Iran
Iranian scientists make fresh water using solar energy
Source : Agencies | 20 Dec 2012
Researchers at Islamic Azad University made it to the production of a fresh-water-producing machine using solar energy; and a smart, unmanned, high-speed watercraft.
The machine absorbing atmosphere humidity in seaside cities and producing fresh water is one of Islamic Azad University researchers’ innovations, Mehr News Agency reported.
Iran cautiously mulls break up with Syria’s Assad
By Associated Press | 20 Dec 2012
It wasn’t exactly a break-up moment between Iran and ally Bashar Assad. But Tehran’s whiplash diplomacy over the weekend suggested its embrace of the Syrian president could be cooling.
Just a day after Iran’s foreign minister pledged unwavering support for the embattled Assad, officials in Tehran outlined on Sunday a step-by-step peace plan for Syria capped by elections that presumably could usher in a new leader in Damascus.
For Iran, Unrest in Syria Is Noise, Not Brutal War
By Thomas Erdbrink | The New York Times | 11 Dec 2012
Iran captures U.S. drone in its airspace
By Reuters | 04 Dec 2012
Iran captured a U.S. drone that was flying in the country’s airspace, its media reported on Tuesday.
The ScanEagle drone was gathering information over Gulf waters and had entered Iranian airspace when it was captured by the naval unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Fars news agency reported, without giving details.
The agency said the drone was captured sometime “in the last few days.” It was not clear how it was captured.
Iranian warships returning to Sudan: military
By AFP | 26 Nov 2012
Iranian warships will return to Sudan on Friday, the armed forces said, one month after a similar port call followed Khartoum's accusation that Israel bombed a military factory.
Sudan's links to Iran have come under scrutiny after Khartoum accused Israel of the October 23 strike against the Yarmouk compound, which led to speculation that Iranian weapons were stored or manufactured at the factory in Khartoum.
US accuses Iran of firing U.S. drone over Gulf
Source : Agencies | 09 Nov 2012
Iranian warplanes fired at an unarmed U.S. drone in international airspace on Nov. 1 but did not hit the aircraft, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
According to the timeline provided by the Pentagon, two Iranian SU-25 "Frogfoot" aircraft intercepted the American drone at about 4:50 a.m. EST (0850 GMT) as it conducted a surveillance mission over Gulf waters about 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coast.
Iran sets up new base near disputed islands
Source : AP | 05 Nov 2012
Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards inaugurated a new naval base yesterday to reinforce Tehran’s authority over three Persian Gulf islands also claimed by the neighboring United Arab Emirates, Iranian state TV reported.
The base near the Iranian mainland’s southern port of Bandar-e Lengeh some 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) south of Tehran is the Guards’ fifth in the Gulf. The Guards’ navy chief Gen. Ali Fadavi said missile and marine units have been deployed there.
Iran naval visit reflects strong ties: Sudan military
By Abdelmoneim Abu Edris Ali | AFP | 31 Oct 2012
The visit of two Iranian naval ships to Sudan reflects strong ties between the countries, Sudan’s military said on Tuesday after Khartoum denied Iranian involvement in weapons manufacturing.
Sudan’s links to Iran have come under scrutiny after Khartoum accused Israel of sending four radar-evading aircraft to strike the Yarmouk military factory in the heart of the capital at midnight on Oct. 23.
The factory compound exploded and burst into flames, and speculation followed that Iranian weapons were stored or manufactured there.
