نامه عاطفه نبوی از زندان اوین در سالروز تولدش و اینگونه سی ساله می شویم

دو سال و ۳ ماه گذشت، زمانی که در لحظات پر التهاب ۲۰۹ به مدت زمانی که باید در اینجا بمانم فکر می‌کردم، ذهن کلمه سال را بر نمی‌تابید و ماه‌ها و حتی روز‌ها معیار باورپذیر‌تر و خواستنی تری برای سنجش زمان بود. «۲۰ روز گذشت! بیشتر از ۵۰ روز که نگه نمی‌دارن…. یک ماه گذشت، قرار بازداشت موقت معمولاً ۲ ماهه است! ۳ ماه، ۴ ماه، ۷ ماه…» با خودت می‌گویی «نگران نباش، زمان به نفع تو سپری می‌شود هر چه که می‌گذرد به پایانش نزدیک می‌شوی» اما وقتی در زندان ۳۰ ساله شدی و معیارت به جای ساعت و ماه و روز تبدیل به سال شد دیگر از زمانی که می‌گذرد احساس برد نمی‌کنی، وقتی به این می‌اندیشی که این لحظات عمر توست و شاید درخشان ترینشان که اینگونه بی‌تاب گذشتنشان هستی، لحظاتی منحصر به فرد و بی‌بازگشت، زمانی برای شور و اشتیاق و جذبه جوانی و تو تمام این مدت را بی‌وقفه مانند شناگری که حتی نمی‌تواند برای لحظه‌ای نفس گیری به سطح آب بیاید در این مرداب گذراندی. اندوهی تلخ جانت را می‌انبارد.
۱۰۰ روز ۲۰۹ یک سال بند عمومی همراه دختران و زنان بزهکار، معتاد، قاتل و بیماری که بی‌شک تا حد زیادی محصول جامعه معیوبشان بودند و حال بیش از ۱۱ ماه زندگی در محیط ایزوله‌ای که در آن امکان هیچ گونه ارتباطی با دنیای بیرون نیست و در انقطاع کامل از هر آنچه که انسان را به دیگری، طبیعت و زندگی پیوند می‌زند به سر می‌بریم و تنها روزنه هفته‌ای ۲۰ دقیقه ملاقات کابینی با خانواده است که تهدید قطع آن اهرم فشار زندان بانانمان است. بیش از دو سال از انتخاباتی که محصول آن چیزی جز صد‌ها سال حکم زندان و… برای فرزندان این سرزمین نبوده گذشت و حال من به عنوان قدیمی‌ترین زندانی زن انتخابات در آستانهٔ سی امین سال زندگی‌ام و سومین سال حبس‌ام بدون مرخصی، ملاقات حضوری و تلفن در حال پرداختن هزینهٔ اعتراضی هستم که برتابیده نشد و از سوی کسانی که ابزار قدرت را در دست دارند تحمل نشد.
من روز ۲۵ خرداد مانند ۳- ۴ میلیون نفری که برای اعلام اعتراضشان به خیابان آمدند، چنین کردم حس می‌کردم اتفاق مهمی در تاریخ کشورم در حال وقوع است که باید در آن حضور داشته باشم و تجربه‌اش کنم و تصور می‌کردم با اتکا به وعده‌هایی که تنها یک هفته پیش از در مناظرات و… داده شده بود می‌توان بعد از آن به خانه‌ام برگردم و یک کنشگر اجتماعی باقی بمانم، اما نه تنها این وعده محقق نشد و من به خانه بازنگشتم که همسرم هم به بهانهٔ پیگیری وضعیت پرونده‌ام راهی زندان شد!!
و حال من در حال تجربهٔ بخش‌های نانوشتهٔ تاریخ‌ام!! تجربهٔ بازجویی، تهدید و انفرادی و تجربهٔ اعدام و تبعید نزدیک‌ترین دوستانم، کسی از تخت کناری و یا از سر سفره‌ام، تجربهٔ آرزومندی بی‌پایان برای شنیدن صدای عزیز‌ترین کسانت حتی برای یک لحظه و دیدن سوگواری خاموش کسانی که حتی اجازهٔ شرکت در تشییع جنازهٔ عزیزانشان را ندارند و بی‌قراری مادرانه کسی که در عروسی فرزندش حضور نمی‌یابد، تجربهٔ بیماری، اندوه و دلتنگی که گویی این دیوارهای بلند بتنی همه را شدید‌تر و تحملشان را سخت‌تر می‌کند اما...
تجربه اینجا چیزی نیست که برای کسی آرزویش را بکنی اما از ادغام رنج‌ها و شورهای نهفته در اینجان‌های مشتاق اکسیری ساخته می‌شود که به غیر از آنکه جان را می‌فرساید آنرا صیقلی می‌دهد و آن را خالص می‌کند و اینگونه است که در اینجا سی ساله می‌شوی...

