islamic gov trying to distract the world from what realli is happening in Iran #iran #iranelection 01 Oct 2009 from web

ColoradoRight (Colorado, USA) Obama Secret Plan for Iran revealed 1. Talk to Iran 2. ???? 3. Victory followed by Iran/Israel nuclear exchange 01 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Johnandez (Undisclosed) Our President Obama said We’re not interested in talking for the sake of talking Talk is no substitute for action ref nuclear weapon in iran 01 Oct 2009 from web

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Iraq questions Iran on three detained Americans

James Buck — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:59:29 +0000

Iraq’s foreign minister pressed the Iranian envoy to Baghdad for details on the three American hikers detained on July 31 as they crossed from northern Iraq into Iran, the AP reports. The hikers, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, and Josh Fattal are all recent graduates from the University of California, Berkeley. Bauer claimed in a phone call that they crossed the remote Kurdish border by accident, reported The Daily Californian.

The three stand accused of spying, which their associates firmly deny. Bauer is a Middle East-based photojournalist who freelances for Mother Jones, though the publication denies his travel to Iran was an assignment for them.

Clara Jeffery, editor of Mother Jones, tweeted updates:

ClaraJeffery (San Francisco, CA): Iraq presses #Iran on detained hikers, including MoJo contrib Shane Bauer http://tinyurl.co/nlp48c Tortured diplomacy on this one

ClaraJeffery (San Francisco, CA): 3 American hikers, incl MoJo contrib Shane Bauer, moved to Tehran, pre-trial commish Sunday. http://tinyurl.com/n6mqd3 #iranelection

ClaraJeffery: Friend on US hikers/journos held in Iran: “a simple and very regrettable mistake.” Shane Bauer has story in next MoJo. http://bit.ly/10AdxW

Others reacted as well:

rpgfrank (AZ): who goes hiking in Iran or Iraq?? Really?? What the Grand Cannon not grand enough 4 you? Good they got caught..i hope they learned a lesson

sandentotten: After looking into it, a vacation in Iraq sounds pretty amazing . . . as long as you can stay safe and stay out of Iran.

reidontravel: @carlhancock I heard from someone who was near Iraq/Iran border there that it’s very confusing on the ground. Dunno.

tonytrainor: VIDEO: Shane Bauer, 1/3 US backpackers detained in #Iran, featured on Link TV’s Democracy Now http://tinyurl.com/mt4u44 (expand)

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Iran’s nuclear chief replaced

Maria Khan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:27:13 +0000

According to Ynetnews.com, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has appointed Ali Akbar Salehi to lead the country’s nuclear program.

The news comes shortly after Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, Iran’s former nuclear chief, most commonly referred as the father of Iran’s nuclear programme stepped down from his position on Thursday, July 16. Aghazadeh’s close relationship with reformist opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi is being linked to his decision, according to the Two-Way, NPR’s news blog.

Aghazadeh’s resignation is being paralleled to the political turmoil in the nation and comparisons are being made with Abdul Qadeer Khan (A.Q.), Pakistan’s nuclear scientist, according to Guardian.co.uk.

Twitterverse raises their doubts amidst the spontaneous nuclear chief shuffling process:

Dputamadre RT – Aghazadeh, Iran’s nuclear chief, aka father of Iran’s nuclear programme, resigns http://bit.ly/nZhXZ #iranelection #iran 16 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

Rheetta Rupture of the regime? Iran’s nuclear chief quits – Christian Science Monitor: CBC.caRupture of the regime? Iran.. http://bit.ly/BFnFJ
#neda 16 Jul 2009 from web

sabzete Blog: #iranelection: Iran’s nuclear chief resigns, with links to Mousavi cited | http://bit.ly/U5odu 16 Jul 2009 from Twitter Tools

TOIWorldNews Poll tremor? Iran’s N-panel chief resigns: The head of Iran’s nuclear agency… http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4787198.cms 16 Jul 2009 from web

i58buck Iran’s Nuclear Chief Steps Down; Post-election Shake Up? http://bit.ly/6WzWn 17 Jul 2009 from web

The_FNG @nicopitney-Did u c this? Serious nuclear accident may b behind Iran nuke chief’s mystery resignation http://bit.ly/11Iu4C (via wikileaks) 17 Jul 2009 from web

DeltaTechnology Ahmadinejad consolidating power by sacking iranian nuclear chief. Aghazadeh also stepped down from vice president post. #iran #iranelection 17 Jul 2009 from web

OlafLewitz Wow! RT @bbnetworked: Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, the head of Iran’s nuclear programme, quits http://bit.ly/ZXzv0 #iranelection 17 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

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Iran plane crash kills all 168 on board

Craig Kanalley — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:26:08 +0000

A Caspian Airlines flight bound from Tehran to Yerevan, Armenia, crashed in Iran on Wednesday, killing all 168 on board, according to Al-Jazeera. Mohammad Reza Montazer Khorasan, head of disaster management at Iran’s health ministry, says that 153 passengers and 15 crew members were on the flight. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched an inquiry into the cause of the crash.

