Israeli and American security officials in the U.S. are reportedly on high alert in the wake of an explosion near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi that wounded an Israeli diplomat's wife and three others. Israel has blamed Iran for the blast, which occurred weeks after an Iranian nuclear scientist was killed in Tehran in a similar manner: with a magnetic explosive device tossed from a passing vehicle. Iran blames Israel for that murder, and analysts say the two nations are locked into an intensifying "yet publicly deniable campaign of violence." more ›

An internal NYPD document recently obtained by the Associated Press shows that in 2006 NYPD analysts advised the department to infiltrate a number of Shiite mosques because of tensions between the U.S. and Iran. NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly has vigorously denied that the NYPD targets Muslims for surveillance, insisting that "We don't do it ethnically, we do it geographically." But a series of in-depth AP articles have repeatedly contradicted Kelly, revealing that the NYPD does in fact have a wide-ranging surveillance operation designed to infiltrate Muslim communities and mosques. (It's even called the Demographics Unit—not the Geographics Unit.) And the latest AP scoop is further evidence of the role religion plays in NYPD spying. more ›

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says that U.S. agencies foiled an Iranian plot to commit "significant terrorist act in the United States"—killing Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the U.S., Adel A. Al-Jubeir, and bombing the Saudi and Israeli embassies in Washington D.C. ABC News reports, "Bombings of the Saudi and Israeli embassies in Buenos Aires, Argentina, were also discussed, according to the U.S. officials." more ›

So that story that the secretive Tea Party-backing Koch Brothers were so anxious to kill? There was a good reason for that. The Bloomberg Markets article is now here and has lots of the juicy bits that you figured had to be there if the Koch's were going after it before it went live. Bribes, unethical business practices, and millions in petrochemical equipment sales to Iran, anyone? more ›

Iranian president and clown-of-the-century nominee Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made his sober annual sojourn to speak at the United Nations today. In previous years, half the delegates have walked out after Ahmadinejad railed against Jews, America, and rational thinking—but things were truly different exactly the same this year. Ahmadinejad gave his usual dumb speech filled with anti-Semitic conspiratorial BS, and delegates from the U.S., France, Germany, the United Kingdom and nearly a dozen other countries all walked out in disgust. You can watch his entire "argle-bargle" speech at the bottom, if you so wish. more ›

The two Americans arrested two years ago while hiking along the Iran-Iraq border and then imprisoned on espionage charges have been released—according to the Iranian state-run media. There has not yet been any confirmation that the pair have actually left the prison they have been held in, but U.S. officials seem confident they are on their way out. more ›

Last week, it seemed that a Columbia University group— CIRCA (Columbia International Relations Council and Association)—would be dining with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this week—prompting the National Review to call Columbia "Jihad University." But now it seems like the Iranian Embassy has rescinded the invitation to CIRCA... but is inviting a different Columbia group. more ›

A group of Columbia University students better brush up on their 9/11 conspiracy theories, because they may be dining with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad soon. According to the Columbia Spectator, Columbia International Relations Council and Association "members are invited to a private, Sept. 21 dinner in Midtown with the man whom University President Lee Bollinger introduced as “a petty and cruel dictator” when he spoke on campus in 2007." more ›

Morally bankrupt Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated his belief that the attacks of September 11, 2001 were part of a vast conspiracy conducted by the US government. "The September 11 [attacks] were actually a planned game to provoke the human community's sentiments and find an excuse for launching attack on Muslim regions and occupying Iraq and Afghanistan," Ahmadinejad said today according to ABC News and the Iranian press. more ›

Pro-vegetarian author, reality TV contestant and PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich was scheduled to duke it out tonight with Columbia's Parliamentary Debate team over the question "Is Eating Meat Ethical?" Peta2, PETA's youth division has held these debates at colleges all over the country, from the University of Texas (wonder how that went?) to Harvard and Princeton. However, PETA tells us that that Columbia abruptly cancelled the event without explanation. Dunh dunh DUNH! more ›

