Report to U.S. Congress outlines Iranian threats

Iran may be capable of striking the United States with an intercontinental ballistic missile by 2015, according to a Defense Department report submitted to Congress yesterday.

The unclassified analysis outlines near-term and longer-term threats posed by Iran, including Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its desire to extend its influence in the Middle East.

“With sufficient foreign assistance,” the report states, “Iran could probably develop and test an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States by 2015.” (more…)

Sakr: A black room is illegally running the Telecom Ministry

Lebanon’s MP Okab Sakr told MTV on Sunday that a “black room” is illegally running the Telecommunications Ministry and includes a retired officer and party officials who have access to the ministry’s data.

“I am surprised that an MP is unaware of the right to revoke a minister’s vote of confidence,” he said, a reference to Change and Reform bloc MP Nabil Nicolas’s comment that Sakr’s demand on Friday for Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas to resign sets a dangerous precedent. (more…)

Iranian defectors offer wealth of intelligence to U.S.

Iran’s political turmoil has prompted a growing number of its officials to defect or leak information to the West, creating a flow of intelligence about its secretive nuclear program, US officials said.

Feltman: Iran, Syria ignored Lebanese presidency

Jeffrey Feltman, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs indirectly criticized during an interview with An Nahar newspaper the Free Patriotic Movement and said President Michel Suleiman was “ignored” during the tripartite meeting between the Syrian and Iranian presidents and the Hezbollah leader.

Feltman said it was painful to see that Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was treated as a head of a state during his meeting with Presidents Bashar Assad and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Damascus last month. (more…)

UAE calls again on Iran to end “occupation” of its 3 islands

The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates refused to back down in the face of Iranian anger and repeated Sunday his call for Tehran to end its “occupation” of three islands in the Gulf. (more…)

Lebanon MP: Nahas tried to mislead MPs

Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas said he did not interfere in the report of the technical committee he formed to study the Interior Ministry’s report on the 2007 US request for information on Lebanon’s communication networks, said a statement issued by his press office Sunday. (more…)

Mitchell ends Mideast peace mission, but will return

U.S President Barack Obama’s point man in the Middle East has little to show for his latest peace mission.

U.S. envoy George Mitchell held three days of separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, but failed to achieve a breakthrough on resuming peace talks. He said he will return again next week.

“I look forward to continuing our efforts to achieve comprehensive peace and security in the region, including a two-state solution,” Mitchell said. (more…)

Aoun-Skaff alliance in Zahle collpased

Former MP Salim Aoun, who is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, told LBCI on Sunday that the Zahle district alliance between the FPM and Popular Bloc for the upcoming municipal elections collapsed because former MP Elias Skaff “believes he does not need to be allied with the FPM.” (more…)

Municipal election: Consensus reached in Deir al Qamar

All participants at a meeting in Deir al-Qamar , Shouf region ) comprising former Cabinet ministers as well as former and current MPs and town officials unanimously agreed to nominate (more…)

Hariri seeking consensus in Beirut Municipal election

Beirut’s Lebanese Forces Coordinator Imad Wakim met with Free Patriotic Movement Coordinator Ziad Abas on Sunday to discuss the municipal elections (more…)