Some of the first tweets about the crash voiced skepticism about it.

manfredmarz Why crash a plane …” – to provide a convenient distraction? #iranelection….. to get rid of someone you don’t like 15 Jul 2009 from web

persiaTrain @#iranelection RT: Iran Plane crash: diversionary tactic? Speculations running high that this creates days of mourning – no protests allowed 15 Jul 2009 from web

4tnemele Wondering if the regime will make the protesters (the “terrorists”) responsible for the plane crash? #iranelection #iran 15 Jul 2009 from web

susanhogarth BBC: did sanctions have a role in Iran plane crash? Me: Sanctions kill! 15 Jul 2009 from txt

ig0073 The question is whether this plane crash will stop the protests. #iranelection #iran #gr88 15 Jul 2009 from web

MrNewsDK Does the authorities in Iran have anything to do with the plane crash? #irancrash 15 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

Others in the Twitterverse had other thoughts and immediately offered their condolences.

maripolis I’d suggest we all observe a minute of silence for the victims of the plane crash in NW Iran. So much blood shed on that land. 15 Jul 2009 from web

manfredmarz I think this plane crash is not suspicious…its only sad… #iranelection 15 Jul 2009 from web

AtlSafa RT @TNTIran: I think the plane crash was just a sad accident& my condolences go out to the families& friends of those onboard. #iranelection 15 Jul 2009 from TwitterFon

zanraf Dont blame plane crash on sanctions & embargos. Corrupt mullahs & their fat wallets R 2 blame 4 Ir’s failin infrastructure! #iranelection 15 Jul 2009 from web

Pray4FreeIran *sigh* They don’t make planes (or just abt anything) like they used to. RIP victims of plane crash in Iran. 15 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

broncs I pray for the families and friends of the ppl that lost loved ones in the plane crash in Iran. May God comfort them. #iranelection 15 Jul 2009 from web

mfn139 Again plane crash!! it seems skies are not safe anymore 15 Jul 2009 from web

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Iran suspends nuclear program talks with EU

John Niederkorn — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:12:27 +0000

Per BBC, The European Union was deemed unqualified to continue their discussions pertaining to Iran’s nuclear program, according to Iran’s military chief. Maj Gen Hassan Firouzabadi, Iran’s chief of staff, claims the EU took part with the “interference” in riots which followed the heavily contested Iranian election.

EU states are considering the removal of their ambassadors from Iran as diplomatic hostilities with Iran escalate.

Twitter users in Europe and other parts of the world speak out:

davidsteven (Dorset, UK) Nuclear Iran = nuclear arms race in the Middle East. New nuclear powers = high risk of 1st strike. Viz Kargil. 30 Jun 2009 from web

Balaclava04 (Cologne, Germany) nearly no news about iran in european press anymore. don’t let that happen! keep on struggling! 01 Jul 2009 from web

behnamyazdani (Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany) EU prüft Abzug aller 27 Botschafter aus dem Iran http://bit.ly/rs9kp – Hilft dies jedoch tatsächlich? Wann gibt es Wirtschaftssanktionen? (EU examines the deduction of all 27 ambassadors from Iran http://bit.ly/rs9kp – but this actually helps? When there are economic sanctions?) 01 Jul 2009 from TwitterFox

AntThought (Germany) Just read the BBC news,.. looks like the next step is going to be an escalation of the nuclear threat from Iran… not good… 01 Jul 2009 from web

neysan Hoping EU countries wont withdraw ambassadors from Iran. I fear itll have a negative effect on the outcome of the trial against the 7 Bahais 01 Jul 2009 from Mixero

Arianirani Le Monde: Iran regime accuses & attacks USA, EU & UN. We hope for an International condemnation of Iranian Gov #Iranelection 01 Jul 2009 from web

stuffwriter EU, please withdraw all diplomats from Tehran, no dialogue with murderers #iranelection iran tehran 02 Jul 2009 from mobile web

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Facebook pages for Mousavi and his wife call for national strike in Iran

Craig Kanalley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:07:55 +0000

The Facebook pages of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife Zahra Rahnavard called for an Islamic National Strike late Tuesday night.

