Snapped Shot

A tense standoff has developed in waters off Somalia over an Iranian merchant ship laden with a mysterious cargo that was hijacked by pirates. Somali pirates suffered skin burns, lost hair and fell gravely ill “within days” of boarding the MV Iran Deyanat. Some of them died.

Iran says nuclear talks a step forward

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's president described talks with world powers on its disputed nuclear programme as a step forward on Sunday, official media said, even though the meeting in Geneva failed to produce any breakthrough in the standoff.

At Saturday's discussions in the Swiss city, the six powers gave the Islamic Republic two weeks to answer calls to rein in its nuclear activities or face tougher sanctions after talks ended in stalemate despite unprecedented U.S. participation.

Give 'em an inch...

This is why it is so important for us to stand firm on free speech. Once you concede to limiting the freedom of expression out of respect for religious 'sensibilities,' it opens the door to a never-ending cycle of intimidation and terrorism.

Forced to respect the wishes of radical Muslims, Iranians face harsh sentences, possibly execution, should they 'insult' Islam or its child-raping founder. Now, the Iranian regime is imposing the same standard of sensitivity for its dictator-in-chief:

Iran's judiciary on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the director of a leading reformist newspaper over an article attacking President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his remarks on the Shiites' "hidden imam."

Mohammad Javad Haghshenas, director of Etemad Melli newspaper, has been issued with an order for arrest and investigation on charges of spreading lies and publishing "an insulting piece", a spokesman for Tehran public and revolutionary courts told the ISNA student agency.

Apparently Iran can do some things right. Usually, Iran hangs gays and labels them "rapists." But in this case, it appears the punishment fit the crime:

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has hanged five men convicted of raping and murdering a young woman, a state-owned newspaper reported Monday.

The men were convicted of kidnapping the woman, raping her and then dousing her with gasoline and burning her alive.

The IRAN newspaper reported Monday that the crime was apparently in revenge for the woman's failure to marry one of the men. Her family opposed the union.

A step in the right direction. I know there are many Iranians - especially among the young people - who would love to see the end of Ahmadinejad's regime.

TEHRAN, March 19 (UPI) -- Many Iranian youths rallied in streets across the country, shouting "Death to Ahmadinejad," in celebrations marking the end of the Persian calendar year.

The last Wednesday of the Persian calendar is celebrated as the Fire Festival in Iran, with bonfires and firecrackers marking the occasion.

In the western city of Ahvaz, angry mobs declared "Freedom is our legitimate right" while demonstrators in the western city of Sanandaj shouted "Death to (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad," Ynetnews reported Wednesday.

Never forget them.

Ahmad Batebi

"Beware the great Comma in the sky!"

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the country's economic woes can be solved by the "culture of martyrdom, the Mehr news agency reported.

"If we want to build the country, maintain our dignity and solve economic problems, we need the culture of martyrdom," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying in a speech on Wednesday in the western city of Hamedan.

He described martyrdom, dying or being killed for one's religious beliefs, as "a quick and shortcut way to reach the summit of salvation."

He did not say how becoming a martyr would help the economy, which is struggling from high inflation.

The president was speaking a day after ousted economy minister Davoud Danesh Jaafari became the latest person to launch a withering attack on him for his unconventional economic policies.

Ahmadinejad has been criticised for pumping excessive liquidity into the economy to fund infrastructure projects, causing huge money supply growth and triggering Iran's current inflation of around 18 percent.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia's deputy prime minister says Iran has been ordered to leave an international defense show in Kuala Lumpur. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Iranian firms exhibited missile systems at the Defense Services Asia show that were "offensive" and contravened U.N. resolutions.