Markazi, Iran News

TEHRAN, Iran -- Security forces and hard-line militiamen assaulted opposition protesters, beating men and women and firing tear gas, as thousands gathered in a central Iranian city for a memorial commemorating the country's most senior dissident cleric, who died this week.

The spiritual father of Iran's reform movement died Sunday at the age of 87, prompting thousands of his followers to immediately head to the holy city of Qom, where the dissident cleric is to be buried.

Iranian Intelligence Minister, Heydar Moslehi, announced that the ministry has identified 80 foundations and organizations that were active in the post-election protests.

Members of an Islamic militia and "plainclothes men" attacked the home of a senior pro-reform cleric, Ayatollah Yusuf Sanei, in the holy city of Qom today, a reformist website said.

Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has been fired as head of the Arts Institution.

Israel will find itself diplomatically sidelined and militarily muzzled as the United States pursues a nuclear deal with Iran next year, according to a closed-door wargame at Israel's top strategic think-tank. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen in Jerusalem in this December 6, 2009 file photo.

THOUSANDS OF Iranians gathered yesterday in the holy city of Qom to mourn Grand Ayatollah Hussein Ali Montazeri, the country's most prominent dissident cleric and harshest critic of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The funeral of a prominent dissident cleric in the holy Iranian city of Qom turned into a vast and furious anti-government rally Monday, raising the possibility that the cleric's death could serve as a catalyst for an opposition movement that has been locked in a stalemate with the authorities.

Opponents of Iran's most senior dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri stopped his memorial service in a tumultuous day in Qom on Monday which saw huge protests and some shots fired, websites said.

The House voted Tuesday to impose new economic sanctions on Iran as lawmakers cast doubt on Iran's willingness to respond to diplomatic efforts to curtail its purported nuclear arms program.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator called for a global nuclear weapons ban on Monday but insisted all nations - including his own - have the right to develop nuclear energy.

Thousands of mourners are gathering in the Iranian city of Qom following the death of leading reformist cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, offering protesters a fresh rallying point for confrontation with the government.

The top U.S. military officer said Sunday he does not assume Iran's brief seizure of an Iraqi oil well is part of an orchestrated plan in Tehran to threaten its neighbors.

Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, 86, who was once the heir apparent to lead Iran but fell from favor and spent five years under house arrest as the regime's most feared dissident, speaks in this Wednesday Oct.

Iran is in no hurry to produce enriched nuclear fuel, the country's top nuclear official says.

The Best of San Francisco Stage, Film, Fashion, Dining, Travel, Business, Philanthropy, and Governance - Challah Is Taken Monday 14th of December 2009 U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON REJECTS SPY CHARGES AGAINST AMERICAN HIKERS JAILED IN IRAN - 'TOTALLY UNFOUNDED' - TENSIONS ALREADY HEIGHTENED BY EVIDENCE OF IRAN NUCLEAR BOMB TRIGGER 14 ...

Behind closed doors, the Iranian regime probably cannot conceal its surprise and delight at what it has gotten away with.

This Sept. 26, 2009, satellite image shows a facility under construction inside a mountain located about 20 miles north northeast of Qom, Iran.

Iran revealed its nuclear facility near the holy city of Qom in late September after a British agent exposed its true purpose to the West, Ynet learned Tuesday.

Mohammad Yazdi in his recent speech in Qom had very harsh words for Mehdi Karroubi, Mir Hossein Mousavi, and especially Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani In response to the insults made by Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi against the reformist leaders, Mehdi Karoubi in an interview with Tagheer website addressed Yazdi and said: "regarding your remark and your ...