Considering how much time he spends restricting the rights of his people and alleging that 9/11 was a giant Western conspiracy, we'd be surprised to learn that Iranian president and clown-of-the-century nominee Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has any time for something like sports. But it turns out that Ahmadinejad has a huge thing for soccer—so much so, that one US diplomat dubbed him "The George Steinbrenner of Iran." more ›

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad just can't stay away from the Big Apple. After a big splash in May, when Chuck Schumer accused him of lying about his nuclear ambitions, the controversial leader touched down in New York today for the 65th United Nations General Assembly session. And on NBC's "Today" earlier this week, he cleared up some misconceptions about Iran. more ›

In advance of his September visit to New York, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is warming up the hometown crowd with his insightful opinions on the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. If you were in NYC, Washington D.C., Shanksville, PA, or anyone else in the country that day, or are capable of the most basic cognitive skills, you know that thousands of people died after two airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center. Or did they? Let the Iranian president explain: more ›

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be in NYC next month for the UN General Assembly meeting, which means the protest planning is well under way. The Post reports that one group, United Against Nuclear Iran, is upset that the Hilton Manhattan East is accepting "blood money" from Ahmadinejad and the Iranian delegation. Its president, a former homeland security official, Mike Wallace, sent letters to Hilton management saying, "The Hilton's short-term profit from hosting the Iranian delegation is far outweighed by the grave implications of supporting a terrorist state that is illegally developing nuclear weapons." During Mahmoud's UN speech last September, there were walkouts inside and protests outside. more ›

Leaders at the United Nations' Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference yesterday attempted to send a message to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: We're happy to spread nuclear technology, starting with your "peaceful" neighbors. Given Iran's continued refusal to curtail their nuclear program, President Obama said in a statement that the U.S. "will work to ensure that nations that abide by their obligations can access peaceful nuclear energy." more ›

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be in town to address the United Nations' Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference tomorrow. Ahmadinejad said before departing Iran that the NPD had failed, "The biggest threat to the world today is the production and stockpiling of nuclear weapons... Unfortunately the [International Atomic Energy Agency] in the past 40 years has not been successful in its mission. We have no disarmament or nonproliferation and some countries have even procured the nuclear bomb during this period." more ›

Oh, that Mahmoud Ahmadenijad! The provocative, disbelieving Iranian leader is back in the news for some remarks he made to the Iranian Intelligence Ministry, calling the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center a "complicated intelligence scenario and act." more ›

Relatives of Marines killed in an attack in Lebanon in 1983 want federal authorities to give them a Midtown skyscraper owned by a nonprofit organization accused of being a "front for the Iranian government." According to the Post, families of the 241 soldiers killed in the bombing of military barracks want 650 Fifth Avenue to serve as their compensation for the $2.6 billion in damages awarded to them in court three years ago. Federal prosecutors have tried to revoke ownership of the 36-story tower because the Alavi Foundation, which owns the building, has been accused of sending money to Iran despite a trade ban. more ›

Tonight is Diane Sawyer's first night at the anchor of ABC's World News Tonight—and she's offering an exclusive interview with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. more ›

After previously filing forfeiture action on 650 Fifth Avenue, claiming it was owned by a company laundering money for Iranian terrorists, federal prosecutors have move to seize the 36-floor skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan as well as properties in Queens—including a mosque— owned by the Alavi Foundation. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, "The Alavi Foundation has effectively been a front for the government of Iran." said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who sued to grab more than $500 million in assets. more ›

Shocking claim from British newspaper the Daily Telegraph: Iranian leader (and Holocaust denier) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is Jewish! more ›

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu produced evidence for the Holocaust on the floor of the UN General Assembly yesterday, in an attempt to put down once and for all the Iranian election-stealer's declaration that the whole thing is based on "a lie and a mythical claim." The Post's front page today shows Netanyahu holding the actual minutes from the German government meeting that planned out the "final solution." He also showed the Assembly plans from Auschwitz, and said of Ahmadinejad, "Have you no shame? Have you no decency?" more ›

