The Washington Post published an article "Iran tech expo sends defiant message to West." The author says that Iran's claims of scientific advances are coming at a rapid-fire pace these days as the country begins events to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. During the coming week, Iranian officials have promised to display a new range of rockets and satellites - which could raise more concern in the West that Iran's space program spilling over into possible efforts at creating a long-range ballistic missile arsenal.
The Los Angeles Times reports on the current events which take place in Egypt. The article headlined "Egypt after Mubarak" says that whatever its composition, a new government would be expected to do more than increase political participation. It isn't just a lack of freedom the protesters have been denouncing; they also have been complaining about bare dinner tables. The question is whether a new government would seek to combat poverty by expanding subsidies and public sector employment or by encouraging entrepreneurship. Under Mubarak, Egypt adopted market reforms.
Hurriyet touches on the same theme. It published an article "Ask Ricciardone (or Iran's victory in the Mideast)." Egyptian strongman Mubarak's fall may constitute a 'paradigm shift' in Middle Eastern politics. Taking over Lebanon, and with the end of the autocracies in Egypt and Tunisia and ongoing unrest in Jordan and Yemen, Iran may become the big winner.
Press TV reports that Iranian Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi has lauded the popular revolution in Egypt as a "valiant" attempt for justice, freedom and true independence. The valiant fervent uprising of the Egyptian people against a dictatorship which is dependent on the West and stands by Israel is an indication of the Egyptian nation's social, political and religious genius, he added. Ayatollah Makarem said that the key factor to lasting victory was to maintain unity, keep perseverance and choose a leader unanimously and warned against any foreign attempts to create divisions among the Egyptians.
Another expert commenting on the Egypt riots on Press TV was Ahmad Lotfi, an Iranian lawmaker. 'Islamic ME on threshold of formation' says that Lotfi said the Egyptian revolution proved the effectiveness of the Islamic Revolution's message to the world and to the Middle East in particular "which led to the awakening of freedom-seeking nations and weakening of arrogant powers."
