Thursday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 7.21.2005:

Iran Is Considering Pardon for Ganji

Eli Lake, The NY Sun:

Dissident Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji may be pardoned for the remaining six months of his jail sentence, Iran's judiciary chief, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi, said.

A pardon for Mr. Ganji would prove the efficacy of an international campaign in recent weeks demanding his unconditional release from prison. ...

Iran's student news agency, ISNA, yesterday quoted Mr. Shahrudi as saying, "Maybe a pardon can be applied to him. We are considering the matter." The agency also quoted Mr. Shahrudi as saying, "We are considering legal terms to see if public amnesties can be applied to his case or not." READ MORE

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

• The Times UK reported that the top al Qaeda of Briton called the London bombers just before the attack.
• Asia Times reported that the EU3 should be prepared for a possible change in attitude in Tehran.
• Iran Scan reported that Mehdi Karrubi, former speaker of the Parliament intends to launch a satellite TV station in the UK.
• Iran Focus quoted Germany's Interior Minister as saying that while Iran and Iraq “are saying that they want to be closer, the coming to power in Iran of an Islamic fundamentalist who does not have an absolute distance with terrorism gives cause for grave concern.” Iran is furious.
• Iran Focus reported on the appointment of Ali Larijani as the new secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
• Iran Focus reported that several members of the United States Congress are expected to introduce a bill on Wednesday calling on the U.S. judicial authorities to begin legal proceedings against Iranians who were involved in the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
• Tim Mcgrick, Time Magazine went to Iran to learn about Hasan-i Sabbah, leader of the 12th century Middle Eastern terror cult known as the Assassins.
• The Financial Times reported that the "brain" of the reformist movement in Iran thinks U.S. pressure threatens democracy in Iran. ????
  
• And finally, Reuters reported in Iran a conservative storm is brewing over Iran's energy deals.