Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [4/3-4/9] major news events regarding Iran.

The EU3 Negotiations with Iran:

France says "The talks are very fragile but we are progressing."

The Middle East Media Research Institute has just published an excellent review of the EU3/Iran negotiations, including statements by Iran's military leaders.

The French Ambassador to Tehran said the EU3 is developing a strategy for Iran which involves adopting new regulations that are to be taken as a model in the future.

Developments in Iran's Nuclear Program:

• The Dawn reports "how Iran was making gas centrifuges at a site in Tehran."
  

Iran's trouble making outside of Iran:

• Iran is paying for the Palestinian attacks aimed at shattering the fragile truce with Israel.
• Hamas and Hizbollah have signed a cooperation accord. Still, Hizbollah is signaling a willingness to discuss the fate of its military wing.

US Policy and Iran:

• Mark Hosenbal of Newsweek discussed the administrations mixed signals regarding the MEK. (The MEK are hosting a conference in Washington DC, this next week).
• The US has rejected an IAEA proposal for a five-year, global moratorium on enriching uranium and reprocessing plutonium.

Iran's economy:

• In Iran, the average minimum and monthly wage is $120 a month, forcing some to look for food in city waste-bins.
• Iran-France economic ties will develop at a rapid pace over the next six months.

Human Rights/Freedom of the press inside of Iran:

• Reporters Without Borders deplored a series of new negative developments for press freedom.
• The BBC reported that Iran's parliament barred an investigative journalist from its premises after revealing the MPs' huge pay and bonuses.
• The Christian Post wrote that an Iranian Assemblies of God lay pastor was arrested seven months ago and is facing the death penalty.
• Human Rights Watch said the upcoming report by Iran's powerful judiciary about the mistreatment and torture of bloggers and internet journalists in custody must begin a process of full accountability for serious human rights abuse.

Popular struggle for freedom inside of Iran:

• At least 1,500 anti-government protests, strikes, and clashes took place in Iran during the year that ended on March 20.
• The 70 million people of Iran, an Iranian opposition group inside of Iran, published a warning to western governments that contracts with Iran after June 16 will be null and void.
• SMCCDI reported many violent clashes in several western Iranian cities and then still more, more and more violent clashes.
  

Popular struggle for freedom outside of Iran:

• Dr. Jerome Corsi will lead a 128-mile walk from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., to promote peaceful, democratic change in Iran.
• Kathryn Jean Lopez, said "Supporting Iranian Youth's Freedom Quest Right Thing to Do."
• Controversial Iranian dissident Mohsen Sazegara joined The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
• A new documentary, Coming Out: The Youth of Iran, provides a look at the youth of Iran and the politics of sexuality. View it here.
• The "Nemazee Vs. SMCCDI/Pirouznia" trial is set to begin, Tuesday April 12, 2005. The trial is over the question of whether SMCCDI's director slandered a major Kerry fundraiser by claiming he was promoting the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Lunacy in the west:

• Canada deported a record number of Iranian refugees back to Iran last year. At the same time Canada gave asylum to the Doctor, who attended to Ms. Kazemi (a reporter murdered by the regime); who fled Iran to expose the regime's cruelty.
  

Iran's Neighbors:

• A prominent Iraqi daily accused Iran's leadership of dispatching mercenaries to one of Shiite Iraq's holiest cities.
• Israel's president said he shook hands and spoke briefly to the leaders of Syria and Iran at the Vatican funeral of Pope John Paul. Iran's President denies it.
• Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko confirmed Ukraine sold nuclear-capable cruise missiles to Iran.

Middle East Experts:

• Dr. Corsi gave an overview of the threat presented by the Iranian regime to the Heritage Foundation. Click here to listen. CSPAN will air the lecture 4/10 7PM EST.
• The American Thinker points out how the international community is ignoring the plight of the women of Iran.
• Michael Ledeen writing about the Kazemi murder in Iran reminds us that the brutal treatment of Iranian women by the mullahcracy is a daily occurrence, not an isolated case. The adds, saving the women of Iran may save us.

And finally, The Quote of the Week:

Head of Iranian Nuclear Negotiating Team Sirus Nasseri said the U.S. and the EU should "get used to the idea of a nuclear Iran."