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Special Dispatch No. 5767
Iranian Blogger Publishes 'Exclusive Interview' With Iran's First Monkey In Space
The Iranian Space Agency's January 28, 2013 announcement that Iran had successfully launched a monkey into space – which has not been verified – sparked numerous reactions in Iran and internationally, most recently from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He expressed a desire to be the first Iranian astronaut, saying, "I am willing to be launched into space as the first Iranian to sacrifice his life for the Iranian scientists."
While the regime is trying to fan national pride in this alleged scientific and technological achievement, the Asr-e Iran website called on Iranian Space Agency officials to acknowledge, if that were the case, that the attempt to send a monkey into space had failed, adding that such failure was an ordinary occurrence in the U.S., Russia, and China as well.
The announcement of the launch also prompted satirical responses from Iranian bloggers. One, Mustapha Nik Kerdar, posted on his blog on February 1, 2013 what he said was an "exclusive interview" with the primate, whom he called "Aftab" ("sun"), on his blog on February 1, 2013.
Special Dispatch No. 5766
Iran Calls For Third Intifada At Conference Honoring Gaza
In September 2009, several months after the 2008-2009 Gaza war, the Iranian Majlis designated January 18 as "Gaza the Symbol of Resistance Day" (or "Gaza Day"). This year, Iran marked Gaza Day with an international conference titled "Gaza – The Symbol of Palestinian Resistance," aimed at "commemorating the resistance of the Palestinian people, and especially the people of Gaza, against the Israeli aggression." The two-day conference, held on January 17-18, was attended by senior Iranian officials, including Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, who described Israel as "a Zionist plague that arrived in the Middle East," and his advisor Hossein Sheikh Al-Islam, who called to launch a third Intifada in the West Bank.
In a press conference on January 14, a few days before the event, Hossein Sheikh Al-Islam stated proudly that the Palestinians' victory in the "Eight Day War" (November 2012) had been achieved by means of "Iranian missiles that fell on Tel Aviv and an Iranian drone that flew over the occupied territories gathering intelligence." He added that "today, more than ever, Israel's annihilation is becoming more tangible."
The conference was also attended by Palestinian representatives, including a representative of the Islamic Jihad organization in Iran, Abu Sharif, who called on all Islamic countries to emulate Iran and aid the war on Israel by lending "spiritual, political, and military support, as Iran has done." The conference also provided a platform for anti-Zionist figures such as French film director Francesco Condemi, who accused the Zionists of "destroying the family and the community in the West."
The following are excerpts from the main speeches given at the conference, and statements made by two prominent regime clerics on the occasion of Gaza Day.
 Iranian officials at the 'Gaza – Symbol of Palestinian Resistance' conference  Please remember the environment before printing. | ||||||||
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