Yesterday, Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took to the United Nations General Assembly stage—and got the U.S., French, British, Canadian and other delegations to walk out when he referred to Israel in his speech: "It is no longer acceptable that a small minority would dominate the politics, economy and culture of major parts of the world by its complicated networks, and establish a new form of slavery, and harm the reputation of other nations, even European nations and the US, to attain its racist ambitions." more ›

Supporters of Iran's seemingly sputtered Green Revolution apparently attempted to get the ESB to show green lights this week while Ahmadinejad was in town for the UN meetings — and were refused. But the WSJ notes the building will be lit in green on Thursday anyway for something much more important: the "Wizard Of Oz's 70th Anniversary Emerald Gala." more ›

Synonymous with folk music ever since her earliest days singing on college campuses in the 1960s, Joan Baez has never been one for silence. She's released dozens of albums featuring her distinctive voice over the course of her 50-year career and she's still an active performer, touring cross-country this summer before heading to Europe later this fall. more ›

Hundreds of demonstrators, alerted through Facebook and Twitter, gathered for a rally in Union Square last night in solidarity with Iranian opposition groups who have been protesting the results of last week's presidential election. According to this video, the peaceful rally seems to have gone off without incident, unlike in Iran, where some demonstrators have been beaten and killed after taking to the streets. Today in south Tehran, an estimated one million Iranians are marching to protest the election, which handed victory to incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran's authoritative Guardian Council has now offered to meet with reformist candidate Mir Hussein Moussavi, as well as the two other main opposition candidates, but it's unclear whether that overture will placate the increasingly enraged protesters. Here in New York, rally organizer Amid Amidi told Voice of America, "They are out there now fighting for democracy and reform, and I just want to say that people here in New York hear you. We hear your struggle and we are 100 percent behind you." more ›

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared his re-election "real and free" and compared the violent protests that broke out after his victory to "passions after a football match." While his opponent, Mir Hossein Moussavi, claimed ballot irregularities, noting how polls showed he was leading over incumbent Ahmadinejad, Ahmadinejad said of the unhappy reactions, "It doesn't matter. Some people are sentimental and become excited...Their team has not won in the match." He also blocked access to web sites and text messaging. In Europe, hundreds of protesters gathered at the Hague in the Netherlands to dispute the results (the EU said it was "concerned about alleged irregularities") and NY1 reports that dozens of Iranians in the city, who were allowed to vote in the election at polling centers in Manhattan and Queens, protested outside the consulate yesterday. One said, "Many people went and voted in Iran for a change, and the results of our votes are not being respected in an unprecedented way in Iran." more ›

A Chinese man is charged with setting up four bogus companies to sell nuclear bomb-making materials to the Iranian military, and using several unnamed NYC banks to conduct the illegal transactions (supposedly without their knowledge). Manhattan DA Robert M. Morgenthau held a press conference today announcing a 118-count indictment of Li Fang Wei, who is not believed to be in the U.S. While acknowledging the charges could result in a relatively light prison sentence for Li, Morgenthau explained that "what we are doing is to make every effort to prosecute the company which is perhaps the largest supplier of weapons of mass destruction to the Iranian government, and also to let people know that the Iranians are deadly serious about acquiring materials for long-range missiles and for atom bombs." The indictment has certainly alarmed Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control; he tells the Times, "If exports of this magnitude are routinely going from China to Iran, then it’s clear that the United States has failed in its efforts to curb this kind of proliferation." more ›

export license from the United States Department of Treasury.") The NY Times reports, "The seizure was the latest step in the government’s broader effort to financially suffocate Iran’s biggest banks, several of which have been accused of funneling money to groups like Hamas and financing Iran’s nuclear missile program." Tenants in the building include Citibank and the Juicy flagship store. more ›