Monday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 3.7.2005:

Who says Iran has no dissident leaders left?

They have at least 565. In an important development, an open letter to the ruling clerical leaders has been published and signed by 565 Iranian dissidents . The letter denounces the incompetence of the regime and calls for real democracy in Iran. The signatories include activists, scholars, journalists, artists, students, intellectuals and politicians.

This act is unprecedented in Iran. To draft this letter and then openly sign it demonstrates the level of courage that exists among these Iranians. Critic's the regime are routinely arrested, imprisoned or they simply "disappear." The letter was reported by Iran Press Service.

Here are a few of items you may have missed.

• Iran now admits that it kept its nuclear program secret.
• Iran accuses Israel of being behind a plot to exert international pressure on Syria to leave Lebanon.
• US presence in the EU3/Iran negotiations are out of the question, says Iran.
• Blogging is now the main news and analyst medium for Iranians.
  

• British Conservative backs diplomacy with Iran, but sees value in taking the matter to the UN Security Council.
• Sistani has more influence on Iran, than Khamenei has on Iraq.
• Iran and Pakistan to hold joint naval exercises.
• Trade between Iran and Afghanistan total $260 million in 2 years.
• Secretary of the Iranian Security Council, Hasan Rouhani: the U.S. Does Not Have the Ability to Attack Iran, a video interview.
• CNN interviews Iman Foroutan of SOSIran.com, a video interview.