A Weekend Briefing on Iran

The past week was filled with important new developments in the US effort to deal with the Iranian nuclear threat.

This past week, I was in Washington DC, attending an intelligence conference. Members of the FBI, CIA, NSA, Defense and state and local law enforcement were in attendance. It was a rare opportunity to gain insight into US intelligence on Iran. But since our conversations went late into the night my blogging for the week was light. (Fox news Eric Shawn has prepared a report on the conference for its Sunday morning "Weekend Live" I was told.)

Unfortunately, the blogosphere appears not to have noticed some of the important developments of the past week.

The week was full of confirmation that what I predicted in my recent post, Reading the tea leaves - Bush's Strategy on Iran, is accurate. In that post I argued that the US is advancing a non military solution in Iran, by supporting the people of Iran's desire to remove the regime through a referendum (a vote on theocracy or democracy). I further argued that the US is seeking to gain Europe's support in this effort by working together to advance human rights in Iran.

So here are a few of the often overlooked headlines.

• Condoleezza Rice major speech in Paris where she argued the case for a united US/EU stand for freedom and democracy.
• Michael Ledeen came out in support of the Iranian opposition referendum this week.
• The Iranian regime arrested Iranian activist leader Nargess Adeeb and others.
• Iran says it won't give up nuclear technology.
• In response, Condi warns Iran must or be referred to the UN Security Council.
• Senator Santorum introduces Iran regime change legislation, with White House approval.
• North Korea and Iran circle the wagons.
• Contrary to popular opinion, one Iranian press service reports: The Iranian people would not defend the regime against a foreign attack.
• Rafsanjani, (whom many consider the puppet master in Tehran) gave USA Today a rare interview.
• Michael Rubin wrote an excellent introduction to the present crisis with Iran in, Will Washington Support Democracy in Iran?
• I chastise Time magazine's report, Why Iran will go Nuclear.
• Iran wants the EU to accept a "promise" not to build nuclear weapons.
• Iran starts producing torpedoes.
• Iranian Blogger describes her 36-day stay as 'guest' in a Tehran prison.
• For the first time Pakistan admits that Dr A Q Khan passed secrets and equipment to Iranian officials.
• And the US is using drones over Iran.