درگیریهای شدید در شهرهای اورمیه و تبریز

منابع آگاه می گویند که رژیم هزاران تن از نیروهای ضد شورش از مناطق مختلف ایران بخصوص شمال، جنوب خراسان، کرمان، کردستان و لرستان را راهی آذربایجان کرده است بگونه ایکه تعداد نیروهای غیر بومی بیشتر از نیروهای بومی خود آذربایجان شده است. این درحالی است که مردم آذربایجان دوستدار تمام اقوام همسایه بوده و خواهد بود.

به گزارش اؤیرنجی ، از شهر اورمیه خبر می رسد که صدای آژیر آمبولانسها در خیابان امینی و کاشانی و باکری اورمیه به شدت شنیده می شود. درگیری به محلات غیر مرکزی اورمیه کشیده شده است. هم اکنون در میدان جیران، حسین آباد درگیری های شدید گزارش می شود. تجمعات آذربایجانیها برای نجات دریاچه اورمیه از طرف نیروهای امنیتی ایران به خشونت کشیده شد. شمار زخمیها رو به افزایش است. مردم هنوز خیابانهای اصلی شهر را ترک نکرده اند.

تظاهرات در ارومیه - ۵ شهریور حمایت از دریاچه اورمیه

جنگنده‌ای که غرب را غافلگیر کرد

سوخوی تی-۵۰ که به طور مشترک با هند ساخته شده برای اولین بار روز چهارشنبه در نمایشگاه هوایی ۲۰۱۱ ماکس در نزدیکی مسکو به پرواز درآمد.
این هواپیمای مافوق صوت با هدف برابری با تازه ترین مدل مشابه آمریکایی ساخته شده و قادر به انجام مانورهایی است که در هواپیماهای قدیمی تر ممکن نبود.
نمایش این جنگنده با غافلگیری محافل امنیتی و نظامی غرب مواجه شده است.
روسیه قصد ساختن هزار فروند از این جت ها در دهه های آینده را دارد و انتظار می رود که هند تا ۲۰۰ فروند از آنها را بخرد. با این حال تولید کامل آن تا ۲۰۱۵ آغاز نخواهد شد.
میخائیل پوگوسیان رئیس شرکت “یو اِی سی” روسیه که هواپیما را ساخته است گفت: “جت تی-۵۰ نه فقط ستون فقرات نیروی هوایی روسیه بلکه نیروی هوایی هند را تشکیل خواهد داد.”
او گفت انتظار می رود نیروی هوایی روسیه تا ۲۰۰ عدد از این هواپیماها را بخرد که جایگزین جنگنده اس یو-۲۷ خواهد شد.
در ماه دسامبر ۲۰۱۰ در جریان سفر دمیتری مدودف رئیس جمهور روسیه به دهلی نو، هند قبول کرد که این پروژه را در شراکت با مسکو انجام دهد.
هند بزرگترین مشتری جنگ افزارهای ساخت روسیه است.
بنابه گزارش ها پرواز آزمایشی تی-۵۰ که ابتدا قرار بود در سال ۲۰۰۷ تولید شود مکررا به دلیل مشکلات فنی عقب افتاد.
این جنگنده بالاخره در ماه ژانویه سال گذشته برای اولین بار به طور مخفیانه آزمایش شد.
سوخوی که تی-۵۰ در هر هوایی قادر به عملیات است، توانایی پرش در باندی ۳۰۰ تا ۴۰۰ متری را دارد و حمله همزمان به اهداف زمینی و هوایی را دارد.
رسانه های روسیه سال گذشته گزارش دادند که تا ۱۰ میلیارد دلار خرج طراحی و ساخت این جنگنده شده است اما بهای هر فروند در نهایت ۱۰۰ میلیون دلار خواهد بود.
راپتور آمریکایی که نمونه آزمایشی آن بیش از دو دهه قبل رونمایی شد ۱۴۰ میلیون دلار فروش می رود.
گزارش مشرق

Russian-Iranian nuclear plans a win-win

Cooperation between Moscow and Tehran could better provide for the national security of both states, the Russian Security Council chief, Nikolay Patrushev, has told journalists.

Patrushev is on a two-day visit to the Islamic Republic to meet with senior Iranian officials, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Following his talks on Tuesday with the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Patrushev said that along with other issues, the sides had discussed the Iranian nuclear problem – an issue that has long been a headache for the international community.

In particular, the Russian and Iranian senior officials talked about cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the 5+1 group (the UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany).