Mousavi’s page updated first, about 7 p.m. local time, stating, “Strike: The manner of a man is better than his goverance. Help to bring this message back to IRAN.” Three hours later the status updated to “Dont underestimate the power of National islamic Strike.”

And early Wednesday, around 2 a.m. local time, both he and his wife’s pages updated to “Islamic Strike, help to spread the Voice out to fight the Bullets.” The message was posted twice in a row on both accounts.

There is no way to be sure Mousavi or his campaign staff are behind the accounts at this time. His page was utilized heavily leading up to Election Night and he now has more than 107,000 supporters. It has been used in the past since the election to let people know about upcoming events and demonstrations.

Text in Persian next to the updates ask people to spread the word via any means possible. A document written in Persian is attached, but it is an image file, so BT was unable to immediately translate it. Many are saying on Twitter that the file provides details on the strike. Some say the strike is to be held next Monday through Thursday and others say July 15-17.

It is worth noting that Mousavi’s Twitter account (@mousavi1388) has not yet posted about the strike.

Here was some immediate reaction to this development from the Twitterverse:

rtiran the youth of iran are on the streets fighting! we must continue our support! STRIKE! STRIKE! 30 Jun 2009 from web

BaabakXorramdin Etekaf is Islamic and legal => You can, stay @home next Monday – Thursday! Iran on national strike! #gr88 #iranelection #tehran #iran 30 Jun 2009 from web

shapour34 PARALIZE THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. CALL FOR GENERAL STRIKE IN IRAN. 01 Jul 2009 from web

s3anryan i am really interested to see if mousavi pulls off organizing a national islamic strike in iran next week. #iranelection 01 Jul 2009 from Tweetie

korkie Have a peaceful strike. The lost of $$$ will bring chance. Be careful, be safe, be free. #iranelection #iran #neda #gr88 #freeiran 01 Jul 2009 from web

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Guardian Council certifies Ahmadinejad victory

Craig Kanalley — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:46:41 +0000

Per Press TV, the Guardian Council – Iran’s top legislative body – formally certified Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner of the 10th presidential election on Monday, stating that no irregularities were found in a recount of 10 percent of the ballots boxes.

All three opposition candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Rezaei chose not to send a representative to the recount, per the article. Head of the Guardian Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati confirmed the results in a letter to Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli, according to State TV.

Here was the immediate reaction to this news from the Twitterverse:

judyrey The Iranian Guardian Council announcement radically changes the focus. It is no longer about a new count or election. #Iranelection #gr88 29 Jun 2009 from web

SplashVaFashnWk Now It’s ReallyOfficialCertifiedElectionFraud:Guardian council has approved Ahmadinejad victory in letter to interior ministry #iranelection 29 Jun 2009 from web

nedas_voice Iran’s Guardian Council declares #IranElection results valid. it doesn’t surprise me but it depresses me anyway. what now?? 29 Jun 2009 from web

LaraABCNews Clashes reported in Tehran after people take to the streets protesting the Guardian Council’s ruling on #Iranelection @bbcworld 29 Jun 2009 from web

tabankhamosh I was expecting “guardian council” to support repression, but WHAT NOW? Who will deliver the Iranian People? #IranElection #gr88 #Neda NEDA! 29 Jun 2009 from web

rogeraubrey Sad to hear the Iranian guardian council has confirmed the legality of the recent election. 29 Jun 2009 from TwitterFon

LilyMazahery Aaaand: “Shorayeh Negahban” approved the results of Iran’s elex after the so-called review and recount. Shocking. Really. Seriously. 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

In other news Monday, several Twitterers in Iran stated that a human chain was formed in Tehran, but also said that it was broken up by security forces and led to clashes.

It was also reported that some Iranians protested the Guardian Council’s decision in the streets and “Allaho Akbar” (God is Great) was heard once again at night from rooftops.

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Mousavi’s status now unclear

Craig Kanalley — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:57:43 +0000

Two of the three primary sources Breaking Tweets relied on for its report that Mir Hossein Mousavi was arrested Sunday night are now backing off from their original statements.

The sources have proven reliable in the past and have broken major stories before, and it is not in their character to start rumors. One wrote in a direct message “I’m sure” that Mousavi had been arrested. It seems there has either been a miscommunication or there is more to this story.

BT did not base its story on their claims alone. It also took into account a Facebook update from prominent Iranian writer Ebrahim Nabavi, a handful of blog posts including this one, and an update from a normally reliable Twitterer in Iran. Several of these sources said Mousavi had been arrested at 9:30 p.m. local time Sunday night in Tehran.

