Iran government steps up arrests; a new Iran?; state-led stimulus in South Korea seems to be working; Netanyahu rules out settlement freeze; and more

Top of the Agenda: Iran Crackdown

Iran's crackdown on groups who disputed the results of the country's recent presidential elections continued today, even as further signs of discontentment emerged within the country's government. The Financial Times reports overnight street clashes led to the arrest of some seventy university professors, immediately after these professors held a meeting with opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. Al-Jazeera reports a memorial rally for those killed in anti-government demonstrations was called off today as Tehran's government increased pressure on organizers.

All the while, new signs of rifts emerged within Iran's government. More than 180 Iranian parliamentarians apparently snubbed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by refusing to attend a victory party (BBC) he held last night.

Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad spoke out against U.S. President Barack Obama, comparing him to his predecessor, George W. Bush. The New York Times reports Ahmadinejad's comments seem to dim the prospects for collaboration with confrontations looming on several major issues, even beyond Iran's election results.

Analysis:

A new Daily Analysis brief says some analysts are postulating the United States will have little choice but to scale back its diplomatic overtures to Iran.

A recent Foreign Affairs article says whatever comes of the current protests, a new Iran will emerge that looks very different from the country the world has observed over the past thirty years.

In a new interview, CFR's Isobel Coleman says if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory stands, "you'll see a much more restricted Iran." This will "fall heavily on women, but it won't stop them," she says.

 

PACIFIC RIM: South Korea’s Economy

Seoul revised upward its 2009 economic projections (Yonhap), saying that massive state-led stimulus measures appear to be having an effect.

CHINA: The BBC reports Washington is pressuring China not to implement plans to install software in all new computers that would disrupt access to Google.

 

ELSEWHERE:

Major bombing in Baghdad kills over seventy.

Netanyahu rejects settlement freeze in meetings with Sarkozy.

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org.