“The Iranian side welcomes Russia’s proposals,” Patrushev noted, as cited by RIA Novosti.

According to Saeed Jalili, “our Russian friends’ proposals can be the basis for the beginning of talks on regional and international cooperation, particularly, in the area of peaceful nuclear activities”.

He added that Patrushev’s visit to Tehran and the visit of the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to Moscow – which is scheduled for August 16-17 – open a new stage in Russian-Iranian relations, which have quite a lot of potential for development.

Patrushev and Jallili discussed perspectives for cooperation between the two states in the peaceful use of atomic energy, including scientific exchange, and the construction of nuclear power stations and research reactors.

On July 13, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested a “step-by-step” approach, under which Iran could be rewarded with the gradual lifting of sanctions in the event that the republic addresses unanswered questions about its nuclear program.

"We have proposed to draw up a kind of roadmap on each of the IAEA requirements which Iran must fulfill," the Russian top diplomat said at the time. "We deem it possible, in response to each concrete, non-declarative step taken by Iran, to take a reciprocal step, freezing and cutting the volume of sanctions as progress continues."

The announcement was made during a media conference in Washington following Lavrov’s talks with US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Meanwhile, Tehran has not yet officially received the “step-by-step” plan, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said, as cited by ISNA agency.

Speaking at his weekly media briefing, he commented on the link between Patrushev’s visit to Tehran and the country’s nuclear program. It is “in line with cultivating long-term cooperation and is also due to the significance of the two sides," he said.

Mehmanparast also stressed the importance of holding “constant” consultations with Russia on leading bilateral and international issues. Such talks can lead to important cooperation bilaterally, as well as on the regional and international level he said, reports PressTV

Iranian authorities block Google+ before official launch

The Google+ social networking site has joined the long list of websites filtered by the Islamic Republic.

ITNA, Iran’s Telecommunications News Agency, reports that Google Plus which was announced two weeks ago, will no longer be accessible to Iranian users.

Google Plus is still not officially available to all users but it would have been over the next few months; however, Iranian authorities have already blocked the site without any explanation.

Iranian authorities have expanded their efforts to block internet sites since the controversial presidential election of 2009, which triggered widespread protests.

Protesters used social networking sites to rally demonstrators and also to report on the protests using text and photos.

Google+ is Google’s new social networking site, announced on June 28 on Google’s official weblog. It claims to offer users more possibilities than Facebook and has been designed with Facebook’s limitations in mind

Mehdi Mahmoudian in Critical Condition

Mehdi Mahmoudian has fallen unconscious due to his critical condition (heart attack)

and the prison authorities have failed to transfer him to the prison clinic or a hospital.

according to the Human Right House of Iran, in a letter to leaders of the Green Movement, he has requested that they continue to fight for freedom and justice.

he has been sentenced to 5 years in prison and was arrested after the disputed presidential elections.

More than €3m in fees for refugee tribunal

THE GOVERNMENT has paid solicitors and barristers appointed to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal more than €3 million in 2009 and 2010 for hearing appeals to decisions to refuse refugee status.

There were big differences in the amounts paid to the 35 tribunal members. The top earner, Ennis-based barrister Michelle O’Gorman earned €346,401.16, while one member, Joseph Barnes, earned nothing.

Other high earners include Bernard McCabe, who earned €285,749.42, and former Fianna Fáil politician and minister for foreign affairs David Andrews, who earned €135,187.55 from the tribunal over the past two years.

Mr Andrews has earned more than €600,000 for casework since being appointed to the tribunal on June 5th, 2002, by former minister for justice John O’Donoghue. He was appointed to the post a day before Mr O’Donoghue was moved from the justice ministry to tourism.

Ms O’Gorman, who was appointed to the tribunal in July 2001 by Mr O’Donoghue, has earned €1.03 million from tribunal work in 10 years. She was reapppointed to serve another three-year term by former minister for justice Dermot Ahern last year.

The tribunal was set up in 2000 to hear appeals of asylum seekers who had their applications for protection rejected by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner.

It issued 5,892 decisions in 2009 and 2010, granted 345 appeals and rejected 5,547 appeals in 2009 and 2010.

There have been a high number of judicial review applications made against decisions of the tribunal and the Office of Refugee Applications Commissioner.

In 2009 some 749 applications for judicial review were made to the courts and last year there were 950 judicial reviews in asylum cases listed for the High Court.

The tribunal has been criticised for a lack of transparency by human rights lawyers, NGOs and the Fine Gael and Labour Party when in opposition.

It does not make its decisions available to the public or publish information showing how many positive and negative decisions tribunal members make.