Here were the original tweets from the two sources mentioned above:

LilyMazahery Mousavi was just arrested in Iran. 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

omidhabibinia Breaking News: Mir Hossein Mousavie Arrested 1 hr Ago. (I am trying to get Conformation from another sources too) #iranelection #iran #neda 28 Jun 2009 from web

Mazahery and Habibinia later distanced themselves from these original statements.

LilyMazahery Off to sleep. Mousavi is just like the rest of them, so whether he was arrested or not doesn’t make much of a diff as far as I’m concerned. 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

omidhabibinia I called 1 who is near to Mousavi’s Family she denied Arrest, however asked me to call her later then she could check family.#iranelection 29 Jun 2009 from web

At this point, there are still unconfirmed reports circulating that Mousavi has been arrested, despite his Facebook account saying it is not true. Many trusted Twitterers in Iran have said in the last 12 hours that they can’t confirm or deny Mousavi’s status. Several urged people not to retweet the information until it is confirmed. One said that according to a source close to Mousavi, he has not been arrested.

BT will continue to monitor this developing story.

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Mir Hossein Mousavi reportedly arrested in Iran

Craig Kanalley — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:23:44 +0000

According to three sources who have been reliable in the past, Mir Houssein Mousavi has been arrested in Iran. He was arrested at approximately 9:30 p.m. Sunday in Tehran, according to two of these sources.

One wrote to Breaking Tweets in a direct message, “I’m sure,” when asked about the validity of the report. However, Mousavi’s Facebook page is now denying that he’s been arrested.

Mousavi lost June 12’s presidential election to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, though the results have been disputed. It has sparked controversy in the days since and Mousavi supporters have organized protests.

The first to tweet that Mousavi was arrested was Omid Habibinia, an Iranian journalist who lives in exile in Switzerland.

omidhabibinia Breaking News: Mir Hossein Mousavie Arrested 1 hr Ago. (I am trying to get Conformation from another sources too) #iranelection #iran #neda 28 Jun 2009 from web

omidhabibinia I heard Mousavi arrested at 21.30 in his house by Inteligence Agents, Some Sou not sure it is arrest or an urgent Breifing! #iranelection 29 Jun 2009 from web

omidhabibinia Tomorrow GC will anonce the results of investigation, maybe Mousavi’s arrest is a sign that what they want to annonce tomorrow #iranelection 29 Jun 2009 from web

Iranian-American Lily Mazahery, a lawyer and human rights activist who is well-connected in Iran, also confirmed the report. Mazahery has previously used Twitter to break major news stories from Iran before the media such as Roxana Saberi’s release and Delara Derabi’s execution.

LilyMazahery Mousavi was just arrested in Iran. 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

LilyMazahery As confirmed as all of my other reports have been thus far. RT @vanessatx: @LilyMazahery has it been confirmed? 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

LilyMazahery Moussavi was arrested at approximately 9:30 PM in front of his house as he was returning from Ghoba Mosque. #Iranelections 29 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

Ebrahim Nabavi, an Iranian satirist and writer currently living in Belgium, posted about the arrest on his Facebook account. A Twitterer in Iran also confirmed the news, but the user name will remain anonymous to protect the user’s identity.

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Tweets from Iran becoming difficult to find

Craig Kanalley — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:43:11 +0000

Three trusted Iranian Twitter accounts have stopped sending tweets — each having not sent a message in more than 48 hours.

The Twitter names will remain anonymous for their protection, but there is widespread speculation that those operating these accounts are in trouble. A rumor is circulating on Twitter that the owner of one of the accounts has been arrested.

In the last 10 days, many in Iran have set their profiles to private, changed their user names, altered their bios, or created pseudonyms to protect their identity. The silence of these three accounts is the latest of a string of issues getting reliable information from Iran.

There are now only a handful of accounts that Breaking Tweets is monitoring and corresponding with that it trusts for information from Iran. These accounts shared no significant news on Saturday or so far Sunday.

These observations coincide with a fresh report from the Los Angeles Times that protests have quieted and that people are weighing their options. It also supports an article posted Thursday at BT, “#IranElection communication shows signs of slowing.”

Breaking Tweets has not ignored its duty to report news out of Iran, but the Twitter sources its relied on are disappearing one by one; the reason behind that is not clear. BT will continue to monitor the accounts it trusts and will watch to see if the three accounts mentioned above at some point start tweeting again.

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