Friday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 5.13.2005:

Iran Works to Get Out the Vote, but the Disillusioned Aren't Biting

Nahid Siamdoust, The LA Times:

Fearing low turnout, the regime has begun an ambitious campaign to get citizens to the polls. Meeting with university students in the southern province of Kerman, Khamenei this week stressed a theme that has become a constant in his speeches: "Participation in the elections is not only a right, but a religious duty."

Voter turnout is a sign of legitimacy the Islamic Republic needs more than ever, as international pressure mounts over its nuclear program and strife with the United States continues. READ MORE

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

• Islamic Republic News Agency reports that Hans Blix, expressed doubts if anything will be achieved by taking Iran to the UN.
• The Guardian UK reports that Iranians may have to hold their noses when they go to the polls.
• VOA News reports that White House, spokesman Scott McClellan said "The Europeans have made it clear that they support referring Iran to the Security Council if Iran breaks the agreement and starts some of those nuclear activities again. And that has been our position as well."
• Ha'aretz reports that some Israelis say there is no need for economic sanctions. Instead suggesting forbidding Iranian planes to land in the West, depriving its diplomats of visas, limiting visits by delegations.
• The Associated Press reports that more than 200 young men and women presented themselves Thursday as volunteers to carry out suicide bomb attacks against Americans.
• The Guardian UK reports that Iran may postpone resumption of uranium reprocessing.
• Agence France-Presse and Reuters reports that Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said Iran would be able to produce a nuclear bomb in "six to nine months time".
• Xinhua News Agency reports that French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday urged Iran not to resume uranium. "We continue to hope that Iran will not take this step, the consequences of which it is well aware."
• And finally, the BBC News reports that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has urged Iran to "think again" about plans to resume uranium enrichment activities.