Last month former Supreme Court judge Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness said one of the problems with the tribunal was “secrecy”. She called for it to be replaced by an independent appeals system for both refugee and immigration cases, which could be run on judicial lines.

In previous years the highest earner from the tribunal was James Nicholson, who earned €780,000 over a five-year period. He resigned in 2007 when a case was brought to the High Court by three asylum seekers alleging perceived bias by him.

In this case, known as the Nyembo case, the Supreme Court had cleared the way for the High Court to examine records and statistics showing the outcome of the cases dealt with by various members of the tribunal.

The case was settled by the tribunal with the asylum seekers before the relevant documents were discovered and Mr Nicholson resigned.

Last week the EU statistics agency Eurostat found Ireland has the highest rejection rate for asylum claims in the EU.

TOP 10 EARNERS - OVER TWO YEARS

Michelle O’Gorman €346,401.16

Bernard McCabe €285,749.42

Olive Brennan €177,069.04

Margaret Levey €175,149.68

Nehru Morgan Pillay €170,452.64

Fergus O’Connor €160,042.87

Paul Christopher €155,235.98

Ben Garvey €148,482.42

Denis Linehan €139,386.00

David Andrews €135,187.55

Source: Refugee Appeals Tribunal casework fees

گشتی در شهر در آخرين روزهای اسفند

خيابانهاي شهر اين روزها حال و هواي ديگري دارد، شلوغ تر از هميشه نيست، اما پر جنب و جوش تر است.عده اي به خريد مشغولند و عده اي به کارند تا نان شب مهيا کنند. مردان و زنان، دختران و پسران به هر طريقي مي‌کوشند تا پول در بياورند .
کالاي چيني با التماس مي‌فروشند و صاحبان منسب اقتصاد و صنعت ما بي توجه مي‌گذرند، بدون آنکه اين عمل را بي عدالتي بدانند، آري عدالت ! همانکه بقاي عالم منوط به آن است. بالا و پايين، خاص و عام بايد از آن بهره ببرند، دولتمردان بايد از آن مدد جويند و دستگيري کنند ضعفا را تا احوال آنان به برکت عدالت به صلاح آيد که الناس علي دين ملوکهم
به ميادين شهر مي‌روي، دست فروش‌ها بساط پهن کرده اند، قدم به قدم جمعيتي بدور آنها جمع مي‌شود و چانه مي‌زنند بر سر قيمت، کمي پايين تر دو دختر چادري بساط کوچکي پهن کرده و صورت پوشانده اند تا چهره شان ديده نشود، دلت مي‌گيرد، به ياد” فعل مجهول” سيمين بهبهاني مي‌افتي
باز مي‌روي، دختري در کنار يک مانتو فروشي ايستاده، گل مي‌فروشد. نگاهش را دنبال مي‌کني ... لباس‌ها را نظاره مي‌کند و تو فقط مي‌پرسي؛ چرا ؟
چرا آدمي که نسخه ي نامه ي الهي و مظهر صفات ذوالجلال است، اينها را مي‌بيند، اما چونان ابليس ناتوان از ديدار شعشعه ي نور جلال است ؟ اينها را مي‌بيند و مي‌گذرد بي آنکه بينديشد؛ شايد جايي، زماني، حالتي از او مي‌توانست اين مناظر را، اين چهره‌هاي عبوس را که حسرت لبخند حتي غريبه‌ها را بر دل بار کرده اند، زيباتر و دلپسند تر مي‌کرد
در مترو و اتوبوس و هرکجا که جمعيتي باشد، مي‌بينيشان. مي‌گويد:” خواهر، برادر ! تورو خدا يه دونه بخر .” و تو مي‌ماني در روزگاري که برادر و خواهر تني به هم رحم نمي‌کنند، چه توقعي از برادر و خواهر ايماني و ملي مي‌توان داشت ؟ مي‌ماني که با اين 8 و 9 درهم رفته چگونه به او ياري برساني ؟ و خودت مي‌داني که در پرده ي خنده‌هاي گرم خودت هم ناله‌هاي خفته اي داري و اندوه دراز که کس ندانست و نپرسد که چيست ؟
واي بر حال تو اي مرد! که در باور خلق آنچه مقبول نشد، قصه ي جانسوز تو بود
اين تصاوير کم نيست، همه ي ما هر روز با آن مواجهيم، اما آنچه يافت مي‌نشود گوش صدق است براي شنيدن اين دردها، شايد بايد مردي از خويش برون آيد ...... تا شايد صبر کردن بر اين رنج به حسن و نيکي و عقوبت خير منجر شود
شايد گله از مشرب قسمت بي انصافي باشد، اما آنگاه که خاکيان حق يکديگر مراعات نکنند و صدق را ره توشه راه نکنند و فعل و گفت و قصدشان جز رضاي معبود نه به ريا که به واقع نباشد، اوضاع به همين منوال پيش مي‌رود
حال که عجب و نخوت، کبر و نقصان صفات خير بر ما چيره شده، از آن دادار منان مي‌خواهيم سال 89 را که هشتمان را به نهمان گره زده بود و پايانش با اين تصاوير ناخوشايند همراه بود به نودي پر از خير و برکت مبدل کند و جهد کنيم از صورت بدر آييم و با ياري آن يگانه ي بي همتا، به بي صورتي رسيم تا همه صورت‌ها از ما فيض ببرند

هادی خرسندی

یک مشت گدای عرب از راه رسیدند درمیهن پر رونق ما خانه گزیدند با روضه و با روزه در این باغ پراز گل چون گاو دویدند و چریدند و خزیدندبا چوب و چماق وقمه و دشنه و چاقو سر ها بشکستند و شکمها بدریدندگفتند که این منطق ؛ اسلام عزیز است اینان که سیه کار تر از شمر و یزیدندبستند ز نفرت در دانشکده ها را استاد و مبارز همه در بند کشیدندآنگاه به صحن چمن دانش و فرهنگ هر جمعه چنان گلّه ی بز غاله چریدندبا چرک و شپش لشگر جرّار گدایان از سامره و کوفه و بیروت رسیدندروزیکه جوانان وطن در صف پیکار لبخند زنان ذائقه ی مرگ چشیدندامروز سرافراشته درعین وقاحت این مرده خوران مدعی خون شهیدنداینک همه با غارت این مردم بدبخت گویی شرف گمشده را باز خریدندبا زور و ریا کاری و دزدی و تقلب بر قامت دین جامه ی تزویر بریدندموسیقی شان شیون مرگ است و گدایی این کوردلان دشمن شادی و امیدند!کوته نظران قاصد دوران توحّش بر سقف جهان تار خرافات تنیدندجز مفت خوری مرده خوری نوحه سرایی مردم هنر دیگری از شیخ ندیدنداکنون که سفیهان همه در مسند جاهند اکنون که فقیهان همه چرمنگ و پلیدنددر میهن ما . منطق اسلام . چماق است دزدان همگی پیرو این دین مبین انداز: هادی خرسندی

من حسرت ایرانی بودن دارم

من حسرت ایرانی بودن دارم

من ایرانی نیستم چون نامم عربی ست

من ایرانی نیستم چون وقتی به دنیا آمدم در

گوشم اذان عربی خواندند

من ایرانی نیستم چون روزی که به مدرسه

رفتنم پدر و مادرم قرآن بالای سرم گرفتند و

در مدرسه آیین محمد را به من آموختند نه

پندار نیک و کردار نیک و گفتار نیک

من ایرانی نیستم چون وقتی ازدواج کردم به

آیین عربها و با زبان عربی ازدواج کردم

من ایرانی نیستم چون هزار کیلومتر راه را

طی میکنم تا به پابوس امام هشتم شیعیان و

نواده پیامبر اعراب بروم اما کمی آنسوتر به

آرامگاه فردوسی نمی روم

من ایرانی نیستم چون اعیاد فطر و قربان و

غدیر و مبعث را تبریک می گویم و شادباش می

شنوم اما نمی دانم جشن سده چه روزیست

من ایرانی نیستم چون دهه محرم سیاه می پوشم

و با سر و روی گل آلوده عزادار خاندانی می

شوم که سرزمینم را گرفتند , مردانش را کشتند

و زنانش را به غنیمت بردند اما روز مرگ بابک

خرمدین را نمی دانم

من ایرانی نیستم چون حرف که می زنم بیشتر به

عربی می ماند تا فارسی

من ایرانی نیستم چون عربها پ ندارند و من می

گویم فارسی نه پارسی

من ایرانی نیستم چون در کشوری به دنیا آمدم

که روی پرچمش عربی نوشتند

من آرزوی ایرانی بودن هم ندارم چون آنقدر

دست نیافتنی است که آرزویش هم نمی توان کرد

من حسرت ایرانی بودن دارم

من برای نبرد با تاریکی شمشیر نمیکشم چراغ می افروزم

زرتشت

نامه تكان دهنده مجيد مختاري به برادرش محمد :نامه ای به برادرم

محمد, برادر جان,چه جاودانه رفتی, چه بی صبرانه پرکشیدی,می دانم, دلت پر بود از درد نامردی, پر از زجه, خالی از آزادی, اما چرا اینگونه محمد جان؟,قرارش نبود اینگونه بی خبر مرا در خلوت خاطرات کودکانه مان تنها بگذاری,قرارش نبود در هیاهوی سکوت یک بعداز ظهر سرد حرف از خواب بزنی,قرارش نبود در آخرین روز زمستانی ات چشم های مردم را بارانی کنی,محمد, برادر جان,چه قهرمانانه سکوت کردی, چه مردانه کوچ کردی,می دانم, گوشت پر بود از دروغ, چشم هایت خسته از دنیای بی فروغ

اما چرا اینگونه محمد جان؟

یادت نبود که اشک های مادرت کاخ دشمن را نمک زار خواهد کرد؟یادت نبود که با بغض پدرت, کابوس درخواب هر شب فرعون خانه خواهد کرد؟یادت نبود که زجه و شیون خواهر و برادرانت گوش گرگ ها را کر خواهد کرد؟

محمد, برادر جان

چه بی صدا مرگ را صدا کردی, چه مظلومانه ظلم را کشتی,می دانم, دهانت خشک بود از فریاد, سرت تیر می کشید از بی داد

اما چرا اینگونه محمد جان؟

مگر نمی دانستی که با سکوتت گردبادی از خس و خاشاک درست خواهد شد که کرکس های پیر را در خود خفه خواهد کرد؟

مگر نمی دانستی که از خونت گردابی درست خواهد شد که زالو های خون خوار را در خود غرق خواهد کرد؟

مگر نمی دانستی که با افتادن مشت خشک شده ات بر زمین, هزاران مشت دیگر به آسمان پرواز خواهد کرد؟

محمد, برادر جان

چه آرام پیله کردی و چه زیبا پروانه شدی,می دانم, همه می دانیم,خسته بودی از نشسته زیستن در ذلت

می خواستی ایستاده بمیری

چه زیبا خدا عطایت کرد

مجید مختاری

China rejects U.S. pressure on Iran trade ties

BEIJING Aug 5 (Reuters) - China pushed back at U.S. pressure on its business and oil trade with Iran in comments published on Wednesday, while Iran's oil minister was in Beijing seeking to shore up ties with the big customer.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu was responding to comments by Robert Einhorn, special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control at the U.S. State Department, who said on Monday China should observe sanctions against Iran aimed at forcing it to curtail its nuclear ambitions.

Western governments have pressed China to loosen its energy and economic ties with Iran, which they see as shielding Iran from international pressure.

Iran's oil minister, Massoud Mirkazemi, is in Beijing for talks with Chinese energy executives. He has not made any public comments.

Jiang, the Chinese spokeswoman, said her country's trade dealings with Iran should not be criticised.

"China's trade with Iran is a normal business exchange, which will not harm the interests of other countries and the international community," she said in comments published in the official China Daily.

"As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China has always observed the council's resolutions," she said.

Iran is a major supplier of crude oil to China, the world's second-biggest consumer of oil after the United States.

The United States has urged China to tap other suppliers, but China has condemned unilateral U.S. and E.U. sanctions aimed at Iran's energy sector.

China has backed U.N. Security Council resolutions pressing Iran to abandon disputed nuclear activities, which Western governments say are aimed at giving Iran the means to make nuclear weapons. Iran disputes that.

The latest resolution was passed in June.

But China has also wielded its veto power over Council resolutions to protect energy and trade flows with Iran.

In the first half of 2010, Iran held its place as China's third biggest supplier of crude with shipments of 9 million tonnes of oil, putting it behind Saudi Arabia and Angola, according to Chinese customs data. (Reporting by Chris Buckley and Jim Bai; Editing by Ken Wills)

Obama offers Iran an opening on engagement

President Obama put the issue of negotiating with Iran firmly back on the table Wednesday in an unusual White House session with journalists. His message was that even as U.N. sanctions squeeze Tehran, he is leaving open a "pathway" for a peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue.

"It is very important to put before the Iranians a clear set of steps that we would consider sufficient to show that they are not pursuing nuclear weapons," Obama said, adding: "They should know what they can say 'yes' to." As in the past, he left open the possibility that the United States would accept a deal that allows Iran to maintain its civilian nuclear program, so long as Iran provides "confidence-building measures" to verify that it is not building a bomb.

The renewed opening to Iran also included a proposal for talks on Afghanistan. Obama said he favored a "separate track" for discussion of this issue, in which the two sides have a "mutual interest" in fighting the Taliban. He urged that, as part of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's push for "reintegration" with the Taliban, Iran should be included in regional talks about stability. "Iran should be a part of that and could be a constructive partner," he said.

Why is Obama talking engagement with Iran when many analysts are debating the growing risks of a military confrontation? Administration officials cite two factors: First, the sanctions against Iran are beginning to bite, making Tehran potentially more interested in dialogue; and second, U.S. intelligence reports indicate that the Iranians have had technical troubles in their nuclear-enrichment program -- which allows more time for diplomacy.

The White House chose an unusual way to send its signals to Tehran. A small group of journalists was invited to a "background session" on Iran policy with "senior National Security Staff." The briefer turned out to be Obama. An official said later that the president plans more of these unscripted, informal meetings.

Obama has tried to engage Iran before but has little to show for it. Last year, he sent two secret letters urging dialogue to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This helped get the Iranians to the table in Geneva to discuss a plan for enriching uranium outside their borders. But Khamenei backed out, even though Iran's hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, initially supported the deal.

Obama said he hadn't had any direct contact with Khamenei or Ahmadinejad about renewing talks, but he said Iranian officials have said they want to rejoin the Geneva negotiations with the group of leading nations known as the "P5-plus-one," perhaps in September.

Obama's sense that the time is right for diplomacy is shaped in part by what he called "rumblings" from Tehran that the sanctions are having a greater effect than the Iranians expected. Officials said these signs include the strike last month by Tehran bazaar merchants who are unhappy about the battered economy, as well as recent signals through various channels that the Iranians want to come back to negotiations.

A senior official who briefed the journalists after Obama left the room said sanctions are more effective now because there are "better tools" to target the Iranians, "more cooperation" from U.S. allies -- and because the Iranians are "more vulnerable." Another senior official stressed that "sanctions are not an end in themselves," but a way of influencing Iran's cost-benefit analysis.

What came through in Obama's upbeat presentation was the administration's view that for all Tehran's bombast, the United States and its allies have the upper hand.

One reason for this confidence is that Iran appears to be having serious technical problems with its enrichment process -- due to bad design, bad luck or deliberate sabotage. A senior official said that only 3,800 centrifuges were now operating at Natanz, at only about 60 percent of their design capacity, with another 4,000 in reserve to cope with breakdowns.

U.S. officials also appear increasingly confident that because of Iran's setbacks and aggressive monitoring by U.S. intelligence, it will be hard for Tehran over the next year or two to achieve either a "breakout," where it announces it has a bomb, or a "sneak out," where it reaches that goal surreptitiously.

Obama's strengths were on display Wednesday in his strategic analysis and his command of detail. Skeptics in Israel and elsewhere would question whether Iran subjects its nuclear policy to a cost-benefit analysis. But Obama, uncertain about that issue himself, is at least proposing to put it to the test.

Mass. pension to divest Iranian oil players

BOSTON Aug 4 (Reuters) - The $41.3 billion Massachusetts pension fund will have to sell investments in any company involved in Iran's oil industry under new rules adopted on Wednesday.

Gov. Deval Patrick signed legislation requiring the state's Pension Reserves Investment Management Board to identify all such companies within one year. The board would then have one more year to divest shares of the companies.

A preliminary review found the fund may have to sell up to $294 million of securities under the new ban, spokesman Dave Kibbe said. But he emphasized that the estimate was "very, very" preliminary and a more complete assessment was required under the law.

The pension fund is already prohibited from making investments in tobacco-related companies and those doing business with Sudan.

The move by Massachusetts follows the passage of federal legislation on July 1 which authorized state and local pension funds to divest assets involved in Iran's oil industry. (Reporting by Aaron Pressman)

US gets serious on Iran sanctions

For banks, oil companies and other big businesses around the world, from India to Japan, Russia and Germany, the US now has a clear message: you're either with us or with Iran.

Doing business with both is no longer possible, at least in theory.

"This cannot be business as usual and we recognise that there is going to have to be a lot of due diligence," said State Department spokesperson PJ Crowley in a BBC interview.

The unilateral US sanctions passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on 1 July go further than the fourth round of UN sanctions against Iran approved by the Security Council in June.

Washington will now penalise companies that invest more than $20m (£12.5m) in any project that significantly "contributes to the enhancement of Iran's ability to develop petroleum resources".

The export of refined petroleum products to Iran is also a target, and sanctions build on past UN and US designations of entities.

Those companies found guilty could find themselves shut out of the US financial system.

The US treasury department's sanctions tsar, Stuart Levy, told the BBC this wasn't US bullying because companies had a choice about whether "they'll do business in Iran or with the United States, and for example get US government contracts".

The new law will in fact require that American and foreign businesses that seek contracts with the United States government certify that they do not engage in prohibited business with Iran.

Presidential waiver

The sanctions legislation goes further than US unilateral sanctions have done in the past because it curbs the ability American presidents had under previous legislation to waive the sanctions on "national security grounds" - in other words, when they felt it tied their hands in the conduct of foreign diplomacy and could upset allies.

In the end, no foreign company was ever sanctioned under the 1996 Iran sanctions act, but this will now likely change.

Instead of a blanket waiver, the president will now only be able to waive sanctions on companies for 12 months on a case-by-case basis and as long as he certifies to Congress that the country where the company is based is co-operating in multilateral efforts to isolate Iran.

"This waiver has the name-and-shame effect and a political cost for the White House," said Howard Berman, a Democrat who chairs the House Foreign Affairs committee, and one of the lawmakers leading the effort to pass the legislation.

Major banks in Japan and Germany, oil companies in India and companies elsewhere are scrutinising the law to determine the impact it will have on their business.

The EU has now also introduced similar tough unilateral measures.

Indian concern

A few days after the US sanctions became law, India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said his country was worried that "unilateral sanctions recently imposed by individual countries [could] have a direct and adverse impact on Indian companies and, more importantly, on our energy security."

It's this kind of reaction from allies and even rivals, like China, that has in the past stopped the US from enforcing the sanction regime too assiduously.

In fact, a New York Times analysis in March found that billions of US taxpayers' money had been spent in Iran, including $15bn (£9.5bn) paid to companies that defied American sanctions by making large investments that helped Iran develop its oil and gas reserves.

But Robert Einhorn, the state department co-ordinator for Iran sanctions, said the US would "aggressively prosecute" anyone in violation of US laws.

Enforcement of the law will require significant negotiations between the US and foreign governments, on a technical but also diplomatic level.

Foreign firms who are found in violation of the sanctions will be given some time to unwind their Iran business before the US takes punitive action and before any diplomatic row erupts.

Chinese 'responsibilities'

China's business ties with Iran are also a source of concern to the US because Beijing may try to fill the vacuum left behind by companies that pull out from Iran.

"If China wants to do business around the world it will also have to protect its own reputation, and if you acquire a reputation as a country that is willing to skirt and evade international responsibilities that will have a long-term impact," said Mr Crowley, the state department spokesperson.

"We understand [the Chinese] have their financial concerns but their international responsibilities are clear," he added.

In theory that is true, but in practice, as with all sanctions against any country, the loopholes are there, as are the companies that might be willing to pay the cost of losing access to the US financial system.

And while the use of the presidential waiver is now more limited, it's still an option.

If Russia offers to help in other ways to further the multinational effort to isolate Iran, Russian oil companies could still find a waiver or two coming their way.

US urges Japan to get tough on Iran

TOKYO (AFP) — Senior US officials on Wednesday urged Japan to follow Europe's example and take "strong measures" to punish Iran over its contentious nuclear programme.

Japan imposed sanctions against Iran on Tuesday in line with a UN resolution and said it plans to announce additional punitive measures later this month.

Robert Einhorn, State Department special adviser for non-proliferation and arms control, called for tough measures from Tokyo, which has long been on relatively good terms with Tehran.

"Japan imports a lot of oil from Iran, but the steps we are asking Japan to take would not interfere in any way with Japan's energy security, its imports of oil from Iran," he told a press conference.

He said he had told Japanese officials in an earlier meeting "to look at the measures already adopted by the European Union".

"These are strong measures. Japanese adoption of these strong measures would not adversely affect the economy of Japan," said the official, who earlier visited South Korea to rally support for tough sanctions.

The UN Security Council in June slapped its fourth set of sanctions on Iran over its refusal to halt its uranium enrichment work, part of a nuclear programme which many nations fear masks a drive for nuclear weapons.

The European Union last week announced additional sanctions, which have been opposed by Russia and China, now Iran's closest trading partner, with major energy interests in the country.

The EU measures include a ban on the sale of technology and services to Iran's energy sector, hitting activities in refining, liquefied natural gas, exploration and production, and a ban on investments in the energy sector.

Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful.

Daniel Glaser, a senior Treasury official overseeing efforts to combat terrorist financing and financial crimes, said US officials "look forward to (Japan's) next steps that go beyond its UN requirements".

On North Korea, Einhorn said he was unsure whether Pyongyang was ready to return to six-party talks aimed at stemming its nuclear ambitions, given its recent behaviour -- for example, the torpedoing of a South Korean warship, for which a multinational panel blamed the North.

"North Korea's actions raised legitimate questions in the minds of people about whether they are actually prepared to live up to their obligations to disarm completely, verifiable and irreversibly," he said.

"If the North Koreans are sincere... they have to take convincing tangible steps," Einhorn said.

He said those who had met North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il indicated he seemed to be "of sound mind" despite his apparent poor health.

"He seems to be talking and acting effectively," Einhorn said.